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The Christian character of the College is overt and distinctive without being in any way oppressive to those students of other religions or none.
A caring Christian community Bishop Perowne was founded as a Church of England Aided Secondary School in 1963 in the Barbourne area. Its name comes from two former Bishops of Worcester, John James Stuart Perowne (Bishop from 1891-1901) and his son Arthur William Thompson Perowne (from 1931-1941). In the mid 1980s the school moved from its present site after significant refurbishment and extension. As a Church school we have close links with the Diocese of Worcester. The
Governors nominated by the Church must always be in the majority on the Governing Body, to ensure that the Church has a controlling interest. The College is Voluntary Aided, which means that the Governors have a responsibility to implement the admissions criteria. Our annual intake is 210 and we are regularly oversubscribed. The Governors welcome applications from families from other faiths and those of none who feel that a Church of
England environment would benefit their children. We value the contribution which students from a variety of backgrounds can bring. The procedures for application and the criteria are available on a separate document.
BISHOP PEROWNE CHURCH OF ENGLAND COLLEGE
Specialists in the performing arts
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The students’ personal development and wellbeing, and their care, guidance and support are outstanding.
An outstanding Church of England College DevelopingSpirituality
We regard the spiritual development of our students, staff and community as a foundation for success and a means of enriching lives. Delivering a ‘spiritual curriculum’ means we seek to create a learning environment where everyone has space and time to reflect upon complex life themes such as hope, love, faith, joy, loss and challenges. Whilst no one can ever, strictly speaking, be taught spirituality, we plan activities, time and space where personal spirituality can grow.
BISHOP PEROWNE CHURCH OF ENGLAND COLLEGE
Specialists in the performing arts
All subject teachers give time during lessons to consider spiritual development. Spiritual growth can be found in the magic of a scientific experiment, the discussion on themes in a novel, in the creation of art work or in a music lesson, in the learning of a new language or the discovery of x in algebra. Our daily Acts of Collective Worship are important spaces in each working day where students and staff gather as a community. Weekly themes are taken from the Sunday Gospel readings in the Church Lectionary. Acts of
Worship explore each theme along with reflections upon festivals and celebrations from world religions, health promotion days and the remembrance of important historical events. Each week a member of our Chaplaincy teams leads a voluntary Eucharist or reflection. At the end of every term we celebrate the success of our community through a whole College Eucharist. Even in the context of an outstanding institution our Worship is judged to be of the highest quality.
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Encouraging learning, creativity and endeavour The Foundation Day The teachers know their students well. The excellent relationships between staff and students lead to a happy and productive learning environment. All students follow a broad and balanced curriculum designed to develop a love of learning and to empower each student with the skills that will enable them to achieve success throughout their life. Our curriculum is continually evolving in response to individual needs and innovative best practice, yet it retains the best qualities of a traditional academic education. We are committed to ensuring that students meet challenging academic targets and are equipped with essential quality such as adaptability, tenacity, steadfast determination and respect.
The Curriculum Detail of the courses offered at Key Stage 3 and 4 may be found in the prospectus supplement. Expert support is available for students who find learning challenging; there are opportunities for those who are gifted and talented to be ‘accelerated’ taking examinations when they are ready to do so. Choice and flexibility figure greatly in the provision offered in Years 10 and 11 alongside a robust academic core. We are the lead school in developing the new Creative and Media Diploma.
even further. With an ever-increasing programme of activities leading to accredited qualifications, many students thrive in the informality and flexibility of the Extended Day. Teaching Groups We recognise that each student should have access to the curriculum at the most appropriate level in every subject. In some subjects this is best achieved by setting students according to their ability. We monitor the groupings of students continuously, ensuring students are placed in the most appropriate teaching groups.
The Extended Day This provision beyond the Foundation Day (normal College day) provides all students with access to expertise, facilities and opportunities that will take their learning
BISHOP PEROWNE CHURCH OF ENGLAND COLLEGE
Specialists in the performing arts
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Encouraging learning, creativity and endeavour Specialists in the Performing Arts The Creative and Performing Arts are essential elements of every student’s life at Bishop Perowne. We provide a balanced curriculum enabling each individual to develop skills and opportunities in a rich variety of art forms. Through such experiences all students gain a better understanding of themselves, their capabilities and potential. They become more sensitive to developing positive relationships and generate practical and inter-personal skills which are very marketable in adult life. The Arts reveal and express our spiritual, moral, cultural and social lives and consequently form an essential entitlement to every member of the College. The additional resources we receive as a Specialist Performing Arts College ensure we have the means to support the arts and creativity throughout the curriculum and beyond. Bishop Perowne enjoys first-class
BISHOP PEROWNE CHURCH OF ENGLAND COLLEGE
Specialists in the performing arts
facilities for the Arts: theatre and dance spaces, national arts’ providers, professional quality equipment and technical expertise, and a truly collaborative relationship with partner schools, professional artists and members of the community. Some of the additional funding goes towards supporting a wide range of adult and community projects which ensures many more people benefit. Productions and Events Each year we plan a busy schedule of informal and formal productions and arts events. Arts staff are joined by many others in the Extended Day to provide tremendous variety and quality. Students are involved in all aspects of production support including technical and stage management roles. With our enviable reputation we are frequently called upon to perform in regional and national events.
Recent productions and events have included: Richard III, Jesus Christ Superstar, Guys and Dolls, Hamlet, Macbeth, Little Shop of Horrors and Sweet Charity. Regular dance performances to primary schools and community groups Théatelier performances in France Residences from the National Theatre, Royal College of Music, English Symphony Orchestra, Union Dance Company, Chitraleka Dance Company, Motionhouse and many more. Please contact the college for an up-to-date schedule of events and productions, or visit our website www.bishopperowne.com.
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The College’s specialist Performing Arts designation and Church status have had a major impact on enhancing and extending the learning experience of all the students.
Nurturing Individuals Inspiring all to excel and reach their potential A College at the cutting edge of learning and teaching also have to be at the forefront of technology. To provide the infrastructure we use Facility, a computerised management information system. One of its many facets allows us to provide parents with frequent and up to date information about how their child is performing. This in turn provides parents with the knowledge to work with the College to support their child’s education and it is this relationship that we encourage. The process begins with information derived from Key Stage 2 and 3 SATs and CATs (cognitive ability tests) that enables us to set aspirational targets for each student in every
subject for the end of Key Stages 3 and 4. Aspirational targets are just a little higher than what we might typically expect or predict, and so include am element of challenge. Towards the end of each term a report is sent to parents prior to the consultation days, during which parents may discuss the child’s progress with tutors, and participate in setting short-term targets for the next term. This wealth of information about every student allows Subject Leaders and Community Leaders to monitor students closely, to identify issues quickly and to act upon them promptly. During each academic year parents also receive a more
extended report and an opportunity to discuss their child’s progress with subject staff. Communication with parents is crucial. We have introduced an automated electronic communication module that will enable us to inform parents promptly, for example, if their child has not arrived at College and no reason for absence has been notified. It also allows us to inform parents by text message about other matters such as College events. A Newsletter is produced at the end of each half term.
BISHOP PEROWNE CHURCH OF ENGLAND COLLEGE
Specialists in the performing arts
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The teachers know their students well. The excellent relationships between staff and students lead to a happy and productive learning environment.
Physical Education and Sport Active and responsible citizens who are able to make a difference in the world We aim to offer a wide range of sporting opportunities to allow students to develop a healthy lifestyle, their physical potential and interest with the aspiration that this willl continue beyond school-age into adult life, All students are encouraged to take part in individual and team, as well as competitive and noncompetitive activities.
BISHOP PEROWNE CHURCH OF ENGLAND COLLEGE
Specialists in the performing arts
We are proud of our comprehensive range of clubs and teams running throughout the year in the Extended Day. The College competes on a friendly basis against other schools as well as taking part in the major competitions and tournaments. The list of outstanding performances at District, County and National level continues to grow and our teams enjoy an excellent reputation for sportsmanship and fair play.
A number of students each year work towards their Junior Sports Leader Award which provides them with a recognised qualification, transferable skills and the confidence and knowledge to run sporting activities with young people. Through our developing partnership with the Kings School, Worcester we shall enjoy the benefits of an all weathersurface.
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Tu t o r i n g Monitoring progress and achievement Children, parents and visitors often comment on the strikingly friendly and caring atmosphere at Bishop Perowne. We are not an imposingly large or impersonal College.
Every student will see their Group Tutor at least twice a day to monitor their progress and wellbeing. The Group Tutor is ideally placed to gain knowledge of every student in their care, to be the person who knows the student best. They monitor every event and action from attendance in lessons to merits, ensuring their work with
students is well informed and nurturing. The Group Tutor is the first point of contact for all academic and pastoral matters, liaising with both College staff and parents as needed. Some matters will be referred to Community Leaders and Senior Staff, as appropriate.
BISHOP PEROWNE CHURCH OF ENGLAND COLLEGE
Specialists in the performing arts
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Photograph taken by Sophie Meakin at Goodrich Castle
Theatre quest Mask Workshop
Royal College of Music Workshop
African Drumming Performance Children in Need
Year 11 Leavers Ball
Bishop Perowne in the community We enjoy outstanding and flourishing links with partner primary, secondary and special schools, universities, business, community and Church organisations. As a Specialist College we provide a number of Arts programmes for partner schools, hosting festivals and performances in our Theatre and enabling our staff and students to lead workshops in other schools and colleges. We have the only educational partnership in the world with the Royal College of Music in London and enjoy exciting links with Worcester Cathedral and a wealth of Arts providers throughout the County. We have a unique partnership with Kings School, Worcester, an independent 11-18
BISHOP PEROWNE CHURCH OF ENGLAND COLLEGE
Specialists in the performing arts
Church of England provider in Worcester through which we are developing sporting and curriculum links and Sixth Form Bursaries for our Year 11 leavers. Bishop Perowne has always raised money in innovative ways for charities. Fundraising has now grown to a remarkable scale and is further enhanced through our learning communities. We have an active parent/staff association, the Friends of Bishop Perowne. We are grateful to them for their unstinting work on behalf of the College, and for the valuable funds they raise for us. Over the years we have been able to buy valuable items that we would otherwise would be
unable to afford – including mini buses, computers, air conditioning for our Theatre and video cameras. The Friends have funded coaches for sports fixtures and provided refreshments for the busy programme of performances throughout the year. They also arrange regular social events, talks, outings, dancing and meetings. Their work is appreciated by the whole College community. Student Council and Community Parliaments flourish, proving a real context and opportunities for citizenship, a means whereby students can have a voice and make a real difference to our community.