“Success through Excellence” Caludon has well qualified staff, meets students’ individual needs; offers equal opportunities for all; encourages responsible citizenship; celebrates students’ strengths and achievements; develops self discipline in a well ordered environment; promotes learning in a caring and supportive atmosphere; works in partnership with parents and the wider community.
“A culture where every pupil is valued, supported and encouraged to achieve the best that they can. The quality of care and guidance is excellent.”
(All quotes are from our Ofsted Inspection Report January 2016)
Mrs Marr Head Teacher
Head Teacher's Introduction Dear Parent/Carer I hope the information in this prospectus will provide you with everything you need to know about our school community. This is my eleventh year at the school and I feel very privileged and excited to be the Headteacher at Caludon Castle School. We have great staff, very supportive parents and students who enjoy learning.
We are very proud of our school and the young adults that study here. Their achievements, supported by our hard-working and committed staff, make us the very successful school that we are. It is very important that you know that we recognise the uniqueness of your child and will do our very best for them to enjoy and learn each day at our school. It is important to us that your children wear the correct uniform; arrive at school on time and show respect to their teachers and others. Your help and support makes a difference. We also believe in listening to our students. Many contribute to various aspects of school life through the Student Council and by becoming Student Leaders. We are proud of the amounts we raise for charities each year. There are many varied activities to try in addition to the curriculum, which is broad and inclusive. The students at the school are encouraged to discuss, to speak up when they see something they feel is wrong and to support each other. We believe that the young adults who leave this school are well-prepared for their future role in society. I want your children to gain the best qualifications and be fully prepared for working in the 21st Century. I want your children to experience success and we will share their progress with you each term. I look forward to working with both you and your child(ren). Best wishes Mrs M Marr Headteacher
“”Pupils have an excellent understanding of the wider world, their responsibilities as future citizens and the importance of respect and tolerance.”
VISION VISION “To create an innovative learning environment which promotes high standards, celebrates excellence and personal achievement and encourages mutual respect”.
SCHOOL AIMS
RESPECT
R E S P
Respect
Respect to all, from all
Equality
Promote equal opportunities for all, irrespective of…
Stretch
Stretch and challenge for all to achieve at the highest levels possible
Provision
Strive to meet individual needs through a relevant and challenging curriculum
E C
Engagement
Active participation to be successful in learning
Creativity and Culture Developing responsible and active citizens to contribute locally and globally
T
Teaching
Teaching that reflects and encourages a passion for learning
“Behaviour is good in lessons and around the academy because the expectations of leaders and teachers are high.”
CALUDON’S EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS Three simple statements express the essential purpose of the school: 1.
Common sense and a positive attitude to learning.
2.
Respect for the person, property and feelings of others.
3.
Respect for the school, its people and environment.
YEAR TEAMS AND STAFF
THE CURRICULUM IN KS3
Upon entering the school each student becomes a member of a year team.
For most subjects students are taught in mixed ability tutor groups. During the summer term, prior to entry, senior Caludon staff visit primary schools and receive detailed reports for all students likely to come to Caludon. Over the years, therefore, we have built up a very close contact with our partner primary schools. Considerable care is taken to identify students’ strengths and areas for development. Key Stage 2 assessment results also inform our decisions.
Your son or daughter will be placed in a mixed ability tutor group of about 25 girls and boys of his/her own age group and this group is looked after by a group tutor. The group tutors are supported by a full time, non-teaching year leader. All communication between school and home will be through the tutor in the first instance. The group tutors will advise parents should any difficulties occur over work, behaviour or attendance and they will inform you about your child’s achievement.
Based on all available information, including the assessments made by the year 6 primary school teachers, students are setted according to ability in Maths. This enables us to stretch the most able and support the least able in these areas. Mixed ability tutor group classes are the norm in most other subjects. Students are taught in smaller mixed ability groups for Technology and IT. For a number of periods per week students are taught as tutor groups and will focus on the knowledge, skills and understanding that are essential to learn across all subjects. This is called creative learning. Students will learn how to learn and the importance of transferring their knowledge, skills and understanding into all areas of the curriculum. In Years 8 and 9 students are taught in ability groups for Maths, English and Science. Your son’s or daughter’s individual needs are our continuous concern.
“Pupils arrive at lessons keen to learn.”
REPORTING AND ASSESSMENT Students are routinely assessed in their subjects and their progress is monitored. Termly assessments and regular progress checks are carried out in each subject. We collate and store the information so that each child can be monitored on a regular basis. As parents, you will be given a regular report on the progress of your child. We will provide you with the following information in each academic year: Three reports showing your child’s target band, current performance, progress and effort in each subject. There will also be, within the report, a summary of attendance. These reports will provide information about students’ current performance and whether they are making sufficient progress to achieve their potential targets.
Information here shows current percentage attendance and the attendance target.
Challenging targets are set for students to achieve by the end of KS3.
Current performance is based on the latest assessment and the colours indicate whether or not the student is on track to meet their target by the end of the Key Stage.
Attitude to Learning grades: 6 – Outstanding 5 – Very Good 4 – Good 3 – Room for improvement 2 – Poor 1 – Unacceptable The ATL award is based on the overall ATL scores issued by all teachers. Students can get either: Star, Gold, Silver or Bronze.
AIM (ABLE AND INSPIRED MINDS) At Caludon we challenge students to recognise and realise their potential in a range of different areas, from high academic outcomes to sporting prowess, and from active citizenship to artistic excellence. They are supported in this through the AIM (Able and Inspired Minds) framework, the underlying principle of which lies in aspirational expectations. AIM students are those who demonstrate great potential to be highly successful. Once identified, we support AIM students through a range of different learning and extra-curricular activities, as well as monitoring and personalised intervention strategies. Through these, we aim to stretch, challenge and extend our young people to secure in-depth thinking and learning and advanced skills for learning. There are opportunities to Take It Further (TIF) in every classroom in every lesson. At Caludon we understand that ‘success’ can be defined in a range of ways and, as such, divide AIM students into three broad categories, ‘High Attainers’, ‘Ambassadors’ and ‘Talented/Elite’. As always, the involvement of parents/carers in supporting the learning and progress of our young people is invaluable and the AIM project is centred around student-school-home interaction to enable our able, talented young people to fulfil their potential and inspire those around them to do the same.
UNIFORM
“Leaders, governors, staff and pupils work together to share and promote the ethos of care, respect and tolerance that is a feature of the academy’s daily work.”
HOME LEARNING Home learning is an essential feature of the school's life. A timetable can be found on Firefly, and the website detailing what subjects to expect for home learning on any particular night and how much time should be spent. Our VLE is where all home learning can be found and parents can view this to see what the home learning is, when it was set and when it is due.
PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION (PSHE) Personal, Social and Health Education is delivered through the Achieve tutor time programme and Citizenship at Key Stage 3. In addition to this it is addressed through all subjects and integrated into the curriculum. Throughout the year the programme is based around five outcomes including stay safe, be healthy, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well being. Topics include health, sexual health, drugs and alcohol awareness, bullying, the environment and celebrations of achievement. Themed weeks and assemblies complement the programme and encourage active citizenship, promotion of self responsibility and sensitivity for the interest and wellbeing of others. It is our aim to develop students’ resilience, responsibility and reflection. All students will take part in the Caludon Experience Awards scheme, undertaking activities in the following dimensions : adventurous, creative, independent, global citizen, leader.
PROVISION FOR SPORT Caludon encourages all students to pursue a lifestyle which contains a balance of physical activity. The school provides a broadly based curriculum of sports which includes the major team games as well as programmes of trampolining, gymnastics, swimming, athletics, tennis, badminton and basketball. We actively participate in both city and regional competitions in a number of sports.
COMMUNICATING WITH PARENTS Your views as parents are important to us. A series of engagement sessions for parents are organised on a regular basis. These focus on themes that we feel help parents to know more about our school, or help support them in their role as parents/carers. The sessions also enable parents/carers to share their concerns and are a way of ensuring that we can respond to develop the quality of our provision for young people.
“Pupils have a very good understanding of other cultures and religions, respect and tolerance, and are well prepared for the next stages in their lives.”
ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES Caludon Castle was completely rebuilt under a PFI scheme in 2006. Each faculty has a spacious ICT room for use with students, and staff resource rooms fully equipped with new computers. We have interactive whiteboards and video streaming in every classroom. Wireless technology is available throughout the school. We offer opportunities for parents, students and staff to access the school network from home through our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). We also have two video conference facilities. The community library is a focal resource area for the school. Access is provided during set teaching times, both in the form of sessions 'booked' for class use, and also as a resource facility for small groups of students. In addition, the library is open at break and lunch-time as well as before and after school. The library offers research facilities for projects and assignments. Our extended opening hours mean that students and their families can access the library outside of school hours. As we are a school and community library we can offer CDs, DVDs, People’s Network computers, as well as access to our extensive book stock.
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITY
SCHOOL LIBRARY OPENING TIMES MONDAY
8.00 am - 4.00 pm
A wide variety of activities make up this important part of our school's life.
TUESDAY
8.00 am - 4.00 pm
There is a thriving Drama Club for all, teaching acting and theatre skills for public performance and personal enjoyment. Our Dance Club is open to all-comers. Trips abroad have included Language Department visits to Spain and France, History visits to Berlin and the battlefields of Normandy and skiing in Switzerland.
THURSDAY
8.00 am - 4.00 pm
FRIDAY
8.00 am - 3.30 pm
WEDNESDAY 8.00 am - 4.00 pm
COMMUNITY LIBRARY OPENING MONDAY
1.00 pm - 5.00 pm
We hold regular Expressive Arts evenings showcasing our students' talents.
TUESDAY
9.00 am - 12 noon
Our school sporting teams continue to have success at city, regional and national level.
THURSDAY
2.00 pm - 7.00 pm
FRIDAY
9.00 - 12noon
SATURDAY
9.00 am - 4.00 pm
WEDNESDAY Closed
“The academy is a highly inclusive community. For example, disabled pupils are well supported so that they can access all available opportunities, including trips and visits abroad, with additional resources provided if necessary. Pupils feel safe in the academy and say that they do not suffer from any discrimination.”
THE SIXTH FORM Caludon Castle’s large sixth form has a distinct suite of rooms in the heart of the new school providing a vibrant, exciting and stimulating place to study. Expectations are high and results are very good. In addition to an extensive range of courses and enrichment activities, we offer a dedicated Sixth Form team who support, encourage and monitor student progress throughout the year.
“Sixth form pupils said, and the inspector agreed, that the care and guidance they are offered is excellent and they are clearly proud to play a part in the caring culture of the provision.”
SCHOOL POLICY STATEMENT ON EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES The school is committed to offer equal opportunities to all students in all aspects of school life. We believe that students' learning experiences and their later choice of courses and careers should be determined by their aspirations, aptitude and interests. We aim to help our students develop self esteem, respect for others and a positive rejection of all forms of prejudice. All our students have access to a wide range of courses that are personalised to suit each individual student’s ability, needs and future aspirations. Details of our ‘equality targets’ can be referred to on our website.
LEARNING SUPPORT The school acknowledges that most students experience difficulties at some stage in their time at school and seeks to offer support in overcoming barriers to learning. We have a suite of rooms, known as the Phoenix Suite, which provides personalised intervention for our most vulnerable students, our most able students and the addition of a business and vocational facility. Students who are experiencing difficulties can work intensively with staff within the suite as part of a small group or on a one to one basis. All programmes of work undertaken in the suite are personalised to address individual needs. Programmes of work include the development of basic literacy and numeracy skills and activities to address the development of wider learning skills such as co-operation and collaborative working. Additional support ranges from the organisation of access arrangements for external examinations to the provision of additional staff in classes. Where students require intervention from specialist staff, the school works with a number of outside agencies who will offer support and advise on an individual basis.
“The focus in the academy on spiritual, moral, social and cultural development ensures that pupils understand and demonstrate respect and tolerance for others. Consequently, pupils say bullying is rare.”
SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS AND DISABILITIES POLICY STATEMENT (SEND) Background Information Caludon Castle is a school of nearly 1600 students situated on the north-east of the city. Caludon Castle’s intake reflects a range of SEND and these students are recorded at School Action, School Action Plus or with statements of educational needs. Caludon has students with difficulties in the area of Communication and Interaction, Behaviour Emotional and Social Development, and Sensory and/or Physical difficulties. Caludon Castle’s Learning and Inclusion Centre (Phoenix Suite) is led by two Assistant Heads supported by a nonteaching Inclusion Manager and a PA for the faculty. There are also a number of Teaching Assistants and Leaning Support Staff employed by the school to work with students with SEND. The faculty works as a team led by both Assistant Heads and establishes close working relationships between students, staff, parents, governors and outside agencies so that all students are supported in a fully inclusive environment. Aims The objectives of the SEND policy are to: Organise activities to ensure that all students are included in the life of the school Work with parents sharing information on students’ progress, outcomes and their individual needs Continuously develop ways of working to provide the highest quality of provision for all students within the resources available Meet the requirements of the Education Act (1996), the Special Education Needs (SEN) Code of Practice (2001), and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (2001) Encompass the LA Statement of Policy for students with SEND Facilitate a student’s learning by identifying his/her needs and ensuring provision is matched to support each individual’s attainment and well being Respond to students flexibly according to the nature of their difficulties and personalise their learning so that they can learn in a way that best suits their needs Support student’s learning without making them feel inferior to their peers The school’s policy outlines the strategies and approaches that it will take in order to meet these objectives. The procedures set out will be monitored and reviewed each year in order to build on best practice at Caludon Castle. Caludon Castle is a pro-active school that believes in the importance of rigorous scrutiny followed by immediate intervention. The full SEND and Inclusion Policy and information report are on the school website (www.caludoncastle.co.uk) and are available on request from the school. The policy includes: Arrangements for the admission of pupils with disabilities
Details of steps to guarantee equality of opportunity Details of existing facilities to assist access to the school by pupils with disabilities Details regarding the governing body’s role and responsibilities. The Accessibility Scheme is available on the school website as part of the Equal Opportunities Policy
ADMISSIONS POLICY
Caludon Castle’s admission policy and appeals timetable is available in full on the school website (www.caludoncastle.co.uk) or on request from the school.
“Pupils with a disability or special educational needs make good progress from their starting points across the curriculum. This is because they have excellent support from well-trained staff, who ensure that they are well-cared for and that their needs are met through tailored additional activities.”
Caludon Castle A Business, Enterprise and Leadership Specialist School
Axholme Road Wyken Coventry CV2 5BD Tel: 024 76444822 Fax: 024 76636282 Email:enquiries@caludoncastle.co.uk www.caludoncastle.co.uk
Head Teacher Associate Headteacher Deputy Heads
Mrs M Marr Ms A Dudgeon Mrs C Waring Mrs A Rayns Mr A Morgan Mrs A Gallagher