Our Mission Our mission as a Catholic school is to provide the highest possible standards of education for all of our students, delivered within the context of Gospel values and the teachings of the Church, within our Christian community.
Welcome
from the Head Teacher Dear pupils, parents, carers and guardians, Choosing the right secondary school is an exciting but anxious time. I hope, by visiting the school and reading this prospectus, you will be re-assured that La Retraite is exactly the type of school in which your daughter can flourish. La Retraite really is a great school. It was established in 1880 by the La Retraite sisters who regarded the school as a ‘retreat’ from the world where its pupils could learn and pray together. To this very day we are upholding their tradition. Our school community provides a safe environment in which students are academically successful and spiritually nourished so that they become educated young women with strong Christian values, ready to take their place as adults in the modern world. A Year 10 student recently explained to me, ‘La Retraite is like a big family, encouraging all of the daughters to do well and achieve to the best of their abilities’. She captured the essence of La Retraite perfectly. I look forward to meeting you during our Open Sessions, when I hope you will see for yourself the vibrant community that is La Retraite. John Conway, Head Teacher
“In Year 7 the teachers made such an effort to get us to know each other that I have made friends for life.”
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Pursuing Excellence “The teachers work so hard to help us achieve our target grades.�
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Our success at La Retraite stems from careful planning of the curriculum so that every girl, irrespective of her ability, is studying appropriate and challenging courses and is being provided with opportunities to develop her talents. We set our students according to ability in English, mathematics and science and our exceptionally high pass rates in these core subjects demonstrate the success of this strategy. We blend traditional subjects with vocational and applied courses to ensure that girls of all abilities can fulfil their potential, while stretching and challenging our most able students with additional subjects at GCSE such as statistics, Mandarin and triple science.
Achieving Success La Retraite has a superb record of exam success, with results well above national averages. This is achieved not only through the energy and commitment of the teachers but also by carefully matching the curriculum to the ability and interests of our students. While aiming high, we make sure that every single girl is studying courses that are best suited to her hopes, talents and aspirations.
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“The best thing about La Retraite is the atmosphere in the classroom; the wanting to learn and the support and care from our teachers.�
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A Post-16 Education We expect our best students to continue their studies in the La Retraite Sixth Form and that means the vast majority remain with us to study A levels and vocational courses. Our students know they will receive excellent guidance towards the most suitable courses and that they will be taught and prepared very well to achieve the grades they need in order to earn the university place of their choice. Our Sixth Form works in a flourishing collaboration of successful 11–18 schools known as the SL6. This ensures the widest range of post-16 choices and the best possible teaching.
After La RetraitE If you attend the La Retraite Sixth Form, you can expect to attend university as your next step. Around 90% of our students progress to higher education, often to study the most competitive courses, in particular, medicine and law, at the top universities.
“La Retraite is a really high achieving and welcoming school, that is why it was my first choice.”
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Faith, Values EXCELLENCE Our Catholic ethos underpins everything we do at La Retraite. Our girls are deeply spiritual. They appreciate that their talents are God given and that they should make the best of them. Our excellent chaplaincy team provides wonderful liturgies and opportunities for prayer. The typical La Retraite student is not only ambitious for herself but is also supportive and caring towards her fellow students. Our robust rewards and behaviour policy is designed to encourage a real sense of community at La Retraite, by encouraging respect, courtesy and personal responsibility. La Retraite was graded as Outstanding in its last Diocesan Inspection, which described the school as an ‘inclusive and welcoming community.’ The School House System strengthens this sense of community, encouraging pupils of all ages to work together.
“La Retraite School is a caring community and my children are thriving at the school and making very good spiritual progress.” Section 48 Diocesan Inspection, 2013
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“Christianity is a wonderful thing to learn about and this has made me deepen my knowledge of God.”
OFSTED La Retraite was graded as Outstanding in every category in April 2013 during its last OFSTED report. We are never complacent at La Retraite. Our highly committed staff are continually looking for ways to improve outcomes for students and we are always keen to listen to the views of our students and their parents.
“Teachers never fail to give you any extra help you need.�
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Beyond the Curriculum La Retraite enjoys an excellent reputation for musical performance with two exceptional choirs, one traditional and one Gospel. We have a full programme of subsidised instrumental tuition and a weekly evening Music School. A huge variety of sporting activities are on offer at La Retraite and our teams do exceptionally well often representing the Borough and beyond.
Drama is enjoyed by many pupils who participate in clubs and put on two productions every year. Our Chaplaincy runs prayer groups and retreats for every year group as well as ‘community cohesion’ trips to learn about other faiths. Educational trips and visits, often abroad, are a valuable and popular element of school life and cover a range of curricular areas. We arrange frequent visits to the theatre and to political and sporting events in London.
“I would never have had these opportunities if I hadn’t come to La Retraite.”
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Atkins Road, Clapham Park, London SW12 0AB Tel: 020 8673 5644 Fax: 020 8675 8577 Email: schsec@laretraite.lambeth.sch.uk
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