Bexley Grammar School
Specialist Language College
Ib World School
intellect, empathy, courage
AT BEXLEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL WE MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE GOES UNNOTICED IN OUR ACTIVE, VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
Welcome
from the Head
1
EVERYONE WHO VISITS BGS NOTICES THE WARMTH OF THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STUDENTS AND STAFF IN A VIBRANT COMMUNITY. A booklet will never capture what makes one school different from another nor will it answer all your questions as a parent or a prospective student. Our website, including past weekly newsletters and photo galleries, will give you a better flavour but meeting students and staff and asking them about their experiences is the best way to prepare you to choose a secondary school to suit your son or daughter for the next seven years. Having been a parent in your position three times, I appreciate the number of factors you will be trying to balance as you and your child finally make your choices. We are heavily over-subscribed and our outstanding academic record speaks for itself – please trace it on our website. Bexley Grammar School will stretch your child with a challenging curriculum including two foreign languages and all three separate sciences. AN IB WORLD SCHOOL
We all learn best when we are happy, busy, inspired and valued as individuals, so every student is also encouraged to choose from a startling array of extra-curricular activities, many of them rooted in our vibrant and competitive house system. Nearly all students continue into our large Sixth Form which is fully IB from September 2017 and which plays a key role in leading the rest of the student body. Our school focuses on raising aspirations, growing confidence and thus developing young people into compassionate leaders. I invite you to join us in a partnership in which together, we commit to supporting your child to grow into a young person fully prepared for the challenges of our rapidly changing society. Stephen Elphick – Headteacher Please visit us at: www.bexleygs.co.uk INTELLECT, EMPATHY, COURAGE
developing compassionate leaders
A CHALLENGING
Curriculum “ The school always caters to the strengths of individuals as well as striving for academic excellence.” Parent
AN IB WORLD SCHOOL
THE CURRICULUM AT BEXLEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL IS DESIGNED TO CHALLENGE AND INSPIRE OUR STUDENTS AT EVERY LEVEL. FOR EXAMPLE, AT GCSE ALL STUDENTS STUDY TWO LANGUAGES AND ALL THREE SEPARATE SCIENCES. Our curriculum helps students to prepare for higher education and beyond with a global perspective rooted in our ethos of intellect, empathy and courage. Year 7: On entry our students study the full range of traditional subjects, including Latin, in addition to either French or German as part of an accelerated, two-year Key Stage 3. Year 8: At the start of the year students choose a second language from a wide range which currently includes French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Chinese and Japanese. Year 9: In this year depth of study is the priority and many subjects approach this creatively. All students follow a course in Leadership and Latin becomes a combined Classics and Latin course in preparation for GCSE.
Year 10 and 11: Generally all students take GCSEs in Mathematics, English Language, English Literature, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, two Language subjects and RS plus three subjects chosen from a wide range including at least one Humanity. Sixth Form: From September 2017 all students in the Sixth Form will follow the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). The IBDP consists of six subjects taken at either Higher or Standard level. Alongside an extended essay, study of the Theory of Knowledge (ToK) and elements of Creativity, Action and Service (CAS), the IB provides a world-renowned set of qualifications which prepare our young people to succeed at university and to flourish in our increasingly global society. Please see our website for further details of the subjects we offer at every stage in the school.
INTELLECT, EMPATHY, COURAGE
3
“ This is a caring and supportive school. My three children are here because the sense of community matches the quality of the academic rigour.” Parent
AN IB WORLD SCHOOL
developing compassionate leaders
A sense of
community
5
PARTICIPATION IS CELEBRATED AT BEXLEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL. THE SUPPORTIVE ETHOS OF THE SCHOOL IS DRIVEN BY AN AMAZINGLY VIBRANT HOUSE SYSTEM AND A WIDE RANGE OF EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. These activities help students develop as individuals and as members of teams; they also provide numerous opportunities for leadership. In addition to a busy sports programme, our House system encourages participation in a wide range of activities (over twenty for Year 7 students), which culminate in the hotly contested music, drama and dance competitions. There is a full programme of concerts and plays during the year, an art exhibition and the annual musical production of near West End quality. A typical academic year clocks up about seventy day visits run by all subject areas in addition to a wide
range of residential trips both in the UK and all over the world. We participate in World Challenge, the Jack Petchey Award, the Diana Award and numerous other initiatives; our Language Leaders and Sports Leaders work with primary school children; the list goes on‌ The range of other community groups, including a strong Parents’ Association, is impressive and it is a tribute to the strength of our community that so many past students return as speakers, teachers and governors; we enjoy a strong community bond in our alumni. INTELLECT, EMPATHY, COURAGE
developing compassionate leaders
Outstanding
Individual Support Our team of fully qualified Higher Level Teaching Assistants works with teachers to accommodate any special needs and provide one-toone support. AN IB WORLD SCHOOL
7
Bexley Grammar School values each individual in its community and is constantly looking at ways to ensure no one’s talents are ignored. We support our students when they first arrive by attentive tutoring and allocating trained sixth form peer mentors to each class. Any student struggling for any reason is supported. Our team of fully qualified Higher Level Teaching Assistants works with teachers to accommodate any special needs and provide one-to-one support or booster lessons if required. A school Counsellor is also available to any student who has concerns. We run a homework club from our impressively stocked library, which is equipped with a bank of computers and always has a member of staff available to help. At Bexley Grammar School we have a wide variety of teams of staff and students which work towards one over-arching aim – to support students in their individual pursuit of excellence.
“ Since I came to this school, I have been abroad many times, go to the theatre regularly and have just seen my first opera.” Student
INTELLECT, EMPATHY, COURAGE
Sixth Form 8
developing compassionate leaders
An Inspirational Environment STUDENTS MOVING INTO THE SIXTH FORM ENTER AN INSPIRATIONAL ENVIRONMENT, WHERE THEY ARE FULLY SUPPORTED IN THEIR QUEST FOR ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL SUCCESS. From 2017, all students will follow the International Baccalaureate (IB).The IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) is a very full and well balanced course which develops independence and depth of learning designed to nurture the personal qualities needed for success at university and in a career. Many of our IB students gain places at top universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.
their quest for academic and personal success. Sixth Formers are given many opportunities to be leaders in our school. They can be peer mentors, school/house prefects, sports leaders, subject prefects and leaders of the School Council. The prefect team meets weekly with the Head and Sixth Form leadership, providing the student body with a strong voice.
Nearly all our Year 11 students continue into the Sixth Form where they are joined by strong external students from local schools. Life as a member of the Sixth Form is full, active and rewarding. Students enter an inspirational environment, where they are fully supported in
Key decisions about university subjects and potential future careers are supported by a large team of staff, including tutors, directors of studies, academic mentors, careers advisors and individual needs teachers.
For further information including recent news and results see: www.bexleygs.co.uk
91% OF OUR YEAR 13 STUDENTS WENT ON TO STUDY IN HIGHER EDUCATION, RANKING OUR SCHOOL SEVENTH IN ENGLAND.
“ We are privileged to have such a fantastic school in our area.” Parent
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Bexley Grammar School
Specialist Language College
Ib World School
intellect, empathy, courage
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Bexley Grammar School
Danson Lane Welling Kent DA16 2BL Tel 020 8304 8538 enquiries@bexleygs.co.uk
www.bexleygs.co.uk