Gillotts
Introduction Gillotts is a high performing school. Students make very good progress and achieve high academic standards as a consequence of the commitment and professionalism of our staff, and of the quality of the overall school experience. We celebrate achievement in the widest sense and see everyone as an individual, capable of growth, change and development. We seek to communicate the joy of learning, fostering a spirit of enquiry and an independence of mind. Gillotts is committed to innovation and development. We put students at the centre and seek to give each a personalised experience of the school – through the curriculum, in lessons and in monitoring of progress. As a high performing school, we have two specialisms – in Mathematics & Computing and in Languages – a reflection of the level of excellence across the school. Working in partnership with parents, we prepare young people to become lifelong learners as well as effective and responsible citizens, equipped with the skills for life and for work.
“ Working in partnership with parents, we prepare young people to become lifelong learners as well as effective and responsible citizens.”
I hope that these pages will give you a flavour of the school. If you want to know more, do come and visit us. You would be very welcome.
Catharine Darnton Headteacher
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Non Nobis Solum Not By Ourselves Alone The school is a community of 900 students, aged 11 to 16, and about 120 adults, of whom about 60 are teachers. We pride ourselves on being a school where students are known as individuals, which is facilitated by our mixed aged tutor groups of fewer than 25 students.
“ We celebrate achievement in the widest sense and see everyone as an individual, capable of growth, change and development.”
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Gillotts is also at the centre of the community it serves – Henley and the surrounding villages in south-east Oxfordshire. We have very close relationships with our partner primary schools which are supported by the outreach work for our two specialisms. Partnership with Henley College is strong and developing, with increasing joint provision to support our curriculum flexibility for older students.
Setting Targets Students learn best when they understand where they are in their learning, and where they are going – and are supported to take the next steps. We use assessment as an integral part of the teaching process, helping students become partners with teachers in their learning, to enable them to achieve their targets.
Learning to Learn We prepare our students to be lifelong learners in a changing world by helping them to understand how they learn best. We actively develop the skills that they will need – managing information, problem solving, working independently and working as a team – as well as nurturing the social and emotional aspects of learning.
Student Voice Gillotts’ student leadership structures mirror the staff leadership structures. Students are an essential part of our staff recruitment process and are trained to give teachers feedback on their lessons. Older students act as mentors and counsellors for younger ones in their vertical tutor groups.
Vertical Tutoring Each student belongs to a mixed age tutor group of fewer than 25 students. The form tutor monitors the academic progress and well-being of each individual on a daily basis. The tutor groups are arranged into six houses – Athena, Brigantia, Calliope, Itzamna, Morrigan and Zephyrus, led by a Head of House who works closely with both form tutors and parents, as well as with outside agencies, where necessary.
Mentoring Students gain additional support through Gillotts’ mentoring programmes. Year 11 students act as mentors for younger students, supporting them with study skills, revision planning and managing the demands of examinations. Senior staff mentor students in the key GCSE years.
Advice and Guidance
“ We prepare our students to be lifelong learners in a changing world by helping them to understand how they learn best.”
We provide support and guidance for both students and parents at all the key transition points, as well as parental workshops on topics of general interest.
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A Motivating Curriculum Gillotts offers a flexible curriculum to meet the needs of all learners, from challenging the most able to providing alternative routes for those for whom a traditional academic path is not appropriate. Students can enter for GCSEs early and AS level courses are available in some subjects in Years 10 and 11.
“ We put students at the centre and seek to give each a personalised experience of the school.”
A Wide Variety Of Activities Our extra curricular programme is varied with Drama, Dance, Music and PE all adding vibrancy to the student experience. In addition, study support is available, either for specific subjects or through our well resourced Open Learning Centre.
Specialist Impact Gillotts has been a specialist school in Mathematics & Computing since 2003. As a result of the combination of a very good Ofsted inspection and excellent GCSE results in 2007, the school was designated as High Performing and invited to take on a second specialism in Languages, which is bringing an international dimension to the school’s character. We have used the specialist subjects to support the development of innovative practice in teaching and learning across the school. The additional funding available has enabled us to develop our IT facilities – computers, laptops, interactive whiteboards and other digital technologies are used across the curriculum.
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New Technologies
Developing our facilities
The school is very well equipped with computers and all students start a GCSE in IT in Year 8. Our virtual learning environment, accessible over the internet, has broken down barriers between home and school learning and is supporting our students in developing as independent learners.
Gillotts’ location is inspirational as the school is set on the edge of Henley and occupies a 40 acre site that includes a Victorian manor house and two associated cottages. We continue to seek to develop what we have to ensure students and staff have the best environment for 21st century teaching and learning.
Developing our staff We know that our staff are our most valuable resource. For the school to be innovative and forward-looking, we must have a highly skilled workforce whose ongoing development needs are met. Time for staff development is set aside each week and our leadership and management structures support individual progress, which in turn supports the progress of students.
The school in the community Gillotts prides itself on a strong identity and sense of self which is rooted in the school as a community. As the sole secondary school in Henley, it is also strongly attached to the town – our partner primaries and Henley College, as well as local charities and businesses.
Gillotts School Gillotts Lane Henley on Thames Oxon RG9 1PS Tel: 01491 574315 Email: office.4055@gillotts.oxon.sch.uk
Gillotts