Stretford Grammar School
Inspiring ambition and aspiration
“Students make an outstanding contribution to a highly aspirational learning and harmonious school community.” Ofsted 2012
Support • Challenge • Succeed
Welcome to Stretford Grammar School
Thank you for taking time to find out more about our school.
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tretford Grammar School is a co-educational foundation grammar school with Specialist Status in Mathematics and Science, offering students from a wide variety of backgrounds the opportunity to achieve the highest levels of academic achievement. This ambition and aspiration is expressed in the ethos of the school, the day to day activities and lessons, as well as the external recognition which we receive through our success in GCSE and A Level examinations. We do all this in the context of a disciplined environment where relationships are built upon mutual respect and courtesy. Indeed, visitors frequently comment on the harmonious atmosphere within school. Ofsted recently noted that a crucial factor in the results achieved was the positive relationships between staff and students. The fact that we are a small school only serves to facilitate these relationships and, consequently, students very quickly feel part of the community. Therefore, promoting an environment which instils self-discipline and engenders effective teaching and learning is central to all that we do at Stretford Grammar School. The high expectations which we have in terms of work, behaviour and appearance are key indicators that students belong to a caring school community. Students benefit from the high level of expertise, commitment and enthusiasm which staff bring to their work. However, staff cannot do it all on their own and so, underpinning our work, is the fostering of strong home/school partnerships. When parents/ carers take an active interest in the work of their child, achievement and progress are demonstrably higher.
Of course, our ultimate aim is to ensure that all students fulfil their potential within a safe environment focused on teaching and learning. Therefore, just and firm discipline are prerequisites for ensuring that high standards of behaviour and a purposeful and friendly environment are maintained. By ensuring that all students achieve, we are confident that they will develop the necessary skills to meet the challenges ahead and to lead successful, happy lives. As a caring and happy school with excellent working relationships, pastoral care and guidance is essential in ensuring that students have the right information to make informed decisions about their lives. However, it is also important that every student has an opportunity to shine. Consequently, we are committed to supporting opportunities which enable students to find an activity in which to succeed. Finally, we are well aware of the trust that parents/ carers place in the school and that is why we will invest time and energy in order to find the difference, which will make the difference, for each and every student. Mr. Michael Mullins. Headteacher.
Success through challenge and engagement
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he school aims to provide a broad and balanced curriculum and, as a result, follows the National Curriculum at Key Stage 3. We have high expectations of the academic standards which students will achieve and of the quality of the work they will produce. We seek to develop their knowledge and understanding so that students will not only be able to thrive upon leaving school, but also continue learning throughout their lives. As well as following the National Curriculum, students have the opportunity to learn Mandarin in Year 7 and study Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship (PSHCE), as well as Drama. Cross-curricular days are undertaken to develop the Personal Learning and Thinking Skills of the students. These skills form a key component of our Science Specialism days and are key themes which run throughout programmes of study in Key Stage 3. At Key Stage 4, as well as studying English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Religious Studies, PSHCE and Core PE, students can choose from a range of subjects including Art, Business Studies, Computing, Food Technology, Electronics, Music, Geography, History, Drama, GCSE PE, Triple Science, French and Spanish. Our underlying philosophy is to ensure that students study a balanced curriculum before specialising in the Sixth Form. Students also have the opportunity to experience Sociology and Psychology in Key Stage 3, as well as Astronomy and an additional Free Standing Maths Qualification (FSMQ) in Key Stage 4.
Support • Challenge • Succeed
Within the Sixth Form, the school provides a range of academic subjects which meet the needs of all our students, the vast majority of whom go on to well regarded universities. Subjects available include Art, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Design and Technology (Product Design), English Language, English Literature, French, Geography, Government and Politics, History, ICT, Maths, Further Maths, Music, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, Spanish and Sports Studies.
“Students have an excellent awareness of other faiths and cultures other than their own and demonstrate tolerance and respect.� Ofsted 2012
“Above all, students engage in learning with great enthusiasm, cooperation and exceptional aspiration.” Ofsted 2012
Support • Challenge • Succeed
Success through challenge and engagement
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he school recognises the importance of students gaining a practical understanding of the world of work. There is a well-established programme of work experience and careers guidance.
Work Related Learning The school recognises the importance of students gaining a practical understanding of the world of work with a well-established programme of work experience and careers guidance. Collaboration with local employers to provide work experience placements has led to other forms of partnership, establishing a closer link between the school and local business community. Work related learning is delivered as an integral aspect of school life and students have a range of opportunities to develop their business acumen through enterprise and STEM days. Both the school and employers want our students to have the very best work experience to prepare them for future challenges of work.
Homework Homework is a valuable part of the learning process which helps students to make greater progress and to develop their independent learning skills. It extends students’ learning beyond the classroom and enables them to practise skills learned in more depth. By becoming more creative in their thinking, students become more engaged in their work. To support this process students are issued with a homework timetable and a planner in which to record the work set for each subject.
We ask parents and carers to play an active part in supporting their child by providing the appropriate conditions at home for them to work. In addition, school runs a number of evenings to provide additional advice and guidance on how parents/carers can provide support for their children at home.
Assessment, Reporting & Rewards Students have targets for achievement in each subject; the monitoring of their progress towards these targets is through the pastoral system. Each half term, parents/carers receive a grade sheet outlining the progress made towards these targets. Full written reports are produced once per year, generally following the end of year examination. Regular contact with school is encouraged through the Progress Leader and Form Tutors. Students are regularly rewarded through a comprehensive rewards system. Commendations are awarded for excellent work, contributions in class, particular acts of endeavour and contributions to the wider school community. Commendation points can be traded at the Rewards Cupboard for stationery items and certificates are awarded through Year Group assemblies. There is also a Rewards trip at the end of each academic year.
A tailored experience in a friendly and supportive environment Sixth Form Provision
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s well as being popular with our own students, each year a significant number of students join the Sixth Form from other local schools. As a grammar school, the academic qualifications that we offer are A Levels, which consist of two stages, AS and A2. All students study four AS subjects in Year 12, as well as General Studies, before specialising in three subjects at A2 Level. A range of enrichment opportunities enable students to contribute to the wider community and to gain experience and skills in preparation for Higher Education. In addition, work and enterprise-based activities prepare students for the world of work. This combination of enrichment and a resolute focus on ensuring standards, has resulted in Stretford Grammar School being ranked in the top 20% of Sixth Forms (ALPs), based on students’ progress, for the last three years. The Sixth Form is an integral part of the school and rightly sets the standards to which we want our younger students to aspire. It therefore plays an important role in supporting the work of the school through mentoring programmes, year group assemblies, school council meetings and whole school charity events.
Support • Challenge • Succeed
“The Sixth Form offers a broad range of high quality GCE and AS and A Level courses.” Ofsted 2012
“The behaviour of students is outstanding and they make an exceptional contribution to a harmonious and aspirational school community.” Ofsted 2012
Support • Challenge • Succeed
Working in Partnership
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s a particularly harmonious school with a rich and diverse community, we want all of our parents/carers to be fully involved in the life of the school. We know that children make greatest progress when their parents/carers take an interest in their work.
Through our curriculum we seek to develop greater community cohesion by developing a common vision and sense of belonging within both the local and wider area. To this end, the school is involved in a number of projects including redeveloping the gardens of Longford Park, consolidating the skills of students who have English as an Additional language and fostering links with local primary schools through activities for Year 5 and 6 pupils in Technology, Business Studies and Music. As a result we value and celebrate the diversity of our community and endeavour to develop strong, positive working relationships. We seek to nurture a positive environment where students are able to explore issues from different perspectives and to work in collaboration with their peers and the wider community.
“Relationships throughout the school are excellent� Ofsted 2012
“Students respond with excitement to the variety of learning opportunities provided.” Ofsted 2012
Support • Challenge • Succeed
Extra-curricular provision
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t the heart of our extensive enrichment programme is the ambition to provide every student with the opportunity to succeed in school life. Therefore, students benefit from a range of extra-curricular opportunities at Stretford Grammar School. As well as the opportunity to participate on school sports teams, a range of extracurricular clubs exist including Drama, Gardening and Debate and a number of musical activities, including choir, orchestra and Brass Ensemble. In addition, school trips both at home and abroad feature throughout the year. Trips to Spain, France, Auschwitz, USA, the Welsh Mountains, as well as Year 9 Bushcraft Survival Week, all provide opportunities for students to enhance and heighten their cultural awareness. Students develop independence and decision making skills through expeditions to Morocco and Romania which seek to build on the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme in which all students in Year 9 have the opportunity to participate and which culminates in the Silver Award in Year 12. Opportunities like these provide every student with the opportunity to shine and are the result of a committed staff ensuring that every student can experience success in some form through their schooling.
Finding the difference that makes the difference Admission to Stretford Grammar School
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tretford Grammar School is a Foundation Grammar School and therefore is its own admissions authority. Admission to Stretford Grammar School is by way of an entrance examination for children in their last year of primary school. Details of the procedures and the Admissions Policy are published on the school website at www.stretfordgrammar.com Reassessment of a student following an unsuccessful test result can be arranged following an intervening twelve month period. In-year admissions in Years 7 to 11 are sometimes possible depending on the availability of places in the appropriate year group. Parents and carers should enquire directly to the school. Entrance to the Sixth Form is through the fulfilment of the minimum requirements of five GCSE passes – four at Grade B and one at Grade C. Full details are available in the Sixth Form Admissions Policy.
Support • Challenge • Succeed
Stretford Grammar School Headteacher: Mr. M. Mullins Granby Road, Stretford, Manchester M32 8JB Telephone: 0161 865 2293 Facsimile: 0161 866 9938 Email: admin@stretfordgrammar.com Website: www.stretfordgrammar.com