IMBERHORNE SCHOOL COMPASSION • ACHIEVEMENT • RESPECT • ENDEAVOUR
2018/2019
ADMISSIONS The school is happy to accept any student we believe will be able to take full advantage of the opportunities available at Imberhorne, as a consequence of this a number of parents living a considerable distance from the school choose to send their children to Imberhorne. The admissions policy of this school is common to all maintained schools in West Sussex. Interested parents are welcome to make an appointment to visit the school. If you wish to make an appointment please contact the main school switchboard where you will be directed to the most appropriate member of staff. Heads of Year and other pastoral staff are always happy to meet with parents and discuss any aspect of transition to the school. Our pupil admission number is currently 270. The procedure relating to transfer to secondary school is managed by West Sussex Local Authority and information about this is available on the West Sussex website: www.westsussex.gov.uk/admissions, alternatively please telephone 033 301 42903 or contact the Pupil Admissions Office either by email at: admissions.north@westsussex.gov.uk or by writing to County Hall North, Chart Way, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 1XH. Free transport is only provided for the Imberhorne catchment area. Those parents who live in the catchment area but less than three miles from the school are expected to make their own travel arrangements, although the school is prepared to negotiate concessions.
“My children have been treated as individuals and encouraged to reach their full potential.” PARENT
THE SCHOOL DAY The day is divided into five, one hour teaching periods. In addition to this, students have time for form-based activities and assembly in the mornings. Lunch and break times are supervised by teaching staff and allow students to access our canteen facilities as well as make use of the library, participate in clubs or socialise with friends. • • • • • • • •
Registration/assembly Period 1 Period 2 Morning break Period 3 Period 4 Lunch break Period 5
8.40am – 8.55am 8.55am 9.55am 10.55am – 11.20am 11.20am 12.20pm 1.20pm – 2.00pm 2.00pm
Students in Key Stage 4 (Year 10 and 11) as well as students in the Sixth Form may also have twilight lessons which commence at 3.00pm.
ETHOS AND VALUES Imberhorne is a caring, friendly school built on strong relationships and a clear sense of purpose that drives us to do the best we can for every individual. We believe our students are successful, happy, well-rounded individuals who thrive on the challenge and support we provide.
students’ journey through the school. They compile a record of achievement demonstrating the contributions they have made as good citizens both within the school and the wider community; the graduation scheme recognises the outstanding personal qualities our students demonstrate.
The school is focussed on every student achieving the best they can and realising their full potential. We aim to provide a curriculum that inspires and motivates, taking time to reflect on how we teach and how students learn most effectively. We think it is important to establish high expectations and want our students to develop a passion for learning fuelled by an ambition to be as successful as they can be.
Pastoral Care and Working Together
We try to ensure our students are both challenged and supported in equal measure whilst recognising they have a responsibility to participate fully in order to maximise their learning. They must therefore, be prepared to work hard, set demanding personal targets and have the self belief to meet such expectations.
Rewards and Recognition We take every opportunity we can to recognise and celebrate the successes of our students. In both Key Stage 3 and 4 students earn achievement points for working well and being helpful members of our community. Celebration assemblies are held for students to show how much we value their endeavours and good behaviour. Staff send praise emails directly to parents in recognition of outstanding effort, achievement or conduct. At the end of Year 9 we hold a celebration evening to recognise the contributions students have made in Key Stage 3 prior to transition to our Imberhorne Lane site. At the end of Year 11 we hold a graduation evening to celebrate
On entry to the school, students are allocated to a mixed ability form group. All form groups are overseen by a Head of Year who, along with the form staff and other pastoral staff, support the welfare and wellbeing of all students. Our pastoral team are very experienced and offer a wide range of expertise; this includes a number of non-teaching staff with different roles. Key amongst them are: a Pastoral Assistant who will, along with the Head of Year, be a first point of contact for students and parents; an Inclusion Manager, responsible for outreach work and attendance; a Learning Mentor helping individuals overcome specific barriers to learning and a Support Assistant working with more vulnerable students as they adapt to our environment. Working alongside of the pastoral team we also offer a counselling service with two trained counsellors who support students with more significant needs. There is a really strong sense of community within the school. Staff, students and parents support a wide range of activities and events beyond the curriculum, reflecting the varied opportunities we aim to provide for our students. All strong communities rely upon good citizenship. We expect our students to demonstrate personal responsibility in the way they conduct themselves, showing respect, tolerance and commitment to both staff and their fellow students.
“The curriculum is outstanding in meeting the individual and often complex needs of all groups of students.� OFSTED
THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM Students at Imberhorne follow the National Curriculum. The programme of study remains common to all students in Key Stage 3 with an element of their curriculum devoted to personal development, particularly in Year 7. In Year 9 slightly more flexibility appears with students starting to study a second modern foreign language whilst others may express interest in a more skills based curriculum option. In Key Stage 4, students make choices about their programmes of study with an optional element to their curriculum. We provide a pathways system to help students combine different options with the aim of retaining a broad and balanced curriculum that is also able to meet the individual needs of students. A significant majority of our students stay on to study in the Sixth Form. We are able to offer an extensive programme of A Level courses as well as a mixture of vocational courses. Please visit the school website for further details about study in the Sixth Form.
CURRICULUM ENRICHMENT AND SUPPORT We offer a huge range of trips and extra-curricular opportunities throughout the year encouraging students to participate in events and activities when possible. We believe that such opportunities enhance students’ personal and social development. We can provide financial assistance to help support individuals upon request.
“Imberhorne encourages students to become independent young adults.” PARENT
We seek to quickly identify students arriving at the school who are below the expected levels in English and mathematics, providing timely interventions and boosters to move them on as rapidly as we can. Support is available as required in Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4. When appropriate, students can access such support, often working in small groups and/or with one to one specialist help to address their specific needs. Details about the range of curriculum opportunities available to students in Key Stage 4 can be accessed through the school website. We have a number of high-achieving students and continually look for ways to extend and challenge them in their studies and beyond lessons. Many subjects offer such extension opportunities, in addition to this we also offer the Higher Project Qualification in Key Stage 4 and the Extended Project Qualification in Key Stage 5 for students to demonstrate their independent study skills and to pursue specialist areas of interest.
SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES (SEND) Our aim is to ensure the personal, social and educational integration of students with special needs and/or disabilities, so that they receive a broad and balanced education. The school’s provision for students with additional needs is in line with SEND Code of Practice. Support can be accessed in a range of ways from in-class support to small group work. We have also developed Support Hubs on both sites which are staffed by specialists. Students can access individual help at any time during the school day. The Leader of Learning for SEND works in close conjunction with the primary schools to ascertain those students most likely to have particular needs. All new entrants to Imberhorne are tested in reading and spelling skills with further diagnostic tests given to those whose reading and spelling scores indicate they are in need of some intervention.
SPIRITUAL, MORAL, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT Values are very important in a school community. We organise our curriculum to best promote opportunities for spiritual, moral and cultural development believing that our lives are enriched through our ability to connect with deeper meaning. Questions about existence and purpose will often arise in teenage minds; there should therefore be a willingness to look beyond our immediate environment in order to consider ourselves as global citizens. This means that students need to engage with issues of diversity and to reflect upon social and cultural traditions whilst exploring their own values and beliefs. Such thinking is not separate to the more academic aspects of the curriculum and naturally arises out of studying literature, the arts and science. All students in Years 7 – 11 attend assembly twice a week. In assemblies we promote the values and qualities we think are central to the school and the development of young people. We focus on values and personal qualities within the whole curriculum and specifically within our personal development lessons. In these sessions we focus on aspects of citizenship as well as moral, emotional and social education.
“Safeguarding procedures and their impact are outstanding.�
OFSTED
SCHOOL UNIFORM School uniform identifies students with Imberhorne School and should be worn with pride and a sense of responsibility. We believe the uniform is smart and practical, ensuring students are comfortable in a range of different classroom settings. The school has a clear and firm policy on uniform and we ask parents to study our guidance carefully and give it their full support. This helps us avoid having to spend valuable time reminding students about particular details. School uniform is available to purchase from our online uniform shop. We are introducing a new uniform in September 2018. All students in Year 7, 8 and 9 will wear the new uniform from that date. Any families experiencing financial hardship should contact the school in confidence regarding help with purchasing uniform.
HOMEWORK Learning to work independently is an essential part of every student’s education. The regular setting of homework helps reinforce knowledge, develop essential skills and builds students’ capacity to work independently. Students receive an appropriate amount of homework per week, including some extended projects. Homework is made available through our online learning gateway. This is a web-based information point for students and parents. Students can either record their homework in provided diaries or they access it online. Alternatively students can ensure they synchronise their personal digital device with the school calendar, enabling their homework to be viewed directly in their own online calendar.
“All teachers I have had contact with, work incredibly hard to offer a great learning experience at Imberhorne.” OFSTED
“Enrichment clubs in arts and extra-curricular clubs have excellent participation rates and are commented on positively by students and by parents and carers on both sites.” OFSTED
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS At Imberhorne we really value the experiences and opportunities that arise out of extra-curricular trips and activities. Students are enriched personally and educationally by participating, with others, in activities beyond the classroom. Learning about World War 1 by visiting the battlefields in France and seeing the trenches that soldiers fought in can be a profoundly moving experience, equally visiting the theatre for a show develops one’s appreciation of acting and performance. We try to offer students a variety of such experiences across the curriculum. We manage the running of trips and activities in a way that minimises the impact on school and school resources. Where an activity is part of the syllabus and contributes directly to a student’s preparation for public exams we cannot charge for the activity although may ask for contributions to cover transport and other incidental costs. There are guidelines covering all other events, trips and activities, which we must adhere to. Many of our activities and trips overlap with the school day meaning that we are not allowed to simply charge parents for the costs associated with them. Instead we ask for voluntary contributions and are clear that unless all parents, who are able, make a contribution we are unlikely to able to run the activity or trip. Help is always available to support families who, because of the circumstances, are unable to meet such costs.
IMBERHORNE SCHOOL
TELEPHONE
KS3, KS4 and all enquiries T 01342 323562 Sixth Form T 01342 310986
ADDRESS Upper School (KS4 and Sixth Form) Imberhorne School Imberhorne Lane East Grinstead RH19 1QY
EMAILS Lower School (KS3) Imberhorne School Windmill Lane East Grinstead RH19 2DT
Enquiries info@imberhorne.co.uk
SCHOOL WEBSITE Please visit us at www.imberhorne.co.uk for more information about the school including current news and our fortnightly publication ‘contact’ describing different events and activities.
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