Shaftesbury School Aspiration Action Achievement
“Good quality of education” Ofsted, 2017
Principal’s Welcome Welcome to Shaftesbury School; a place of learning for over 200 years. The school and the town have seen many changes over the years but what has not changed is our commitment to education and our core values ‘aspiration, action, achievement’ for all pupils. I was honoured to be appointed as Principal in June 2017 and I hope that the welcome I offer you here is as warm as the one I received. At Shaftesbury School, we have high expectations from all those in our community - consistently outstanding teaching and learning from staff, and exemplary behaviour and a commitment from students which allows us to focus on the individual’s strengths and talents. We are a school that recognises that every child deserves the very best and ‘challenge’ is not just for the few. The classroom experience is enriched further by the non-academic learning programme and an extremely broad extra-curricular offering. We believe in providing students with as many opportunities as possible. The school is also one of 38 state boarding schools in the country and this provides a unique atmosphere to our community and one that we are extremely proud of. We value the diversity and internationalism that our boarders bring and recognise how valuable their contribution can be. We are a local school, with an international outlook. When asked by visitors what makes Shaftesbury School the right choice for them, the students, without exception, always refer to the relationships between all those in our school community. Trust in each other, high expectations of each other and respect for each other are key elements to ensuring these relationships go from strength to strength. Our Christian ethos is promoted through and by these relationships, ensuring that students are able to live life to the full and become the best they can be. Thank you for your interest in Shaftesbury School and I look forward to welcoming you to our school.
Tim Farrer Principal
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Shaftesbury School
“An unwavering commitment to pupils’ safety and welfare” Ofsted, 2017
Academic The curriculum at Shaftesbury School is designed to provide a broad education and to give students the opportunity to achieve their potential. Students study the National Curriculum with an emphasis on the English Baccalaureate at Key Stage 4 for year 10 and year 11. We have high expectations for our students and teaching and learning across the school is at the core of everything we do. Teaching is tailored to students’ needs and there is a support structure in place to ensure all students reach their full potential. Students are taught using a range of techniques and are challenged by teaching staff to achieve the best outcomes. The school has a calm, relaxed environment but one where students are held to the highest standards of behaviour and conduct. Please look at our website for further information on the curriculum.
Pastoral Care & Support
“Pupils have good relationships with each other and with staff” Ofsted, 2017
Pastoral care is a key feature and strength of Shaftesbury School. There are dedicated staff to support students emotionally through their education and also to ensure they achieve the best outcomes. The tutor, the House Progress Leader and Year Progress Leader will support students throughout their time in school alongside a programme of work within each year group covering careers guidance, E-Safety, sexual health and relationships, and general emotional health and wellbeing.
www.shaftesburyschool.co.uk
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“Pupils are well cared for at school and feel safe” Ofsted, 2017
Extra-curricular & Sport At Shaftesbury School we believe that education is not just textbooks and exams and we provide a vast range of extracurricular activities, clubs and events designed to supplement the work that takes place in classrooms. All of our activities are an important and exciting feature of school life and contribute enormously to our students’ academic and social development. Inter-house competitions are held each year in a variety of sports and our school sports teams compete across the South West. Our Handball teams in 2018, both girls and boys under15s, won the Dorset championships and our under-15s girls and boys won the Southampton FC South West selection tournament. Our girls under-15s were county cup runners-up in football in 2018 and our basketball teams have long been recognised as some of the best in the area. Our climbing wall and tennis courts are also both used by local clubs that many of our students join. We offer students the chance to experience a variety of other cultures both at home and abroad including a ski trip, Spanish exchange and visits to WWI battlefields in France and Belgium. Visits to exhibitions, museums and theatres give students across the school the chance to broaden their horizons. Many of our students participate in music lessons and choir and there are several opportunities each year to showcase talent. There is support for those looking to progress to higher education with a lecture experience day at Bath Spa University, UCAS support day and a visit to the National Apprenticeship Show. We aim to broaden students’ aspirations and horizons by providing a range of guest speakers from local and national employers.
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Shaftesbury School
Sixth Form “Pupils respect their teachers and, in particular, they appreciate the extra help that many teachers offer them at lunchtime and after school” Ofsted, 2017
The Sixth Form at Shaftesbury School is an excellent place to continue your education. Our Sixth Form centres on 3 key principles, which we believe underpin success and development in every student; Transition, Enrichment and Progression. The process begins with students receiving the highest level of support when deciding the correct pathway to study. Starting Post 16 learning can be a challenge but we aim to provide the tools to ensure the transition is smooth. To help acclimatise to the change, students have exclusive access to a Study Centre equipped with computer access, alongside a Sixth Form Café providing a place to relax between studies. All students are timetabled for an enrichment activity, including formal qualifications such as Core Maths, the Arts Award, Young Enterprise Company Programme and the Duke of Edinburgh Award. We have an active Senior Student team that work in partnership with the school and wider community. Our dedicated careers coordinator will support students to find work experience placements and internships within subject departments. To help prepare students for the world of work we invite local employers to complete a mock interview for every student. Sixth Form students will also receive complimentary access to our fitness suite and can access over 20 sports clubs during their time here. Ensuring students are prepared to take their next step is vital, so Sixth Form students are given a range of activities to prepare them for their chosen progression route. Results in the Sixth Form are excellent with many students matriculating to their first choice universities including Oxford, Cambridge and other Russell Group universities. Our students also leave Sixth Form and enter a variety of apprenticeships or employment opportunities on a local, national and international level. Further information about the Sixth Form and how to apply can be found in the Sixth Form brochure and also by visiting the website: www.shaftesburyschool.co.uk/sixth-form/
www.shaftesburyschool.co.uk
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“Parents believe their child is happy at school and is kept safe” Ofsted, 2017
Boarding at Shaftesbury School Shaftesbury School is a member of the State Boarding Forum and offers boarding education to boys and girls aged 11-18. Boarders join the school at various stages of their education to study GCSEs or A-Levels and live in the comfortable, modern and vibrant Barton Hill House. Our priority is that your son or daughter enjoys their boarding experience whilst making the progress they and you expect. Although small in number, boarders are a fundamental part of the school and are fully integrated in to school life. Boarders join the school for many reasons but all are happy and excited by the opportunities on offer. They are often amongst the highest performing students in the school and boarders make excellent academic progress (Ofsted 2017). The boarding programme is overseen by the Head of Boarding, who works with other boarding staff to make Barton Hill House a friendly and welcoming home, which is informal and relaxed yet focused on achieving academic success. The majority of the staff who work in boarding are full-time boarding staff although there are plenty of school staff who have additional boarding house duties. This provides a nice balance between school and ‘home’ and there is always someone boarders can talk to. Each boarder is assigned a mentor with whom they meet formally once per term but boarders can talk to any member of staff at any time. Boarders are all registered with the local doctor and students are well looked after when unwell and off school. Meals are served in a relaxed style in our dining room at the boarding house and are prepared daily by our catering team. Boarders have all their meals in the boarding house, apart from their lunch during the day which they have in the school dining hall. Fruit, juice and water are provided throughout the day and students can use the small kitchen to make hot drinks and snacks. Barton Hill House is a short walk from the centre of Shaftesbury and students are free to sign-out and visit the town.
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Shaftesbury School
Shaftesbury School Aspiration Action Achievement
Salisbury Road, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8ER Tel: 01747 854498 E-mail: office@shaftesburyschool.co.uk www.shaftesburyschool.co.uk
Shaftesbury School is part of Southern Academy Trust, a charitable private company, limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales, company number: 09040388 Registered office address: Shaftesbury School, Salisbury Road, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8ER
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