Committed to
Excellence
John Colet School 1
History of the School The school opened in the 1950s, catering for children between the ages of 11 and 15. At this time the school had around 400 students. During the 1960s it expanded when the Modern Languages and Humanities blocks and the Gym were built. In the 1980s a lot of dramatic changes to the school took place. In 1982 the Biology Labs were built, before major renovation in 1989 saw the original part of the school being demolished because maintenance costs were too high, with the school being substantially rebuilt over the following three years. The school now has over 1000 pupils aged 11 to 18. John Colet was born in London in 1467. His father was a wealthy merchant, Sir Henry Colet, who was twice lord mayor of London. Colet studied at Oxford University and was ordained deacon in 1497, and priest shortly afterwards. He travelled in France and Italy and then returned to teach at Oxford. Colet’s great friendship with the Dutch scholar Erasmus began around 1498. Colet was a leading exponent of Humanism, in returning to the scriptures, believing that the study of the bible was the only route to holiness, and as a result attacked abuses and idolatry in the church, Colet anticipated the Reformation, although he himself would never have considered a formal breach with the Catholic Church. His views were too radical for some and in 1512 he was accused of heresy by the bishop of London. The case was later dismissed. Colet became dean of St Paul’s in 1505, a position he held until his death. In the same year as this appointment, Colet inherited a great fortune from his father which he used to endow a school, St Paul’s, re-founded in 1509. He wrote statutes to dictate how the school should be run and remained highly influential in its early years. Colet died on 10 September 1519.
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The school’s ethos is based on hard work and mutual respect. School leaders promote these values well to pupils, parents and staff. Consequently, pupils report that they are well supported to achieve, no matter what their background or ethnicity. Leaders promote fairness and equality thoroughly so that pupils are respectful and understanding of each other’s differences. OFSTED, MAY 2016
Leaders at all levels have taken effective steps to improve teaching so that teaching is now of a high quality in the majority of subjects across the school OFSTED, MAY 2016
Headteacher Introduction At John Colet School we want students to progress both academically and in terms of their character. They can achieve the first of these goals with the support of staff, by having a positive attitude to learning in the classroom and showing determination and effort to succeed in everything they undertake. A student’s character is formed first and foremost at home under the guidance and example of parents and carers. In school a wide range of extracurricular opportunities in which students are able to participate and lead will ensure that the young people in our care leave as well-developed individuals of good character who are confident and capable to make a contribution to society. This is a good school that is striving to become better in all aspects of its work through being committed to excellence. If you would like to learn more about JCS please do not hesitate to make contact. Patrick Harty Headteacher
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Academic
Development
The curriculum is appropriately matched to pupils’ needs. All pupils can study a wide range of academic subjects, including a language in key stage 4. Leaders have reviewed the curriculum in key stages 4 and 5 so that they can offer further options as well as incorporate the recent changes to qualifications. As a result, more pupils are developing a mastery and depth of understanding of different subjects. OFSTED, MAY 2016
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Learners in the sixth form do well. They are well supported and guided, so that more of them are now going into further education, employment or training.
Curriculum
OFSTED, MAY 2016
Teaching and learning at John Colet School aims to be engaging, challenging and purposeful. Students are expected to be active learners and teachers are expected to provide lessons which help equip young people with the knowledge, skills and understanding to enable success. Students should know where they are with their learning, where their learning is going and how they will achieve their goals. Excellent formative feedback from the teacher can enable students to be reflective and independent learners as they progress each lesson.
In Year 9 all core subject, English, Mathematics and Science are taught in ability sets. Detail of subject content can be found in the curriculum section of the school website. Core
• • • •
Optional
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
John Colet School offers a broad and balanced curriculum in Key Stage 3 consisting of: • • • • • • •
English Mathematics Science History Geography Religious Education Modern Foreign Languages (French and Spanish)
• • • • • • •
Art Drama Music Design and Technology Physical Education Computing Personal, Social and Health Education
In Years 7 and 8 students are taught in mixed ability tutor group classes for the majority of lessons. Maths and English set from January of Year 7. Due to the increased demand of the GCSE examinations introduced in recent years at John Colet we run Key Stage 4 over three years: Years 9-11. With most subjects having no coursework and examinations that are taken at the end of Year 11 this provides students with the opportunity for a firm grounding in their chosen subjects and time for thorough revision at the end of the course. The core and optional subjects currently available are given below. Most students take four optional subjects, which, taken with GCSE Combined Science, would lead to 9 GCSEs. Students taking GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics would complete 11 GCSE qualifications.
GCSE English Language GCSE English Literature GCSE Mathematics GCSE Combined Science or GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics • PE • Personal, Social and Health Education GCSE Art GCSE Business Studies GCSE Computing GCSE Drama GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition GCSE French GCSE Geography GCSE Graphic Products GCSE History GCSE Music GCSE Photography GCSE Physical Education GCSE Religious Education GCSE Spanish OCR National Information Technology
In the Sixth Form a range of A Levels and BTEC subjects are offered at Level 3 as outlined in the Sixth Form prospectus and relevant section of the school website.
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Teaching is good. Teachers follow the school’s procedures for planning and assessment effectively so that pupils work hard and make progress. Teachers have high expectation of pupils and use the school’s systems appropriately to reward and support pupils well. OFSTED, MAY 2016
Homework Students working at home is important because: • It reinforces the principle that learning is a process that cannot be confined to school hours. • It allows students time to pursue work to a greater depth. • It provides students with the experience of working quietly in their own time to further develop their study and independent learning skills. Homework is set online via Show My Homework (SMHW), www.showmyhomework.co.uk, for which students are issued with login details. Parents are encouraged to monitor their child’s homework via this site and are also issued with their own login details. Homework is an area where the partnership between school and parents can help the students. Parents should ensure that students do their homework under suitable conditions, ideally in a quiet, dedicated space where the completion of the work can be monitored. By showing an interest in what is set from Year 7 parents help to establish the importance of homework and set clear structures that will help your child throughout their schooling.
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School Day At JCS lessons are each one hour with five lessons per day apart from Tuesday when students have four lessons. A voluntary Homework Club runs for an hour after school each day. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Tuesday
Registration
8.30am
Registration
8.30am
Period 1
8.55am
Period 1
8.55am
Period 2
9.55am
Period 2
9.55am
Break
10.55am
Break
10.55am
Period 3
11.15am
Period 3
11.15am
Period 4
12.15am
Period 4
12.15am
Lunch
1.15pm
Lunch
1.15pm
Period 5
1.55pm
Registration
1.55pm
End of Formal Day
2.55pm
End of Formal Day
2.00pm
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Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) The Learning Support Department provides a wide range of support for students who experience difficulties in accessing the curriculum. The nature of this support, which could be long or short term, depends on the needs of the individual. The support may take the form of individual, group or class-based intervention. The length of time will be determined by the intervention required and the progress the student makes. Interventions are reviewed regularly and recommended teaching strategies for these students are available to all teachers. For students who need additional support and guidance during transition into John Colet, a short term intensive programme is provided that equips students with the skills needed, and remove the barriers to learning. Literacy programmes take place during the school day and the department also operates a Homework Club after school for all students. Learning Support Assistants provide classroom support for a range of subjects.
Library The Library provides all the resources required to enable students to become independent learners in a calm, quiet and supportive environment. The Library is open: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday Tuesday Friday
8.20 to 4.00 pm 8.20 to 3.00 pm 8.20 to 3.30 pm
Students are allowed to borrow three books at a time. The department works closely with feeder schools, endeavouring to provide a smooth transition from primary to secondary for students with special educational needs. The SEND Manager visits feeder schools with our transition team to gather information on students. Students with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) are also welcome to look around the school after the secondary places are published. Parents are encouraged to contact the SEND Manager or the SEND Coordinator by email initially if they have any concerns.
There are Chromebooks available where students are able to access work done in other areas. The Careers Library is also housed in the Library and contains a comprehensive range of paper and computer-based materials ranging from career information to details of Higher and Further education, all of which is updated regularly. The Library is the main area for Sixth Form silent study during lesson time, but is open every breaktime and lunchtime for all students.
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There are many opportunities for pupils to develop their leadership skills, as student council representatives, peer mentors, bullying ambassadors and as sports leaders. In the sixth form, learners volunteer as prefects to supervise younger pupils at break- and lunchtimes. Pupils also represent the school at formal events, such as open days and parents’ evenings. Pupils in Years 11 and 12 also take part in the National Citizen Service. OFSTED, MAY 2016
Character
Development
Pastoral Support
House System
Students joining JCS join a tutor group with a form tutor who meets them each morning during tutorial.
The form groups in each year are allocated to one of the six school houses for which they accumulate house points due to rewards, attendance and taking part in house activities and competitions. The six houses at JCS along with the house colours are:
The form tutor will get to know each student in their form and be the first point of contact for parents should there be any concerns or questions. Form tutors in each year group are supported by a Head of Year who in turn reports to a member of the school’s Senior Leadership Team. Details of members of staff holding these posts are on the school website.
J - Jade (green) T - Topaz (blue) Z - Zircon (white)
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A - Amethyst (purple) C - Citrine (yellow) G - Garnet (red)
As a result of an extensive programme of enrichment, pupils are well prepared for life in modern Britain. For example, all pupils take part in ‘make a difference week’, where they work together on addressing issues in the local community. Pupils learn about different faiths in religious education, evolution in science and current affairs in tutor time. Consequently, pupils are knowledgeable about democracy and have a strong sense of right and wrong. OFSTED, MAY 2016
Make a Difference (MAD)
Extra-Curricular Activities
Throughout the year students undertake a MAD week where students in each tutor group are encouraged to do something for others.
There is a very wide range of extracurricular activity clubs offered at lunch-time and after school as well as many sports teams students are able to join.
During the allocated week students work with their peers to plan activities that benefit the wider community. In the past events have included activities such as helping younger children to learn sign language, planning and delivering assemblies on organ donation and dementia awareness, colour runs and litter-picking.
In addition most subjects run trips and visits throughout the year culminating in Focus Week towards the end of the summer term which is a week set aside for out of the classroom learning. Students and parents are provided with an updated list of extra-curricular activities at the beginning of each term. Students are also given the opportunity to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award (Key Stage 4) and World Challenge (Sixth Form) which are both challenging and hugely rewarding.
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Pupils are smart and well presented. They are proud of their school and make the most of the pleasant surroundings. OFSTED, MAY 2016
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Pupils are well behaved, respectful and well prepared for life in modern Britain. OFSTED, MAY 2016
Rewards and Consequences Our first aim is to acknowledge when ‘doing the right thing’ as often as possible and as a result our expectations regarding behaviour are clear. Students at John Colet need to be ready to learn, respectful and responsible. School is a place of learning; any behaviour that prevents learning will be taken very seriously. Praise and encouragement are vital in promoting good behaviour. The Recognition System is just one way that we can celebrate achievement, success, positive attitude and effort. In all aspects of school life as we want to encourage students to strive to excel. Our Consequences System is based on a clear and fair set of rules that will be applied by all staff consistently across the school. The system gives students the opportunity to behave. The latest version of the behaviour guide is available on the school website.
Counselling We are fortunate to have a school counsellor who is able to offer additional support to students on a confidential basis. Counselling is normally recommended by the form tutor, but students can also request a meeting.
Student Support Officers At John Colet there is a dedicated team of staff who support students with concerns that arise in school including friendship and behavioural issues. They are highly experienced and are able to provide advice, guidance and help students to overcome issues that may cause them anxiety in school.
Uniform A uniform worn correctly is an indicator of pride in the school both while in school and on journeys to and from home.
Pupils are polite and respectful. They move around the site calmly and take care of their environment. They enjoy their free time and respond quickly to staff to resolve any problems that may occur. OFSTED, MAY 2016
The school expects students to wear full school uniform at all times as set out in the Uniform Policy which can be viewed under the Policies section of the school website. The school uniform supplier is: The Print Lab, Unit 56, Edison Road, Aylesbury, HP19 8TE Telephone: 01296 488000 Email: info@the-print-lab.co.uk Webpage: www.the-print-lab.co.uk
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Catering The school operates a Canteen service where students may purchase food to consume on site before school as well as at break and lunch time. Unfortunately the school does not have a Canteen seating area, but the Hall is made available to students for as much of the year as possible, though this is not the case when external examinations take place in the summer. Fortunately the school has plenty of outdoor seating when the Hall is closed and makes available a limited number of classrooms if the weather is poor. The biometric cashless catering system uses a scan which is not a fingerprint. It allows students to top up their account in school or parents to add credit online. Students are expected to remain on the school premises during lunchtime. No student may leave school at lunchtime without a written note of permission from parents and we will only authorise this in exceptional circumstances.
Matron The school has a Matron who provides first aid to students who have suffered an injury or illness. Parents/carers will be called if we feel that they are too unwell to continue and emergency services will be contacted if necessary. It is essential that the school can contact a responsible adult in the case of an emergency. If your son or daughter has a medical condition please keep us updated and provide any medicines which need administering during school hours.
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John Colet School Wharf Road, Wendover, Buckinghamshire HP22 6HF T
01296 623348
E
office@johncolet.co.uk
W www.johncolet.co.uk
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