KINGSMEAD SCHOOL
PROSPECTUS
With Specialist Status in Performing and Visual Arts
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WELCOME TO KINGSMEAD SCHOOL As a parent, choosing a secondary school for your child is never an easy decision. There are so many things to consider before you can feel that you know which one will be best for the next stage of your child’s learning and will suit their personality and abilities. Kingsmead has been declared a ‘good’ school with outstanding features, (OfSTED, April 2016) for students aged between 11 and 19. However, we are far more than an OfSted report. We are proud to be a school community welcoming to all. Our excellent public examination results (August 2016: Top 15% for progress nationally at both GCSE and A Level) are evidence of a school constantly aspiring to build on our successes. We have a reputation for quality which is recognised nationally and have been a National Leadership School, supporting other schools throughout the country. In October 2010 we became one of the first secondary schools in London to become an ‘outstanding’ academy. We are committed to traditional excellence in academic achievement and examination success as well as taking on board new technology and innovative, imaginative approaches that make learning stimulating and rewarding. At Kingsmead we are endeavouring to ensure every child reaches their full potential and in recent years have introduced Latin and initiatives such as Building Learning Power (BLP), Accelerated Reader and SAM Learning to enhance students’ learning. In addition we have Specialist School Status in the Performing and Visual Arts, our Drama students have won national competitions and we hold the full International School Award. I believe these are some of the main reasons why students enjoy coming here, and why Kingsmead is such a popular school. Kingsmead is a compassionate and supportive community and I am proud of our inclusive school ethos. We aim to enhance students’ communication skills, self-confidence and self-esteem. There are opportunities for all students to succeed, be that in the classroom, in music, drama, dance, on the sports field, in work-related learning or in enterprise. To help make that happen, every new student will receive appropriate support and guidance. Students’ progress is closely monitored and, as a parent, you will always be kept informed of your child’s development. If you like the aims and values outlined here then visit us on Open Evening or, alternatively, you are welcome to arrange to visit on a working day. You will meet a dedicated, highly qualified and enthusiastic team of staff, and discover an exciting range of opportunities offered in a vibrant, caring environment.
We want our school to be the first choice of all the families in our local community. Our aim is for Kingsmead to be the best school and therefore the best choice – both in the classroom and beyond. We very much hope you too will want to become part of our collective success. David Medway Headteacher
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KINGSMEAD SCHOOL Our school motto is ‘Practise to Perfect’ because we believe that the only way someone succeeds is by having a clear idea of what they are aiming for; focusing on how to achieve it and putting in the work, no matter how difficult it might seem to start with. That applies as much to writing an essay or constructing an experiment as it does to playing the violin or learning your lines. We want ‘every student to be able to access a university course or a professional career’. That is not necessarily a career as a ‘professional’ such as a doctor, teacher or vet, but a career that will definitely take them somewhere and they have a professional attitude toward. We want to prepare students for life and to equip them to access the opportunities it offers. So, just as importantly, we want Kingsmead students and our colleagues to display and develop the following personal values.
Courage
Nurture
Collaboration
Rigour
Aiming beyond our comfort zone, facing difficult challenges and doing things the right way, not just the quick way
Believing everybody gets better by taking one step at a time and that it is our responsibility to find ways to help each other to do that
Believing that working together lightens any burden and opens us to new ways of thinking
Thinking things through and working hard to ensure that we are delivering on the right things all of the time
5 TEACHING AND LEARNING Kingsmead aims to ensure a smooth progression from primary to secondary school and to provide a broad and varied curriculum that will motivate and engage young people. Our teachers are committed to the highest possible standards; many lessons observed by Ofsted Inspectors were classified as ‘outstanding’. We have introduced classes in Latin for some of our Year 7, 8 and 9 students, Building Learning Power (BLP) to strengthen our students’ ability in independent learning and the Accelerated Reader programme to support and fully extend our students’ reading ability. The Key Stage 3 curriculum (Years 7 & 8) is designed to raise achievement in all subjects, particularly English and Mathematics. Our students’ progress and achievements are at the centre of all we do. All students benefit from individual academic mentoring to support their development. In Years 9 & 10, in close consultation with parents and staff, students are able to complement the core subjects by choosing other subjects especially suited to their interests, abilities and plans for the future. Students in Years 9 & 10 are also offered the opportunity of early exam entry in many subjects. All Year 10 students participate in two weeks’ Work Experience and other Work-Related Learning. Careers and Enterprise initiatives take place to prepare our students for the work-place. Any of our students who speak a language other than English are encouraged to enter for public examinations in these languages as soon as they are ready. ‘Teachers are enthusiastic and highly skilled’- Ofsted
6 THE SIXTH FORM The Kingsmead Sixth Form is in the top 25% nationally for examination results. It is a lively, energetic environment of hard working, high achieving students and experienced, inspiring staff. Sixth Formers play an active role in the school community and beyond. We encourage our Sixth Formers to broaden their horizons, develop new and varied skills and become socially, culturally and politically aware young adults.
‘The sixth form continues to be an area of strength in the school. Students’ progress is significantly better than average’- Ofsted “Sutton Trust visit to Yale University (CT, USA) and Harvard University (MA,USA)”
“practical science lesson”
“King’s College London University - campus visit”
Motivating students to “Pay the FEE for success ” - John Amaechi”
“Visit to The White House, Washington D.C., USA”
7 STUDENTS OF MARKED APTITUDE (SoMA) Students identified as being in the top 10% of a subject area or who have high baseline data fall within the Marked Aptitude criteria; other students may be talented in PE or the Performing and Visual Arts. Once identified it is our responsibility to ensure that appropriate strategies are employed to make certain that our Marked Aptitude and talented students raise their achievements still further and maximise their full potential both academically and personally. We have a dedicated SoMA Coordinator who is a member of the school’s Senior Leadership Team to monitor and develop strategies to ensure students achieve to the best of their ability.
Our SoMA programme has links withimany top universities, including the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, The London School of Economics, King’s College London, and Imperial College London. In recent years students of Marked Aptitude have gone on to study degree courses at Cambridge University, the London School of Economics, Kings College London, Bristol University, the School of Oriental & African Studies and the London College of Fashion. They regularly come into school to mentor our students through the Kingsmead Alumni Programme. ‘We have superb support from our teachers’- Student
8 PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS Kingsmead has Specialist School Status in the Performing and Visual Arts and has an excellent reputation for the superb quality of its work within these subject areas. 10% of our Year 7 intake comprises students who have an aptitude for one of the Performing or Visual Arts. We have a rich tradition of concerts, performances and displays encompassing drama, dance, music and art.
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Performing and Visual Arts Day is now a firm fixture in the school calendar. Kingsmead students thrive when given structured opportunities to demonstrate creativity and expression and we see this in the many events such as concerts, fashion shows, drama performances and art displays which run throughout the year. What makes P&VA Day so special is that students see teachers and support staff working in areas which are sometimes quite different from their regular work at Kingsmead. It is also an opportunity for students to work alongside students in other year groups who they may not have met before.
10 ENRICHMENT Our curriculum is enhanced by numerous opportunities for students to discover new talents, develop skills and grow as confident young people. The P.E. department organises a wide-range of sporting activities and many of our students take part in inter-school and borough sports competitions and events and achieve great success.
Many special interest lunchtime and after-school clubs exist to build on students’ keenness and commitment. Students have opportunities to go on residential and day trips with a wide range of destinations on offer both in Britain and abroad. Our students constantly impress us with their energy, their ability and their enthusiasm for extra-curricular activities. ‘The extensive range of enrichment and personal development opportunities are underpinned by robust systems that manage behaviour and respond quickly to concerns if raised’- Ofsted
11 BEHAVIOUR FOR LEARNING Kingsmead’s aim is to create a safe and healthy school where all children flourish and achieve. We have high expectations of behaviour from everyone in our school community. Students are encouraged to take pride in their appearance and the Kingsmead School uniform. Behaviour expectations are clearly communicated to our students and our dedicated Behaviour for Learning department supports this expectation. Students are made aware of consequences regarding all expectations including home learning. Rewards including ‘The Diana Awards’, ‘The Jack Petchey Achievement Award Scheme’ whole-school and departmental rewards are all awarded to celebrate student achievements. We encourage students to develop their initiative, become independent thinkers and take responsibility for their learning and behaviour both in school and the wider community. The thriving and important Student and Year Councils ensure all students have a voice. The Year Councils meet once each half-term and discuss issues specific to the Year group. The Student Council meets at least once a half-term to discuss whole-school issues and also to decide Jack Petchey Achievement Award winners.
INDIVIDUAL CARE AND SUPPORT We are a caring, supportive community and are aware that children do not learn at the same rate or in the same way. Students who have Additional Educational Needs for any reason are helped by specialist staff who may work alongside the classroom teacher or arrange individual or small-group tuition outside the classroom. Our dedicated Learning Mentors work with students individually and in groups in order to raise aspirations and help our students overcome barriers to learning.
David Medway, Head Andrew Nicholas, Chair of Governors Kingsmead School 196 Southbury Road Enfield EN1 1YQ Tel: 020 8351 5000 Fax: 020 8366 3709
www.kingsmeadschool.org