WELCOME
Welcome to Welling School. We are proud to be an all ability 11-18 comprehensive school serving our local community as well as many families from neighbouring London boroughs. We are committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure our students achieve exceptional things.
We know that you want the very best for your child - a school where they thrive, feel safe and where they are inspired to achieve personal and academic excellence as well as developing the skills, confidence and understanding that will allow them to excel in a challenging and complex world.
As well as ensuring a nurturing environment in which to grow and learn, our aim is to ensure that through excellent teaching and a rich and varied curriculum all Welling students will enjoy every day at school and will ultimately have the attributes and qualifications they need for their adult lives - whatever their strengths and interests.
We are an extremely ambitious school community and believe there are no excuses to achieving our absolute potential. Our school values of being kind, ambitious and active underpin our high expectations for students and the opportunities they have to excel here.
Together with all of the Welling staff, we look forward to working with you over the next seven years to secure your child’s individual success and to prepare them for a bright future.
Brian Griffen Headteacher
Daniel Hatley Executive Headteacher
“My daughter has blossomed at Welling School because of her amazing teachers and the opportunities that have been presented to her.”
TEACHING
Our staff of highly qualified dynamic teachers care about and believe in every student.
They are motivational role models who know how to bring the curriculum to life and inspire success. They have a passion for their specialist subject which means they know how to engage students and capture their imagination.
All our staff have dedicated time to share their understanding of individual students and how to get the very best from them. This opportunity to share expertise and plan learning collaboratively means we can unlock the potential in every student and ensure learning is always relevant.
In place of the usual amount of INSET days we have regular twilight training for staff which focuses on developing our practice. This approach helps us to keep our teaching strategies at the forefront of educational thinking.
Our experienced learning support staff work alongside students to make sure there are no barriers to their success. Specialist support is promptly put in place to ensure students with additional needs realise their academic and social potential.
LEARNING
At Welling we offer a broad range of subjects as part of our core curriculum to ensure students have a well-rounded experience.
In addition to English, maths and science, students have the opportunity to find their strengths in modern foreign languages, art, dance, drama, music, geography, history, philosophy and ethics, ICT, technology and physical education.
At GCSE we offer a full range of subjects as well as some additional qualifications such as business studies, engineering, photography, sociology and triple science. Our curriculum also includes some carefully chosen vocational courses such as health and social care and creative imedia so that we can meet the needs of all our students.
If it is right for them, we encourage students to follow the English Baccalaureate in Years 10 and 11 in order to secure access to the best universities and future employment.
Throughout their time at Welling the curriculum is complemented by PSCHE and citizenship studies as well as high quality careers education, which aims to open up students’ aspirations for the future on a local, national and global scale.
CURRICULUM EXPERIENCE MAXIMISING PROGRESS AND ACHIEVEMENT
When students join us in Year 7 they begin their learning journey on one of four pathways.
Our Grammar stream means that the most able students are taught a bespoke curriculum focusing on higher level knowledge, skills and challengeultimately preparing them for achievement at the very top of the grade scale.
The Express pathway is designed for those students who are not yet working at grammar level, but who show the potential to do so at a later stage. This pathway can be seen as a gateway to the grammar stream, and will follow the same co-curricular pathway. Students in both the Grammar and Express pathways will typically be guided towards an academic suite of GCSE options in Year 9.
Students following our Ambition pathway study the full range of subjects, delivered by expert staff who will prepare students to achieve their absolute potential all the way through to Year 11 where they are then well placed to stay in our Sixth Form or move on to further study in a specialist college or to an apprenticeship.
Our Aspire pathway provides students with a curriculum tailored to their individual needs. The flexibility of this pathway means we are able to focus more time on ensuring students have a secure level of core skills such as reading, literacy and numeracy as well as good independence and organisational ability so that they manage their own day and can achieve well in other areas of their learning.
All our curriculum pathways support maximising progress and achievement. Students are able to move across pathways as they develop, meaning attainment and progress is unlimited.
“Pupils trust staff at the school. They know staff care about them.”
OFSTED 2023
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
We understand the power of learning outside of the classroom and believe that in order to help them grow as confident, resilient young people our students should experience as many things as we can possibly provide.
Alongside the formal curriculum, students learn new skills and develop their knowledge through a huge range of clubs, teams, national and international trips, all of which are available throughout the academic year including the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme.
Here at Welling School our pledges reflect the minimum commitments provided to students to ensure a wide range of experiences and opportunities are experienced. Each student’s progress towards achieving these pledges is tracked and monitored. Our pledges include visiting a place of worship, gaining leadership experience, having an international experience and taking part in a residential activity.
Alongside our pledges we also run year based personal development days where students have the opportunity to experience workshops based around our school values. This helps students in developing these valuable life skills and exposes them to many new experiences. We also offer a range of other opportunities for our students which include First Give, Jack Petchey “Speak Out”, charity fundraising and social action, work experience and employer engagement events.
Our performing arts faculty provides students the chance to develop important creative skills through drama, dance, music and art. There are a number of opportunities and experiences such as whole school productions, dance performances, talent evenings and art exhibitions.
Students also have the opportunity to develop their leadership skills by being active participants in our school council and by being a student ambassador in a range of important areas such as anti-bullying and student equality or taking on responsibility as part of our library or prefect teams. Our Football Excellence programme provides students with the opportunity to receive UEFA ‘A’ licence level coaching and participate in Local and County Leagues, Regional and National Cups. The programme links directly to our football academy in the Sixth Form.
“Staff have ensured that all pupils understand the range of academic and vocational options open to them when they leave school.”
OFSTED 2023
LIFE AT WELLING
As a member of the Welling community all students belong to a tutor group led by a specialist form tutor.
Students spend time with their form tutor at the end of each day where they will follow an engaging and purposeful PSCHE curriculum. This is where important relationships are formed meaning that tutors know their tutees well and know their personal needs, strengths and ambitions. Each year group is led by an Achievement Team Leader who ensures that an exceptional standard of academic support is always in place for every student. They closely monitor student progress across the range of subjects that they study and ensure that high standards and expectations are upheld, making sure we work well together with students and their families.
“In the Sixth Form, teachers use questioning skilfully. They encourage students to make connections with what they have learned before.”
OFSTED 2023
WELLING SCHOOL SIXTH FORM
Strong academic achievement and high expectations do not stop at the end of Year 11.
When students move into our Sixth Form we encourage them to follow their own pathway to reach their personal goals and aspirations whether that be to move on to university or to pursue the career or training of their choice. We offer a range of A Level and vocational courses in a variety of subjects that will support students in continuing with their seven year educational journey at Welling School. Our Sixth Form curriculum is evolving all the time meaning that we will always be well placed to support students in preparing for their futures.
Our Sixth Form is full of opportunities and challenges, students have access to smaller classes, a fantastic programme of study and comprehensive university and employment information, advice and guidance. Our personal development program is rich and diverse and includes opportunities such as peer mentoring, leaders as readers, subject mentoring, work experience, student council, employer engagement and many other enriching opportunities. We also offer an extensive range of national and international trips to extend students’ cultural awareness.
We also offer a football academy in partnership with Advanced Player Development. This offers players a chance to experience training like a full time professional, with weekly fixtures and showcase matches against Professional Academy teams whilst completing their studies at the same time. There is also an annual opportunity to compete internationally in an end of season tour.
When it is time, the Welling Sixth Form provides the experience, skills and qualifications needed for the next stage of their lives.
APPLYING TO WELLING SCHOOL
Welling School is a non-selective academy and as such students will be offered places without reference to aptitude or ability.
Please see our website for the admissions policy: www.wellingschool-tkat.org
We are proud to be part of The Kemnal Academies Trust.
TKAT is one of the largest Multi-Academy Trusts in the South and East of England with 45 Special, Primary, Secondary and All Through Academies in the TKAT Family.
Our ultimate aim is to ensure we drive educational standards through the provision of outstanding teaching, leadership and learning for all.
The TKAT Purpose
Within the #oneTKATfamily, the shared and common purpose is to work together as a community of schools to ensure that every child, whatever their background, receives a high quality education.
TKAT is committed to providing outstanding teaching and learning to enable all pupils to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century. www.tkat.org
WELLING SCHOOL
A TKAT Academy Elsa Road, Welling, DA16 1LB
