PROSPECTUS 2014/2015
“Creating tomorrow’s citizens today”
Headteacher: Alison Saunders B.A. (Hons) Mangrove Road, Hertford, SG13 8AJ Telephone: 01992 410400 Fax:01992 410401 Website: www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk Email: admin@simonballe.herts.sch.uk
In order to achieve the highest possible grades our students are set challenging academic and personal targets and given the inspiration to succeed. Academic results are incredibly important indeed they form part of the passport for future success. Our students benefit from a traditional curriculum coupled with numerous enrichment opportunities. Hard work, mutual respect and honesty underpin our vision and our students learn to embrace the objectives displayed above. We are known as a forward looking and innovative school while still striving for traditional excellence. Relationships at Simon Balle are outstanding, newcomers feel welcomed and deep, lasting friendships are developed within our nurturing community. Guiding and supporting both students and parents are key aspects of our work. Our values and sense of moral purpose drive all we do. We are a responsible and responsive school. We hope that you will become part of our distinctive community. Alison Saunders Headteacher
What makes Simon Balle such a special place to learn?
“We thought you might like to know how much our children are enjoying their life at Simon Balle and how good we, as a family, thought the transition process from primary to senior school was”. Y7 Parent Our school is driven by values and principles; it is about each and every student. They are valued for who they are and what they bring. It is our job whilst they are at Simon Balle to ensure that they grow into responsible young men and women, who have the skills, aptitudes and knowledge to be able to flourish in our ever changing world. We talk about the “Simon Balle Student”; someone who has had a fantastic educational experience and who has achieved the highest possible examination grades. Our students will, because of the opportunities on offer coupled with our expectations, be highly motivated, resourceful and resilient, respectful and responsible in their actions. At Simon Balle, our students meet daily with others (staff and students) who are passionate about their learning and this rubs off. Simon Balle students leave us as confident young people; however they do not only understand themselves. Because of the ethos at the heart of our community, they understand others and accept them for who they are. Our school is a special place for it is a fusion of academic excellence, a focus upon individual development and yet forward looking and innovative. Our students “love” their school and yet quite rightly, they are excited to achieve further. Whilst they do not want to leave good friends, staff who have helped them or a place they have loved, they are eager to move on. Our job is to ensure that they have achieved their potential in our “all round” school. This is what sets us apart and makes us special. There is a distinct ethos that is rooted in a strong belief in personal values and social justice for both its students and staff.
What facilities and resources can the school offer?
“The school provides so much for our students and you continue to demonstrate why Simon Balle was the perfect choice of school for our son”. Y9 Parent Our students, staff and parents recognise the superb range of facilities at Simon Balle. The school is set in beautiful park and woodland which is used for many sporting activities, including the school fun run. In addition to our gymnasium, we have a highly specialised fitness suite, drama studio and an indoor swimming pool. The Astroturf is regularly used by students both within lessons and in their enrichment. Our library was awarded ‘runner-up’ status in a national library design competition as it combines the traditional collection of books with hi tech digital tools which ‘connect’ to the world’s knowledge. The space and lighting have been designed to reflect students’ learning needs and to create an area in which to think, research and share experiences. The food technology room is the envy of many schools and our students and parents love making and creating dishes in this twenty first century designed specialist area. It is light and airy, equipped with modern resources including professional equipment. All subjects are taught in specialist classrooms. Our Science labs provide a stimulating environment in which to learn. Our Music Centre has the best resources of any school nationally with many individual rehearsal spaces, practice rooms and a recording studio. Digital and musical resources abound! We have a number of dedicated ICT suites; however you will find digital resources in every classroom, office and teaching area, as well as Wi-Fi covering the whole site. Staff create a stimulating physical environment which is key to effective learning. We place great importance upon our displays which challenge students as well as recording the life of the school. Major refurbishments have taken place this year which have seen the transformation of our three-storey block, improvements to both our swimming pool and hall. New ceilings, roofs and lights have been installed in large areas throughout the school. It is important that we maintain and improve our learning environment as it has a direct impact on our student learning. It is also important that we all work in a safe and stimulating environment.
What subjects will my child be taught and what are the different teaching styles? “We just wanted to congratulate you all on a fantastic Ofsted report. All the positive comments just reflect what we already know about Simon Balle”. Yr8/Yr11 Parent Whilst our curriculum is traditional and academic, lessons are delivered in creative and innovative ways, making full use of our excellent facilities and resources. We teach 5 one hour lessons a day; teachers use a range of teaching and learning styles. In addition, all students spend 25 minutes each day working together to develop life skills. Expectations are high to ensure that every student reaches their full potential. In Year 7 most lessons are taught in form groups and students learn French or Spanish. There is excellent teaching within the visual and performing arts. Both our Art, Music and Drama departments have incredible reputations for the outstanding quality of their work. They frequently attract students from other schools to join them in the Sixth Form. The specialist facilities and equipment are remarkable – a music centre, darkroom, drama studio and ceramics area. Sport is equally strong. The list of our achievements is truly impressive and last year we outperformed many local schools as our athletes, sportsmen and women excelled in all sporting areas. All students have 2 hours of PE each week and countless other sporting opportunities in which to take part. Whilst we rightly concentrate on preparing students for exams, we must ensure that they can work independently. We want our students to be inquisitive and curious, eager to carry out their own research and to solve problems. In Year 9 students work upon an independent study, whilst many of our sixth formers submit research for the prestigious ‘Extended Project Qualification’.
What support is there for those students who are either gifted or have additional learning needs? We have many students who are gifted in various areas of the curriculum. A large range of clubs and activities are aimed at these students as well as challenging work set by class teachers. In addition we do organise ‘gifted’ workshops in a range of subjects and activities. These have included experiences for artists, musicians and scientists as well as in sports and humanities areas. Careers advice is equally targeted to meet each student’s needs. We want every student to achieve their absolute personal best and we set ‘stretch’ targets for all students in every Key Stage. Students’ progress is continuously monitored and tracked. Intervention is directed when necessary and motivation is high.
“We just wanted to thank you for all the support and excellent teaching you have given our son…you have inspired him”. Y13 Parent
Our monitoring and evaluation shows that students with additional educational needs (AEN) make good progress. Our expectations for them are high. They are well supported by both staff and peers. Our holistic approach alongside a commitment to a ‘personalised curriculum’ and close communication with parents enables them to achieve their very best. Teachers plan to differentiate; students may be offered a personalised and appropriate curriculum and are supported by learning mentors, the Inclusion Department and pastoral staff. All our students achieve very highly, they enjoy being at our school and want to stay here as long as possible.
How will my child use IT to improve their learning? The creative use of ICT and digital technologies is a core part of how we all work at Simon Balle School. Collaborative work and dialogue about learning are encouraged in lessons and outside of the classroom. All staff and students make extensive use of our ‘smart cloud’ site that gives access to email, calendars and other apps. The use of cloud based digital technologies means that all students can access systems anytime, anywhere. While we are ahead of the game in many respects, a recent visit from an educational consultant put us in the top 10% of schools with regard to our vision for digital technologies. We recognise that this is a rapidly changing area and is constantly developing. Whether it is the use of mobile devices or tablets, collaborative work using cloud based applications or engaging with parents via the web, we will seek to exploit all the benefits of digital technologies.
What different clubs, visits and activities does the school offer? There are a vast number of exciting opportunities on offer for every child to take up and if someone wants to introduce another we try to accommodate this whenever we can. Trips and visits are used to enhance the curriculum. A selection of trips take place each year including a music tour, a sports tour, adventure trips, such as water sports in France and skiing in the Alps, visits to art galleries, museums and theatres. There are also field trips at home and abroad. Each week students can attend sports clubs, debating groups, art and science clubs, drama and dance as well as a large number of musical instrument and voice activities. New friends are made, skills developed and everyone enjoys the fun to be had.
Top left: English trip to Haworth Top right: Jacob’s ladder in Osmington Bay Right: Musical Theatre club
“May we say a huge thank you for the fantastic experiences and opportunities our daughter has had at Simon Balle School”. Yr13 Parent
How do you manage the transition process? Simon Balle has an exceptional transition programme. Building upon the already close links we have with local primary schools through various networks (sports, language leaders, librarians and teacher groups) we visit each Year 6 student in their home school. Students visit the school in July for “mystery day” where they familiarise themselves with the school layout, make friends, meet staff and bond. We organise many activities that help both you to understand our school and us to get to know you. This includes a range of workshops such as maths, geography, cookery, music and drama. Once your child is here, there are in the first few weeks induction workshops where you can learn about how the school works.
“I have felt the transition has gone smoother than I ever imagined and I feel completely informed about all that is going on”. Yr 7 Parent
“We are awe struck at the level of detail and effort you’ve all put into making the children and their families feel welcome at Simon Balle”.
“The school provides so much for our students and you continue to demonstrate why Simon Balle was the perfect choice of school for our son”.
Yr 7 Parent
Yr 7 Parent
How will you care for my child and make sure they are happy at school? Simon Balle is a happy, vibrant school. Children tell us that they feel very safe here. They enjoy coming to school; attendance is exceptionally high. Our pastoral support, care and guidance are outstanding. Heads of Year work closely with all students and their parents; they know student needs and track their academic progress. Our staff “go the extra mile”, they care deeply and build strong relationships. The role of the Form Tutor is equally important as they usually stay with the form (Year 7 to Year 11) and watch each individual student mature and make academic progress. Additional support may be received through our mentoring system; mentors help students to manage any issues and keep on track. Well-being is a key aspect of our work. Senior staff are visible each day and ensure that all students feel safe and are happy. It is indeed a special place where everyone is valued.
What links does the school have with the wider community and local business? As an outward facing school we understand the importance of partnerships with local schools, businesses and community partners. We have very strong links with local primary schools and our transition programme has received national acclaim. Our students work as sports leaders, language ambassadors and musicians in many Hertford primary schools. Our teachers visit and lead assemblies and classes and we have been awarded the status of ‘Consultant School’ by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust. We also received awarded the International Schools Award in 2011. Year 5 students frequently spend a day each year experiencing what it is like to be in a secondary school. Our annual Summer School has received high praise from parents, students and the local authority. We link with a number of international schools including a very strong link with Kimbili Junior Secondary school in South Africa, who we support in terms of developing teaching and learning and mutual understanding. We also have close links with the University of Hertfordshire. Each year we welcome American students as part of a home-stay weekend. Our music department is frequently asked by ‘Musical Futures’ (a national initiative financed by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation) to participate in their programme and our students greatly benefit from this work. We have a strong Governing Body and a very active PSA, which all parents automatically join. Our links with Herford Museum are excellent and our students love being involved in ‘Take over the Museum’ day.
“Supporting each other at every opportunity shows the great community spirit which the school fosters so well”. Ofsted
Below: Music Tour 2014. Opposite Dance Club and Science Club 2014
How will the school support my child to reach their potential? We believe that everyone can achieve and that intelligence is not “fixed”! We teach our students to be resilient, not to give up when things are hard or they go wrong. We set every child challenging but realistic targets and together we work with them and support them in their learning. We are passionate about what we do, our enthusiasm “rubs off” onto students and therefore most of them want to achieve their very best.
What standards of behaviour do you expect from your “Our son has students? always been We expect the highest standards of behaviour from all of our students, wherever they are. We set clear boundaries and students are expected to take responsibility for their own actions. The caring safe environment at Simon Balle is founded upon our ethos that everyone has a right to be safe, the right to learn and the right to be treated with respect. This belief is fundamental and shared by students and staff alike. We do not tolerate any behaviour which undermines this; we have a clear set of sanctions and strategies, but more importantly we expect to see changes in behaviour. Parents are fully involved at all stages and we expect them to support us and help with us in our work.
How will you let me know how well my child is doing?
given tremendous support. He has always been encouraged and inspired”. Yr 11 Parent
One of our key aims is to monitor the progress of every student and to check that they are achieving at or above their expected level. We make good use of our data to ensure that we a good picture of their strengths and weaknesses. If we believe a child is under-achieving we employ a number of strategies to help them, involving parents as well as supporting students. We frequently communicate with parents via information evenings, individual interviews, parent evenings and reports. In addition students meet with both subject and form tutors when their academic progress is discussed. Each student receives an annual report which comments upon both academic and personal development. We welcome parents to contact us at any time.
What does Simon Balle offer for the future? Simon Balle School is known as having ambition - a strong desire and determination to achieve the very best success for all of its students. The most recent CBI report states the views and needs of the business world. They want every student to master a range of core and enabling subjects, but of equal importance is the development of character. Business wants young people who have the right values, behaviours and attributes, for it is this “character” which determines personal success and indeed lasts a life time. Determination, optimism and emotional literacy are key; indeed these values, habits and attitudes are the very same which we at Simon Balle, daily promote. We call this a holistic approach to education, recognised by Ofsted “All round high quality education” coupled with our outstandingly positive ethos”. It is however best summed up in a statement which forms part of the 2020 Education Strategy of the World Bank: “Education enhances people’s ability to make informed decisions, be better parents, sustain a livelihood, adopt new technologies, cope with shocks and be effective stewards of natural environment”. This is our vision and purpose. What more can anyone ask for - the spirit of Simon Balle.
Our school’s mission is to develop young people into independent, well informed responsible citizens.
STUDENT ADMISSIONS Our places increased to 165 for our 2013 admissions. All admissions are made via Hertfordshire County Council, using the agreed admission criteria. These are available from www.hertsdirect.org/admissions and the school website.
Number of places available Total number of applications Total number of places offered
2012 160 758 160
2013 165 880 165
2014 165 898 168
TOURS OF THE SCHOOL We welcome parents and students to visit us and join in one of our student guided tours. For Year 7 entry (September 2015) we are offering tours every morning at 9.00am from Tuesday 30th September - Friday 10th October. Please telephone the school office on 01992 410400 to make an appointment for one of these tours and come along to see the school in action.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCE WE TAKE ATTENDENCE AT SCHOOL VERY SERIOUSLY. Missing school (even when there are justifiable reasons) usually results in lower achievement. We want all of our students to try and achieve 100% attendance. This has led to a real improvement and, we believe, contributed to our improved academic results. We continue to be one of the top schools in the country for attendance and we continually strive to improve our absence rates. YEAR Attendance Authorised Absence Unauthorised Absence
2011-2012 96.06% 3.9% 0.3%
2012-2013 96.0% 3.8% 0.2%
2013-2014 96.6% 3.4% 0.3%
UNIFORM A high standard of personal appearance is expected. Students must wear correct uniform including travelling to and from school. Our students are Simon Balle Ambassadors at all times and we expect parents to support us in ensuring neat and tidy uniform is worn. Full details can be found at: www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk/parents/uniform
WEBSITE Please make sure you visit our website regularly. It contains a wealth of information about the school and is a real window on life and learning at Simon Balle, capturing what we do and why it is such a unique place. We have a well-established Twitter feed and Facebook official profiles that can be found on the homepage of our website: www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk.
TERM DATES ACADEMIC YEAR 2015-2016 Autumn Term 2015 Tuesday 1st September to Friday 18th December Half term: Monday 26th October to Friday 30th October Christmas break: Monday 21st December to Friday 1st January Spring Term 2016 Monday 4th January to Friday 1st April Half term: Monday 15th February to Friday 19th February Easter weekend: Friday 25th March (Good Friday) to Monday 28th March (Easter Monday) Easter break: Monday 4th April to Friday 15th April Summer Term 2016 Monday 18th April to Friday 22nd July Half term: Monday 30th May to Friday 3rd June (Bank holiday: Monday 2nd May)
5 INSET days and 1 occasional day to be confirmed.
SUMMER 2014 ACADEMIC RESULTS A2 Level In September 2013 Osted judged our Sixth Form to be ‘Outstanding’. This was based on achievement being outstanding across the entire range of subjects studied by our students, and indeed comparing very favourably with the best in the County. They are a result of an appropriate curriculum, excellent teaching and learning, high quality resources and personal guidance for each and every student, combined with lots of hard work. This year our students once again exceeded their targets and have been able to pursue their ambitious goals. “Lessons are characterised by a positive working atmosphere and numerous opportunities for thoughtful debate and high-quality discussion” – OFSTED In summer 2014, despite a national trend of declining top marks, students at Simon Balle achieved more of the higher grades than the national average. Many therefore have gone on to the very best universities frequently to study highly academic subjects. “Students make excellent progress on a range of courses and are well prepared for their futures. Many go on to study at top universities including Oxford and Cambridge” – OFSTED Our vision of the Simon Balle student as a well-rounded individual who is able to reach his or her potential and take an active role in our global society can only be met if we ensure that our students are highly successful as they end their school education after 7 years with us. This year our students have left to go on with their studies as highly articulate, passionate young men and women, who speak fondly of their school. For the third year running our students achieved a 100% pass rate. Our average point score per entry of over 225 puts us as the highest achievers locally and amongst the highest scores nationally. 58% of all entries were passes at A* - B with a remarkable 35% of all passes at A* - A. The passes at A* were gained across 14 different subjects showing the depth of achievement within the sixth form.
GCSE The provision of a broad, balanced, traditional curriculum ensured that our GCSE students achieved success across all subjects. Once again we compared favourably with similar schools with many students achieving the highest grades. Boys and girls do equally well; most students study 11 subjects within the EBAC framework. Our options are wide and most students are able to pursue their own interests. With 70% of students achieving 5 A* - C (including English and Maths) they, along with 30 students from other schools, are in an excellent position to enjoy our highly successful sixth form. We attained almost 70% at 5+ A* - C including English and Maths comparing favourably to the national average. 1 in 5 of our students gained 8 or more A* - A grades with about 1 in 8 gaining 10 or more at A*-A. 60 % of grades were attained at A*-B which is the threshold for a student taking their studies further to A level. Almost 1/3 of all passes were at A*-A. As at A level, A* grades were achieved in all subjects studied Please refer to our website which not only reports our examination results but also refers you to national comparisons.
Y13 DESTINATIONS This year around 100 students were successful in their university applications with the majority getting their first choice offer. Students leaving Simon Balle Sixth form go on to an impressive range of university and specialist institutions. Nearly half joined the Russell Group and 1994 Group universities to study traditional academic subjects at the country’s top research institutions. Others prefer to apply for more specialist courses, often at the cutting edge of technology and innovation. We are very proud of the guidance and support we offer our students in their search for the right career options - the list below indicates just some of the courses and destinations of our students from 2013 and 2014. • University of Cambridge - Natural Sciences, Mathematics • University of Oxford – French and Linguistics, Engineering • Guildhall School of Music and Drama – Music Science, Engineering and Maths: • Biochemistry (Bristol, Exeter) • Biology / Zoology / Microbiology (Imperial College, Leeds, UEA) • Biomedical Science / Immunology & Virology (Bristol, Reading) • Chemistry (Nottingham, Birmingham) • Mathematics (Bristol) • Electronic Engineering (Portsmouth) • Chemical Engineering (Manchester) • Geology (Leeds, USW) • Architecture (Portsmouth) Business, Economics & Computing • Business Administration (Bath, Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham) • Economics (Exeter, Nottingham, Southampton,) UEA, Queen Mary University, London) • Building Surveying (Nottingham) • Games Development (Bournemouth, Hull) • Information Technology (Herts) • Fashion Marketing (Falmouth)
• Medicine - University of Sheffield, University of Birmingham, Imperial College • Veterinary Medicine - Nottingham • Aerospace Engineering - Bath • Design for Industry (Northampton) Arts, Humanities, Languages & Music • English Literature (Goldsmiths University of London, Newcastle) • Philosophy / Politics (Durham, York, Sheffield, Essex, Leeds) • History (Birmingham, Kent, Swansea, York) • Geography (Bristol, Hull, Newcastle, Sheffield) • Social Sciences • Criminology (Durham, Surrey) • Psychology (Leeds, Nottingham, Surrey) • Languages (Southampton) • Music (Goldsmiths University) • French and Hispanic Studies (Liverpool) • German and Linguistics (Leeds) Law, Journalism & Education: • Law (Kings College, Kent, City, York, Reading) • Primary teaching (Hertfordshire, University of Wales) • Broadcast / Music Journalism (Nottingham, Solent)
Students have also gone onto courses including: Fine Arts, Photography, Midwifery, Nursing, Equine Studies, Sports & Exercise, Film Production, Web development, Property Management and Hotel Management.