welcome My name is Margaret Wilson and I am the head teacher at King John School. We are very proud of our school and of our students. The school’s reputation in the local area is second to none and that is because of the achievements of many of our students.
We think we’re an excellent school. Our parents tell us that we are, our students tell us that we are – and our Ofsted report says that we are.
throughout the year. Obviously our sporting expertise also puts us at the top of the county championships in a whole range of sports.
But really, in our school, we’re about being caring and supportive – treating all of our students like one big happy family. That means having high expectations for all of our youngsters.
But don’t just take my word for it. Listen to what everyone has to say about our school. You can then make up your own mind as to whether we’re the right school for your child.
We demonstrate this through our fantastic GCSE results that place us at the top of the county, as well as our wonderful music, dance and drama performances, which you can enjoy
Please enjoy reading this magazine and watching the DVD. Margaret Wilson, Head Teacher
contents Our School
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What Our Students Say
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KJS Briefs
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Starting Out
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Always Learning
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Making the Grade
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High Performance
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Always Learning
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Moving On
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Essential Information
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Please note, the information contained within this magazine is correct at the time of publication. However, the school reserves the right, at its discretion and for any reason, to make amendments without prior notice. Quotes from students and tutors and related articles are presented as recorded at the original time of filming. Students may now be in different year groups or may not still be studying at King John School or King John Sixth Form College.
2012-2013
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why king john? The King John School is a mathematics and computing specialist college, with all the state-of-the-art facilities you would expect at such a well-respected, modern school. From extensive ICT suites and a dedicated DT and vocational block to exciting new spaces for performing arts and sports, King John has everything our students need to succeed.
everyone is treated as an individual and is committed to reaching their full potential – we offer a high quality educational experience for students and staff.
Combined with a supportive, caring and structured environment – where
In short, we aim to make The King John School the heart of the local community.
a teacher’s view
A great thing about working at King John is that all the staff are very supportive of each other. The students are very supportive of each other too. I’ve even heard students comment about how much they like working with our staff because they’re so friendly. It is an excellent working environment. There’s so much energy. The students come in and they clearly enjoy the lessons. There are great relationships between the staff and the students. You can see that from all the effort the students put in – not just in terms of academic work but in everything they do around the school.
Mrs Durham, Geography Teacher
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“It is an excellent working environment. There’s so much energy.”
your first day...
What Our Students Say…
You might be quite nervous about starting at King John, but don’t worry – our students have some words of wisdom... It’s completely natural to be nervous on your first day at a new school – but we’re here to put your mind at ease and help you settle in at King John...
Matthew Tomlin, Year 7
Erin Soundy, Year 7
Jack Duffield, Year 7
“I used to be worried that I’d get lost, but it’s not as big as you think and it’s easier to find your way around.”
“When I first came to King John I was worried that I wouldn’t make any friends, but I’ve made so many. It’s been really good, and they’re all such different people – it’s lovely.”
“Adults can tell you ‘don’t worry’ time and time again, but take it from someone who’s been there. It’s perfectly fine at King John and there’s really no need to worry.”
Elliot Hart, Year 10
Yanoula Dellas, Year 11
“There’s a lot of people at King John, but you soon realise it isn’t that big after all and everyone is so welcoming.”
“It may seem daunting now, but King John is the same as your old school – just bigger. In fact, you’ll probably have more fun than in your last six years at primary school!”
“King John is a great school. The staff and students are very friendly and supportive. It’s a great experience and you’ll have the best five years ever!”
Elliot Delahaye, Year 11
John Bambury, Year 13
Chloe Thomas, Year 13
“You will have the time of your life if you come to King John. The students and staff are so helpful – they’re always more than happy to help.”
“The staff at King John are brilliant. They put time aside for you. They’ll talk about your problems, work out how to solve them and encourage you to do well.”
“King John has a friendly environment. Everyone gets along and it helps you to learn.”
Lysa-Marie Asiedu-Yeboa Year 7
2012-2013
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kjs briefs Respect for All
An International Flavour Year 7 came alive with the sights and sounds of the world, with students taking part in a spectacular ‘International Day’. Tutor groups worked together to create eye-catching displays, showcasing food, landmarks and music. The groups also produced adverts promoting their country with a view to encouraging visitors.
with the Mayor of Castle Point on hand to congratulate all the winners.
India, China, Japan, Spain, France, Italy, South Africa, Kenya, Argentina, Egypt and Ireland were all represented.
King John has won a Rights Respecting School Award in “recognition of commitment” and is now working towards level 1. This means the school is creating a more supportive environment. A Rights Respecting School is one where: • All students and adults in the school know what the UN Convention of the ‘Rights of the Child’ is • They know the areas that the rights cover • They take responsibility for ensuring those rights are met Pupils have a responsibility to make the most of their opportunities to:
Kenya were the overall winners with a very clear video advert and detailed display.
• Fulfil their rights to an education • Be safe • Be healthy • Be treated fairly
The day was an overwhelming success,
Giving Students a Voice
You can find out more about the Convention and the award online at www.unicef.org. uk/crc and www.unicef.org.uk/rrsa
The Student Voice body within the King John School has grown even further with the introduction this year of “Student Focus Groups”. All year groups selected two members from each of their tutor groups to take on the exciting role of Focus Representatives. The students then formed three focus groups - Teaching and Learning, Rights and Responsibilities and Communication. These focus groups have worked with members of the School’s SLT on projects to enhance the learners experience within The King John School’s community. The
students worked hard in developing a reward system within the school to support the ‘Rights and Responsibility’ Charter and also developed questionnaires and provided student feedback on the VLE. Students also focused on many aspects of ‘Teaching and Learning’ within the school. They helped to develop mini-plenary ideas, completed questionnaires on assessment and are
currently working on an exciting “Eureka Moment” competition within the school. The Student Voice Body has maintained its links with “The Young Essex Assembly” and the “Castle Point Youth Council”. This has enabled our students to contribute to key decision making and issues that affect them outside of our school.
Creative and Performing Arts ‘Stomp’ to success!!! Students have many, many opportunities in Creative and Performing Arts to study Art, Dance, Drama and Music both as exam subjects and through our extensive range of extra-curricular programme. Exam results continue to be outstanding each year with the Music department being awarded the ‘Good Schools Guide’ A Level
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Award for best results at BTEC Nationals at an English school. Trips to West End shows, workshops and school productions are in abundance. This year our senior Performing Arts students were involved in a Stomp workshop led by cast from the show. They had a wonderful time learning some of the
skills which they then taught Year 7 and 8 students, culminating in their own very successful show to parents. …and now we begin our auditions and gruelling rehearsal schedule for our next School Production. What better way to prepare students for life as a professional ‘Performer’.
Investing in the Future High quality facilities at King John provide an even better learning experience. In addition to GCSEs, King John offers a number of vocational courses.
business enterprise, ICT and Hospitality and Catering.
To ensure these courses are delivered to the highest standard the school has built a vocational centre providing specialised accommodation for these courses which include engineering, media studies,
Hairdressing and Beauty Salon Services are also delivered from two salons fitted out to commercial standard. Students are able to practice their skills on members of the public who are welcome to book sessions during the day!
Trip to Barcelona Each year, the Modern Languages Faculty organises a variety of trips to France and Spain with the aim of encouraging students to practise their linguistic abilities in real-life situations whilst also enjoying the culture of the country they are studying. One such trip is the Year 7 and 8 annual visit to Barcelona and its surrounding regions. During our stay in the Catalonian capital, amongst other attractions, we visit the beautiful cathedral, La Sagrada Familia; the football stadium, Camp Nou, and the famous main street, las Ramblas. Lunch is enjoyed at the unusual
and interesting Parc Guëll. Other days during this trip to Spain include a day experiencing the thrills and spills of the Port Aventura theme park as well as a visit to the exciting Dalí museum in Figueres. Students also spend time relaxing at the small, pretty resort of Tossa de Mar where our hotel is based. Evening entertainment includes walks to the old castle, ice cream along the sea front and discos at the hotel. Other trips have included visits to St. Omer, Le Touquet, Paris and Andalucía.
Outside the Curriculum Our Results Speak for Themselves!
F1 in Schools’ club The Science & Engineering Department at King John is in top gear thanks to a new activity run through the after-school club. Funded by STEMNET (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and the DCSF, the scheme enables talented students to work on exciting, high profile projects. The latest work is based on the ‘F1 in Schools’ club, which sees students designing, building and even racing their own F1 cars. Students can compete both at regional and national levels. We wish everyone involved good luck – and safe driving!
King John was inspected by Ofsted in 2008 and the school had a subject inspection in 2010. Full reports are available for download via our website – www.thekjs.essex.sch.uk The comments from their inspection were:
The proportion of students gaining five or more A* to C passes including English and Mathematics is outstanding.
The curriculum is excellent and is enhanced by outstanding extracurricular provision.
The school promotes high standards and good achievement, stemming from good leadership and management and the effective teaching which predominates. High expectations are typical.
Standards
By the end of Year 11 students reach standards that are significantly above the national average.
Students’ personal development is outstanding and they make an outstanding contribution to their own school.
In 2010, 22 subjects attained 100% A* - C grades.
Students do especially well in English, mathematics, science, drama, food technology, hospitality & catering, music, RE and dance.
2012-2013
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starting out... Starting a new school can be daunting. There are new buildings, new teachers, new friends and new lessons to get used to, so it can be both exciting and nerve-wracking for students and parents alike. However, there is nothing to worry about. Starting at King John is the beginning of a fantastic new era in your life and a great opportunity to work towards becoming a happy and successful young adult. To help give you an idea of what it can be like to be in Year 7, we spoke to some of our current students and found out what made their first 12 months at King John School so special…
Jack Duffield How have you settled in at King John? “Really well! What’s helped me to settle in is the fact that everyone is so friendly. You worry that you’re going to come to school - and you know how in all the movies teachers are absolute demons? Well it’s nothing like that. Everyone is really friendly. Everything is so easy to settle in to.” Outside of lessons, what can you do at King John? “There are lots of great extracurricular clubs. I do Science Club, which is an absolute must for anyone who loves all the bangs and the fizzes and explosions. I do Writers’ Club too – writing is my passion and it’s absolutely perfect for me!”
Erin Soundy How have you settled in at King John? “It’s been fantastic. The teachers have really helped me settle in. I can always go to them for help or if I’m lost.“ What are your favourite subjects? I love PE and I really enjoy Spanish too. I feel like I’ve learnt half the language already! What are you looking forward to achieving at King John? I’m looking forward to choosing my options in Year 8. I have a rough idea of what path I’d like to choose already. My teachers have really helped me to make a decision.
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always learning...
To hear the full story from Ms Fordyce, take a look at our DVD!
At King John, we pride ourselves on providing the very best facilities for all our students. However, our commitment does not end there. Every member of staff is committed to bringing the best out of every student, through continued support, guidance and active encouragement at every stage in their development. In short, our aim is to bring every subject to life and inspire a desire to succeed through hard work and fresh thinking.
To help showcase our ongoing commitment to providing an inspirational and supportive learning environment, we spoke to several members of staff to find out about their experiences at King John and to discover how they are bringing lessons to life.…
Since joining King John, I’ve noticed that the quality of teaching is outstanding. The enthusiasm individual teachers have for their subjects helps foster the enthusiasm for the students. It is clear in lessons. The buzz in lessons is great. It’s a really open environment for children to learn in. And this goes much further. For example, this enthusiasm means that there are several trips for language students in every year group – this helps to give the subjects real meaning and purpose. Our teachers support students in a number of ways, mainly by sharing their love for a subject in their lessons.
virtual learning environment, where students can access learning resources at home if they need it. There is a range of extracurricular activities on offer at King John. In Modern Languages, we have Language Clubs and trips abroad too – Barcelona, Madrid, Paris. There is a particularly wide range of opportunities for students to use their skills outside of the classroom. Ms Fordyce Director of Modern Foreign Language Faculty
I have noticed that, more than in other schools, there is an open door policy. Lunchtimes, after school – the teachers are always ready to help students if they need it. We’re also working on our
Lunchtimes, after school – the teachers are always ready to help students if they need it. 2012-2013
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making the grade... Life at secondary school is about giving you all the skills and self-belief you need to succeed, whether academically or in fields of performing arts or sporting achievement. If you are passionate about taking the next step, the staff at King John can help support and guide you, giving you all the opportunities you need to make the most of your talents for the future. To help illustrate our commitment to supporting all of our students throughout their time at King John, we spoke to some of our Year 10 and 11 students to find out how life at the school has helped them prepare for their GCSEs and what they are looking to achieve in the future…
David Abiona
YEAR
10
What are the staff like at King John? “Teachers are really helpful. Whether it is lunchtime, after school, even during the holidays – they’re ready to give up their time to help us students get as far as we can in our education.” What is your favourite subject? “My favourite subject is PE. At King john, we have the fitness suite, we have astroturf – the facilities here are really great and it makes the subject so enjoyable.” How has life at King John helped to shape you? “Being at King John has really helped me. Apart from getting good grades, I’ve also developed as a person. I’ve learnt how to compose myself in tough times – like during exams.”
Bethan Jenkins
YEAR
11
What are the facilities like at King John? “The facilities in Music are fantastic. There’s a room with lots of computers in it and they all have the software that allows you to compose music, which I really enjoy doing. In addition, there are two rooms that are full of keyboards and two practice rooms, where instrumental lessons take place, complete with pianos.” What extracurricular activities are there at King John? “There are lots of extracurricular activities available at King John. There are PE options and things for people who enjoy music too. In fact, there’s something for everyone – even homework clubs if you need help in catching up. There’s also Peer Listeners, which is a group of students who are always there to help Year 7 students. They listen to answer any questions you might have.”
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Star students shine... Although it is well known as a mathematics and computing specialist college, The King John School has so much more to offer. Many students take advantage of the performing arts and sports facilities and have achieved great things. We talked to two students who have already made their mark...
Sophie Rajah “I was lucky enough to be chosen for a role in Billy Elliot in the West End. It’s been an amazing experience and I’ve loved it. King John’s been really good with me being in Billy – they’ve been supporting me twice a week for six months. They even arranged a trip for some of my Year 7 friends to come and see me, so that was really nice. I would say that King John is an amazing school. It’s really good for academic subjects, sports, everything and the teachers are so lovely too. It’s a really nice school. King John is great for extracurricular clubs. Obviously there are sports clubs, but there are science and maths clubs too. There’s dance and drama too of course – and they’re all so much fun.”
Kiera Tippett “Since coming to King John, I’ve been able to compete in the district and the regional cross-country team. I’ve now qualified for the national track and field too. I’m also involved with hockey and swimming too. I’m looking forward to achieving more in my sports and hope to be in the Olympics one day. The teachers at King John have been really helpful. They have introduced me to new sports and have supported me in the sports I was already doing to help me improve. They’ve given me a training schedule and they’ve encouraged me to achieve what I want in sports. And the facilities at King John are really good too. Best of all, there’s a fantastic gym that I am able to use whenever I can.”
To hear the full stories from Sophie and Kiera, take a look at our DVD!
Head for success... To get a look at what students can achieve while at King John, we spoke to the current Head Boy and Girl to see what they thought about life at the school…
Mark Afedzie-Hayford & Laura Murray YEAR
What have you learnt from your time at King John?
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Mark Afedzie-Hayford: I am so privileged to have the role as head boy. I look forward to taking on this role as best as I can and I look forward to taking on all these new responsibilities. I am also very excited to work with my team. I hope I can achieve a lot this year and make a lasting impact on The King John School.
Laura Murray: I have recently been appointed the role as Head Girl within The King John School. I am absolutely privileged to receive such a responsible role and I will work my best to fulfil as best I can. Throughout my time at The King John School so far, I have had many great experiences that I would not have been offered anywhere else. KJS has done so much for me in making me the person I am today. 2012-2013
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always learning... We spoke to another member of staff to get a different perspective on life at King John.
There’s a fantastic range of support available to all students. All our teachers are prepared to go that extra mile. There are academic activities to stretch the most able students, but there is support for those who struggle with their studies too. There’s one-to-one learning and a whole host of extracurricular activities going on around the school. There are sports clubs and also those for specific subjects to allow students to take their interests further and make the most of their studies. There’s a wonderful, broad curriculum on offer at King John. There are the more academic subjects – like the one I’m engaged with, History – through to a whole host of other areas, so every student at King John has the opportunity to do their best. By the end of their studies, they will have been given every opportunity to succeed.
And, once students have completed their GCSEs, King John Sixth Form College is a great place to continue your studies. Whether you’re at the school and moving on to the sixth form, or you’re at another school, King John has great facilities and a wide range of course options which mean you really can achieve your best. Mr Sweeney History Teacher
Every student at King John has the opportunity to do their best A Healthier School King John holds the award for National Healthy School Status. This award was achieved within a rigorous quality assurance framework. Schools achieving NHSS have to have met national criteria using a whole school approach across the four core themes of: • improvement in health and reduced health inequalities • raised pupil achievement
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• •
greater social inclusion increased working between health promotion providers and education establishments.
The students, parents, staff and governors worked together to achieve this award and the outcome is a tribute to all their hard work. For more information on NHSS, please visit www.healthyschools.gov.uk
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moving on...
Life at King John doesn’t end in Year 11. With a great sixth form college on-site, students can take the next step with us. Our further education opportunities help prepare them for life at university or in the workplace. Offering a wide range of subjects and ways to learn, the courses on offer at King John are backed up by modern, vibrant facilities and enthusiastic, supportive staff. To provide you with further information on life at King John’s sixth form college, we spoke to some of our Year 13 students and asked them about their time with us, what they’ve learnt and why they chose to stay on for two more years…
Toby Softly
YEAR
13
Jenny Scott
YEAR
13
Why did you stay on at King John?
What’s it like studying at King John?
“I stayed on at the college because I already had lots of friends here. I had the choice to move on, but that helped me to stay. I had also built up a great relationship with the teachers and I thought I could add to that and get more out of the learning experience.”
“At King John there’s a very friendly atmosphere – the teachers are very approachable. I knew the teachers I would have and I knew they would teach me everything I needed to know.”
What are the teaching staff like? “My maths tutor is probably the best teacher I’ve ever had. He pushed us to the limits and I feel like he gave us a lot of respect. I wanted to do the work for him – it felt good because he helped me learn.”
Annabelle Joynson
How have the staff helped you? “The staff at King John have helped me develop my abilities in a subject, as well as my confidence. They’ve helped me grow and develop and I know that they’re teaching me so much.” What is a typical week at College like? “During a typical week at King John, we have 16 hours of lessons, as well as study periods. In those study periods you can go to the LRC to use the books or computers there, or you can go on and talk to your teachers if you need to.”
YEAR
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What was it like coming to King John College? “When I first started, people really looked after me and I was soon part of the group. It’s a real community and everyone is really good friends. King John is a really positive school. Everyone is so friendly and it’s really refreshing to be here. The teachers really help you, they’re lovely and it’s great for your academic career.” What’s your favourite subject? “I’m doing four A-levels and an AS. My favourite one is Drama. I love it! It is absolutely brilliant here. The teachers are amazing!”
2012-2013
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essential information Taking the next step Details of careers destinations of our Year 11 students who left in the summer of 2011 are shown below, along with those of students in the Castle Point area. There were 320 students in the year group.
King John
Castle Point
84.76%
78.44%
Work based training
3.81%
7.0%
Employment with training
6.35%
4.86%
Employment without training
2.86%
2.72%
Voluntary/Part time activity
0%
0.99%
Active in the labour market
1.59%
3.70%
0%
0.33%
0.63%
1.98%
Remaining in full time education
Not available to the labour market Unknown
School Attendance 2010 – 2011 Number of students on roll
1901
Years 7 to 11
1595
% attendance Authorised absence
Unauthorised absence
95.26%
0.55%
4.19%
Where can I find more information? You can find much more information on the school website www.thekjs.essex.sch.uk Including admission arrangements, policies and details of the school curriculum.
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