Inspire today... empower for life
Prospectus 2017-18
ABOUT
our school, P4-5
learning
at orchard, P6-9
pastoral system, P10-11
WELCOME by JULIA HINCHLIFFE
I am delighted to welcome you to our school.
SUPPORT
As the new head teacher, I have joined Orchard School Bristol at such an exciting time.
transition
This is a school on a very steep upwards curve. Our motto is ‘Inspire today ... empower for life’ and those five words very neatly summarise everything we are all about.
FOR students P12-13 to secondary, P14-15
opportunities for most skilled, P16-17
post-16
opportunities, P18-19
enrichment activities, P20-21
community
and news, P22-23
find us
and information, P24 Inspire today... empower for life
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Of course the starting point is excellence in academic standards and we have a teaching staff which compares favourably with any in the city. For students joining us, no matter their academic level, you can be assured they will be given exactly the right programmes of study to allow them to fulfil their potential and move on to A-levels, vocational courses, apprenticeships and university in the future. School is not just about academic work, however. We are committed to helping develop well rounded, confident and resilient young people who can go forward after Year 11 knowing that they have the skills - both socially and practically - to help them succeed in the world beyond. I would urge anyone considering our school to come in and get to know us. We run open mornings which enable you to see us in a ‘live’ situation and you will be able to speak with staff and students. I look forward to getting to know you.
ABOUT Ofsted judged Orchard School to be GOOD in all areas. The inspectors who visited the school in October 2015 made many wonderful comments: ‘A highly impressive culture of mutual respect for one another exists.’ ‘Transition arrangements for pupils entering Year 7 are very effective. Year 7 pupils told inspectors that they were very confident when they joined the school.’ Inspire today... empower for life
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Ready to Learn We have introduced Ready to Learn (RTL) - a recognised behaviour system which promotes calm, positive behaviour in the classroom. By rewarding those students who inspire and encourage others, as well as having a firm hand on maintaining excellent behaviour, staff are able to deliver engaging, creative and enjoyable lessons. Attendance Attendance is one of the strongest factors in a student’s future success in school. An attendance level of 90% may sound high, but it means that over five years at school, a student will have lost half an academic year of learning ... and will put GCSE success at risk. It is essential that your child is in school every day by 8.30am for lesson 1. Uniform Our uniform makes a statement about who we are and how we feel about our school community. Orchard School uniform was chosen by our students who wear it smartly with pride. There is a school blazer which is worn with black trousers or a pleated skirt. All students wear a white shirt and a House tie, and black shoes. Parents are able to order and purchase their child’s school uniform online. Visit our website at osb.school Trust in Learning Orchard School is part of Trust in Learning, an education charity formed in 2008 and is an Academy Sponsor based in Bristol whose principal purpose is to create inclusive education communities that provide excellent education and excellent outcomes for children and young people.
learning
Overview Learning is at the heart of all that we do and it is our aim to ensure that all students leave the school as happy, confident young adults with skills and qualifications which will help them into fulfilling jobs and futures. How do we achieve this? • A broad, balanced curriculum that stimulates learning and matches the needs of all students. • Teaching that is focused on making progress. • A safe and happy environment that encourages learning. Extended Tasks for Homework We believe in the value of homework.
Homework extends learning opportunities so children can stretch themselves and feel challenged by the work. We want all students to develop their abilities to learn independently, understand how to research, and revise to become successful, self-directed learners.
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CURRICULUM 7, 8 & 9
Students in Years study the following subjects: • • • • • • • • • •
(Key Stage 3)
English Mathematics Science Modern Foreign Languages (French and Spanish) Humanities (History, Geography, Religious Education) Art, Design & Technology (including Food Technology) Physical Education (including Dance) Personal & Social Health Education (PSHE) (including Citizenship) Latin (extended opportunity) Music and Drama
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10 &11
Most students in Years (Key Stage 4) continue to follow a core curriculum of: • English (Language and Literature) GCSE • Mathematics GCSE • Science GCSE or Triple Award (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) • Geography or History GCSE • French or Spanish GCSE • Physical Education • Religious Education • Personal & Social Health Education (including careers, citizenship and money matters) • Citizenship PLUS in Year 10 students choose additional options. In 2017-18 the choices were: • Sport, Art, Childcare, Food and Cookery, Engineering, Health and Social Care, Performing Arts and Business AND additional extended courses to challenge the most able included Classics GCSE and AS Level Creative Writing along with Duke of Edinburgh Award
DUNMORE: Helen Dunmore (1952-2017) was a British poet, novelist and children’s writer who lived in Bristol.
pastoral
DIRAC: Paul Dirac (19021984) was a Bristol-born theoretical physicist who made fundamental contributions to the early development of quantum mechanics RICART: The earliest plan of an English town was one of Bristol by Robert Ricart, produced in the late 15th Century. PETHICK: Emmeline Pethick, later Lady PethickLawrence (1867–1954) was a British women’s rights activist, born in Bristol. She was a member of the Suffrage Society. Inspire today... empower for life
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At Orchard School Bristol we have a vibrant House system. When each child joins us, he or she is allocated to one of four houses - Dirac, Ricart, Dunmore and Pethick - named after four prominent people with Bristol connections. Children also join a tutor group and we have vertical tutor groups which means there is a mixture of students of all ages, from Year 7 to Year 11. This is vital in helping younger children get used to their new environment and our older students often take on an informal mentoring role for the younger ones. Our House system is important in giving children - and families - support in pastoral matters such as attendance, illness, friendships and worries. Our friendly Heads of House and Pastoral Managers, pictured above, know all their students individually and are always available to discuss any matters of concern.
SUPPORT Some students have individual needs that may impact on their learning. Our aim is to overcome any barriers to learning to facilitate each individual reaching their potential. We aim to: • Foster understanding and positive attitudes to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEN/D)throughout the school community • Provide all pupils with full access to the curriculum in line with other curriculum policies • Enable all students to have the same opportunities We seek to provide an inclusive, supportive and challenging approach to teaching pupils with SEN/D. We have the highest expectations for ALL pupils, including those with SEN/D. In all years, the curriculum may be modified to support individual need through intervention within or outside the classroom. All teachers differentiate to meet the needs of the range of learners in the classroom. We have an excellent transition programme for pupils joining in Year 7 and this includes regular visits by the SENCo to primary schools and opportunities for new pupils to take part in enrichment activities at Orchard School.
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If there are any concerns about your child and their move up to secondary, our team, led by SENCo Victoria Allan, will be more than happy to discuss matters further.
transition More information
To find out more about transition, open evenings/ mornings or any aspect of your child’s move to secondary school, please contact our transition manager, Phil Keeling-Burton. You can reach him through our main reception 0117 377 2000 or email him at info@osb.school Inspire today... empower for life
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to secondary
That Big Step Transition to secondary school is one of the most important events in any child’s life, so at Orchard School Bristol we ensure that when each individual boy or girl finally arrives with us in Year 7, they will already be familiar with the school, its surroundings and key staff. Pupils Moving Up Our transition programme is recognised for its excellence. Each year we tailor the programme to meet the needs of the children joining us. Our transition programme includes numerous activities throughout the year, a ‘getting to know you’ afternoon for children and families in March, and an induction day in July. For students who may need more support because they have specific needs or they are new to the area, we provide an additional supportive programme.
Events
As a large secondary school we are able to use our fantastic facilities to host larger events with invited local primary schools, we use our own incredibly skilled staff to deliver a range of opportunities for primary pupils. For example in 2017 we ran alternative sports days and an elite sports day for local primaries, and our science team hosted a fantastic science day. Our Design Technology and Arts teachers offered creative opportunities and the English and Maths teams stretched our brightest primary pupils with GCSE questions.
academic stretch Our provision for most able students is designed to offer creative opportunities to enhance current skills as well as promote new ones. Identification We work closely alongside your child’s primary school to identify high achievers and their skills early on in the transition process. This allows us to provide specially targeted support for high ability students to ensure that they are challenged as soon as they join us. Curricular Although most students work in mixed ability classes, in order to ensure the very highest level of challenge for most able students, each year group has one or two top sets. This means that most able students will be working with other high achieving and motivated individuals from the very start. It also means that the content that they are taught and the way it is delivered to them can be tailored to provide an even greater challenge. Extra-curricular More able students are offered a variety of challenging courses that form part of the school’s thriving enrichment programme. In partnership with the University of Bristol, we deliver a short course in classical civilisation which is taught by students from the university. Information, advice & guidance In Years 7 and 8, students can participate in a number of university visits; in Years 9 and 10, they take part in further visits and mentoring programmes developed by Russell Group universities to encourage them to aim for the very best universities in the country. Inspire today... empower for life
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post-16
opportunities
We ensure all of our students make informed decisions about their futures, and we encourage self-confidence, self-awareness and knowledge of opportunities in the world of work, and in Further and Higher Education. This is supported through our PSHE curriculum in lessons and through collapsed days. Many activities (in lessons and extra-curricular) help students gain the knowledge, attitudes and skills they need for successful working lives, from our speaking and listening challenges to numerous off-site college ‘taster days’. All our Year 10 students take part in our very successful work experience week. At the same time we encourage our students to appreciate university as a future option. We work closely with our two local universities as well as offering students the opportunity to visit Oxford and Cambridge universities. We have a partnership with North Bristol Post-16 Centre which guarantees Orchard School students who achieve entry qualifications the chance to study at one of their centres (Redland Green School or Cotham School)
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Our students are encouraged to enquire about a range of careers, including apprenticeships, as well as Post-16 opportunities. At KS4 we hold regular clinics attended by our local colleges and our Post-16 centre, and facilitated by our impartial careers team. This enables our learners to make fully informed and supported decisions about their future.
Pictured, Year 11 students celebrating their GCSE results Photos by Martin Pemberton Photography
enrichment At Orchard School Bristol we have always believed that there is more to being at secondary school than just lessons. We have a broad enrichment programme that gives all students a chance to take part in activities that will teach new skills, enable them to gain unique experiences and provide a large dose of fun. All students in Year 7,8 and 9 are given the chance to choose from a selection of activities every two terms. The enrichment programme takes place on Wednesday afternoons during our Period 6 time from 2.55pm to 3.55pm. Students can choose from a wide variety of activities including still life drawing, debating, rugby, yoga, samba band, school radio, cooking and film club to name a few. We have a group who have rehearsed and performed in the school Shakespeare festival, we have groups taking early GCSE classics and we have a number of groups who are coached to continue the school’s excellent record in sporting achievements. Students in Year 10 and 11 do not miss out on enrichment - Year 10 have a programme of careers advice, study skills and revision strategies and strands from the PSHE curriculum. Year 11 have a chance to boost individual subjects in their final year at school in lesson 6 sessions. All students can take part in nationally recognised awards from Children’s University in Year 7-9, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze and Silver awards from Year 9 upwards and subject specific awards such as the Crest award for science and the Arts award. Students from the school have performed with great success over many years in the annual Stages dance event. We have supported students to take part in the challenging Ten Tors walking event in Dartmoor and are always looking for new challenges - academic, sporting or otherwise that we can offer to the students. Inspire today...
empower for life
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Student voice is very important to us so new enrichment options are always being added so that we can tailor our offer to best suit the needs of the students.
news New chapter for boys Ever wondered what it feels like to be trapped in a fridge? Fallen in love with your bike or speculated on the real reason your teacher is absent from school? Working with writer In Residence Angie Belcher, 18 of Orchard School’s Year 10 boys wrote about their lives and loves with the aim of collating their efforts into an anthology.
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‘A Lie Inside’ consists of stories, poetry and rap about what it’s like to be a teenager in Bristol, sometimes funny, sometimes poignant and always with the honesty of youth, this collection shows the trials and tribulations of growing up in the city. The anthology was launched alongside live readings.
... so much going on Classics ad infinitum
Latin is all around us – verbatim, vice versa, status quo – and now children in north Bristol are learning about the Classics and how they are relevant for modern life. Orchard School Bristol, Filton Avenue Primary, Horfield CofE Primary and Bishop Road Primary secured £9,000 funding from Classics for All, a charity set up to promote the teaching of Latin, Greek and classical civilisation in schools. The money has supported staff training in Latin and classical civilisation across the three schools, giving them the chance to develop the subject in years to come. We are also exploring etymology with Trust in Learning academies in South Bristol.
Youth Council
We were incredibly proud of Year 9 students Mohamed Aidid and Evie Lane who were elected onto the Bristol City Youth Council last year.
Mohamed and Evie represent the views of young people from North Bristol for two years. They campaign on issues such as racial inequality and funding for youth clubs and community trips. Members of the youth council were voted for in the Big Youth Vote. The total of ballots cast from Orchard School was 522. As part of the election process, our students produced campaign videos, explaining why they should be elected, and attended various meetings.
community At Orchard School Bristol, we are very much a school at the heart of the community. Our priority is the best possible education for our children but our mission goes well beyond the classroom. We take the view that a school is there to serve our children, their families and the community beyond. In recent years, we have placed ourselves at the heart of neigbourhood life in north Bristol. A big part of this is our work is our collaboration with many of the local area primary schools. In recent years, highlights have included the Art and Sole arts trail, which saw 10 venues around North Bristol host arts activities; the Meadows to Meaders project, which had young and old working together to explore Southmead’s history; and Ahoy!, a collaboration with several local primaries, the Bristol Choral Society and Bristol Plays Music which culminated in a mass performance in front of a huge audience at the Colston Hall. Regular events include our popular community talent show and we organise family days out, holiday activities and family learning opportunities, from cooking to singing. Recently, we have hosted ‘Back to Netball’ for adults as well as ‘couch to 5K’ running sessions and conversation clubs for those for whom English is not their first language. Our Parent Voice group meets termly, ensuring that we capture the ideas and inspiration of our parents to help the development of the school. The group works with the school to review key areas such as homework and revision.
FIND US ... contact us Filton Hill Primary Brentry Primary
Orchard School Bristol Filton Road Horfield Bristol BS7 0XZ Filton Avenue Primary Orchard Campus
School
Filton Avenue Primary
Wallscourt Farm Academy
W T E
www.osb.school 0117 377 2000 info@osb.school
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Prospectus photos: Barbara Evripidou
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