Open Morning 2021
USH Guidebook
This is what our students say ‘Upper Shirley High’s community gets to the core of learning. No matter what your interests, there’s a place for everyone here. You can achieve your goals while having fun, in a safe and welcoming environment.’
Believe, Respect, Succeed uppershirleyhigh
ushschool
@ushschool
023 8032 5333 uppershirleyhigh.org
Welcome to Upper Shirley High School (USH) Choosing a secondary school is one of the most important decisions a family can make. Hello Parents and Carers Welcome to USH I am immensely proud of our inclusive school and our Open Morning event is a great way for you to experience it for yourself. See the power of young minds. See how students inspire, how they make their mark in the world and how they create original work that matters. We have high expectations of students at USH and expect them to play their part in our calm and focussed atmosphere, where all should feel safe and happy to be themselves. Collectively, we speak 42 languages and our school is representative of a blended British community. We have taken great care to recruit staff who share our collective values and who are passionate role models in your child’s life. I can hand-on heart say, you will not find more caring and professional staff than those at USH. Believe, Respect, Succeed values form the bedrock of our school and relationships between staff and students are typically exceptional. Students regularly call USH their ‘second home’. Whether your child is practically, technically or academically minded, there is a pathway which enables them to enjoy their time at secondary school and be ready to thrive when they graduate in Year 11. With the USH Alumni club, we are able to stay in touch with ex-students and we love to hear about their continued success after they leave us. Our exam results are highly competitive and USH is a proud member of SSAT Leading Edge Group – a national award and membership which is exclusively for high performing schools. USH learning is founded on The National Curriculum and further enhanced by our expert graduate teachers. Together, we create an environment which nurtures students to become critical, reflective and creative learners, who know their own minds. Our personal development programmes are designed to enhance students’ experience, to broaden horizons and to foster cultural and spiritual equity. Due to demand for places, USH is undergoing a gradual expansion (up to a maximum of 1050 students by 2023). Our current number on role is 985. We are protecting our highly regarded pastoral system to ensure all children continue to enjoy a genuine sense of belonging and togetherness. Phase 1 of the expansion is now complete and we are now preparing the build of our new sports hall. In the following pages, you will get a sense of our school. So whether you are new to the Shirley and JEP community, or a family who has chosen USH before, thank you for considering our school. Finally, I am a great believer in parents’ instinct and I am confident that if you feel USH is right for your child…you will know. Kind Regards, Mr S Woods, Headteacher
Building Confidence, Character and Ambition Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Our curriculum is enjoyable, meaningful and provides challenge. It develops the skills and attributes of students to enable them to make a positive contribution to society—a society that upholds the British values of: personal freedom; tolerance and respect for diversity; equality of opportunity; representative democracy and respects the rule of law. Our curriculum is defined as ‘the educational experiences that are planned for learners’ and our motto, ‘Learning without Limits’, sets the tone.
The curriculum offered at USH is well-organised and wellbalanced. It ensures each area has sufficient time to make its unique contribution to the educational development of every student, valuing their intellectual, physical, emotional, social, scientific and aesthetic development. All aspects of the curriculum are taught in such a way as to link with the student’s own experience and to bring out his/her application and value in life. We aim to create learners who think for themselves, in order to become successful and autonomous young adults.
Our curriculum encourages students to explore the cultural and spiritual opportunities offered to them; to make moral judgements about the world they live in and to link socially with people from many different cultures and backgrounds, whilst finding their place in the world of today. Themes of inclusion and diversity are integral to the curriculum at USH, together with other relevant contemporary issues and the big ideas that have shaped the world in the past.
Learning is structured across a two-week format so as to maximise the use of time. The curriculum has a space for child-initiated learning that stimulates and challenges students of all abilities.
The varied curriculum at USH offers: • Art • Citizenship • Computer Science • Creative Media • 3D Design and Design Technology • Drama • Film Studies • Food and Nutrition • French • Further Maths
• Geography • Graphics • History • Music • Physical Education • PSHE • Photography • Religious Studies • Spanish
alongside the core subjects of English Language, English Literature, Mathematics and Science.
The curriculum offered at USH is principally based on the English Baccalaureate subjects; a suite of traditional subjects and a route which most students are expected to take. We place equal emphasis on the creative arts and our students thrive in subjects such as Art, Photography, Film, Drama and the Culinary arts.
Spotlight on Departments English In English, we build skills which enable our students to navigate their way through the study of Language and Literature, the wider school curriculum and life beyond school. Central to our vision as a department, is the belief that by empathising with characters and experiences across a range of novels, plays and poetry, we are able to better understand our own attitudes, values, behaviours and circumstances. Therefore, the study of English is, in many ways, the study of people, which crosses over with a number of other subjects such as History, Geography and Citizenship. During their 5 years studying English at USH, our students read widely from fiction and non-fiction texts to develop the confidence to communicate in many different contexts; these experiences will serve them throughout their future lives, studies and careers. English is a broad and varied subject which offers many opportunities. To name just a few of these, our curriculum gives students a chance to: •
Perform dramatic monologues, deliver presentations and share speeches which explore a range of issues relevant to their lives
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Explore, question and empathise with the moral (and immoral!) decisions that human beings choose to make
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Develop an understanding of their culture and how it is shaped by history, religion and politics
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Challenge the meaning of words and interrogate language to identify multiple meanings in the things that people write and say
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Learn to become good storytellers, experimenting with different forms and characters
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Let others share their thoughts and take the time to listen to different viewpoints
Maths In the Maths department, our vision is to empower all our learners to be confident, fluent and enriched mathematicians. Whether it is already your favourite subject, or you haven’t quite clicked with it yet, we have what you need to take the next steps in your Maths journey. We are passionate about our subject and are excited to share that passion with our students. We believe it is important for all students to feel successful and comfortable in their Maths class, so we ensure students work as a team, support each other and stay curious. There are no bad answers in our Maths classes! We know that mistakes are a crucial part of the learning journey and students are praised for their efforts.
We know that students enjoy Maths more when they are confident and are given enough practise to build up their key skills. To help with this, students have weekly homework and frequent “6 grids” (mini in class assessments), so they regularly practise the key skills they need in a supportive and encouraging way. Students also have tests four times a year based on what they have been learning, so that they are clear on their progress and the next steps they will take to keep improving. We use these and other teaching tools to ensure that students have everything they need to be successful at GCSEs, but also to feel confident in their own mathematical ability and be ready to solve problems whenever they arise in the future. We are delighted to have a strong history of students going on to study Maths at A level and beyond. We know it is important to provide students with the right opportunities to help them develop their mathematical talent. With this in mind, we set our classes right from Year 7 to ensure that everyone has the right level of challenge for them. We take part in the UKMT Maths Challenge to enable our top mathematicians to pit their brains against others in the country. We also run a Further Mathematics qualification for top mathematicians in Year 11 to take them beyond their GCSE course and prepare them for A-level study. Here are some quotes from our students: “In maths, the lessons are always so fun and the teachers are so supportive and help and teach you, no matter what. I absolutely love maths and I look forward to every lesson!!” – Year 9 student “I enjoy Maths at USH because it’s really fun; they break it down into little topics for you and they go at the pace that you need to go at” – Year 8 student “I like the Maths at Upper Shirley High because you’re in sets so you’ll be taught by your ability, so it’s not too hard and not too easy” – Year 8 student
Science The Science Department is striving to offer an excellent science education to students of all ages and abilities. Our staff are subject specialists and are driven by the desire to ensure that all learners make good progress in every lesson. We have high expectations of our students in terms of behaviour, attitude and effort. The science staff are always available to support parents and carers in achieving the best possible outcomes for their children.
It is our intention to have a curriculum which is taught in an engaging, stimulating and intellectually challenging environment which will: •
Provide a knowledge-rich curriculum, which generates an inquisitive, healthy curiosity of the world, its place in the universe and a sense of wonder at its complexity and beauty.
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Promote respect for the living and non-living world and the essential role science has to play in the conservation and protection of the world’s natural resources.
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Develop the scientific skills required to understand the uses and implications of scientific developments now and in the future.
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Increase scientific literacy and engagement with science in the news, developing the knowledge, wisdom and skills required to make informed decisions, based on evidence and fact.
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Stimulate thought and awareness of the applications and real-world importance of scientific study.
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Promote a broad understanding of the multiple science based careers available, especially STEM based careers.
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To provide the knowledge and skills required to secure outstanding GCSE grades, as a stepping stone to pursuing sciences to degree level and beyond.
Art and Design Technology Our aim within Art and Design is to offer students a holistic experience; immersing them in a broad range of media, techniques and cultural experiences. Our vision is that throughout their Art education at USH, students begin to develop an understanding of who they are as artists; developing their ability to discuss their preferred media, topics and opinions, on both contemporary and historical art. Students will experience a range of art media and develop technical skills in a range of techniques and processes. These will include the following skills: drawing and painting, printmaking, textiles, digital art, collage, sculpture and graphic design. Students have the opportunity to experience a wide range of enrichment activities, including gallery visits to London and Southampton, artist in residence workshops, collaborative work with Solent University, Solent Showcase and Arts University of Bournemouth. Each term we offer an after school club to build on students skills and love of the arts. These clubs are always well attended and are run across year groups, encouraging new friendships. We are really excited to see the re-introduction of Design and technology in KS3 September 2021, with the aim to grow the subject in subsequent years.
Our aim is to produce young designers who are skilled and ready to take their place in an ever-changing technology-driven society. Creativity and problem solving will be at the heart of everything that we do. The curriculum will allow students to become more resilient, independent, and adaptable to meet changes to style, trend and technology. At Key Stage 3 students will undertake various design and making projects, including: Product Design, Sustainability, Recycling, Resistant materials, Electronics, Programmable microcontrollers and Renewable energy.
Computer Science and Digital Media USH is a CAS (Computing at School) ‘Lead School’. The department is lead by a CAS ‘Master Teacher’ who believes that every child has the right to a worldclass computing education. This will enable them to be healthy, safe and employable digital citizens. Students studying Computer Science GCSE at USH, consistently achieve higher than the national average. In Computer Science, students learn to use computational thinking to solve problems. Being able to think logically, break a big task into small ones and recognise patterns in data are transferable life skills. Students will also learn to write computer code and find out how computers are made and networked. The department’s digital portfolio also includes Creative Media Production. In this vocational subject, students learn why media products are made and how they are developed for different audiences. Students work independently to research a range of media sectors and then come together in production teams to plan and manage the creation of their own digital coursework pieces. This will involve learning to use professional software and hardware and could lead them to a career in the digital media industry.
Drama Drama at USH is a practical subject where students explore their creative thinking. We have designed a 5-year curriculum that inspires and instils a love and appreciation of Drama. Our aim is for students to develop their practical skills to enable them to refine their work and take risks while developing independence and confidence in their abilities. Drama at GCSE has always achieved above national average results and is a popular GCSE option choice.
Spotlight on Departments The Drama department’s vision is: ALL students will develop transferable life skills such as: teamwork; tolerance; respect and creativity through practical tasks and performance. ALL students will become creative thinkers who feel safe to take risks. ALL students will develop confidence in their own voice and believe in their own ability. ALL students will understand how a character thinks, moves and feels. Drama helps students to become proud of their own voice. We strive for all students to develop confidence in their own abilities. This is presented through the outcome of practical tasks. Our aim is to help develop transferable life skills that students can take with them throughout their life. Students are expected to work in groups and share their ideas. Drama is an exciting subject where students create a performance as part of a team in every lesson. Drama is compulsory in years 7 and 8 and we explore a variety of exciting topics. We offer extra-curricular activities such as Drama club and a whole school production, as well as exciting theatre trips at GCSE, such as going to see ‘The Woman in Black’ in London.
Duke of Edinburgh The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a programme for young people and it can be a life-changing experience. It gives them an opportunity to make friends, improve their selfesteem and build confidence. They can gain essential skills and attributes for work and life, such as problem-solving, teamworking and communication. The award is a mark of achievement which will enhance CVs, university and job applications. There are three progressive levels which, when completed lead to a Bronze, Silver, or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. There are four sections to complete for the Bronze and Silver level and five sections at Gold. The sections involve helping the community/ environment, becoming fitter, developing a new/current skill and planning, training and completing an expedition. USH is a Duke of Edinburgh Licensed Organisation and happy to be able to offer our Year 9 students the opportunity to start their Duke of Edinburgh Award. An approved Activities Provider, Hampshire Outdoors – part of Hampshire County Council supports the school to deliver the expedition section of the award. The AAP will help train participants to read a map, use a compass, set up a campsite and plan a menu. This award will be an important achievement and your child will need to be prepared to commit some time to complete the four sections. The school has a DofE Coordinator on site full-time and they are available to help and support students through their programmes, helping them set their objectives and achieve the award.
Film Studies Here at USH, we offer GCSE Film Studies as an Option subject at Key stage 4. This course builds on the multitude of skills that students have developed during their first years of school, from across all kinds of subjects including: English, History, Drama, Photography, PSHE and more. Students who opt for Film Studies will have the opportunity to broaden their knowledge of the world of film, with a study of different kinds of films from different periods of time including the iconic 1950s, right up to modern day and world cinema. Alongside studying films, students are also given the opportunity to script and create their own films, a skill which is later assessed as a coursework component consisting of 30%. Over the years, this task has seen some incredible work produced from students and has taught them a lot about the overall filmmaking process in both the independent sector and Hollywood. The process includes considering setting, costume and framing of shots. We also enjoy visiting locations outside of school that help us to develop our understanding and knowledge of the films we study. For example, we visit Southampton Solent University for a workshop on lighting, and the country’s film hub, BFI Southbank, to revise our studied films. We also visit the iconic Warner Bros Studios Tour and attend a private workshop behind the scenes, to aid in our understanding of how films are made on a much larger scale, as well as the variety of different job opportunities that are available throughout the vast industry. The Film Department’s vision is: All students will emotionally respond to moving images, appraise filmmaking craft, and connect with the world from an empowered position.
Food and Nutrition All students who come to USH experience a very hands on education in practical food cookery, making great progress in this essential life skill. The vision for the Food and Nutrition Department is to transform the lives and health outcomes of all young people and their families at our school. This is realised through letting the hands-on joy of cookery shine through, and when anyone enjoys an activity, they start to care and think more about it. We direct this thinking at both optimal human nutrition and planetary health. We recognise that our food system
has a huge role to play in their future lives and opportunities. Food is our universal experience and cooking wholesome and delicious plant-based food, enriches the lives of all of our community, as well as that of the planet. We teach young people how to taste and experience a wide range of food through their senses with an educational program called Flavour School. This has been a great success and has enabled hundreds of students to eat a more diverse range of foods. We also pay great attention to where our food has come from, whether or not it is in season and how it has been made. Young people are taught about which foods are nutrient dense and therefore important for long and healthy lives. Our menu is both delicious and nutritious and based on the most up to date nutritional science. If you choose USH, you may look forward to a wide range of delicious International and British food being brought home from our kitchens to your dining table.
Geography Geography helps us to understand the awe and wonder of our world, to make our place within it and think about how we can make an impact at a local, national and global scale. Geography at USH helps to make sense of the world around you. It’s hands on, relevant, and fun. Studying Geography gives you knowledge about different places around the world. It gives you an opportunity to explore the value of Geography by learning about up to date and relevant issues that the world faces. You will learn to view the world from a holistic perspective and reflect upon your own place in society – on your own values, rights and responsibilities towards other people and the environment. You will start year 7 Geography by exploring some of the world’s fantastic places before travelling to all the continents of the world; learning about a wide range of human and physical topics including weather and climate, rivers, coasts, development, globalisation, ecosystems, climate change and global issues. You will gain lots of knowledge in Geography and also a wide range of transferable skills for example, map skills, graphicacy, ICT skills, communication and presentation skills. We also build upon personal skills too like time management and independent study. Geography at USH is very well regarded. Lessons are interesting and challenging and students enjoy the subject across years 7-11. Fieldwork is an integral part of the curriculum and students will get many opportunities to get out of the classroom to carry out enquiries. At GCSE all students will go to Bournemouth to explore coastal management and tourism. Our aim is for students to have a knowledge of different places at local, national and global scales and to understand how the natural and human world works and links together in order to create Geographers of the future.
History Across their 5 years of History at USH, we aim for our students to understand their place in the world today by exploring connections between diverse people and places – locally, nationally and globally - in the past. In Year 7, students investigate diverse people and places from different times to find out what connected the world in the Middle Ages; Year 8 explore connections 1500-1900 and Year 9 build on this story up to the present day. Each topic is framed around a big historical question and students are challenged to think deeply about how historians ask questions and find answers about the past in order to reach their own conclusions. They will have an opportunity at the end of each topic to communicate their arguments through a range of meaningful contexts, backed up with the accurate historical knowledge and evidence they have developed over the course of the enquiry. At the end of each topic, students receive and act on feedback to develop their understanding further and address any misconceptions. As they move chronologically between different places across the curriculum, our aim is that students build a coherent, diverse and detailed narrative across time, as well as becoming more confident and independent in the discipline of History and writing better historical arguments. At GCSE, we have deliberately chosen a syllabus which we think best matches our vision for our students and continues to build on the work they have done at Key Stage 3, in terms of developing detailed and diverse narrative of the part and becoming better historians. For example, the Making of America unit, focuses on how the United States manage to take control of the land, which connects to our exploration of early European colonialism in Year 8. Overall, we are a popular and high achieving department, built on a strong foundation of consistently achieving successful outcomes for our students. As a department, we continually strive to evaluate our curriculum against the latest historical scholarship and look for opportunities to enrich our students’ learning. For example, Year 7 students study artefacts from the SeaCity Museum dating back to Anglo-Saxon Hamwic and at GCSE, our Year 10 students, as part of their site study unit, travel to Belgium and France to investigate different interpretations of the First World War presented by battlefields along parts of the Western Front.
Spotlight on Departments Languages
Music
Modern Languages are all about communication and exploring different cultures, with a view to finding similarities and differences. Our main objective is to make students’ problem solve, adapt to different situations and be creative in order to be confident enough to express themselves clearly and accurately. Not only will you learn new skills and new languages, you will gain amazing experiences being taught by such passionate teachers.
The music curriculum at USH has something to suit the tastes of everyone joining our school. We explore musical traditions ranging over 700 years from the music and instruments of the Renaissance, all the way to music composed for some of the most successful video games of today – and that’s just in Year 7! Practical music-making in groups pervades the curriculum, which means that all children will be able to take on musical roles that allow them to experience success, without being pressured to perform solos. As they grow through their 5-year journey with us, they will perform, compose, and appraise music, and also gain understanding of using music technology. Students who later opt to take music beyond Key Stage 3 will have the opportunity to study for a GCSE in music following the Eduqas course, or a vocational qualification in Music Technology following the RSL course.
Currently, Year 7 students will study one language for the whole year. This will be either French, or Spanish. In Year 8, they will continue with the language they studied in Year 7 and will start an accelerated course in the language they did not begin in Year 7 – either French or Spanish. Great emphasis is placed on teaching grammar to build a solid foundation for students to be able to take languages to higher levels. Exposing students to the fascinating culture of Spanish and French speaking countries is also a key element of the curriculum. In addition, students are encouraged to speak in the target language they are learning from the first few lessons, supported by all the necessary vocabulary and high frequency expressions. In the past few years, language educational trips have taken place to Paris and Barcelona and students have benefitted from visiting Southampton University and engaging in different language workshops.
Library The Library exists to inspire and support the learning of the whole school community and plays a key role in the school to encourage students to develop a lifelong love of reading and to develop their reading abilities. It is a central hub for the Accelerated Reader reading programme, book groups and other activities such as World Book Day events, which promote and encourage reading. We have dedicated and trained staff to inspire and guide students to find the right book, and there are always colourful recommended reads displays. The Library is a comfortable and welcoming space, with a wide range of resources, including fiction and non-fiction books, reference books, magazines and newspapers. Students may use the Library during break and lunch and after school. Students may also visit during lesson times with permission from their class teacher, and they will have fortnightly visits in English lessons.
Our music department has a vision to empower children to respect and understand music for its value in society. We aim to provide a place where those who make music every day can be challenged and nurtured, while those who have other interests can enjoy exploring new territory and have their successes celebrated. In addition to our wide ranging and exploratory curriculum, we have a number of exciting enrichment opportunities, which cater to a wide variety of musical interests and abilities. We are delighted to facilitate multiple choirs (including one exclusively for Key Stage 3), a school orchestra for all instruments and abilities, an auditioned soul-band for the most accomplished performers, a guitar club for beginners and enthusiasts alike, and a music technology club where we have fun experimenting with electronic music. We also provide space for various student-run groups, offering flexibility for students to set up any kind of music-making they like and the opportunity to rehearse independently and be supported by a teacher. All members of these groups have the opportunity to take part in our school concerts, and local collaborative events run by Southampton Music Services when they take place, like 2020’s “Mayflower 400” Performance which we took part in along with many other schools in the city.
PE Within USH PE we offer a variety of engaging and fun activities to cater for all levels of ability. Through the diverse PE curriculum and our after school extra-curricular programme there will be something to suit everyone. Some of the sports that you can expect to be involved in are: football, basketball, badminton, table tennis, cricket, rounders, netball, dodgeball, handball, athletics and fitness. At USH, we pride ourselves on being one of the best schools at sport in the area and have consistently good results (and trophies!) for a wide range of sports. Those students who have an interest in sport, or
who are following a career pathway into a specific profession, eg. PE Teacher, Physiotherapist, Police Officer, Paramedic, are offered AQA GCSE PE, in which the student researches sport in more depth, covering physiology and psychology. Our PE Vision is: “Provide students with an opportunity to develop their sporting potential and help support a passion of lifelong involvement in physical activity. Both within and outside of the curriculum we endeavour to support character building and employment skills such as independence, teamwork, decisionmaking and resilience. To recognise that all PE experiences can be linked to employment, life experiences and wellbeing; knowing the importance of physical activity and its links to mental, social and physical health.”
Photography All students are able to experience the fantastic world of Photography as a part of the broad and varied curriculum we offer at USH. Photography projects during Art and Design lessons, introduce both the technical and creative side of the subject; through exploration of work by contemporary photographers, as well as first-hand experience with our range of cameras and equipment. At GCSE, Photography is developed further, allowing students to express themselves through a range of visual language; students learn about a variety of photographic media, techniques and processes, which includes hands-on experimentation with both traditional and digital media. Our Photography course offers students a bespoke experience; tailoring the course to the needs of the individual, meaning that students develop a clear understanding of who they are as a photographer, their preferred subject matter, media and approaches. Students have the opportunity to experience a wide range of enrichment activities; these include photoshoots and gallery visits in both London and within the local area of Southampton. We also carry out a lot of collaborative work with City College, Solent Showcase and Arts University of Bournemouth; all of which offers our students a diverse and culturally rich experience.
which aims to support the student in their personal development of becoming an adult, by equipping them with knowledge and the skills to make informed decisions about different situations they will face in life, including relationships; mental health, drugs and alcohol. This means that there is a range of topics being covered in a typical year. For example the Year 7 curriculum covers basic First Aid skills around CPR, where students get a certificate linked to the St John’s ambulance service; gives support with settling into secondary school; looks at staying safe online/with mobile phones (especially where many students have recently been given a mobile phone for the first time); relationship units around maintaining and changing friendships, as well as looking at their own identity and reflecting on their role in society. PSHE is delivered to all year groups and it is designed to reflect the needs of the students in that stage of their lives. For example, Year 10/11 has a bigger focus on careers, with the students learning how to complete job application forms, write a CV and accessing support for college applications. In order to ensure that the students develop a deeper understanding of the issues covered, PSHE uses an age appropriate spiral curriculum with concepts being covered and revisited as the students mature. We have links to many organisations across the city and will signpost to the students, agencies they can go to if they need more support with any of the issues covered in lessons.
Religious Studies Religious Studies at USH allows students to develop a knowledge and appreciation of the way different cultures work; looking more deeply into what they believe, the way they worship and what they believe about different issues.
PSHE
As we are a multi-faith school representative of many diverse religious beliefs, the teaching of RS represents this. We use a themed and ethical approach to lessons, meaning we approach topics from a variety of faiths, and students are encouraged to use their own culture and beliefs to shape their personal response, even those students who might be atheist, or agnostic.
Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) is usually described by students as the subject where they are taught the things that they need for life such as careers and financial information. In reality, PSHE is a subject
In Year 7 and 8, lessons aim to give the students basic knowledge in the big six religions: Buddhism; Christianity; Hinduism; Islam, Judaism and Sikhism, through topics such as our “World Religions Introduction” and “Pilgrimage Passport.” Alongside this,
Spotlight on Departments students are encouraged to consider some of the Big Questions beyond the realms of science such as: •
What is the cause of evil in the world?
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How did the world begin?
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Is religion dangerous?
EAL (English as Additional Language) At USH, we are very proud of our diversity. We have students from many countries, and more than 40 languages are spoken among them.
All Year 7 are also given the opportunity in lessons, to devise a piece of creative work to enter into a national competition Spirited Arts, which asks for creative response (art, photography, or sculpture) to a Big Question. Within lessons, debate and discussion is encouraged. To be successful in RS, the students need to learn how to express their views clearly with evidence; they will also be building skills in critiquing and challenging the views of others. More importantly, students will be able to clearly express their own beliefs as well as being able to recognise the views and understand the actions of others.
SEND (Learning Support) In the Learning Support department, we are proud of the help and care we can provide to our pupils. Within Learning Support, we have several children with a range of Special Educational Needs who’s provision we oversee. The best place for all children to learn is in the classroom, however, we identify that some children need to be provided with the help and toolkit to access their education and reach their full potential. We are wholly committed to providing children with the necessary skills they require in order to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. Our vision is that all pupils can access the same curriculum, with adaptations made where necessary. That all children will leave USH with a range of skills that will enable them to continue their journey into adulthood, as happy, ready, and independent young adults. We have a number of interventions that support a range of different conditions and needs, including speech and language therapy, lego therapy, social skills, Lexia, Maths Whizz, Maths’s intervention, literacy catch up, working memory, growth mindset, ELSA, Year 11 mentoring, reward cards and EAL groups. We assess pupils using CATS and NGRT to identify any extra help, academically, that pupils may need.
Some of them were born in England, and it was their parents, or grandparents, who immigrated, and therefore they are fluent in English. However, others have only just arrived from overseas and need extra support. To those students we offer dictionaries, a possibility to use Google translate on their mobiles at school, in class support and extra English interventions in small groups. We also aim to provide books for English lessons and differentiated resources for other subjects in home languages, whenever possible. If you are a confident speaker of Chinese, Greek, Spanish, Russian, Italian, Urdu, Japanese, French, Arabic, German, Bengali, Modern Hebrew, Panjabi, Polish, Portuguese, Turkish, Persian, or Gujarati, you will have an opportunity to achieve an additional GCSE qualification in this, or these languages.
Schools Meals USH uses an external company, Chartwells, to provide their meal service. Chartwells are a leading provider of contract catering and support services to the education sector in the UK. For more information, please view their company website: chartwells.co.uk Food choices are offered on a three week rotation; the school currently offers a break and lunchtime service. Food is served from the Canteen, Hall, Pavilions and from a kiosk on the Front and Back Playgrounds. The school operates a cashless catering system, the benefits of this are: •
Increased speed of service, reducing queuing times
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Anonymity for Free School Meals students
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No need to carry cash, preventing loss
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Online ‘top up’ facility for parents
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Students learn about important lifestyle control by monitoring their own accounts
Community Jefferys Education Partnership Upper Shirley High is part of the Jefferys Education Partnership (JEP) that sits within the Hamwic Education Trust. The JEP consists of seven schools that are all geographically located within one mile of each other. There are many benefits of being part of a multi-academy trust including:
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An enhanced programme of lunchtime activities for our students supported by our student leadership and dedicated lunchtime staff
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Introducing new and improved ways in which we communicate with parents
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Our Governors and Headteachers work together to ensure a better education for everyone across all our JEP schools
Increased pastoral support through an increased Head of Year structure
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Working together facilitates the sharing of effective practice across our schools
Reconfiguring rooms and spaces to ensure they work better for us
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Creating and executing a new Travel Plan
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Effective communication means families across JEP schools are supported with a consistent approach, making for a smooth transition across key stages
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With pressure on school budgets, working together generates significant cost savings and time efficiencies
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USH values the connections with our feeder schools, supporting learning and giving everyone access to our specialist staff and facilities.
Moving through the key stages within our Multi-Academy Trust means*:
NEW SPORTS HALL Since 2018, we have been working on the plans for our exciting new Sports Hall. Our plans include: •
4 badminton courts
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1 Netball court
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1 Basketball court
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1 Volleyball court
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Small Gym
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Toilet and changing facilities
Unfortunately, contractor problems alongside delays caused by Covid and Brexit have affected the start of this project. We hope to start the build in early 2022, opening the facility to students in the academic year 22-23.
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Your son/daughter will have the opportunity to attend transition days, tours with parents/schools and after school induction sessions
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The designated Head of Year attends the Primary schools weekly in the summer term and our Head Teacher visits them to give an assembly
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Students who are currently in Year 7, assist with the transition events and act as a familiar face.
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We support students who may find the process more difficult with ELSA sessions, SEN treasure hunt, SENCO to SENCO meetings with students
SITE CHANGES ALREADY COMPLETED
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When parents have made their choice, we connect with them through letters, e-mail and social media
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A fabulous new classroom building, incorporating a new Art classroom, new IT suite and much more.
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It is a benefit to join USH from one of the feeder schools, as we begin transition units in subjects that start in Year 6 and then cross over into Year 7 (for English).
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Two new science laboratories
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Creation of a second drama classroom
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Upgraded IT facilities and an additional IT suite
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Upgrade to our wireless system
* Please note, we will continue to review student activities to ensure they can be run in a covid-safe way.
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Two new outdoor food servery’s with additional student seating
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A new pond and ‘learn and grow’ area
Collectively, JEP wants to give our students the best possible education in a safe, healthy and happy environment where everyone matters and where learning is at the heart of everything we do. USH has three main feeder schools from within the Jefferys Education Partnership (Hollybrook Junior, Shirley Junior and Wordsworth Primary).
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A new Alternative Provisions (AP) classroom and kitchen
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Additional onsite parking
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A third new science laboratory in Summer 2022
Expansion Headlines
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Further astro-turfing to extend outdoor play space across the year (planned for 2022)
Our multi-million pound expansion is well under way...
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More outdoor seating for students as we continue to grow
A number of changes have been made to ensure the additional student intake does not impact upon the smooth running of our school. This has included:
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Increased storage for bikes and scooters
It is an exciting time for Upper Shirley High School; please follow our expansion through our social media updates.
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Extra transition events are run by the transition team to ensure your son/daughter is fully prepared for secondary school.
Sport is a key element at USH and with our talented athletes, the PE Team are confident the new hall will help us to continue to compete and win. Alongside this, the additional facilities will enable us to offer more choice for lessons and after school clubs. It will also be a much-needed additional learning space over the cold winter months. In terms of the site, these are some of the changes we have already made:
FUTURE CHANGES We continue to execute our site expansion plans with the addition of:
Building Confidence, Character and Ambition Personal Development Learning Journey with. Interventions include literacy catch-up, numeracy, growth mindset, working memory, Maths Whizz, ELSA, social skills, Lego therapy and speech and language. These are with our Teaching Assistant team who are friendly, kind and welcoming to all pupils. The Learning Support space is a safe space that is available to students who need it during break and lunch times. Our Guidance team focus on developing social and emotional skills, as well as providing support for students with mental health needs. Interventions include skills teaching, 1:1 pastoral support, ELSA and daily drops ins.
At USH, we pride ourselves in meeting the learning needs of every student. Upper Shirley High is a happy place, where all are challenged to achieve; all are distinguished as leaders of learning and the passion of our people transforms futures. Believe, Respect and Succeed are central to our commitment to ensure all students feel valued, and staff have high expectations of their achievement. All students, regardless of their ability, special educational need, or disability, ethnicity, or social background, are provided for by our inclusive curriculum. All students are expected to make at least good progress and are provided with effective support and early, personalised learning interventions when needed, to ensure they achieve their potential best. We ensure students feel safe at school and are empowered to make a positive contribution to the school and their wider community. Students with emotional, social and behavioural difficulties are fully supported by a range of individualised and staged interventions. Students are able to build successful relationships with other students and staff within school, and are provided with opportunities that combat inequalities. The Pastoral Team at Upper Shirley High consist of dedicated Year Leaders, SENCO and Inclusion Manager, who consistently deliver a high level of care to students. The team are always available to students and work proactively to ensure students feel nurtured and cared for whilst at our school. The Year Leaders come from a variety of departments and backgrounds, and work collaboratively to ensure that students’ needs are catered for around the school. Their wealth of knowledge about students is shared with class teachers, to facilitate maximum progress in lessons and to help drive the best integration into our school community. Together, they aim to ensure each student has the opportunity to succeed at USH and are ready for their next steps when they progress beyond secondary education. Our Learning Support and Guidance areas currently offer a wide range of interventions that help boost the children’s learning in areas that we most commonly find children need extra help
At USH, we are very proud of our diversity. Our curriculum encourages the exploration, discovery and discussion of society through historical reference, right up to modern day; there is increased opportunity to develop cultural capital in all students. We promote and encourage the development of the children’s home language. We offer students the opportunity to take a GCSE in many spoken languages including: Chinese, Greek, Spanish, Russian, Italian, Urdu, Japanese, French, Arabic, German, Bengali, Modern Hebrew, Panjabi, Polish, Portuguese, Turkish, Persian and Gujarati. Children who speak a different language at home are called EAL students. Over 30% of our pupils have English as an additional language. Messages from a previous Head Boy and Head Girl I am Abi Hatton and was Head Girl at Upper Shirley High for academic year 2020/21 I remember my first day of year 7 really fondly, walking to school in a blazer that was way too big for me but it fits me now! Not really knowing many people, coming in to a new environment, not having really seen the school before but now I look back on that day and think that all of those worries were completely irrational, that there was really nothing to worry about. On that first day I met a friend who I am still friends with five years later. I met teachers who have helped me achieve things that I didn’t think I was capable of achieving. I am Sam Findon am privileged to have been Head Boy at Upper Shirley High I became Head Boy during 2020, it was a very different year to be Head Boy. My first meeting with Mr Woods was about how different this was going to be and the whole Student Leadership team had a real challenge on their hands. We couldn’t have face to face engagement so being trusted to chair meetings online and speak to the younger year groups, talking about our experiences and how we could adapt was quite a responsibility and very rewarding. USH is a brilliant time in your life to make new friends, to meet new people, to learn so much not only academically but about yourself. Drama and sport were my key loves coming into USH but I have come out with far more passion for other subjects. USH has taught me to love learning and given me a hunger to learn more about the world around us. Five years is a long time, I have changed a lot since I came into the school and it has been a brilliant five years. We are currently in the process of electing a Head Boy/Girl for 2022/23.
Community is at the heart of our school. We seek many opportunities across the year to open our doors (whether on site, or in local venues), to welcome parents and our wider community. Sadly, many of these events had to be postponed due to the global pandemic. To give you a flavour of the USH experience and to demonstrate the important part the USH community play in the success of our school, these are some of the events we normally hold:
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Year 10 Work Experience - Provides an invaluable insight into the world of work
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Year 10 students attend a number of college taster days to help with post-16 planning
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A Whole School Careers Day - This includes ‘Meet the Professional/Undergraduate/Apprentice’. Year 7, 8 and 10 take part in a speed networking activity to find out about a range of careers, university courses and apprenticeships. Year 11 attend a transition day at local colleges to prepare for post-16 education All Year 11 students are offered a 1:1 careers guidance interview
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Year 7 Information Fair for new starters (September)
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Open Morning, attended by over 150 students across all year groups (September)
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Grandparent Open Morning to mark Remembrance Day (November)
Beyond USH…
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GCSE Presentation Evening for Year 12’s (November)
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Christmas Concert at St James Church (December)
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Bi-annual school production performed at The Point in Eastleigh
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Annual USH Bake off Competition (July)
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Awards Evening BBQ to celebrate successes across all year groups (July)
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JEP Music Festival at Central Hall
We use these events to showcase and celebrate the character, achievements and incredible talent of our young people. We stay connected to our leavers in many different ways too, including the USH alumni. Other whole school student focused activities across the year include: •
Annual ‘Meet the Tutor’ evening
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Student Leadership Programmes
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Democratic elections
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House Competitions
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Talent Show and Battle of the Bands competition
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Sports Day, including our annual Tug-of-War
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Year 11 Prom
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World Book Day
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Academic clubs
* There continues to be some disruption to our normal programme of events as a result of the pandemic. Information, Advice and Careers Guidance CEIAG begins in Year 7 and continues beyond Year 11, through tracking of students to their further education destinations. The programme includes: •
University programmes - All year groups take part in programmes run by either The University of Southampton, or Solent University
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‘Ask the Expert’ - An opportunity for students from all year groups, to meet professionals and learn more about their profession/career sector
Many USH students go on to Russell Group Universities and our Oxbridge applicants continue to grow year-onyear. Culture USH has forged strong links with the local colleges, universities and the hospital, with whole year groups attending seminars and workshops, exploring potential future pathways. The Duke of Edinburgh Award will continue with a potential expedition to the South Downs in the summer term. The Arts The Performing Arts are an important part of life at USH, allowing students to express their creativity through Music, Drama and Dance. Every two years, we fully stage a musical in a professional venue. Extra Curricular We offer an extensive range of extra curricular clubs. Each department runs a club after school, which enriches student’s experiences in their subject. All clubs are free and are run for around an hour at the end of the school day, finishing around 3.45pm. The clubs offered seek to develop our students both academically as well as socially.
Building Confidence, Character and Ambition Sport The school prides itself on its sports teams and our teams regularly play (and win) fixtures against other schools. The sports we are focusing currently on are football (boys and girls), crosscountry and netball. A full list of the clubs we usually run are on our website. USH has a strong tradition of sporting achievement and offers students the chance to participate in a wide range of activities including Netball, Football, Rugby, Badminton, Athletics, Rounders, Softball, Basketball, Cross-Country, TableTennis, Fitness and Cricket! With such an extensive curriculum, students are able to develop skills, including teamwork, social skills, knowledge of diet and nutrition, improved fitness and overall good health for life. By the end of Year 8, all students have a basic knowledge of how the body works during exercise and the importance of physical activity. USH has a history of exceptional athletes who have represented Southampton, Hampshire and England in Netball, Football, CrossCountry, Boxing, Rowing, Swimming. The school consistently performs very well in local inter-school competitions and is known as one of the best schools for sports achievement in Southampton. Many leagues were abandoned last year but... Sporting highlights from 2019 – 20 include: •
Under 16 Netball league runner-up
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Under 14 Netball league 3rd place
Sporting highlights from 2018 – 19 include: •
Year 8 Netball league winners
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Year 8 Rounders league winners
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Year 7 and 8 Girls’ Football league winners
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2nd in the swimming gala, being first state school
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Several students qualifying for the National Rowing Championships
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Year 7 team and individual Cross-Country champions
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City Athletics winners for Year 7 Boys
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Year 9 football league and Cup runners-up
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Year 9 team and individual Cross-Country Champions
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City Athletics winners for Year 9 Boys and Girls Building Confidence, Character
Admissions FAQs How many places are USHS offering for 2022/2023? The school will be offering 210 places in Year 7 for the 2022/23 academic year.
I live in the school’s catchment area – am I guaranteed a place? Unfortunately, the school no longer uses catchment area as an admission criteria. Please check the admissions policy for the new admission criteria.
My child attends one of the feeder schools – will they automatically get a place? Although attendance at a feeder school provides priority within the admissions criteria, there is no guarantee that your child will get a place just because they attend one of the feeder schools. Places are allocated according to the admissions policy criteria, so those children within the feeder school criteria children living closer to the school will be offered places first.
My child is not in a feeder school – what are my chances of getting a place? Over the last few years there has been a steady increase in the number of applications for the school. Attendance at a feeder school is now one of the main admission criteria. Not all children from the feeder schools apply for places at USHS, so there may be places available for children not attending the feeder schools, but this varies year on year.
Do I need to put USHS as first preference to get a place? Use your preferences wisely. You need to put the schools down in the order you really want them. If USHS is the school you really want, then put it as 1st preference. If you are offered your 1st preference school then the applications for your 2nd and 3rd preferences schools are considered to be no longer required. If you have put USHS as a 2nd or 3rd and get your 1st preference school, you will be removed from all lists and will not be on the waiting list either.
Admissions Policy September 2022 The Hamwic Education Trust is the Admission Authority for the school and delegates the processing of admissions to the governing body. This policy will apply to admissions to start in Year 7 in September 2022 and for all in-year applications made during the 2022/23 academic year. As required in the School Admissions Code, the governing body will consider all on-time preferences at the same time for September 2022 admissions. Parents may express up to three (3) preferences, listing them in the order in which they would accept them. All preferences will be considered and where more than one school could be offered, the parents will be offered a place for their child at the highest ranked of the schools that could be offered. Children with statements of special educational needs (SEN)/ Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) that name the school Children with statements of special educational needs/EHCPs that name a school must be admitted to that school under the Education Act 1996 and with regard to the SEN Code of Practice. These children will be admitted to the named school, even if it is full, and are therefore outside the normal admission arrangements. As required by the Code these children will count as part of the Published Admission Number (PAN) for the school. Published Admission Number Upper Shirley High School will admit up to 210 pupils for the 2022/23 academic year. This admission number is based on the capacity of the school. Oversubscription criteria Applications submitted by 31 October 2021 will be dealt with first. If the number of applications submitted by 31 October 2021 is greater than the Published Admission Number (PAN) for the school, admissions to the school will be decided according to the following priorities: 1.
Children in public care (looked after children) and previously looked after children as defined by section 1.7 of the School Admissions Code.
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Children subject to a child protection plan.
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Children who have a brother or sister already on the roll of the school who will continue to attend that school for the following year. (This includes children living as siblings in the same family unit.)
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A sibling is defined as a brother or sister including half, step, or foster or adoptive brother or sister, living within the same family unit at the same address. Children attending the linked feeder schools namely – Hollybrook Junior School, Shirley Junior School and Wordsworth Primary School.
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Children of qualified teaching staff employed at USHS for two or more years at the time of application and/or the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
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Children who live closest to USHS based on a straight-line distance. Distances are measured from home to school. These are calculated using a computerised mapping system that uses data supplied by Ordnance Survey. Distances are measured from the point designated in the system as the home address to the point designated in the system as the mid-point of the nearest open gate to the school, using a straight-line measurement.
If USHS is oversubscribed from within any of the above criteria, then distance, as defined in 6. above will be used to prioritise applications. Should there be two or more identical distances requiring prioritisation, this will be done by casting lots. Late Applications The closing date for applications is 31 October 2021. Applications received after that date will be late applications. If USHS has places
available after admitting all on-time applications, late applications will be considered in· accordance with the priorities set out above. Waiting Lists If a place cannot be offered at USHS, unsuccessful applicants will automatically be placed on the waiting list. If places become available, children on the waiting list will be offered them according to the priorities set out above and any previous offer of a school place will be withdrawn. The length of time on the waiting list cannot be taken into account. Unsuccessful late applications will be treated in the same way as unsuccessful on-time applications and placed on the waiting list according to the priorities set out above. Each time a child is added to the waiting list, the waiting list will be re-ranked according to the Admissions Policy criteria. The waiting list will be held until 31st July 2023. Any parent wishing to remain on the waiting list after this date will need to make a new in-year application to the school. Admission of children outside their normal age group. Parents may request that their child is admitted outside their normal age group, for example, if the child is gifted or talented or has experienced problems such as ill health, or they are summer born and were admitted to Year R outside the normal age group. Parents of summer-born children for whom education outside normal age group was previously agreed will be required to make a new request for entry into secondary school. This should be done as if the child is placed in their correct year group. For example, a child who has been held back a year (decelerated) should be making a new request in Year 5. Any parent wishing to apply for a place outside their normal age group should read the ‘Guidance on the education of children outside normal age group’ document available on the Southampton City Council website, which explains the procedures that need to be followed. All requests will be considered on their merits by the governing body taking account of the parent’s view and the views of the headteacher. For all requests it is vital to understand that at each transition (starting reception, moving from infant to junior, primary to secondary, secondary to college) the decision whether to maintain the placement in a younger or older year group must be made by the admission authority for the school. As such, there is no guarantee that it will continue throughout the child’s education and a new parental request must be made before each transition. As a general rule, requests should only be made once per phase transfer, unless there has been a significant change in circumstances. One admission authority cannot be required to honour a decision made by another admission authority on education out of normal age group. Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme Upper Shirley High School fully participates in the LA published coordinated admissions scheme. The governors have delegated the management of the waiting list to the LA Admissions Team during the normal admission round. The waiting list will be passed to the school on 1st September 2022.
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Updated 01/09/21
023 8032 5333 | uppershirleyhigh.org Upper Shirley High, Bellemoor Road, Shirley, Southampton SO15 7QU
Kitchen