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.’ uppershirleyhigh ushschool @ushschool 023 8032 5333 uppershirleyhigh.org Believe, Respect, Succeed Open Morning 2022
Due to demand for places, USH has been undergoing gradual expansion with us reaching 1050 students in 2023. The construction of our specialist sports facility is now underway and will be ready in April.
USH is a proud member of SSAT Leading Edge Group – a national award and membership which is exclusively for high performing schools. Our caring and aspirational staff are completely dedicated to guiding our students to success. They have a proven track record.
Choosing a secondary school is one of the most important decisions a family can make.
Whethervalues.
Welcome to Upper Shirley High School (USH)
We are here to achieve, and we are proud of our strong tradition of exceptional academic performance. In 2022, a record breaking 78% of our students achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths.
We have high expectations of our students. Excellent behaviour is fundamental to ensuring learning takes place. We treat people well, we demonstrate good manners, and we are kind. At USH we celebrate success and support our students in developing perseverance and resilience. We take our work very seriously and are committed to being the best school in the region.
I am immensely proud of our inclusive school and our open morning is a great way for you to experience it for yourself. We are passionate about providing young people with opportunities to develop their own individual unique talents and be the best that they can be. USH students are truly inspiring; they are respectful, eloquent, and full of character.
Chris Sykes, Headteacher
I hope you find all the information you need in the following pages. Whether you are new to the USH and JEP community, or whether you are a family who has chosen USH before, thank you for considering our school.
Hello Parents and Carers
Welcome to USH
your child is practically, technically or academically minded, there is a pathway for them which enables them to thrive and enjoy their time at school. We invest heavily in trips, extra-curricular clubs, performing arts, sport, and career guidance so students have a wide range of opportunities during their time with us. Providing young people with moments of excitement and enjoyment, moments they will remember forever, is so important to the USH community.
Believe, Respect and Succeed values underpin our school motto of Learning without Limits. They are at the core of everything we do, and we expect all members of our community to share and role model these
• Computer Science
• Art
Curriculum, Teaching and Learning
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.
• Creative Media Design Technology Drama Film Studies Nutrition
• Graphics
• Food And
• PSHE
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• Religious Studies
• Spanish Textiles
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.
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• Physical Education
• Citizenship
Building Confidence, Character and Ambition
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.
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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.
Learning is structured across a two-week format so as to maximise the use of time. The curriculum has a space for student-centred learning that stimulates and challenges students of all abilities.
• History
• Music And TechnologyMusic
• Photography
• French • Further Maths • alongsideGeographythe core subjects of English Language, English Literature, Mathematics and Science.
The varied curriculum at USH offers:
Personal Development Learning Journey SEND (Learning Support)
In the Learning Support department, we are proud of the help and care we can provide to our pupils. The best place for all children to learn is in the classroom, however, we recognise 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 skills they require in order to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.
At USH, we pride ourselves on 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.
Pastoral care at Upper Shirley High consists of dedicated Heads of Year, Assistant Heads of Year, tutors and the Guidance Team, who consistently deliver a high level of care to students.
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. These interventions are delivered by our friendly and welcoming teaching assistant team.
Building Confidence, Character and Ambition
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.
Our Guidance area currently offers a wide range of interventions that help boost the children’s learning in areas where we most commonly find children need extra help. The 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 drop-ins.
All students, regardless of their ability, special educational need, 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.
The team are always available to students and work proactively to ensure students feel nurtured and cared for whilst at our 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 that each student has the opportunity to succeed at USH and is ready for their next steps when they progress beyond secondary education.
Greek, Spanish, Russian, Italian, Urdu, Japanese, French, Arabic, German, Bengali, Modern Hebrew, Panjabi, Polish, Portuguese, Turkish, Persian and Gujarati.
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,
I am a driven individual, who places a high emphasis on academic achievement and Upper Shirley High has provided the platform for this, by always encouraging and supporting me to achieve my goals. The teaching body goes above and beyond to help all students, not just in lessons but also through all the extra-curricular events that take place throughout the academic year. My aim as student leadership is to make our school feel as inviting as possible, and for all students to feel valued, respected and have a sense of belonging within our school environment. I hope your child is very happy here and as I enter my final year, I can honestly say it has been a privilege and honour to be a part of this community.
EAL (English as Additional MessageLanguage)from Student Leadership
Children who speak a different language at home are called EAL students. Over 30% of our pupils have English as an additional language.
Moving into secondary school can be challenging at times. However, I’m sure you’ll feel more than welcome at USH. Classes form close-knit communities, and all staff go above and beyond to make sure you’re comfortable. USH is full of fun extra-curriculars and sports clubs, my favourites being Soul Band and Triple Science. Prior to Covid, USH offered a myriad of trips such as Paris, Spain and skiing, which can hopefully be offered in the following years. I have enjoyed my time at USH and I’m honoured to be given this position as head boy. I will endeavour, with students and staff, to make USH a successful and thriving environment. If your children have any concerns, I’m very approachable and always happy to listen - I remember what it was like to be a year 7.
Good morning and welcome to Upper Shirley High, I’m Head of Student Leadership, Miles Cockburn.
Welcome to our first open morning following Covid, I’m so pleased that events like this can finally take place face-to-face. My name is Kip Elia, Head of Student Leadership here at Upper Shirley High.
We seek to stretch, challenge and support all students. For those who need support we provide dictionaries, electronic translation devises, 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.
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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 our regular events:
• JEP Music Festival at Central Hall (July)
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• Grandparent Open Morning to mark Remembrance Day (November)
Year 11 Prom
• Year 8 GCSE options workshops
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Careers Information,Education,Advice and CEIAGGuidancebeginsinYear
• All Year 11 1:1 careers guidance interview
• Bi-annual school production including a special matinee performance for Year 6 from our JEP Feeder Schools
World Book Day
• GCSE Presentation Evening for Year 12 (November)
• Awards Evening celebration for Years 7-10 (July)
• Open Morning, attended by over 150 students across all year groups (September)
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.
Student Leadership Programmes
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• Year 9 ‘Go to work with an adult day’
• Year 10 Work Experience - Provides an invaluable insight into the world of work
Many USH students go on to Russell Group Universities and our Oxbridge applicant numbers continue to grow year-on-year.
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• Year 10 apprenticeship information workshop
End of Year Rewards Day for students
• University programmes - All year groups take part in programmes run by either The University of Southampton, or Solent University
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At Upper Shirley High, our learning continues out of the classroom. We value the experiences that can be gained from visiting educational settings, historical sites, geographical features and many more places when students go on a trip out of school. Giving the students an opportunity to bring their learning to life helps to embed their classroom knowledge and creates lasting memories.
• Annual USH Bake Off Competition (July)
Other whole-school, student-focused activities across the year include:
Trips
Building Confidence, Character and Ambition Community Events
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Academic clubs
• Annual Meet the Tutor
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 newly launched USH alumni.
Democratic elections
• Christmas Concert at St James Church (December)
Talent Show and Battle of the Bands competitions
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House competitions
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• ‘Meet the Professional/Undergraduate/Apprentice’. All students take part in a speed networking activity to find out about a range of careers, university courses and apprenticeships.
7 and continues beyond Year 11, through the tracking of students to their further education destinations. The programme includes:
• Year 10 college taster days to help with post-16 planning
• ‘Ask the Expert’ - An opportunity for students from all year groups to meet professionals and learn more about their profession/career sector
Beyond USH…
Sports Day
Throughout the five years at USH, students will be offered opportunities to take part in a range of trips that work alongside the curriculum: field work for geography, the battlefields of Belgium for history, London galleries for art and photography, and sporting fixtures for PE to list a few. In addition, other trips develop team building, resilience and friendships, for example; camping locally, skiing in Europe and the sites of Paris. These trips vary from year to year and we are always on the lookout to extend the places we can go.
• Under 15 Rounders Runners Up
The performing arts are an important part of life at USH, allowing students to express their creativity through music, drama and dance. Each year we alternate between either a school production or Arts Showcase evening as part of an extra-curricular opportunity for students. This year our school production will be Matilda Jr.
We offer an extensive range of extra-curricular clubs. All staff are encouraged to run a club after school, which enriches students’ experiences. All clubs are free and are run for around an hour at the end of the school day, finishing around 3:50pm. The clubs offered seek to develop our students academically as well as socially.
• Several students representing Southampton and Hampshire Athletics Championships
• City Athletics winners in 2019, 2018, 2017 and (Due to take place end of Sept 2022)
Extra Curricular
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• 3rd Place in the Annual Southampton Schools Swimming Gala
• Several students qualifying for the National Rowing Championships
GCSE PE at USH is growing in popularity and with the imminent build of a new sports hall, further opportunities of extending our curriculum offer, provides an exciting prospect for our GCSE students to flourish in the subject.
prides itself on its sports teams and our teams regularly play fixtures against other local schools. In the autumn term, the focus is on football, netball and cross country. A full list of the clubs we usually run is on our website. USH has a strong tradition of sporting achievement and offers students the chance to participate in a wide range of activities within PE including netball, football, rugby, handball, athletics, rounders, softball, basketball, dance, table-tennis, fitness, cricket and a unit of theory work.
USH has a history of exceptional athletes who have represented Southampton, Hampshire and England in netball, football, cross-country, athletics, boxing, rowing and 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.
• Under 13 Football League Winners
• Under 13 Netball League Winners
With such an extensive curriculum, students are able to develop skills, including teamwork, communication, resilience, problem solving and social skills. 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 on their physical, mental and social wellbeing.
• Under 16 Netball League Winners
Sporting highlights from 2021 – 22 include (sporting fixtures suspended during the pandemic):
• Under 13 Rounders Runners Up
The Arts
• Extra transition events are run by the transition team to
There are many benefits of being part of a multi-academy trust including:
• Our Governors and Headteachers work together to ensure a better education for everyone across all our JEP schools
• Your son/daughter will have the opportunity to attend transition days, tours with parents/schools and after school induction sessions
• We support students who may find the process more difficult with ELSA sessions, a SEN treasure hunt and SENCO to SENCO meetings with students
Our Community: Jefferys Education Partnership
• Working together facilitates the sharing of effective practice across our schools
• Effective communication means families across JEP schools are supported with a consistent approach, making for a smooth transition across key stages
Moving through the key stages within our Multi-Academy Trust means:
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.
• The designated Head of Year attends the primary schools weekly in the summer term
• Students who are currently in Year 7, assist with the transition events and act as a familiar face.
Partnerships
Our multi-million-pound expansion is well under way, and in September 2023 we will be a fully expanded school of 1050 students.
• A new pond and ‘learn and grow’ area
Our exciting sports hall build has now started and is due for completion in April 2023.
• A new drama classroom
• Reconfiguring rooms and spaces to ensure they meet our curriculum changes
Over the past 5 years, we have carefully planned our expansion to meet the needs of both our new and existing students. Many changes have been made to ensure the additional student intake has not impacted upon the smooth running of our school. This has included:
• Three new science laboratories
• Other staff recruitments, both teaching and support, to add capacity to teaching, pastoral and department teams
• Investing in IT to ensure subject leads have the right equipment for their subject area
In terms of the site, here are other changes we’ve made to support our expansion:
• Additional onsite parking for staff and visitors
Expansion Headlines
• An enhanced programme of student lunchtime activities and designated lunchtime staff
• Adding capacity to our school leadership team
• A fabulous new eight-classroom building, incorporating two new DT suites and much more.
• Two additional outdoor food kiosks with additional student seating across the school
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.
Waiting Lists
1. Sibling: 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.
4. Children attending the linked junior/primary school – see Explanatory Note 2.
3. 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 – see Explanatory Note 1.
Section 1: Introduction
Section 3: Oversubscription Criteria Explanatory Notes
Applications submitted by 31 October 2022 will be dealt with first. If the number of applications submitted by 31 October 2022 is greater than the PAN for a school, admissions to the school will be decided according to the following priorities:
Children with statements of special educational needs (SEN) / Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) that name the school
2. Linked Junior/Primary Schools: the table below shows which junior/ primary schools are linked to each secondary school using this policy:
Upper Shirley High School Shirley Junior School Wordsworth Primary School
The Hamwic Education Trust (HET) is the Admission Authority for the schools listed in the table below. The Trust Board is responsible for determining the admissions policy and arrangements in line with the requirements of the School Standards & Framework Act 1998 and School Admissions Code. HET has delegated the processing of admissions to the individual school’s governing body. This policy will be used to prioritise applications for Year 7 starting in September 2023 and for in-year admissions for the 2023/24 academic year for the schools listed Parentsbelow.
If the school is oversubscribed from within any of the criteria, then distance, as defined in Explanatory Note 3 will be used to prioritise applications. Should there be two or more identical distances requiring prioritisation, this will be done by drawing lots.
2. Children subject to a child protection plan.
The Published Admission Number (PAN) for each school is shown in the table below. Each school will admit up to the PAN into Year 7 in September 2023.
Children with statements of special educational needs or 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.
Admissions Policy 2023/24
3. Distance: Distances are measured based on a straight-line measurement. 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.
Published Admission Number
5. Children of qualified teaching staff employed at the school for two
6. Children living closest to the school based on distance – see Explanatory Note 3.
1. Children in public care (looked after children) and previously looked after children as defined by section 1.7 of the School Admissions Code 2021.
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.
Section 2: Oversubscription Criteria
Secondary School Linked Junior/Primary School(s) Weston Secondary School Weston Park Primary School Hollybrook Junior School
School Name PAN Weston Secondary School 120 Upper Shirley High School 210
Late Applications
The closing date for applications is 31 October 2022. Applications received after that date will be late applications. If the school has places available after admitting all on-time applications, late applications will be considered in accordance with the priorities set out above.
Section 4: General admission arrangements
All explanatory notes are in section 3 on page 4.
If a place cannot be offered at the preferred school, 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 in section 2 of this policy. 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 2024. Any parent wishing to remain on the waiting list after this date will need to make a new in-year application to the school.
Admissions FAQs
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 with siblings will be allocated before children attending a feeder school.
In Year Fair Access
HET schools fully partake in the relevant LA’s In-Year Fair Access Protocol. The purpose of the In Year Fair Access Protocol is to ensure that – outside the normal admissions round – unplaced children, especially the most vulnerable, are offered a place at a suitable school as quickly as possible. Cases are considered by a Panel comprising Headteachers and/or their representatives. When seeking to place a child, the Panel will consider all schools in a fair, equitable and consistent manner. Decisions of the Panel may mean that individual schools admit children above the Published Admission Number.
We have three feeder schools from within the Jefferys Education Partnership, Hollybrook Junior School, Shirley Junior School and Wordsworth Primary School. Last year we accepted children from 17 different junior/primary schools.
Who are your feeder schools?
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 , and complete the relevant application form. 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.
Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme
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, in-year admissions) 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.
The school will be offering 210 places in Year 7 for the 2023/24 academic year.
All HET schools fully participate in the LA published co-ordinated 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 2023.
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 junior school. This should be done as if the child is placed in their correct year group.
My child attends one of the feeder schools – will they automatically get a place?
Use your preferences wisely. You need to put the schools down in the order you really want them. If USH 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 USH 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.
My child is not in a feeder school – what are my chances of getting a place?
Admission of children outside their normal age group.
For example, a child who has been held back a year (decelerated) should be making a new request in Year 5.
Over the last few years, there has been a steady increase in the number of applications for the school. Historically, the school can usually offer a place to about 20 children who do not attend a feeder school.
How many places are USH offering for 2023/24?
This admissions policy will also be used to prioritise applications for inyear admissions for the 2023/24 academic year. Parents wishing to make an in-year application should apply on-line through the Southampton City Council website: www.southampton.gov.uk/admissions
Do I need to put USH as first preference in order to get a place?
In Year Admissions (applying for a school place during an academic year)
Believe, Respect, Succeed Upper Shirley High, Bellemoor Road, Shirley, Southampton SO15 7QU 023 8032 5333 uppershirleyhigh.org
