Rodborough prospectus 2015 2016

School Prospectus 2015-2016

RODBOROUGH SCHOOL, Rake Lane, Milford, Surrey, GU8 5BZ

Contents Welcome to Rodborough School

3

The Curriculum

4

Outside the Classroom/Extra-curricular Activities

5

Duke of Edinburgh/Work Related Learning

6

The School Community

7

Additional Support

8

Transition

9

Post 16 Provision/Communication

10

Open Evening/Tours

11

For further information and all statutory documents please visit our website www.rodborough.surrey.sch.uk

Welcome to Rodborough It is my pleasure to welcome you to Rodborough School.

For more than sixty years Rodborough has provided an excellent education for boys and girls between the ages of 11-16. Whilst our students achieve very well in national examinations, we place a great deal of emphasis on supporting and challenging our students to develop as rounded young adults able to make a full contribution to their community.

Rodborough is located in Milford, Surrey in 25 acres of grounds surrounded by woodland. Our students attend from the south Godalming area including, local villages such as Milford, Chiddingfold, Elstead, Thursley, Witley and Hambledon.

Rodborough has been an Academy since 2011, but continues to work closely with Surrey Local Education Authority and other Surrey schools. As a member of the Waverley Federation* of schools we are able to work with our educational partners in order to enrich the experiences of all our students as well as access additional support for our students through collaborative provision. This includes work experience, careers advice and additional pastoral support and guidance. Through the Waverley Federation we are also able to offer a far richer curriculum, particularly in the upper school, providing a range of specialist vocational courses from a number of third-party educational providers.

We have a curriculum that supports the development of the learner as well as providing breadth and depth in terms of the range of subjects that we teach. We also take pride in the range of opportunities we offer outside of the classroom which include a variety of trips, a very successful Duke of Edinburgh and Arts Awards programme, as well as numerous clubs and societies. Our sports leadership and prefect programmes are designed to encourage students to become involved in their community whilst at the same time develop their leadership skills.

Matthew Armstrong-Harris Headteacher

“Leaders, including Governors, are highly effective. Students’ achievement is at the heart of everything they do.” OFSTED 2013

* The Waverley Federation includes Broadwater, Glebelands, Rodborough and Woolmer Hill secondary schools, Gosden House Special school and our Sixth Form provider, Godalming College.

www.rodborough.surrey.sch.uk

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The Curriculum “The curriculum … provision is excellent, as it is designed to meet individual students’ specific needs and interests.” OFSTED 2013 At Rodborough we believe that it is vital that students are able to experience a broad and challenging curriculum. In the Lower School (Years 7 to 9) students study a wide range of subjects throughout the three years. In the Upper School the range of options widens even further and students are encouraged to opt for breadth in their Key Stage Four curriculum in order to ensure that they are able to demonstrate a good range of skills and knowledge for their future studies, helping prepare them for the workplace.

Our ‘Learning to Learn’ (L2) programme develops our students as learners. This involves the teaching of core learning skills through a progressively structured programme throughout Years 7 to 11. The programme is delivered in weekly lessons and reinforced by common methodologies across the curriculum. As the programme progresses, students become increasingly independent learners, preparing them for GCSE and beyond.

The school day is divided into six, fifty-minute lessons and begins at 8:45am with a twenty-minute tutor period or assembly, twenty minutes for a mid-morning break and a fifty minute lunch break. The school day ends at 3:25pm.

Key Stage Three

(Years 7-9)

In the lower school the emphasis is on developing the learner through a wide range of subjects. Students study subjects from across the academic and practical disciplines. In addition to the ‘core’ of English, Mathematics and Science, all students in years 7 through to 9 will follow courses in the arts (Art, Music and Drama), the humanities (Geography, History and Religious Education) and Design & Technology (Food, Graphics, Resistant Materials and Textiles). In Modern Foreign Languages students can study both German and French in year 7. Every student also has two lessons of Physical Education a week as well as a lesson of computing and a ‘learning to learn’ (L2) lesson.

Key Stage Four

(Years 10 & 11)

At the end of year 9 students select those optional subjects that they wish to take on to GCSE level. At this point the range of subjects studied in the lower school is enhanced by the opportunity to study additional subjects offered through the Waverley Federation partnership. This introduces the option to study Health & Beauty, Small Animal Care, Building & Construction, Sport & Leisure, Media and Business.

All students continue with a ‘core’ of English, English Literature, Mathematics and Science. In key stage 4 there is the opportunity to study Science either as a ‘dual award’ or as a ‘triple award’ leading to separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The ‘core’ also includes non-examined Physical Education lessons, learning to learn (L2) and a certificated short -course in Religious Education.

4

Outside the Classroom We are proud of our tradition of sporting success at Rodborough and have a track record of success in local and county cup competitions in football, rugby, netball, athletics and cricket.

All students follow a varied programme of sporting activities within the curriculum that allows them to experience a variety of team and individual sports. In addition to those sports already mentioned, this includes basketball, volleyball, badminton, tennis, handball and rounders. Curriculum Physical Education lessons help students to develop their skills in a range of sports as well as their personal fitness and teamwork skills.

Students are encouraged to join one of our training squads so that they have the opportunity to represent the school in one of our teams. Training sessions take place after school throughout the week as do the majority of our fixtures.

In the upper school students have the opportunity to participate in a wider programme of sporting and fitness activities through our partnerships with the Guildford Spectrum and Surrey Sports Park. This allows them to follow six week programmes including swimming, bowling and climbing.

“There is a variety of opportunities for students to develop their artistic talents and appreciation, and for them to participate in sport.”

OFSTED 2013

Extra-Curricular Activities We have a varied programme of extra-curricular activities. Students can join a range of extra-curricular activities including subject-based clubs such as Design & Technology or clubs based on hobbies and interests such as the Debating Society and Chess Club. A full range of clubs is published at the start of the academic year and listed on our website.

Music and Drama thrive at Rodborough. We encourage students to take music lessons and join our successful Jazz Band (regularly performing at local events as well as bi-annual international tours), orchestra or other music making groups.

Our annual Drama productions have become an important fixture in the local arts programme and involve students backstage and in the orchestra pit as well as on the stage.

For a week in July each year our normal timetable is suspended so that students can participate in a range of activities. During these ‘Activities Week’s students have had the opportunity to participate in outdoor sports at the Calshot Centre, live in the wild for a week at Buschcraft, visit France on a cultural visit or participate in a range of creative activities on and around the school site including art, film-making, high ropes, sailing and even a day on the farm. At other times of the year students also have the opportunity to participate in trips such as the humanities trip to Berlin, the battlefields tour, the German Christmas market and the German exchange.

5

Duke of Edinburgh Award Rodborough runs a very successful Duke of Edinburgh programme, as a Directly Licensed Centre. The programme helps build personal resilience, encourages volunteering and develops orienteering and leadership skills. In year 9 students begin by developing their orienteering and map-reading skills through a bespoke programme before progressing to the Bronze Award in Year 10. Many students then continue their programme through to the Silver Award in Year 11, which involves an expedition based in the New Forest.

“The development of students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural awareness is excellent and occurs in a wide range of ways.”

OFSTED 2013

Work Related Learning “I learnt a great deal about how an architect works and the many different parts of their job. I enjoyed going into the field to see sites in the planning and construction process because it gave me an understanding of how the designs became a reality. ” Year 10 Student

All students participate in our work-related learning p r o g r a m m e t hr o u g h t h e curriculum, assemblies, the tutor programme and with independent advisors.

Students in Years 9, 10 and 11 benefit from independent careers advice, either within a group or individually. In the summer of Year 10 students participate in our work experience programme in order to gain a taste of the workplace before they make their final further education choices.

www.rodborough.surrey.sch.uk

6

The School Community “The range of students’ contributions to the school community is impressive. There is a sense of mutual respect between staff and students, based on a sense of trust. Students show ambition and enjoyment of their learning and there is a palpable sense of pride in the progress made.” OFSTED 2013 All students are encouraged to participate fully in the school and local community. We have a thriving school council, led by our ‘Senior Six’ team comprising of our Head Boy and Girl and their deputies, which allows students to contribute towards whole-school development. In Year 11 all students are encouraged to become prefects and take responsibility for a range of duties around the school as well as lead developments in their specialist areas such as community work or our thriving Eco-school programme.

“Students feel that they are safe at the academy and their parents agree that this is the case.

Students know how to keep themselves safe, including when using the internet.”

OFSTED 2013

Rodborough School - Winners of the IAA Sustainability Award 2014 “The judging panel was extremely impressed by the innovative strategies developed and deployed

by Rodborough…... it established its own energy company …. its use of solar energy has extended to installations at five other local schools. Student leadership has been at the forefront of the initiative with the school council having raised funds to purchase shares in the company, the returns on which have been spent helping their partner school in Ghana. The evidence of impact is very strong, in terms of finances, the curriculum, the community and the environment.” Independent Academies Association (IAA)

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Additional Support For students with an Education Health and Care Plan we are able to provide a range of support options to help them with their progress. Our Special Educational Needs (SEN) team provide in-class and withdrawal support in our Student Support Centre. The team works with partner schools to assist the transition process and help prepare an appropriate programme that best supports the child.

In partnership with the National Autistic Society (NAS) and Surrey County Council, Rodborough has a specialist centre for autistic children supporting twenty children in Years 7 to 11. Admission to this unit (The Cullum Centre) is through Surrey County Council’s Special Educational Needs admissions process.

In addition to support through our pastoral system, students are supported through our partnership with the Eikon Charity. Our Eikon youth specialist supports students through 1:1 sessions and group work.

“A number of students attend alternative provision for part of their education. These students achieve highly because of these arrangements. The academy has extremely strong links with the other providers in the Waverley Federation which make sure that these students’ needs and interests are met very effectively.” OFSTED 2013

www.rodborough.surrey.sch.uk

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Transition We have a year group tutoring system. Students are allocated to one of six tutor groups in Year 7 under the leadership of a permanent Head of Year 7. Our Head of Year 7 works closely with our partner primary and junior schools in order to ensure that transition to Rodborough is as smooth as possible. The transition process is supported by group and individual meetings, a transition day for our new intake at Rodborough in the July before they start and information meetings for students and their parents. Care is taken to ensure that the tutor groups contain a mix of students from different schools and backgrounds yet allow students to feel confident that, wherever possible, they are with someone they know. In order to help our new students to settle in quickly we run a series of teambuilding activities in the summer term and during their first weeks at Rodborough in order to encourage them to make new friends.

Tutor groups remain together throughout their five years at Rodborough.

The tutor is the first contact for most questions that students and parents may have. They can be contacted through a note in the student planner, an e-mail or telephone call.

“I learnt so much, in those exciting five years, academically and importantly in other aspects of life too. Being given so many opportunities during my time at Rodborough has served me in great stead throughout the rest of my time in education.�

YEAR 11 STUDENT

www.rodborough.surrey.sch.uk

9

Post 16 Provision Our 6th Form partner is Godalming College. As we are a feeder school for Godalming all of our students are guaranteed a place provided they meet the academic criteria for the courses they intend to follow.

We work closely with Godalming College to ensure that there is a smooth transition from our upper school into further education. Whilst over eighty percent of our students move to Godalming College, all students are supported to make the right choice post-16.

As well as Godalming College our students go on to attend Guildford, Alton and Farnham Colleges.

They receive independent advice to help them in those decisions in addition to our own guidance programme.

Communication “The academy communicates with parents very effectively, for example through regular newsletters and emails.� OFSTED 2013 Throughout the year we run a number of information evenings with the intention of informing parents about teaching and learning at Rodborough. We do this to provide opportunities to explain our practice and offer advice to parents about supporting their child.

Whilst each year group has a formal parent consultation evening once a year, we encourage parents to keep in touch with us throughout the year through the student planner, via-e-mail, or by additional face to face meetings.

We send home a weekly newsletter which helps keep parents up to date with what is happening at school. This community newsletter reflects the successes that our students achieve outside of school as well as within Rodborough.

Comments and queries can be made by parents to tutors through the student planner. For more detailed or urgent matters parents can contact staff by telephoning reception on 01483 411100 or by e -mail using the info@rodborough.surrey.sch.uk address.

www.rodborough.surrey.sch.uk

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Open Evening You are warmly invited to our Open Evening from 6-8.30 pm on

Thursday 8 October 2015.

Many of our students volunteer to give up their evening to proudly show off their school. Open Evening is a wonderful opportunity to look at those facilities that interest you most, to speak to our students and to find out what being part of the Rodborough School Community is all about. Tours, guided by students in Years 10 & 11 begin from either the Main School Hall or the School Reception. The Headteacher, Mr Matthew Armstrong-Harris, will give three talks in the School Hall, at 6.10pm , 6.45pm and 8.00pm.

Finding out more about Rodborough Please browse our website to find out as much as you can about Rodborough and do telephone Reception if you have any questions or would like to speak to a specialist member of our team.

Applying for a place at Rodborough Applications for Year 7 places (both for Rodborough and the Cullum Centre) are made through Surrey County Council. Full details and documentation are available on our website, where you will also find everything you need for older children who wish to join us ‘in year’.

Tours Available If you would like to join one of our working day tours please contact Mrs A Deane, Head’s PA on 01483 411100 or email adeane@rodborough.surrey.sch.uk.

Working Day tours are available on: Friday 9 October 2015 Wednesday 14 October 2015 Friday 16 October 2015

11.05am 09.05am 11.05am

- 11.55am - 09.55am - 11.55am

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RODBOROUGH SCHOOL RAKE LANE MILFORD GODALMING SURREY GU8 5BZ

TELEPHONE: 01483 411100 EMAIL: info@rodborough.surrey.sch.uk WEB: www.rodborough.surrey.sch.uk