Prospectus 2014 – 2015
This is an outstanding school. Ofsted 2010
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Welcome from the Headteacher William Edwards is an 11 – 16 mixed comprehensive school, serving the local community. It is an outstanding school and an exceptionally successful, challenging and enjoyable place for young people and teachers to learn together. I am very proud to work with such a dedicated and committed staff who, together with our students, create exceptional opportunities for academic and personal progress; both in the classroom and in numerous out-ofschool learning experiences. We are delighted that William Edwards was named Educational Establishment of the Year at the 2014 Educational Resources Awards in Birmingham. This was in recognition of the work we have done to develop pedagogy in the school and for the production of our own app (‘WESPlanner’) which is now available in the Apple store! William Edwards’ students excel in many, many areas. Our students consistently make progress in line with the top 10% of schools nationally and outcomes for students at KS4 have risen for the fifth consecutive year with 70% of students achieving 5 A*-C including English and Maths, and 99% of students achieving 5A*-G at GCSE. Our sports teams frequently achieve success at county, regional and national level.
At their last visit, OfSTED judged the school to be ‘Outstanding’ and stated: ‘Students make outstanding progress.’ We will not be resting on that accolade and we constantly strive for further improvement. We work hard to ensure that every young person is happy, safe and successful – a credit to themselves, their family and to William Edwards School. Together with you and your children, we will be reaching further and higher each year, to ensure that your child’s school experience provides them with the very best start to their future life, whatever that may hold. I hope that this prospectus gives you a brief insight into our school and why we are so proud of it. The school website – www.williamedwards.org.uk includes additional information about the school and our ethos. Please contact the school if you would like to visit us and discover more about what we have to offer. Mr. Steve Munday Headteacher
Our £1.4 million Badminton Centre which is run in partnership with Badminton England allows further exciting opportunities for our students and the wider community. Drama and Music performances are of an exceptionally high standard and the school even has its own Shakespeare Company. Our students enter competitions in mathematics, product design, art, science and public speaking and engage actively with the local and national community through organised charity fundraising, sporting and cultural events. It is this breadth of experience which is a fundamental contributor to the development of self-aware and responsive young people who are ready to make a positive contribution in their community. As a school community we are committed to the values we wish to instil in our students. We encourage and develop responsibility, leadership, team work, integrity, respect and resilience. We expect the highest standards in behaviour and in attitudes to learning and we support each and every child in their quest to achieve their very best.
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Our Aims & Ethos Our aim is the creation of a learning community where our young people:
Teachers will... 1. show passion for their subject and learning;
• Feel valued, happy, safe and secure because they are well cared for and supported and are valued for the contribution they make •
Enjoy and take responsibility for their own learning so that they achieve their very best because they are challenged to have high aspirations, believe in their abilities and make good progress
• Are prepared for a bright future • Enjoy a well ordered and stimulating learning environment To this end, the William Edwards Expectations set out the minimum that we expect of our students and ourselves.
2. plan lessons that provide stretch and challenge that enable you to reach your full potential; 3. mark your work regularly and provide feedback that helps you improve and make expected progress; 4. check your learning and ensure you are making progress (CLAMP); 5. decide on seating that will help maximise learning in the class; 6. take an interest in you as an individual; 7. communicate with your parents through positive emails, phone calls, reports and parents evenings; 8. support you if you are finding something difficult;
Students will... 1. Arrive on time, enter the room sensibly, get equipment out and sit according to teacher’s plan without question; 2. show good manners and use appropriate language when speaking to each other and staff; 3. listen to and respect other students’ contributions 4. participate fully and follow instructions in order to reach your full potential; 5. meet deadlines to ensure work can be marked, completing peer and self assessment where appropriate; 6. work hard to achieve targets and expected progress; 7. get to know and work with everyone in the class; 8. talk to their parents or carers about school work; 9. be resilient – take part in things, especially if they are difficult and don’t be afraid to learn from mistakes; 10. observe the school rules at all times.
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9. follow through with appropriate rewards and sanctions; 10. ensure classroom departure is well ordered. William Edwards is a richly diverse community with staff and students from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. We value this diversity and we aim to cater for the needs of all students and are fully committed to equality of opportunity. We expect all members of our community to live and work in harmony with one another. We celebrate this diversity through a range of activities in assemblies and lessons and we will not tolerate any form of bullying or harassment.
The students’ contribution to the school and wider community is outstanding. Ofsted 2010
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The range of curriculum opportunities provided is outstanding. Ofsted 2010
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Teaching & Learning High rates of attendance go together with high rates of achievement, and both are monitored closely at William Edwards, so that students understand both where they are and how they can get to where they need to be. Parents receive a report at the end of each term. We want the learning experience to be a positive one for all students and to support them towards a successful future. We believe that all students need a high level of skill in the core subjects (English, maths and science) and we also ensure that all students study a broad and balanced curriculum throughout their time with us. The aim of the curriculum is to enable each student to achieve her or his full potential. We use a variety of learning and teaching styles, in specialist rooms which are equipped with the very the best resources including: Apple T.V., dual projection, iPad technology and writeon walls. The first three years, Years 7 to 9, provide a solid foundation of learning in all subject areas, building on the knowledge, skills and understanding acquired at primary school. In addition, students in Year 7 experience the specialist ‘transitional’ curriculum area of Cross Curricular Study Skills. In Years 10 and 11 all students continue with the essential core curriculum of English, Mathematics and Science; most students will also continue to learn a modern foreign language and all students are able to select from a range of options including the humanities, expressive arts, design technologies, vocational courses and additional sciences. Careers focus days are built into the curriculum at Key Stages 3 and 4 and enterprise experiences are offered to all students in Year 10. We believe it is never too soon to learn about the world of work. We have a well equipped careers area and as well as offering advice from specially trained members of staff, we also enlist the help of parents and members of the local community to give talks, mock interviews and individual advice on career matters. The school has specialist study areas for all major subjects, including recently refurbished Science laboratories, Art and Music rooms and Drama and Dance studios. We are very proud of our new Badminton Centre and extensive playing fields. There are also seven specialist computer rooms and online access to ICT facilities throughout the school using the whole school network. The Library is a very important part of the school. As well as a large stock of fiction books, it offers access to the school network and the Internet. It is open throughout the day and after school, and dedicated library staff are available to support students in their research.
Lessons will require that students work in a wide range of situations; sometimes on their own, at other times in pairs or groups. Practical work, discussion, problem solving, team work and active participation form an important part of many lessons, but there are also times for listening, reading, thinking and writing. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is used in lessons across the curriculum as well as being a discrete subject in Years 8 and 9 and an option subject at KS4. Educational visits and residential courses are used in many subject areas to enhance the curriculum. Students are inspired most by developing their own talents and interests. That is why we provide a wide range of responsibilities, opportunities and roles in which students can succeed and develop through both the formal taught curriculum and wider experiences. In previous years these have included; • Pupils as Listeners (PALS), Prefects, Sports Leaders and Student Executive membership • Duke of Edinburgh expeditions • PGL - South of France/Skiing/Bushcraft camping • History trips to Auschwitz and Flanders • Geography field trips in the U.K. and Europe • Science Department residential field trip to Devon • Performing Arts residential field trip to New York • Young Producers project with the City of London Sinfonia • Pop Up ‘Reading for Leisure’ project • The London Eye/London Dungeons • Jack Petchey ‘Speak Out’ competition • The William Edwards Shakespeare Company • School Musical productions including: ‘Bugsy Malone’ and ‘Hairspray’ • Christmas Concert & talent show • African Evening • Dance and Drama trips to ‘The Woman in Black’, ‘Blood Brothers’ and ‘Edwards Scissorhands’ • Reptile Club • MFL trips to France and Belgium • Sports teams: badminton, rugby, football, netball, rounders, athletics and more…
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Supporting Your Child The school curriculum is reviewed regularly by the school curriculum design team to ensure that it promotes the inclusion of all pupils. We aim to optimise opportunities for participation and achievement across all areas of school activity (social, curricular, physical) by providing appropriate levels of activity and challenge for all students. This includes those with special educational needs, disability and those who have a high level of ability or who demonstrate a specialist talent through: •
The provision of a balanced curriculum for all pupils both in and outside of the classroom, including social interaction at break times, and extending to extra-curricular activities and school day trips and residential visits.
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Utilising teaching methods that suit the needs of individual pupils, including incorporating activities designed to stretch and challenge able students in lessons.
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The provision of enrichment activities outside of the normal curriculum and the provision of out-of-hours learning through clubs and activities designed to challenge students, extend learning and enhance skills and knowledge
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Promoting an inclusive ethos throughout our school and encouraging social responsibility and understanding amongst all our pupils.
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Where appropriate and available, the provision of access to vocational or additional courses at other establishments such as colleges and universities.
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Promoting excellence through the provision of ongoing opportunities to take part in targeted extra-curricular activities.
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The provision of a wide range of careers advice and guidance which is coordinated by a specialist, independent Careers Officer who is based on the school site and through a broad spectrum of careers events and activities throughout the academic year.
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In addition to specialist teaching and learning support staff, the school has a team of specialist, non-teaching pastoral support staff who are available to provide support and guidance for students. We make every effort to ensure that your child’s transition to William Edwards is as smooth as possible for both you and your child. To this end, we run a full week of transition lessons and activities in July for those students who will be joining us in Year 7 and before this we run a Tutor Evening, where you and your child will come in to school to meet their Form Tutor face-to-face, walk round the school and ask any of the questions which might be bothering you. During Induction Week, Year 6 into 7 students will meet students from other primary schools and experience a wide range of lessons, including all the core subjects: English, Maths and Science and a selection from: French, German, Spanish, History, Geography, Cross Curricular Study Skills, Technology, Dance, Drama, Music and P.E. Students who transfer mid-year or at the beginning of years 8 – 11 are invited to tour the school with their parents or carers and will have a meeting with House Leader where their questions can be answered before they join us. All new students, Year 7 and beyond, are allocated a mentor to help them to settle smoothly into the school. We believe strongly that good nutrition is an important factor in helping students to remain focused and engaged throughout the school day. For this reason the catering at William Edwards conforms fully to the Healthy Schools standards and our catering company was contracted on the basis of the high nutritional value, value for money and variety and quality of the meals they provide. Further information about menus and pricing can be found on the school website.
The care, welfare and guidance provided are outstanding. Ofsted 2010
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Outcomes for individuals and groups are outstanding. Ofsted 2010
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The House System Students at William Edwards are allocated to a tutor group in one of the four Houses: Bruyn, Rokell, Warren or Whitmore. Tutor groups are vertically structured, which means that each tutor group contains students from Year 7 to Year 11 and the older students mentor and support the younger students. Your child’s tutor is your first point of contact for concerns or questions and their House Leader will be available if you require additional support. For students in school there are PALs – Pupils as Listeners. These are students who have been trained in peer support and can help to smooth out the minor upsets that anyone can come across from time to time. All students are required to wear the correct William Edwards School uniform. The uniform regulations are clear and simple and represent a practical and economical way of dressing for school. Full details of the William Edwards school uniform are available on the school website. We expect the full support of parents in maintaining the high standard of dress and grooming that we expect from William Edwards students. Tutor time at William Edwards is about more than just checking attendance; tutors support students in reviewing their academic progress and help them to plan and implement strategies for developing their skills and knowledge across
all subject areas. Time is spent discussing current affairs and social issues, challenging other form groups in quizzes of all sorts and preparing form assemblies which are presented to the House. House Leaders and tutors organise extracurricular activities for students which allow them to socialise outside of the formal classroom environment and to extend their friendship groups. In addition, they will liaise closely with the Pastoral team to ensure that any student who may be experiencing a problem receives the best support that we can provide. The House system also provides further opportunities for students to take on roles of responsibility. House Captains, Ambassadors and the inter-house sports activities and competitions lay the foundations for William Edwards’ sporting successes at local, county and national level. It is through the house system that one of the community activities that William Edwards is most proud of is organised: charity fundraising. Every year each house chooses the charity they will support and raises money with in-house events which take place throughout the year. Every year hundreds of pounds are raised and donated to local and national charities by the students of William Edwards School. We also support the local Christmas Shoe Box Appeal and last year William Edwards School contributed over 300 boxes to this appeal.
Applying for a Place Parents and Carers of Year 6 students who wish to apply for a place at William Edwards School for September 2015 must make an application through the Thurrock Admissions Scheme. Forms can be completed on line, see the Thurrock website: https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/school-admissions The school’s admission criteria are available on both the Thurrock website and the William Edwards School website: https:// www.williamedwards.org.uk. SPORTS APTITUDE ADMISSIONS In addition to the standard admissions arrangements and criteria, William Edwards School admits up to 10% of Year 7 students on the basis of their aptitude for sport. To apply for a place in the Year 7 intake under the Sports Aptitude criteria, it is necessary to:
Places under the Sports Aptitude criteria are allocated on the basis of performance in a series of practical sports assessments, which are independently monitored and take place outside of the normal school day. Full admissions criteria are available on the William Edwards School website. The parents or carers of students who require an in-year transfer may make application directly to the William Edwards School Admissions Officer, who will guide them through the application process. We are very proud of our school and our achievements and look forward to welcoming you for a visit or as a new member of our learning community.
1. Apply as usual using the Thurrock Admission form and 2. Complete a Sports Aptitude admission request form and return it directly to the school. The Sports Aptitude form is only available directly from William Edwards School, a copy can be posted to you or you can download it from the school website: http://williamedwards.org.uk/admissions/
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William Edwards School Stifford Clays Road Stifford Clays Grays Essex RM16 3NJ T: 01375 486000 F: 01375 486009 E: admin@williamedwards.org.uk www.williamedwards.org.uk