2019/2020 Prospectus
INSPIRE > MOTIVATE > ACHIEVE
Welcome We are a school that takes great pride in our central mission - to prepare every student for success. Success in academic qualifications, success in the wide range of extra-curricular and leadership opportunities on offer, and success in every individual’s personal and social development. We work towards our mission through a focus on exceptional levels of pastoral support and an academic and enrichment programme designed to ensure that every individual reaches their true potential.
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At Wollaston, we believe in aiming high. We target excellence with the utmost commitment, but we also remember that a truly inspiring education is one that is filled with joy and laughter. We are also a school that is led by our values. We value honesty, kindness and tolerance. We embrace individuality as well as collective responsibility, we celebrate diversity and promote equality of opportunity, and we are a community which supports every individual to achieve all that they are capable of. For most students, Wollaston School provides an education which lasts for seven years, from age 11 to age 18. Our ambition is to ensure that at the end of that journey, every student is ready to take their place in society as positive, purposeful, ethical and well qualified individuals. Life at Wollaston School is characterised by an ethos of warmth, respect and ambition. We value effective working
Wollaston School Prospectus 2019/2020
relationships with parents and we believe in delivering a high quality professional service in every aspect of our work. We offer a broad and exciting curriculum, expert teaching and high standards of academic achievement. We promote impeccable standards of behaviour and we expect the very best of every individual who walks through our doors. We are a team of students and professionals who are committed to ensuring that our school is a truly exceptional place of learning. Welcome to Wollaston School, if you would like to see us at work, please book a visit, we would be proud to welcome you to our school. Mr James Birkett Headteacher
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INSPIRE > MOTIVATE > ACHIEVE
Ethos & Values Wollaston School aims for all its students to achieve their full potential intellectually, physically, spiritually, morally, socially and culturally. To achieve this, we strive to create an atmosphere and school ethos that is caring and well-ordered in order that all students can focus on achieving their best. We seek to give students of all abilities a passion for lifelong learning. We value all students equally and actively pursue policies and practices that provide equal opportunities for all. Finally, we recognise the importance of working in partnership with parents, the wider community and the world of work.
Our aim is for everyone at Wollaston School to: • F eel safe and secure in an attractive, stimulating learning environment. • Be inspired, challenged and motivated. • D evelop independence, confidence and skills to enable them to make the most of their abilities. • D evelop the ability to make informed decisions that will enhance their future quality of life. • S upport and value each other and celebrate each other’s success.
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• D evelop a sense of justice, fairness and responsibility towards others and recognise the importance of democracy and freedom in our society. • C elebrate all cultures in the school and the local and wider community and raise awareness of the part they play in the community.
Admissions Arrangements of visits to the School
Distance tiebreaker
Visitors are always welcome. If you wish to see the school in action, we ask that you make an appointment by ringing the school office in advance so that we can arrange to show you around.
If the admission number is exceeded within any criterion, priority will be given to children who live closest to the school. Distances are measured on a straight line basis using Northamptonshire's County Council's Geographical Information System (GIS).
There are also designated Open Days and an Open Evening for parents wishing to view the school. Full details can be found in the back of this booklet and on our website www.wollastonschool.com
Admission Policy The admissions procedure is supported by the Local Authority. Applications and appeals should be made through the local authority. The Pupil Admission Number (PAN) for the school is 240 students. As a Secondary school serving both urban and rural areas, places will be allocated to pupils who have a statement of special educational needs/EHC Plan that names the school as appropriate provision. When there are more applications for places than there are places available, priority will be given in the following order: 1. C hildren in public care (looked after children) or previously in public care. 2. P upils who live in the designated villages, i.e. Bozeat, Brafield-on-the-Green, Castle Ashby, Chadstone, Cogenhoe, Denton, Easton Maudit, Great Houghton, Grendon, Irchester, Little Houghton, Strixton, Wollaston, Yardley Hastings, Whiston.
Wollaston School Prospectus 2019/2020
3. Pupils who will have a brother or sister continuing at Wollaston School at the time of admission of the child. 4. Pupils attending Wollaston School's designated contributory Primary Schools, i.e. Bozeat, Cogenhoe, Denton, Grendon, Irchester, Little Houghton, Wollaston, Yardley Hastings and continuing in attendance until the formal offer of places is made. 5. Pupils who live in Wellingborough and the designated surrounding villages and contributory parishes for Wellingborough: Earls Barton, Ecton, Finedon Sidings (Furnace Lane), Great Doddington, Great Harrowden, Hardwick, Little Harrowden, Little Irchester, Mears Ashby, Orlingbury, Wilby. 6. Other Pupils.
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Student health and well being
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Student Induction
Pastoral Care
All students who wish to join us in September are invited to visit the school in the summer term for two induction days. We ask parents to give us as much information as we need to help students to settle smoothly and speedily into their new school. Each student is allocated to a tutor group and a form tutor; this is linked into our House System where the tutor groups are allocated a House. Students compete in competitions for their House and collect House points. It is the role of form tutors to monitor carefully the general academic and personal development of students in their care. We have developed a programme of work in personal, social and health education, which will help students to improve their all-round academic performance and teach students more about themselves and others.
A Head of Year and a Student Manager are dedicated to each year group to assist form tutors. The Head of Year has responsibility for the overall academic progress and social development of each child in that year. He / she co-ordinates the work of form tutors and is an important source of information and point of contact for parents. The Head of Year will encourage high standards of behaviour and dress and will maintain a clear record of students’ academic and personal progress as students move up through the school. All records maintained on students by the school or Education Authority shall be open to the individuals concerned and to their parents or guardians.
Student illness or accident If a student feels unwell, they will be directed to the medical room and assessed by a First Aid trained member of staff. Parents will be contacted and in the rare event of serious ill-health an ambulance will be called.
Medicines Medicines, prescribed by a doctor, can only be administered during school hours by prior arrangement with the school, and only if no alternative arrangement can be made. Staff are expressly forbidden to administer non-prescribed medicines. We have several qualified first-aiders who are able to respond to low-level medical problems and we have a fully staffed medical room.
Anti-Bullying Charter We have a zero tolerance approach to bullying. Bullying in all its forms is totally unacceptable and staff and governors at Wollaston will do all in their power to eliminate it from this school. We would be naive, however, to think that bullying never takes place and so we have procedures which help us to remain alert to problems and act quickly when appropriate.
Wollaston School Prospectus 2019/2020
We believe that all young people have the right to attend Wollaston School each day without fear of being bullied. We aim to create a calm, secure and caring atmosphere in which all students may optimise their education. Complaints connected with bullying are always treated seriously, no matter what the circumstances and we always try to deal promptly, sensitively and efficiently with incidents when they do occur.
A Summary of the School’s Inclusion Policy The school recognises that some students will have a special educational need. The school aims to address these needs in order to ensure that all students are able to achieve academically and socially. Students’ individual special educational needs are identified in a number of ways: primary school liaison, screening and diagnostic testing, parental communication, subject staff diagnosis and dialogue with students themselves. The Additional Needs Faculty works closely with parents, students and all school staff to address the needs of individual pupils. The Special Needs Co-ordinator [SENCO] is supported by an able team of dedicated learning support assistants who support students in the classroom or on an individual or small group basis.
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INSPIRE > MOTIVATE > ACHIEVE
School Routines Term Dates Term dates vary from year to year and can be located on the Northamptonshire County Council Website.
The School Day
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Assembly / Tutorial
08.55 - 09.10am
Period 1
09.10 - 10.00am
Period 2
10.00 - 10.50am
Break
10.50 - 11.10am
Period 3
11.10 - 12.00pm
Period 4
12.00 - 12.50pm
Lunch
12.50 - 13.20pm
Period 5
13.20 - 14.10pm
Period 6
14.10 - 15.00pm
Lessons are taught as a mixture of single and double lessons, according to subject. Subjects such as maths and English are taught in sessions of 50 minutes; practical subjects such as science and performing arts are taught in blocks of an hour and 40 minutes in order to develop skills and deepen learning.
School Meals Hot meals and snacks are provided before school at break times and lunch by our professional in-house catering service. Parents can pay for meals using Parent Pay, our on-line finance service or call in to main reception to load credit using an electronic credit / debit card machine. Students can also load cash to their meals accounts using a re-valve machine located in school.
Assemblies Regular assemblies are held in school. In our view, assemblies do not contain material that is likely to offend particular religious beliefs. However, parents have the right to withdraw their children from assembly. Our assembly programme covers a wide range of social and moral themes and is designed to help students develop into responsible adults.
Rewards
Transport
We believe strongly in celebrating student success and that it is important to recognise and reward achievements of all kinds. We know that students respond positively to praise and are very motivated by it.
All students in Years 7 to 11 from “linked� villages in the catchment area of the school (except Wollaston and Strixton) are issued with a bus pass for free travel to and from school.
The achievements of individuals are recognised in a number of different ways. Individual subject staff communicate with parents using a variety of formats such as email, telephone calls and postcards. Staff also record positive events using Go4Schools and these can be used in discussion with students during tutor time or subject lessons.
Other students, e.g. from Rushden and some Wellingborough areas, have to make appropriate travel arrangements and are not assisted financially by the Local Authority. All Post-16 students (Years 12, 13 and beyond) currently have to pay for transport at a charge determined annually by the Local Authority.
Formal certificates are awarded throughout the year by Heads of Year and the Headteacher. The school also holds a termly rewards assembly where recognition of success is shared with the year group.
All matters relating to school transport are handled directly by the Schools Transport Section of Northamptonshire County Council.
House System The House system is an important part of the ethos of the school. We expect that all students will make a contribution to activities that support a positive community within the school.
Austen
Wollaston School Prospectus 2019/2020
Churchill
Drake
Nightingale
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The School Curriculum The academic work of the school is the responsibility of Heads of Faculty, each of whom is responsible to their line managers for a particular curriculum area. The school follows the National Curriculum in accordance with the requirements of the Department for Education.
Key Stage 3 Curriculum (Years 7-9) The Key Stage 3 curriculum aims to build on the work of our primary schools whilst meeting statutory requirements and introducing new curriculum opportunities. It is a broad and balanced experience, including mathematics, English, science, humanities (history, ethics & philosophy, geography, citizenship), design technology (food and nutrition, textiles and product design), art, computing, modern languages (French, German), PE, and performing arts (music, drama & dance). All students study personal development and social issues in tutor time, attend assemblies and enjoy a wide range of extra-curricular activities.
Key Stage 4 Curriculum (Years 10-11) In Year 10, students begin GCSE courses and study a curriculum that reflects their particular academic or vocational strengths and interests. Almost all students will complete GCSEs in 9 subjects, including mathematics, English language and English literature, combined science or separate sciences (including biology, chemistry and physics). In addition, students will be given several option choices to develop their academic interests and strengths. A small number of students take on vocational courses related directly to the world of work, such as motor vehicle maintenance. Most courses will lead to examination qualifications in the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), but there are also opportunities to follow BTEC and other vocational options.
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Assessment Upon arrival at school in Year 7, we assess students’ abilities using data passed on by primary schools. We also use Cognitive Ability Tests. These give an indication of students’ academic strengths and weaknesses through verbal, quantitative and non-verbal tests. During the school year, students’ progress in all years is assessed and reported home to parents regularly using internal assessments and in later years, public examination outcomes at GCSE and A level are the main measures of student progress.
Sixth Form (Years 12 and 13) Wollaston Sixth Form is a supportive and inspiring place to study for students following both A-level and vocational courses. Our thriving Sixth Form offers a warm welcome to students who are ready to work hard to achieve their dreams and the majority of our students stay on to study in the Sixth Form. It is our aim that all of our Sixth Form students leave school with skills that make them marketable in the rapidly globalising world of work or higher education and about 75% of our Year 13 students progress each year to study at university. An experienced mentor guides each student in their studies and is there to reach out a helping hand. Skilled specialist teachers share their enthusiasm and subject knowledge with students, inspiring them to do their best. We provide opportunities for all students to take part in a range of enrichment opportunities and play an active part in the success of the vibrant Wollaston Sixth Form community. The Sixth Form team also provides specialist careers advice and guidance for all students.
Ethics & Philosophy and Religious Education Students study a wide range of social issues affecting them and the world around them in order to develop higher order thinking skills, independent learning techniques and the ability to debate and develop an informed point of view. It is anticipated that all students will participate in this course. Parents have the right to withdraw their child from this subject, though we would hope to be able to discuss any issues of concern before such a withdrawal takes place. Ethics & philosophy is taught as a discrete subject throughout years 7 to 9. Students in Years 10 and 11 choose the subject as a GCSE option and complete the GCSE qualification at the end of Year 11.
Wollaston School Prospectus 2019/2020
Homework At Wollaston School we value the role of homework in supporting students to achieve their full potential and stretch their skills and learning beyond the classroom. Homework is an integral part of developing independent, resilient and resourceful learners, all of which we value as key skills at Wollaston School. Students and parents are able to see what homework tasks are coming up, access details and any linked resources through their smartphone or the internet. Homework is set regularly by teachers and we ask that parents monitor and encourage their children to complete and hand in all work by the set deadlines.
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Enrichment Opportunities Physical Education & Sport Through the physical education curriculum, we promote physical fitness, participation in team sports and encourage healthy lifestyles for all. We also recognise how physical education also develops inter-personal and problem-solving skills and personal qualities, such as self-esteem, self-confidence, team-building, tolerance and empathy, and helps forge links between the school and the community. The school has excellent links with the local clubs and the community.
Resources The major resources are: • Sports hall • Gymnasium • Three football pitches • Two rugby pitches • Artificial cricket wicket • Two indoor cricket nets • Two floodlit astroturf courts
Wollaston School – 2019 Rock Challenge National Competition Winners
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• F ive-a-side pitch, netball courts, hockey pitches and tennis courts • Grass athletics track • Climbing wall • Fitness Suite • Fully equipped dance studio • Outdoor basketball court •O utdoor table tennis tables
The Arts We believe that all students should have access to the arts and that aesthetic education is an essential part of every child’s development. We promote this through a core curriculum experience for all students. We enable students to access a broad arts education, including art, dance, drama and music, creating a sense of enjoyment and achievement and encourage self-confidence in and through the arts. Teachers from the performing and visual arts subjects offer a diverse range of extra-curricular activities which are accessible to all students. Activities take place in after-school and lunchtime clubs and include vocal groups, instrumental groups catering for all instruments and abilities, musical theatre productions, drama events and scripted plays.
Resources The major resources are:
• Fully equipped dance studio with sprung floor
• Three art rooms with dedicated IT facilities
• IT suite
• Two large music teaching rooms, each equipped with 15 computers, electronic keyboards and acoustic pianos
• Lockable instrument stores
• Five purpose built music practice rooms
• Sibelius software for music composition
• Drama rehearsal space
•S ets of African drums and samba drums
• Two fully equipped drama studios with lighting bars and sound
• Large flexible performance hall, seating capacity 264 (raked seating)
Other extra-curricular opportunities Several faculties run residential visits that enhance students’ understanding and enjoyment of academic courses. These have previously included residential visits to Belgium, North Norfolk & Iceland, France and Germany, the USA and the CERN laboratories in Switzerland. The school is a member of the Holocaust Trust and arranges annual student visits to Auschwitz as part of this commitment.
Wollaston School Prospectus 2019/2020
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Examinations outcomes, results and careers All students in years 10 and 11 follow courses leading to public examinations for the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) or equivalent qualifications in BTEC subjects. Most students take examinations in nine subjects. In years 12 and 13, students follow a range of academic and vocational courses leading to General Certificate of Education (GCE) qualifications in either 3 or 4 subjects. Where students enter the Sixth Form without at least a grade 4 in English or maths at GCSE, it is a national requirement that they will continue to study these subjects in the Sixth Form to develop their skills in these areas.
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Examination results are published according to national regulations and are available on the school’s website. The school is always pleased to discuss results overall or in any specific areas. Enquiries should be addressed in the first instance to Mr Birkett, Headteacher. A summary of our GCSE, A level and BTEC Qualification results can be found in the back of this booklet and is available on our website – www.wollastonschool.com
The Nene Valley Partnership is a new and ambitious Multi-Academy Trust established in April 2019. The founding schools are Bozeat Community Primary School and Nursery, Irchester Community Primary School and Wollaston School. Our mission is to ensure excellent outcomes for every single child who attends one of our schools. We believe in local, community education which focuses on personal development, academic success and a lifelong love of learning. Nene Valley Partnership: Our Framework for Excellence in Education • We expect the best from every individual in our school community; • All students will benefit from a broad, enriching and inspiring curriculum; • Our teaching, learning and assessment will be driven by best practice; • We will work collaboratively with staff, parents, students and the wider community to ensure excellence for all; • We are committed to a culture of continuous improvement; • We provide an education with individuality and character.
01933 663501 office@wollaston-school.net Wollaston School, Irchester Road, Wollaston, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire NN29 7PH