Student Prospectus 2012/13

WalkerTechnologyCollege

Why Choose Walker?

With this prospectus comes a personal invitation to comeand meet with me and see why I am proud to beHeadteacher of this great school and why I am confidentthat Walker Technology College is the right choice for yourchild.

Each day your children go to school you want to know thatthey are safe, happy, valued and respected and given thevery best opportunities to succeed in life. You want to knowthey are getting top quality education from committedteachers who will go the extra mile to ensure success. Youwant to know their lessons are delivered by teachers and topprofessionals who know how to inspire young people andmeet their needs. You want to know they have theopportunity to use the very best facilities. You want this foryour children because they are precious to you. These arethe things I want for my own children and promise to providefor yours. We want the very best because that is what ouryoung people deserve.

Mr M. CollierHeadteacher

College VisionStatementAt Walker Technology College we sharein the hopes and ambitions of ourstudents. We are an inclusivecommunity that believes in maintainingstrong partnerships with parents/carersand students to ensure that our learnersthrive in a secure and stimulatingenvironment. We are committed toproviding a quality education wherethe individual is valued and respected.We are proud of our college and trustall visitors will leave with a lastingimpression.

“Choose Success”

Your future starts here Outstanding examination results in 2011 ensured Walker remains one of themost improved schools in the country. Our sixth form students performed betterthan ever, outperforming the Newcastle average, with a 99.1% pass rate at A-Level and equivalent level 3 courses. This also included an impressive 21%A*-A grades. 31 students went on to university studying a variety of degreecourses including Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics with Business and Law.

GCSE results in 2011 improved for a seventh successive year with 48% ofstudents achieving 5 A*-C grades at GCSE including the all important measureof English and Mathematics. 74% of students also achieved 5 A*-C grades atGCSE with almost half our students choosing to stay on for further educationinto our Sixth form.

These results have earned Walker a string of awards and national recognitionfor examination performance. We are officially designated a Leading EdgeSchool by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust and we are also part oftheir Most Improved Schools Club. We have also received the Good SchoolsAward for the last two years running for outstanding results from our Cadets inPublic Uniformed Services, our English department is considered to be in thetop 10% nationally while Our Maths department has the best rate ofimprovement in the city over the last three years.

Our HistoryOur distinctive and smart uniform is well known throughoutNewcastle and we pride ourselves on attention to detail in ensuringstandards of dress are always excellent. Students belong to Dobson,Grainger or Stephenson Schools within our College with theircoloured ties and badges reflecting the schools they belong to. Thistradition goes back over 30 years and a positive competitive edge

exists between the three schools. Each minischool has a strong and committedpastoral team dedicated to looking afterthe wellbeing of their students. Relationshipswith new parents/carers and the schoolstaff become very strong very quickly ashome/school communications areexcellent.

Discipline and respect are at thecornerstone of everything we believe in.Our Discipline for Learning (DFL) systemgives clear guidelines for behaviour and isbased on students taking responsibility fortheir own actions. Bullying is not toleratedand students are proactive in addressingany issues related to this in anti-bullyingfocus groups.

Rewarding good behaviour and positive contributions is also at theheart of our pastoral system. Students aspire to the Colours awardsprogramme. Students can achieve School Colours, School Honours,College Colours or the top award College Honours. Points towardsthese awards are allocated for excellent conduct, attendance,participation and punctuality. Colours awards evenings take placetwice a year with fantastic support from proud families ensuring themain hall is at capacity each ceremony.

“Choose Tradition”

A world to exploreWalker is one of a very few state schools nationally to have its own CombinedCadet Force with superb support from Catterick 15 Brigade. The CCF curriculumis as exciting and engaging as it is practical and relevant.

Cadets in Walker CCF will be entered for the BTEC Level 2 in Uniformed PublicServices which currently has an equivalency of 4 GCSEs A* - C.

The CCF is very proud of its record for the BTEC withover 97% of Cadets passing the course and over77% achieving Distinctions and Distinction*s.

As part of the BTEC, Cadets will study military history,drill and military knowledge – which will include tacticsand field craft, weapon handling, fitness, mapreading, first aid and survival. They will also teachtheir own lessons as part of their leadershiptraining.

Cadets will also take part in Adventurous Trainingactivities such as climbing, canoeing, kayaking,archery and high ropes and team buildingcourses. Cadets will also carry out voluntarywork tidying up and helping to renovate ouroutdoor centre at Hutton Roof and raisingmoney for ‘Help for Heroes’ and the WTC CCFcharity St Dunstan’s, which looks after blind ex-servicemen and women. Cadets alsorepresent the school at a variety of communityevents including the Remembrance Servicesheld each year.

All Cadets will take part in at least one annualCentral Camp. This is a week long camp run bythe Army where Cadets are assessed on all of theaspects of their training. This usually takes place atthe end of year 10.

All Cadets also take part in the Duke of EdinburghBronze Award.

Students can volunteer to join the Cadets in Year 9. They and their parents must sign a contract agreeing to maintain the highest standards of behaviour andattitude to themselves, each other and their workthroughout the school.

“Choose Adventure”

Stuart Elliott is a fully qualified UEFA B footballcoach with a proven track record. He hasbeen coaching our Football Academy for twoseasons now during which time we have wonthe City Cup on both occasions. Stuart beganhis career at Arsenal in 1993 before beingpicked up by Newcastle United in 1995. He has awealth of experience having been at a number ofprofessional clubs during his career including:Swindon Town, Gillingham, Wrexham,Hartlepool, Plymouth Argyle andHalifax. After a spell as player coachat Grays Athletic (pictured) hecurrently plays for Bedlington Terriersof the Northern League.

Get involvedWalker has a highly competitive and successful sport departmentthat, in addition to the mainstream sports, can offer a diverse andunusual range of activities including cycling, archery, climbing and WiiFit. The department has a state of the art fitness and dance suitecomprising the latest Technogym cardiovascular equipment as wellas free weights. There is a full size floodlit third generation astro pitch

Walker is the only College in the east of thecity with a Football Academy coached byex-Newcastle United professional StuartElliott. The Academy has won the City Cupfor the last two years running and is alwayscompetitively placed within the league.Players with the potential to develop their

skills with a league club are putforward for opportunities withstudents recently taking upscholarships at Newcastle Unitedand Sunderland. Academyplayers are issued with the latestAdidas training wear

“Choose Sport”

The Works

Our state of the art vocational facilities are industry standard. Wecall our training centre The Works and this encompasses Hair, Beauty,Hospitality and Catering, Electronics, Textiles, Construction,Childcare, Graphics, Resistant Materials and Food Technology.Students can choose from a range of courses that are designed tobe progressive, practical and industry recognised qualificationsproviding our students with the best possible start for their futurecareers.

The Works is staffed by industry professionals andsupported by teachers. We have a chef, a beautician,a hair specialist and a construction specialist. All thesestaff have strong links with industry, many years ofindustrial experience and develop programmesof study that are stimulating and relevant.

The curriculum at the college has been longacknowledged as innovative and at the forefront ofeducational thinking and The Works is no exception.Students wear corporate uniforms that are unique toeach trade area and the workplace style environmenthelps students to develop an awareness of thepersonal skills required in these disciplines.

“Choose Training”

Our ambition is to develop more apprenticeshipopportunities for our young people as well asfostering an ethos of enterprise

“Choose Travel”

The world is at yourfingertipsWalker has extensive regional andinternational links offering a wealthof opportunities for students totravel. We have a longstandingtradition of taking all year 7students to our own fantasticoutdoor pursuits centre at HuttonRoof near Kirkby Lonsdale for 4days. Students have a series ofmemorable activities including thewaterfall walk, a visit to the showcaves at Ingleton and a visit to the South Lakes Wild Animal Park.Students also help prepare meals and play games at the Centre inthe evenings.

Sixth form students have the opportunity to visit our partner school inNew York state as part of an exchange programme that has beenrunning for almost 25 years. The programme is two weeks long andinvolves memorable visits to New York, Washington, Philadelphia andNiagra Falls. Students then host our American friends on their returntrip to England where they visit London, Edinburgh, York, Durham andour outdoor pursuits centre at Hutton Roof.

Year 11 and sixth form students can take part in our Eye to Eyeprogramme to undertake truly life changing charity work in a twoweek programme working in Africa. Students learn new skills andhelp build new buildings for the villagers to use. An important part ofthis programme is the fundraising work students do beforehand inorder to contribute to their travel costs.

Cadets have the chance togo skiing in Les Menuires inFrance and take part in anexciting adventure trainingresidential at Tregoyd House inWales as part of theirprogramme. Year 8/9 studentshave the opportunity to takepart in our exchange visit withour partner Dutch School Leken Linge where they canexperience education in aDutch School and also visitplaces of interest inAmsterdam. Our GCSE Historystudents have the opportunityto take part in a week long visitto the site of the battlefields inYpres in Belgium while A-LevelHistorians can travel to Romeand explore the ItalianRenaissance.

Walker’s Got TalentWalker's Got Talent is entering its third year this year with last yearmore successful than ever. All students are able to audition to goforward to the live finals which are held over two nights at the Sagein front of sell out audiences of well over 300 people. Selectedfinalists get the chance to rehearse their acts using state of the artmusic and drama facilities each week leading up to the finals. Thereare also ample opportunities for students to shine in the Creativeand Performing Arts department during our annualshowcase evening thatalways attracts great interestfrom parents and members ofthe local community.

Our Fashion Show is alsoentering its third year with thebig event being held at ThePeople's Theatre in Heatonagain in front of a sell outcrowd. Students get the chanceto be involved in all aspects ofthe production from modellingthrough to choreography,artwork, enterpriseand charitywork.This year'sevent also attractedlocal media interest.

“Choose Talent”

FurtherEducationThe Sixth Form is based close to theentrance of the College in purposebuilt facilities. We currently have 185students studying a variety ofsubjects ranging from level 2childcare to A level Maths. SixthForm students have their own studyand social space including a bistrocafé with wifi access, state of the artIT facilities, lockers, private entranceand comfortable seating.

Despite having their own social andstudy space, Sixth Form studentsremain affiliated to schools toensure they receive the bestpossible pastoral and academicsupport and guidance. The SixthForm is led by the Head of SixthForm Mrs Dowden and threeDeputy Heads of Sixth Form who areeach responsible for students withintheir schools (Stephenson, Grainger& Dobson).

In addition to completingacademic studies, sixth formstudents have the opportunity to beinvolved in extra curricular activitiesincluding trips to the USA and Africa,The Football Academy, Duke ofEdinburgh, mentoring and voluntarywork, work placements and HE visits

Described by OFSTED as “Aninclusive sixth form where allstudents are welcomed and theirtalents recognised and nurtured”,the Sixth Form at Walker TechnologyCollege has gone from strength tostrength. Our students are smartand successful and are role modelsto the younger students.Results in 2010 were better thanever before with 98% of studentsachieving a Level 3 qualification.There was also a 3.7% increase inthe number of students achieving Agrades at A level.Year on year the number ofstudents progressing into highereducation has increased, with 34students taking up places atuniversity in 2010. Despite government changes tothe EMA system, we have anongoing commitment to financiallysupporting students and we canguarantee bursary payments inSeptember 2011 to all students whoare in receipt of free school meals.We have the right balance ofacademic study and enrichmentactivities to ensure our students getthe best results possible and havefun along the way. Students areprovided with flexible workingarrangements with opportunities tobe off site when not in study.

“Choose Sixth Form”

Walker Technology College openedbrand new, world class facilities inSeptember 2011 in a multi millionpound new school that blends ourunique and traditional values with astate of the art environment. Of coursefacilities are only part of the equation inopening a great school but when youadd into this is a staff team as talentedas they are dedicated anddetermined to deliver success there isa recipe for success. Lessonobservations take place regularly byexternal advisors and experts and theoverwhelming majority of lessons were recently graded between good andoutstanding using the Ofsted gradedescriptors.

The new school has been planned byteachers and students with one keyquestion in mind; "How do we makelearning fun, engaging and relevant tothe needs of our young people?". Weare confident we have answered thatquestion and hope to get the chanceto prove this to you when you visit. Thebrochure can only give you a flavour ofwhat is on offer so please do nothesitate to contact the college andarrange for a personal tour by theheadteacher.

Good luck in your search for the rightschool. We look forward to meetingyou.

From Good to Great

“Your Choice”

“Your Choice”

World Class Facilities

When we say 'For whoever you choose to be...Choose Walker' we can saythat safe in the knowledge that we have world class facilities in everyaspect of our curriculum. Don't just take our word for that, read what ourstudents are saying about their brand new school;

“I’m amazed at the vocational facilities there are. It looks like atraining centre!”

“The recording studio is brilliant. Can’t wait for Walker’s Got Talent2012”

“The Football Academy should win the City Cup again with trainingfacilities like these”

“We get really nice social spaces for break and lunchtimes”

“Science is fantastic, there are even top floor greenhouses and anoutdoor horticulture area”

Walker Technology CollegeWaverdale AvenueNewcastle upon TyneNE6 4LA

Tel. 0191 295 8660

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