walney school 2011 -2012 prospectus
DESCRIPTION
Walney School - Engineering college 2011 school prospectusTRANSCRIPT
“We are a good school—ambitious to become outstanding!”
Walney School SPECIALIST
ENGINEERING
COLLEGE
Prospectus
2011—2012
Introduction
“Parents are happy with the quality of education, care
and support provided”
Dear Parents/ Carer
Welcome to the Walney School Prospectus.
Please use the information provided here to begin to learn about
Walney School. We shall be happy to answer any questions or queries
you have when you visit us, or communicate on an individual basis.
When we were inspected by Ofsted in November 2009 we received
more good grades than we had in 2006, but were disappointed to be
given a Notice to Improve. However, we are very pleased with the outcome of the
Monitoring Inspection visit which took place on Wednesday 30th June. It recognises
that the school’s progress in terms of improvement and in raising students’
achievements is satisfactory.
Much of the attention of the monitoring inspection was focused on students’ progress
in English and Mathematics, especially those with Special Educational Needs,
including the Gifted and Talented. However, the schools’ improvement work during
the last two terms has been focused on all subject areas. Therefore, the
achievements and improvement recognised reflect whole school practice:
Significant improvements in the quality of teaching.
Good practice in the use of assessment for learning techniques in lessons.
Continued school improvements based on accurate school self evaluation.
High levels of consistency in the scrutiny of students’ marked work.
Strong departmental leadership leading to rising standards.
Robust systems for monitoring the quality of teaching, learning and student
progress.
Teaching assistants contributing significantly to individual student progress in
lessons.
Good teamwork between Learning Support and subject areas to target
intervention to individual needs.
Data used to challenge students to achieve their potential.
Effective Partnership working with National Challenge and Local Authority.
The recognition of the monitoring visit marks progress on the course of our
continuous improvement to ensure that each student at Walney School achieves the
best they are capable of.
Yours sincerely
A Dickenson Head Teacher
An 11—16 comprehensive School based on
Good teaching, organisation and discipline
Within a secure and caring environment
Our School
“Walney School provides a secure, safe environment in which students
feel valued and well cared for.”
School Facilities
Walney School is an 11-16, co-educational comprehensive school and serves the island of
Walney and Barrow. We make a clear statement through our Equal Opportunities Policy
that every youngster of whatever ability, class, religion or race has unique needs and is of
equal value.
We have approximately 660 youngsters housed in a modern and maintained school.
Although this number may appear large when compared to a Primary School, our tutor
and pastoral care system enables every youngster to be listened to and valued.
We have attractive buildings on an extremely pleasant site with
extensive playing fields overlooking the sea. Facilities for
youngsters and staff are excellent and include specialist
computer rooms with connection to the Internet, science
laboratories, technology areas and a Library/Resource area.
Most departments occupy suites of rooms and benefit from the
use of our computer network.
The School has pioneered the integration of physically
disadvantaged youngsters into mainstream schooling and
has excellent support facilities to meet their needs including
access ramps and a lift
School Term 2011-2012
(provisional) Autumn Term 2011 Wednesday 7th Sept to Friday 16th December Half Term
Monday 24th to Friday 28th October Spring Term 2012 Wednesday 4th January to Friday 30th March Half Term Monday 13th to Friday 17th February
Summer Term 2012 Tuesday 16th April to Thursday 19th July Half Term Monday 4th June to Friday 8th June
Staff training days to be confirmed
School Day
Monday to Thursday 08.50-08.55 Registration 08.55-09.10 Assembly / Tutorial 09.10-10.10 Lesson 1 10.10-11.15 Lesson 2 11.15-11.30 Break 11.30-12.30 Lesson 3
12.30-13.30 Lunch 13.30-13.35 Registration 13.35-14.35 Lesson 4 14.35-15.40 Lesson 5 Friday
08.50-08.55 Registration 08.55-09.10 Assembly / Tutorial 09.10-10.10 Lesson 1 10.10-11.15 Lesson 2 11.15-11.30 Break
11.30-12.30 Lesson 3 12.30-13.30 Lunch
13.30-13.35 Registration 13.35-14.35 Lesson 4
School Activities
What Walney has to offer you and your child
Very close links between home, school and community.
Termly News Letters
A detailed Record of Achievement and up to two formal
consultation evenings a year; individual interviews at
any time
Active School - Community involvement
Frequent engagement with the members of the
community to enrich the learning of the children
An active programme of enterprise involvement.
Learning by trips and visits out of school
Regular study visits to France and German
Geography field trips to the places of interest within the
local area
One week work placement for all year 10 students and
many other opportunities for study visits
Working with Furness Learning Innovation Programme
Skiing trips to Italy
Our values are based on good teaching, organisation and
discipline within a secure and caring environment. We believe
that all pupils should feel safe and valued members of the
school community and be given every opportunity to
recognise and achieve their full potential in a wide variety of
ways.
Extra activities We believe that extra-curricular activities are an important part of school life and there
are a wide and varying range of activities on offer at Walney school.
Competitive sport
Live Performance
Outdoor Pursuits
Governors have agreed a policy on charging for certain school activities. Copies of this are available on request from the school. Voluntary contributions may be requested from parents/carers to cover the cost of visit, provided that no student is prevented from taking part through inability to pay.
“Students take good advantage of the extra curricular clubs and sports”
“Teachers who are professional, hard working and who show a strong commitment
to helping pupils achieve”
Curriculum
Key stage 3 - Years 7, 8 & 9
Key Stage 4 - Years 10 &11
National Curriculum Core subjects
National Curriculum Foundation
subjects
National Curriculum Compulsory
subjects
Drama and Guidance
Mathematics, English &
Science.
History, Geography,
Music, Design Technology,
Art, Modern Foreign
Language, P.E & ICT.
Religious Education, Sex
Education, Careers &
Citizenship.
National Curriculum Core subjects
National Curriculum Extended Core
subjects
National Curriculum Compulsory
subjects
Personal Social Education (PHSE)
and two Option Subjects
Mathematics, English,
Science & ICT
Design Technology, ICT,
Modern Foreign Language,
or Certificate of Personal
Effectiveness (COPE)
P.E, Religious Education,
Sex Education, careers &
Citizenship.
The option blocks are made up of a number of subjects which
depend upon:
Pupil choice in considering a broad and balanced curriculum
and need.
The availability of the most effective resources, including
staffing.
The option blocks usually included subjects such as :
History, Art,,Performing Arts, Cope, Media Studies
Geography, Sports Studies, including BTEC and GCSE.
Diploma subjects include: Engineering, Construction and
Society, Health & Development.
Religious Education is part of the curriculum for all pupils and is delivered as a separate
subject. Year 11 pupils will be given the opportunity to take the GCSE examination
“Good support to pupils includes a well run induction scheme for new pupils and
a comprehensive guidance programme”
School Policies
Admission Policy
As a Trust, Walney will establish its own Admissions Policy in line with the
Cumbria General Admissions Policy, which now stands. This is available on
request from the school.
Under the re-organisation of Secondary Education in Barrow, Walney’s published
admission number has been increased from 144 to 180. The school is set to grow
from 660 to 900 in number.
The school enlargement project This is now well under-way to bring up-to-date additional facilities to the school.
Attendance
The importance of attendance is shown in the introduction of Electronic
Registration and Lesson Monitoring in September 2008. This has had a positive
effect on pupils attendance which we must continue to improve.
Minimum current attendance target : 94%
Internet Safety
The safety of pupils internet /computer use is paramount for Walney School,
which employs many levels of security, both inside and online, to protect its
users and the integrity of the School Network.
The school enforces a strict ‘Acceptable Use’ Policy which the pupil and parents/
guardian must sign in order for their child to gain access to the computer
network and internet. The aim of the Policy is to ensure that pupils will benefit
from learning opportunities offered by the school in a safe and effective manner.
Any documents or policies relating to your child's education are available on
request from the school.
Plan view of Enlargement Project
Code of Conduct
Behaviour and Discipline
At Walney School we expect good behaviour from our pupils - that pupils’ attitudes
and actions contribute to effective learning in the classroom, the quality of life in
school and the functioning of the school as an orderly community. We teach our
pupils to understand what is expected of them and to respond accordingly. We
expect them to be considerate, courteous and to relate well to each other and to
adults.
During their time in school we expect pupils to take increasing
responsibility for their own actions – appropriate to their age and maturity. We
encourage them to develop self esteem, self discipline and to adhere to high
standards of behaviour which contribute to their and others’ effective learning.
The school takes a strong line on providing a safe environment for all
people and any aggressive behaviour or bullying is dealt with swiftly,
seriously and thoroughly - prospective parents and pupils can be
assured of this and are asked to support it.
Special Education Needs
Walney is a designated school for pupils with
physical/medical needs.
Pupils are fully integrated into lessons and in-class
support is given where individual education plans
require.
Non-statemented pupil benefit from a wide range of
methods of support within the bounds of
resources.
School Uniform
Walney school has a School uniform policy which applies
to all pupils, which has been led by our Pupils Council.
We do expect parents and pupils to confirm to our dress
code particularly with regard to jewellery and footwear.
For a full description
and details please see
the school web site. www.walneyschool.co.uk
“Parents receive regular information from the school and
appreciate being kept in touch”
“Consistent drive improves pupil standards of achievement”
Walney school SPECIALIST ENGINEERING COLLEGE
Sandy Gap lane Barrow-in-Furness
Cumbria LA14 3JL
Tel: 01229 471528/471349 Fax:01229 474900
Website: www.walneyschool.co.uk