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ProspectusA word from the Head Welcome to Carshalton High School for Girls. Thank you for your interest in our school. Carshalton High School for Girls is a place of inspirational learning at the heart of the community where everyone is valued, respected and challenged; providing opportunities for all to learn, grow and develop together; succeeding today and in the future. Aims The holistic development of our learners lies at the heart of our core values Community, Harmony, Success and Growth. Linked to these core values our aims are to: Community
Harmony
Success
Growth
. . . for Learning and Teaching Our Learning and Teaching Policy includes an outline of the Outstanding Lesson that encourages a consistent and exciting lesson delivery to enhance learning. Our principal aim is to provide excellent quality teaching to ensure that all students learn effectively and develop a life-long love of learning.
Our curriculum aims to provide appropriate challenges to enable students to realise their full potential. At Carshalton High School for Girls, students continue to develop the basic skills of Literacy and Numeracy; the skills of Speaking and Listening are also taught to develop students’ confidence. Our Learning Support Faculty assesses the needs of students on entry to school and supports individuals who have specific learning difficulties. This support is offered both in the classroom and by withdrawal from lessons. Our Homework Policy encourages further learning opportunities to enable students to develop independent learning skills. Our Learning Resource Centre (LRC) provides an excellent base to support additional study both in and out of school hours and offers equality of opportunity to all students. Years 7, 8 and 9 Students are initially placed into mixed tutor groups so that they settle comfortably into our secondary school environment. Students in Year 7 study either French, German or Spanish. Students begin a second foreign language in Year 8. All students in Years 7, 8 and 9 follow an enhanced model of the National Curriculum. The needs of all students are met through ongoing assessment, enabling the school to place students in the appropriate ability group across the curriculum. Years 10 and 11 In Years 10 and 11, students study all the required National Curriculum subjects and a range of optional courses including GCSEs and BTECs. Sixth Form We offer a range of courses in the Sixth Form icluding Advanced Level and BTEC Firsts. More detailed information about the Sixth Form can be found in the Sixth Form Choices Booklet. This gives full details of the Sixth Form and its courses entry requirements. Religious Education and Collective Worship All students study Religious Education, including those in the Sixth Form. Collective Worship is important in the school and we also seek to ensure that we respect and value all faiths and cultures within our school community. “Behaviour is very good in and around the school” OFSTED Personal, Social, Health Education, Citizenship Education Citizenship is a statutory requirement in Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4. There is one lesson each week taught by form tutors. The three strands taught as part of the National Curriculum are:
These strands are developed through:
Students are encouraged to develop a clear understanding of their roles, rights and responsibilities in relation to their local, national and international communities. One assessment is completed each term and form tutors report to parents in the annual reporting cycle. The Healthy Schools Standard reflects our commitment to the health and well-being of our students. Sex and Relationship Education and Drugs Education are statutory requirements and are taught in PSHCE. Sex and Relationship Education is dealt with according to the needs and maturity of students in each year group. . . . for Raising Aspirations and Achievement We constantly seek to raise student aspiration and achievement. Our aim is to encourage students to have a ‘can do’ attitude and to aspire beyond their expectations by maximising their achievement in class and through a programme of extended learning opportunities.
The progress of all students is constantly monitored and assessed to ensure they are achieving to the best of their ability. Realistic, but challenging target setting is undertaken, both through subject areas and our academic tutoring programme. Attendance An emphasis is placed on good attendance and punctuality as it is recognised this plays a major role in students achieving well. Establishing good attendance patterns from the start is crucial and the school has systems in place to develop and maintain good attendance. Celebrating and rewarding success At every opportunity the school recognises and rewards student achievement and success. There is a whole school rewards policy that celebrates the achievement, contribution and effort of the girls in many aspects of school life. Partnership A close partnership with parents and parental support is vital to student success. Parents are asked to sign a partnership agreement when students join the school and to sign their daughter’s planner on a weekly basis. The school aims to keep parents fully informed through our reporting systems and other communications such as a regular newsletter. “The school has a very good partnership with parents who hold the school in high regard” OFSTED Transition from Primary School to Secondary school New students are made very welcome and the move from primary to secondary is positive and an enjoyable one. When we receive an accurate list of admissions, the Year Leader 7 and Deputy Year Leader 7 personally visit all the Primary Schools from which our intake will come and meet the students. They will also meet privately with staff at the Primary School who know the girls well in order to gather information which will help us to place them in appropriate form groups and teaching groups in September. In addition to these visits we organise a parents’ evening in the summer term and an induction day in July when the year 6 students come to spend a whole day with us to ‘break the ice’. We find that this opportunity to ‘meet a few faces and find a few places’ makes all the difference to the first few days in September. Students arrive a little more confident and many anxieties are prevented. The Year Leaders, together with the form tutors, oversee student academic progress as well as the social development and welfare of students. “The school makes very good provision for the moral development of pupils” OFSTED . . . for Care The school concentrates on the achievements of students rather than their failures, believing that the best way to motivate and encourage children is through praise and rewards. Regular assemblies and presentation of awards recognise children’s achievements. The close relationship that exists between students and staff is based on mutual respect and co-operation and contributes to the very happy atmosphere of the school. Students are encouraged to develop selfdiscipline and to take on responsibility in a number of different ways such as prefects, greeting visitors to the school, form or sports captain or as members of the School Council. By involving students in this way we aim to develop their self-respect and respect for others. “Standards of care are high. This is a caring school where staff know students well” OFSTED . . . for the Sixth Form The majority of our Year 11 students choose to continue their studies in our growing, successful sixth form. With their own Common Room and workspace, our sixth form students benefit from access to computers and study areas and their own area to relax.
In the Sixth Form students can study for a variety of qualifications including AS and A2 academic and vocational courses. BTEC courses and mature GCSEs in Maths, English and Photography. The sixth form team led by the Head of Sixth Form and Deputy Head of Sixth Form take an active role in monitoring students’ academic progress, providing practical counselling, advice and target setting. All students are expected to become directly involved in the school community improving confidence, providing direct experience of responsibility and developing a range of personal skills. Students are also strongly encouraged to make the most of other opportunities given to them, whether working in local primary schools or fund raising for overseas adventure or community visits. Throughout their time in the sixth form students are guided through the different career possibilities available and many of our students choose to continue their education, progressing to degree courses at university and diploma courses at college. At the vibrant heart of the school, our Sixth Form students prove excellent role models for younger students and maintain an enthusiastic and positive lead for the rest of the school. . . . for Excellent Facilities Our school is proud of the facilities it offers to support students’ learning. These include:
Interactive Whiteboards are commonplace throughout the school. . . . for Extension and Enrichment We believe in the value of activities which enrich our students’ experience and provide a different context for their learning.
The programme of extra-curricular activities is wide ranging across the school and links closely with our Extended School programme. These include sporting activities, Music, Dance, Drama, Computer Club, the Duke of Edinburgh Award and also the Young Enterprise scheme. The school has been awarded the ArtsMark Gold standard which demonstrates its commitment to high quality achievement and facilities and reflects the high level of participation in the Arts. School Visits During the course of each year a wide range of residential and day visits is offered to all year groups. Examples include:
Careers and Work Experience We offer an extensive Work Experience programme for Year 10 and Sixth Form students. Careers education and guidance begins in Year 7 through a development of understanding of interests, aptitudes and abilities. Our excellence in this field is recognised by a quality assurance award. If you would like a printed Prospectus Brochure, please contact us |
