A MESSAGE FROM THE HEADfluencycontent-schoolwebsite.netdna-ssl.com/FileCluster/Greycourt/Ma... · A...

A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD

You would be coming to Grey Court at a really exciting time. We believe passionately in our students, therefore my staff will go the extra mile to ensure they are challenged, cared for and prepared for the future. We received a grading of outstanding in March 2013 which has given us a green light to sustain and enhance our work which this year includes the introduction of a purpose built state of the art 6th form opening in September 2014.

You will be expected to work incredibly hard, both inside and outside the classroom and be prepared never to place a ceiling on our young people’s ambitions. In return you will be well supported, given wide and varied opportunities, including the prospect of you receiving subsidised assistance to gain an M.A.

Maggie Bailey – Headteacher

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO WORK AT GREY COURT SCHOOL?

GREY COURT SCHOOL is a vibrant, special and indeed unique place to work, with the commitment and dedication of the teaching staff complementing our industrious and motivated students. The school thrives on a virtuous cycle of success, both academically and in extra‐curricular pursuits. All of this is nurtured within a supportive environment, and the mutual respect accorded by teachers and pupils.

The following information about the Faculties at Grey Court will help you, as a prospective applicant, better understand our school community.

We pride ourselves on being a friendly, inclusive school, bursting with energy and ideas, and hope that you will want to join us in continuing to provide a dynamic education for our driven students.

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CONTENTS PAGE

Computer Science And Business Faculty – Page 3

English Faculty – Page 5

Humanities Faculty – Page 7

Maths Faculty – Page 8

Modern Foreign Language (MFL) Faculty – Page 11

Physical Education Faculty – Page 13

Science Faculty – Page 15

VPA Faculty – Page 18

A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD You would be coming to Grey Court at a really exciting time. We believe passionately in our students, therefore my staff will go the extra mile to ensure they are challenged, cared for and prepared for the future. You will be expected to work hard, both inside and outside the classroom, and be prepared never to place a ceiling on our young people’s ambitions. In return you will be well supported and given wide and varied opportunities. Maggie Bailey


We believe that GREY COURT SCHOOL is a vibrant, special and indeed unique place to work, with the commitment and dedication of the teaching staff complementing our industrious and motivated students. The school thrives on a virtuous cycle of success, both academically and in extra‐curricular pursuits, which is nurtured within a supportive environment, and the mutual respect accorded by teachers and pupils. We would like to offer you the following information about the Faculties at Grey Court to help you, as a prospective applicant, to better understand our school community. We pride ourselves on being a friendly, inclusive school, bursting with energy and ideas, and hope that you will want to join us in continuing to provide a dynamic education for our driven students.

COMPUTER SCIENCE FACULTY Faculty Aims We believe that Computer Science is the future of our society and thus we strive to embed the fundamental principles and concepts of Computer Science, including abstraction, decomposition, logic, algorithms and data representation, throughout our curriculum. We aspire to produce digital natives through engaging content and dynamic lessons. Students are taught to analyse problems in computational terms through practical experience of solving such problems, including designing, writing and debugging programs and experience applying mathematical skills relevant to Computer Science. We encourage students how to think creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically, critically and, most importantly, computationally. We aim to produce students who will understand the impacts of digital technology to the individual and to wider society. Strengths of the Faculty The faculty prides itself on being innovative and adaptive to the constant changes within our field of study. We aim to keep students and staff up-to-date with the latest technology developments and to be able to apply these within the context of lessons.

We run really engaging lessons and trips throughout the year groups in order to expose our learners to as much technology as possible. All our schemes of work are updated constantly to reflect changes in technology. As a faculty, we provide support and training for our colleagues across the school, from the use of Office software to our virtual learning platform. We have an excellent take-up of Computer Science at Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 compared to most schools nationally. The faculty prides itself as being one of the strongest in the school and always strives to achieve 100% A*-C results. Computer Science GCSE Results 2016 Key Stage 4 A* - C = 98% Key Stage 4 A*- A = 61% Recent Innovations There are six dedicated Computer Science Labs, one of which is reserved for Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 teaching and has dual screen monitors. We have a virtual learning environment (Itslearning) which is utilised across all subjects so that students can access resources both in school and at home. All members of the Computer Science faculty are equipped with their own iPad which can be used to deliver lessons via Apple TV. All staff have access to a bookable set of iPads for interactive lessons. We deliver a range of programming languages including Python, Delphi and Greenfoot (Java) and more advanced languages at Key Stage 5. We are consistently looking for new and exciting projects and are currently looking into implementing virtual reality, robotics and drones into our curriculum. Extra-Curricular Activities We run a coding club after school for Key Stage 3 which is always well attended, alongside support sessions for Key Stage 4 computing students. Both of these are supported by sixth form Computer Science students. We often run internal house competitions including coding and gaming challenges for Key Stage 3. The department runs a variety of trips every year. In the past we have gone to Prague (Tesco Computer Systems), Disney Land Paris (ICT Live), Birmingham (EGX Gaming EXPO), London (BETT Show and Rackspace), The Guardian HQ (Ada Lovelace Girls in Computing day) and an aspirational day at King’s College London for girls, to name a few.




ENGLISH FACULTY Faculty Aims We believe that all students of Grey Court School should be given access to a wide range of engaging literature and inspired to write both critically and creatively. We endeavour to ensure a broad and balanced experience that supports and challenges our students of all abilities. We seek to inspire our students to be creative, critical and collaborative learners: to question the world around them through the lens of literature and consider ideas from a range of perspectives. Particular attention is given to ensuring that the English curriculum is wide and varied to make it equally relevant to all the students regardless of race, creed or gender. We aim to employ a wide range of teaching methods including whole class teaching, group work, debates and problem solving. The English Faculty will judge the success of the students by their ability to progress through 1-9 targets that allow students’ progress to be linear from year 7 through to year 11. We ensure students’ progress through verbal feedback, peer and self-assessment and our “Next Steps” approach to Assessment for Learning (AFL). Targets for student attainment are set at the beginning of each Key Stage and are reviewed annually according to the school assessment calendar.

Strengths of the Faculty The English and Media faculty is a creative and collaborative team. Each member of the department is involved with the writing of schemes of work to ensure expertise and ideas are shared with all members of the faculty. We have taken the recent changes to English as an opportunity to teach a wider range of literature across the Key Stages. We are committed to giving our students a balanced education of both English Literature and Language, under-pinned by a love of literature. Results 2016 Key Stage 4 A* - C = 91% Language 88% Literature Tracking Students’ Progress We monitor students’ progress to ensure that all students are achieving in line with the aspirational targets set. We focus the attention of staff, students and parents on these goals by sending home two progress checks a year, one end of year report and an exam result sheet. We use SIMS as well as departmental spread sheets to track student progress. The Head of Faculty, along with the Key Stage 3 and 4 Coordinators, track students’ progress to ensure students are supported and challenged to achieve their potential. These results lend themselves to planning and teaching and give a clear message to students that we are monitoring their progress and personalising their learning. Recent Innovations The faculty is working hard to ensure that the English curriculum is updated to provide students for the rigours of the new GCSE and A-Level exams. Extra-Curricular Activities The faculty is participating in the BBC School News Report for the first year this year. We run Masterclasses for year 11 students to provide them with opportunities to experience critical readings of texts and more challenging ideas. We also run a film club for Key Stage 3 and a range of booster sessions. We also run creative writing competitions and ensure our students are provided with opportunities to visit the theatre. The Learning Environment The English Faculty has six teaching classrooms and each classroom is equipped with an Interactive Whiteboard, a networked computer with access to the internet, a projector and a further whiteboard. All classrooms are wireless ready. The staff workroom is shared with the Mathematics Faculty and provides a calm space for members of both faculties to work collaboratively. Information on the Faculty Team All Faculty members are expected to teach across the ability range in all topics covered in Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5. Access to curriculum is pivotal, with work differentiated to meet a range of learning needs. All SEN students have strategies for classroom practice embedded in their Individual Education Plan and students with a statement are often supported by a Learning Support Assistant in the classroom; teachers work with LSA in revising an agreement of support each term. The English Faculty is further supported by a faculty assistant and the administrative staff.



We believe that GREY COURT SCHOOL is a vibrant, special and indeed unique place to work, with the commitment and dedication of the teaching staff complementing our industrious and motivated students. The school thrives on a virtuous cycle of success, both academically and in extra‐curricular pursuits, which is nurtured within a supportive environment, and the mutual respect accorded by teachers and pupils. We would like to offer you the following information about the Faculties at Grey Court to help you, as a prospective applicant, to better understand our school community. We pride ourselves on being a friendly, inclusive school, bursting with energy and ideas, and hope that you will want to join us in continuing to provide a dynamic education for our driven students. HUMANITIES FACULTY

The Humanities Faculty at Grey Court School is a successful and thriving department with a strong committed staff who have a passion for their individual subject areas and a desire to provide the best possible learning experiences for all their students. We work as a cohesive, supportive team and share good teaching practice between each department at regular meeting. Every October we have our ‘Humanities Week’ which has become a key school event in the calendar; this involves multiple field trips, guest speakers coming to the school and workshops for students to take part in.

Geography

Fieldwork and trips are an integral part of the Geography curriculum at Grey Court and opportunities for trips are provided in all years at Key Stage 3, 4 and 5. At GCSE we are very successful with five GCSE classes in Key Stage 4 and at A-Level we have two classes in Year 12 and Year 13. Students go on a residential field trip to Cornwall as part of their A-Level course and there are two individual field trips at GCSE. Active learning strategies are also widely used in the classroom to promote students’ learning and we are committed to the use of ICT and the innovative display of students’ work. GCSE students study AQA Geography and A-Level students study Edexcel Geography.

History

The History department is a very popular and strong department with a long-standing record of successful GCSE and now A-Level results. Students are encouraged to be independent learners and to value the lessons of the past. History is taught in all years of the school with a strong academic focus. There are five classes in Year 10 and Year 11 and two in both Year 12 and 13. Regular trips are a key feature of the curriculum with visits to Berlin, the Imperial War Museum, the Natural History Museum amongst others. At GCSE students study Edexcel History and AQA History at A-Level.

Religious Studies

Religious Studies is a highly valued subject at Grey Court and helps students develop their tolerance and understanding of others, essential for our restorative approaches. Every Key Stage 3 student studies Religious Studies for one period a week and those who select it as an option in Key Stage 4 have three lessons a week. All Key Stage 4 students receive Religious Studies provision in the form of half-termly drop-down sessions. Various trips and speakers form an integral part of the Religious Studies curriculum, including visits to a Hindu temple, a mosque and St Paul’s Cathedral, and a very moving talk by a Holocaust survivor to Year 9 students. Students study Edexcel Religious Studies for GCSE. In Key Stage 5 OCR Religious Studies is taught, covering Philosophy of Religion, Religious Ethics and Developments in Christian Thought.

GCSE RESULTS

Subject % A* to C %A* to A

Geography 86% 46%

History 82% 33%

Religious Studies 81% 34%




MATHS FACULTY Faculty Aims We believe that all students of Grey Court School must have regular access to Mathematics appropriate to their age and stage of development, building from their primary experience in Key Stage 2. We endeavour to ensure a broad and balanced experience built upon the National Curriculum guidelines for Mathematics through first-hand experience in a climate which encourages curiosity, open-mindedness, critical reflection and co-operation. Particular attention will be given to planning the Mathematics curriculum to make it equally relevant to all the students, regardless of race, creed or gender. We aim to employ a wide range of teaching methods including whole-class teaching, group work to develop students’ mathematical fluency, reasoning and problem solving skills. The Mathematics Faculty will judge the success of the students by their ability to progress through the National Curriculum. Students should be expected to ‘improve’ their own National Curriculum grade year upon year. Targets for student attainment are set at the beginning of each Key Stage and are reviewed annually according to the school assessment calendar.

Strengths of the Faculty The faculty is a cohesive team that adopts a collaborative style of working and has produced innovative methods as a result of this departmental ethos. The faculty endeavours to stay abreast with the developments in education and have strategically implemented new technologies into classroom practice. We are committed to giving our students a broad and balanced education in Mathematics. In 2014 the addition of Key Stage 5 to our curriculum allowed us to showcase our specialist knowledge. Mathematics has continued to be the most popular subject in our sixth form increasing year upon year. The faculty has a strong partnership with local primary schools putting on master-classes to inspire young mathematical minds. Students from year 5 are invited to the school on a yearly basis for a competitive mathematical challenge. During the summer term we co-host, with the English faculty, a Mathematics and Numeracy fair. We are also developing professional connections with the SEN school which shares our school site. As a faculty we dedicate time to building these professional connections to promote excellence in Mathematics throughout the borough. Results for Mathematics 2016 Our results at all key stages are higher than the national average. Key Stage 3 98.9% of students attained a level 5+ Key Stage 4 = 87% gained an A* - C Key Stage 5 = 95.5% of students met or exceeded their predicted grade. Tracking Students’ Progress Students’ progress is tracked using an internal database. Post data collection points are used by the Head of Faculty and the Key Stage coordinators to identify key pupils who would benefit from intervention. These results inform the faculty’s planning and teaching and encourage the students to mirror our engagement with their progress and targets. Progress is shared externally through two progress checks a year, a written end of year report and an exam result sheet; this information sharing informs parents and pastoral staff of students’ targets and the steps being taken by the faculty to ensure they are met. Extra-Curricular Activities Our specialist status in Mathematics has allowed us the opportunities to attend many lectures in at numerous universities. All year groups take part in the UK Mathematics Trust Challenge. We run a problem-solving lunch club where students from various year groups come together to be inspired by Mathematics. We run masterclasses for Key Stage 4, intervention classes for Key Stage 5 and a Mathematics surgery for Key Stage 3 which is run by older students and staff. Environment The Mathematics Faculty has six teaching classrooms and two offices. All Mathematics lessons are taught in the classrooms. Each classroom is equipped with an interactive whiteboard, a networked computer with access to the internet, a projector and a further whiteboard. All classrooms are wireless-ready and IPads are available for lessons. We use various software programs: Smart Notebook, Geometers sketchpad, SAM learning and my-maths. These programs allow self-

study, revision and interactive class teaching. Students are encouraged to use their own time to further explore these opportunities. All students in Key Stage 3 and 4 have access to an online text book. The Mathematics faculty shares a work room with the English faculty which contains ten networked computers, a photo copier and printer. Information on the Faculty Team All Faculty members are expected to teach in all year groups and to all abilities and

topics covered in Key Stage 3 and 4. In Key Stage 4 we offer Statistics GCSE, Personal

Finance and Additional Mathematics FSMQ. SEN students are mostly assisted by

Teaching Assistants during lessons. In Key Stage 5 we offer Core Mathematics at AS

level and both Mathematics and Further Mathematics at AS and A level. The Mathematics Faculty is supported by a faculty assistant and the administrative staff.

A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD

You would be coming to Grey Court at a really exciting time. We believe passionately in our students, therefore my staff will go the extra mile to ensure they are challenged, cared for and prepared for the future. You will be expected to work hard, both inside and outside the classroom, and be prepared never to place a ceiling on our young people’s ambitions. In return you will be well supported and given wide and varied opportunities. Maggie Bailey


We believe that GREY COURT SCHOOL is a vibrant, special and indeed unique place to work, with the commitment and dedication of the teaching staff complementing our industrious and motivated students. The school thrives on a virtuous cycle of success, both academically and in extra‐curricular pursuits, which is nurtured within a supportive environment, and the mutual respect accorded by teachers and pupils. We would like to offer you the following information about the Faculties at Grey Court to help you, as a prospective applicant, to better understand our school community. We pride ourselves on being a friendly, inclusive school, bursting with energy and ideas, and hope that you will want to join us in continuing to provide a dynamic education for our driven students. MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES FACULTY Modern Languages at Key Stage 3 (French, Spanish, German and Mandarin) Most students in Year 7 take French although some high attainers are invited to choose Mandarin. In Year 8, students pick up a second language of Spanish or German and most also continue with French. For those not continuing with French, a program of additional Maths and English tutoring is provided. Modern Languages at Key Stage 4 Most Year 10 and 11 students study one or two modern languages. Option groups operate in Years 10 and 11. In French, Spanish and German and Mandarin our students are entered for the EDEXCEL GCSE examination. Latin is run mainly as a twilight session. Bilingual or Fluent French, Spanish, German and Mandarin Speakers We aim for these students to take their GCSE when they are ready, having followed a differentiated languages curriculum in Key Stage 3.

Native Speakers of Other Languages We encourage native speakers of languages not taught in the school to develop their expertise and take examinations to obtain accepted qualifications in those languages. Where possible this is done through the school. Resources We have a Languages block of 6 classrooms and 2 offices although staff do have to teach in a wide variety of rooms. The majority of Key Stage 5 lessons are timetabled in the sixth form centre. Staffing As of January 2017, the MFL faculty has 10 teaching staff. Some specialise in just one language, others can teach two or three. In addition we have a Faculty Assistant we share with the Humanities and English Faculties. Methodology Most teaching is in the target language. Students are trained to use the language for everyday communication in lessons and given practice in asking questions, giving information, role playing and expressing opinions. Home Learning is planned as key part of students’ learning experience and gives the opportunity for independent consolidation. Visits and Exchanges Students in Year 9 have the opportunity to visit the Lille Christmas Market on an overnight trip. Students in Year 10 can take part in an exchange program to either Madrid or Lille. Some of our sixth form students have been able to do their work experience in Salamanca, Spain. Activity days can offer students the chance to work with their option group on activities such as salsa dancing or eating at a local tapas restaurant. We are happy to welcome any new ideas regarding trips, clubs or activities.



We believe that GREY COURT SCHOOL is a vibrant, special and indeed unique place to work, with the commitment and dedication of the teaching staff complementing our industrious and motivated students. The school thrives on a virtuous cycle of success, both academically and in extra‐curricular pursuits, which is nurtured within a supportive environment, and the mutual respect accorded by teachers and pupils. We would like to offer you the following information about the Faculties at Grey Court to help you, as a prospective applicant, to better understand our school community. We pride ourselves on being a friendly, inclusive school, bursting with energy and ideas, and hope that you will want to join us in continuing to provide a dynamic education for our driven students. PE FACULTY

Faculty Aims

Sport is an important and vibrant part of life at Grey Court School. We aim to provide a wide

range of sports at levels suited to students’ different abilities and interests. The sports

programme includes core sports (selection, regular training, full fixture list against other

schools) and additional sports (open to all, for health and enjoyment, with some

competition). We compete against the best sporting schools in London and the South East.

The School has an improving record of sporting achievement. The School’s facilities for sport

include:

• A Sports Hall (basketball court and four badminton courts, volleyball court, two indoor

cricket nets)

• Gymnasium for Dance and Gymnastic activities

• The School Field is used for PE, sports training, football and rugby fixtures

• Playing Fields on Bull Meadow for football games and competitive matches

• Four outdoor tennis courts

• OAA course within the school grounds

• 300 metre grass running tracking

We would like every student to get involved in the extra-curricular sporting activities of the

school. Where external coaches are used, all have undergone the necessary child protection

checks. There is a designated Grey Court staff member (the teacher in charge) responsible

for oversight of each sport.



We believe that GREY COURT SCHOOL is a vibrant, special and indeed unique place to work, with the commitment and dedication of the teaching staff complementing our industrious and motivated students. The school thrives on a virtuous cycle of success, both academically and in extra‐curricular pursuits, which is nurtured within a supportive environment, and the mutual respect accorded by teachers and pupils. We would like to offer you the following information about the Faculties at Grey Court to help you, as a prospective applicant, to better understand our school community. We pride ourselves on being a friendly, inclusive school, bursting with energy and ideas, and hope that you will want to join us in continuing to provide a dynamic education for our driven students. SCIENCE FACULTY

Faculty Aims

We believe that all students of Grey Court School must have access to a science curriculum

that is inspiring, appropriate to their age and stage of development and builds upon existing

knowledge. We endeavour to ensure a broad and balanced experience built upon the

National Curriculum guidelines for all our students and wherever possible, opportunities are

provided to develop skills and gain understanding of science through first-hand experience

in a climate which encourages curiosity, perseverance, open-mindedness, critical reflection

and co-operation. Particular attention is given to planning the science curriculum to make it

equally relevant to all the children, regardless of race, creed or gender.

Our teaching aims to combine a respect for traditional values with sensitivity towards

topical issues and concerns. We aim to employ a wide range of teaching methods including

whole class teaching, experiential learning, discovery methods, problem solving, open-

ended investigations and practical investigation. Teachers are expected to be highly

knowledgeable General Science teachers up to and including Key Stage 4 and are

encouraged to specialise in Year 11 Separate Science and A Level.

Our new Sixth Form opened in September 2014 to provide students with an outstanding

opportunity to continue their study with the Science department. We offer the full suite of

Science ‘A’ levels in three ‘state of the art’ laboratories within our new sixth form centre.

Strengths of the Faculty

The Faculty has a strong team spirit and colleagues have a proven track record of working

very hard together to manage the many developments that have come their way. They are

facing the future with great enthusiasm and energy in their commitment to giving all our

pupils a full and balanced education in science. Our student feedback confirms that they

enjoy science and are inspired by their passionate and hard-working teachers.

The majority of students study Separate Science from Year 9 – far in excess of national

averages. Some students are entered for Combined Science based on their progress

through the three years they study GCSE Science.

Results 2016

Subjects 2016 Results

2 Good GCSE Sciences (A*-C) 90%

GCSE Biology (A*-C) 99% (over 50% A*-A)

GCSE Chemistry (A*-C) 99% (over 50% A*-A)

GCSE Physics (A*-C) 98% (over 50% A*-A)

AS Biology 100% (A*-C)

AS Chemistry 93% (A*-C)

AS Physics 88% (A*-C)

A2 Biology 70% (A*-B) 100% (A*-D)

A2 Chemistry 75% (A*-B) 100% (A*-D)

A2 Physics 70% (A*-B) 100% (A*-D)

Tracking Students’ Progress

Progress is monitored throughout the year and is reported to parents officially on three

occasions. Two Progress Checks and one end of year report are sent to parents each year. In

addition we have an Academic Tutoring Day to discuss progress with students and parents.

All data is collected centrally and is used by the Head of Faculty to identify students who

may benefit from time and effective intervention. This also informs planning and teaching,

and gives clear messages to students that teachers are interested in their progress.

Managing Behaviour

This should be read in conjunction with the school behaviour policy found in the staff

handbook. Considerable time has been spent developing strategies for a ‘restorative

approach’. The agreed sequential structure for matters of discipline is laid down in the staff

handbook. Where the class teacher needs assistance he/she may call on support from a

number of more senior staff e.g. Head of Faculty or senior member of staff on duty.

Staff use SIMs to record positive or negative behaviour and regular communication with

tutors, heads of year and parents means that a strong partnership has formed supporting

the best interests of individual students.

Recent Innovations

The Faculty has access to a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) for use in lessons as well as

data logging equipment to assist with investigative work. We have invested in ICT solutions

so that all students have access to the text books from home and a wide range of revision

resources and assessment materials accessible on mobile devices.




VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS FACULTY Faculty Aims At Grey Court School, our principal aim within Visual and Performing Arts is to strive for excellence for all. Through a core of high quality education, teachers within the Visual and Performing Arts Faculty Team aim to recognise and develop fully the creative talents of every individual in their care. We aim to provide equity of access and entitlement in the Arts, enabling students to gain confidence and competence in their creative skills, as well as to encourage students to develop the skills to appreciate their own work and that of others, giving them opportunities to express their values, attitudes and feelings in a supportive learning environment. We also aim to foster and develop links with outside agencies and Arts practitioners, enabling students to gain a valuable insight into possible career opportunities within the Arts and to celebrate cultural diversity and strive for excellence across the Arts. We are going from strength to strength. From the increasing number of performances, productions, events, visits to workshops, masterclasses and trips, we are proud to be building close links with the community, both locally and internationally. We regularly collaborate with external agencies such as local theatres, historic and artistic venues – Richmond drama festival, Ham House, Twickenham Festival and

Orleans Gallery. Locally, students have worked with the community to create artwork. Our school choir, "Encore", led and directed by Mr Oakley and Ms Gardner, enjoy a busy schedule with several performances in and out of school. Our Jazz band, under the direction of Mr Roger Perrin of the Richmond Music Trust, performs throughout the year and at the many school events. Large scale productions, both musical and dramatic, have grown in size and have been a great success - always attracting a large number of students participating and enjoying being part of the show. Strengths of the Faculty The Faculty has a strong team spirit and colleagues have a proven track record of working very hard together to manage the many developments that have come our way. We are facing the future with great enthusiasm and energy in commitment to giving all our students a full and balanced education in the Arts: Music, Art, Drama and Music Technology (and Photography at Key Stage 5). Results 2016

KS4 A* - A

KS4 A* - C

KS5 A* - A

KS5 A* - C

Art 48% 100% 57% 43%

Drama 38% 94% 17% 58%

Performing Arts 36% 80% N/A N/A

Music 55% 85% 20% 100%

Music Tech 0% 100% N/A N/A

Photography N/A N/A 0% 75%

Tracking Students’ Progress Progress is monitored throughout the year and is reported to parents officially on three occasions. Two Progress Checks and one end of year report are sent to parents each year. In addition we have an Academic Tutoring Day to discuss progress with students and parents. All data is collected centrally and is used by the Head of Faculty to identify students who may benefit from intervention and support. Tracking also informs planning and teaching, and gives clear messages to students that teachers are interested in their progress. Recent Innovations All VPA teaching areas are specialised teaching rooms to allow for access to resources and space so that students are inspired and fully engaged with each subject. All rooms are equipped with audio and visual equipment including an interactive white board. All students have access to a Virtual Learning Environment with links to class resources, a VPA twitter account and various apps that are used in music units. As well as a small recording studio, there are ICT suites available to all subjects with specialist software such as Sibelius 7.5 and Logic Pro for composition work as well as video and sound editing software. Music Technology and A level Music are taught in a fully equipped Apple Mac Digital Media Suite and A Level Drama have their own drama studio. Extra-Curricular Activities Extra-curricular activities are integral to VPA lessons and run throughout the week and across all subjects. Many of these extra-curricular clubs lead into bigger events

such as the school productions, MOGO awards, the Christmas Panto and other concerts. Students have access to visiting practitioners as well as workshops and masterclasses outside school. Theatre and concert trips are a regular occurrence with at least 3 -5 trips each term. Students also prepare for and take part in local events such as Richmond Theatre educational events and Live @ the Rose in Kingston. The Learning Environment The VPA Faculty have several teaching areas that are fully equipped to provide an active and varied curriculum. All lessons are taught in subject areas that include a classroom of the future (The Ingenium), two drama studios, two music rooms, a recording studio, a band room, four further practice rooms, three art studios, a dark room, a digital Media Suite and a sixth form art studio. Each classroom is equipped with an interactive whiteboard and a networked computer with access to the internet. All classrooms are wireless ready. Information on the Faculty Team All Faculty members are expected to teach in all year groups and to all abilities and topics covered in Key Stage 3 and 4. In Key Stage 4 we offer all subjects at GCSE level. (Music Technology is a BTec qualification). At Key Stage 5 we offer Music, Theatre Studies, Art & Design and Photography. SEN students are assisted by Teaching Assistants during lessons. The VPA Faculty is supported by an art technician, administrative staff and several visiting peripatetic instrumental staff. It is our aim to increase and build upon activities that allow full access to the Arts for all our students, irrespective of ability.

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