Prospectus

L ght Hall SchoolThe best from everyone, all of the time.

Hathaway Road I Shirley I Solihull I West Midlands I B90 2PZT: 0121 744 3835 I F: 0121 733 6148 I E: office@lighthall.solihull.sch.ukwww.lighthall.co.uk

The best from everyone, all of the time.

EXCELLENCE

SOUND MORAL COMPASS, CARE

AND RESPECT

HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND ASPIRATIONS

ACTIVE PARTICIPATION

LOVE OF LEARNING

Light Hall School is a very special place, our students are friendly, enthusiastic and eager to learn. They are at the heart of all we do. Our staff are caring, supportive and completely committed to ensuring that every child achieves their very best with us, no matter what their starting point.

We are an 11-16 mixed academy, judged by Ofsted in June 2013 to be “good”. 250 students are admitted each year. Our aim is that every student leaves us, not only having achieved their full potential academically, but with a lifelong love of learning, a sound moral compass and high aspirations and expectations of themselves. Care and respect for others and our environment are the given norm at Light Hall and there is an expectation that everyone will participate actively and positively in the life of our learning community. The numerous opportunities and experiences we offer aim to equip every student with the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to become valued and successful members of society.

This prospectus will give you an initial insight into what we can offer. Please also visit our website for more information. However, to fully taste the “Light Hall” experience, do come and visit us and talk to our students and staff.

Annette KimblinHead Teacher

Welcome 3

A very warm welcome to

Light Hall School

2

“Students achieve well… They enjoy their learning and are keen to do well.” Ofsted 2013

4 A love of learning 5

“Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.”Socrates

“To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.” Victor Hugo

Learning is our core purpose. At Light Hall School we structure learning to excite our students’ curiosity and to inspire them to become successful, lifelong, independent learners. Our teachers are enthusiastic and extremely passionate about their subjects, spending considerable time planning interesting lessons, so that their love of their subject is passed on to the students.

We are fortunate to have a high quality learning environment with the latest technologies to enhance the curriculum. Our purpose built drama studio, music rooms and state of the art recording studio support our extensive extra curricular programme. In addition to this we have exceptional sporting facilities, including tennis courts, sports hall, fitness room and astro-turf. Opportunities to nurture independent learning skills are provided through our virtual learning environment. Our modern facilities help to provide greater variety in teaching methods and therefore make learning more effective.

Our vibrant and welcoming library supports learning throughout the school. It is well stocked, has good ICT facilities and provides high quality services to everyone. We aim to engender a genuine love of reading and excitement about learning in every child at Light Hall.

High aspirations and expectations 76

Those following the English Baccalaureate pathway will also study a modern

foreign language (French, German or Spanish)

In addition, students may choose from a full range of academic subjects including:

Business studies, Computing, ICT, Media studies, Product design,

Resistant materials, Catering, Art, Dance, Drama, Music and PE.

We strive for excellence in all that we do at Light Hall. Our motto, “The best from everyone, all of the time” informs the way we work and play. We believe that every student, with the right mind-set and a willingness to work hard and learn from their mistakes, can and will achieve great things. Our dedicated teachers motivate students to aim high and encourage every student to exceed their own expectations.

Our curriculum is broad and balanced and maximises the opportunities for a successful transition into higher or further education, training and employment.

At Key Stage 3 (years 7 and 8) students study English, mathematics, science, history, geography, religious education, a modern foreign language (French, German or Spanish), design and technology, art, music, drama, ICT and computing, physical education and personal, social and health education.

At Key Stage 4 (years 9, 10 and 11), all students follow one of two pathways which include a wide range of academic subjects, including the English Baccalaureate and some more vocationally orientated courses. Students are carefully assigned to pathways based on their assessment information.

All students will study:

English Language and English Literature

Mathematics

Science (triple or double award)

History or Geography

Religious Education

Physical Education

Personal, Social and Health Education

“Light Hall brings out the best in us, all of the time” Year 7 Student

Our students at Light Hall are our greatest asset and it is a privilege to work with them. We expect very high standards of behaviour and courtesy, both in and out of the classroom and we encourage our students to be aware of the needs of everyone in the immediate and wider community.

We are an inclusive school which offers the very best opportunities for all our students. Our dedicated team of teachers and support staff pride themselves on offering a safe, caring and happy environment in which students can learn and develop and are confident that we are preparing them well for the future. Our pastoral support team is extensive and has as its mission to ensure that every student feels valued and that their achievements, both academic and personal, are recognised.

At Light Hall we place great emphasis on supporting the successful transition from primary to secondary school. Moving to a new school can be a daunting experience and we work hard to ensure that all of our students’ first steps into the school are happy and successful. We work closely with our local primary schools to facilitate a smooth transition, visiting every child at their current school to enable us to consider their individual needs when they move to us. Our year 7 students quickly feel part of the whole school community and continue to grow and flourish throughout their whole school career.

Our partnership with parentsWe feel that partnership between us and our families is central to ensuring that our students feel safe and happy. We make sure that you are informed of progress on a half termly basis and we work together with you to guarantee our students are achieving their full potential.

We invite you to attend the following events in our calendar:

• Parents’ Evenings• Year group Information Evenings• Subject and revision evenings so that parents can

understand better how to provide support at home• Concerts and School Productions• Celebration events• Our Parents’ Forum• Headteacher’s Surgery

CommunicationWe feel that communication between us and you is absolutely vital and we keep you informed of all that is going on in school through:

• Our website;• Frequent emails and text messages;• Annual school reports;• Half termly interim reports;• Letters;• Twice yearly magazine;• The Headteacher’s weekly blog;• The Light Hall “Word” weekly information

emailed to parents

Every student has a planner through which parents can monitor their child’s progress. Homework is integral to good learning. Each student has a homework timetable and is expected to complete homework promptly and well.

Form tutors, Pastoral managers, Assistant Heads of year and the team in our Student Services Centre are there to ensure that each student is happy and thriving in school and making excellent progress in all of their subject areas. High attendance and high achievement go hand in hand and we are committed to working alongside our parents in ensuring that any student absence is kept to an absolute minimum.

8 Student well being and development 9

“Students’ behaviour is good and often exemplary. They say that they feel safe, bullying is rare and adults support them well. They are polite and thoughtful of each other.” Ofsted 2013

10 Active participation 11

At Light Hall we recognise that students thrive when offered additional experiences outside of school. Education goes beyond the reaches of the classroom and we believe that young people can learn a great deal by taking part in educational visits and activities away from school and home.

Our students are offered an impressive programme of extra – curricular activities as part of our newly established House System. Students of all ages are encouraged to participate. As a school with excellent sports facilities we have school teams in sports such as football, netball, cricket, hockey, rounders, basketball, athletics and gymnastics. We also offer excellent music, drama and dance opportunities with established groups, bands and clubs. Annually there is a range of productions such as plays, concerts, art exhibitions and dance festivals. Many of our older students take up the opportunity to work towards their Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Important residential opportunities are provided for our students. In recent times these have included study and sporting visits to the USA, Europe and across the UK.

Such provision widens our students’ experiences and perspectives, giving them the opportunity to see for themselves how what they learn in the classroom applies to the real world.

Our communityAt the heart of our school ethos is our sense of community and our students play an active role in this. At Light Hall we care about our community and build a sense of responsibility towards it. Year 11 students take on positions of leadership, applying and training to be prefects or gaining the prestigious position of Head Boy or Head Girl. Older students support younger ones through our peer mentoring scheme. The student council is democratically elected and very active; all students are able to give their opinions in a variety of ways and know that their views are listened to and often acted upon.

We are extremely proud of the effort students go to in order to raise money for charities here at home and abroad.

Light Hall students are polite and considerate and will speak with confidence to adults. This is encouraged by our collaborative working with local organisations and businesses that provide support in school when needed.

Through all this, we encourage our students to develop a sense of responsibility in their community and a deep-rooted care and respect for others. We want every one of our students to become a well-rounded, confident citizen of the 21st Century.

“A school that feels like it is family, with the students at its heart”Year 7 Student