information for candidates 2010.doc

SIR JONATHAN NORTH COMMUNITY COLLEGE Information for Candidates

Sir Jonathan North Community College serves the educational needs of a large and diverse area of South Leicester and is unique as the only girls’ state school in Leicester and Leicestershire, educating students aged 11-16 from across the city. The College gained DCSF Specialist Status for Visual Arts in September 2001 and was re-designated as a High Performing Specialist School for Visual Art, Science and Mathematics in September 2005 and Applied Learning in December 2006. We work closely with local primary schools and have established very effective cross-phase co-operation. We have an extensive programme of out-of-school hours activities. The grounds of the College are shared with The Lancaster School with whom we offer joint KS4 provision in some subjects. The College has a large Adult Learning programme. We work in partnership with many other council services and the voluntary sector. The College is consistently over-subscribed. The number on roll is 1200. There are approximately 80 teaching staff and 95 part-time and full-time support staff. The FSM uptake is just over 17%. The student intake is exceptionally diverse in relation to academic ability, social status and cultural heritage, and approximately one-third of students are from ethnic minority backgrounds. A £1.6 million classroom block was completed in 1996 with refurbishment to other areas including the library and dining room. A further major building programme with new facilities for Science, Modern Languages, Design Technology and Expressive Arts was completed in 2002 representing an investment of £3 million. A £1.7 million bid for NOF Sports funding was successful, and an indoor Tennis Centre shared with The Lancaster School and supported by The Lawn Tennis Association was opened in 2007. The buildings are extremely well-maintained and provide an attractive learning environment. Sir Jonathan North Community College was inspected in November 2008 by OFSTED whose judgement was that the college is “a good school with ‘an outstanding capacity to improve’”. The report comments that “Students behave well, have positive attitudes towards their learning and are keen to do well. As a result, there is a calm atmosphere in lessons, built around very positive relationships”. It describes the quality of care, guidance and support as “outstanding”. Achievement and standards are good. Results in 2010 were: GCSE 5+ A*-C 72% 5+ A*-C 62% Inc English and Maths 5+ A*-G 94%

SATS Level 5 and above English 82% (Teacher Assessments) Maths 82% Science 81%

The College Strategic Plan, which sets our future direction, identifies four goals:

• Students enjoy their learning, achieve their highest possible standards and gain the skills necessary for employment.

• Students make effective use of ICT to enhance their learning. • Students take responsibility for themselves and their learning and contribute to the College

community, individually and collectively. • Students demonstrate personal, social, moral and cultural understanding, adopt safe

practices and healthy lifestyles.

information for candidates 2010.doc

Our current College Priorities are:

• To establish consistent high quality of Teaching and Learning. • To maximise student achievement. • To support high quality teaching and distributive leadership through College Performance

Management and Continuing Professional Development provision for all teaching and support staff.

• To maintain high quality Care, Guidance and Support. • To develop specialist College provision and partnerships which have an impact on teaching

and learning, student achievement, personal development and well-being across the College.

• To investigate and make the most of opportunities and resources to achieve “best value” and ensure the best outcomes for students including managing financial resources and ICT infrastructure.

The College has been successful in gaining the Basic Skills Agency Quality Mark, National Healthy Schools Standard, Inclusion Quality Mark, Investors in People status and Artsmark Gold, as well as Specialist College designations.

Alison Merrills Principal

September 2010