Wymondham College | Home Page

Wymondham College Prospectus �

www.wymondhamcollege.org

It’s aboutlife not justgradesWymondham College is a unique state funded day and boarding school offering aneducational experienceunlike any other.

Most students at Wymondham College exceedexpectations in their examination performance, but the realsuccess of their education is not measured by the gradesthey gain, but in the lives that they lead - whilst at the Collegeand also when they have left it. That's why we say thateducation is not just about grades - it's about life.

The best way to understand Wymondham College is tocome and see for yourself. Meeting some of our staff andstudents and touring the site will help you to gain a senseof the unique experience that is on offer here. We lookforward to welcoming you.

Melvyn Roffe BA FRSAPrincipal

Our Mission Statement

Wymondham College exists to enable young peopleto become happy, successful and useful citizens, toaim for excellence in all they do and to find fulfilmentin life.

To achieve that mission we seek to provide the verybest education that is available in the state fundedsector and to provide opportunities for students’personal, intellectual, spiritual, physical and socialdevelopment that are at least as good as thoseavailable in any school in the country.

Wymondham College Prospectus 02 – 03

“Boarding has beeneven better than Iexpected, you get toknow your friends reallywell and we all enjoythe clubs and activitiesafter school. The staffreally look after you andthe resident fellows arelike sisters, but older.” ALICE, YEAR 7 BOARDER

A uniquelysuccessfulcommunity Wymondham College is setin 80 acres of parkland inthe heart of the Norfolkcountryside, yet is easilyaccessible by car and trainfrom London and mostother parts of the country.

Students come to us with a wide range of skills, talents andenthusiasms – many of which they don't yet know about.The College's taught curriculum and the extra-curricularprogramme (known as ‘Wymondham Life’) are designed togive students every opportunity to develop their creativity,refine their skills and express their own unique view of theworld around them.

The College is an Academy funded by the Secretary ofState for Education. This means that education at theCollege is free to all students. Parents of boarders pay aboarding fee which, when compared to boarding schoolsin the independent sector, represents extraordinary valuefor money.

The College is non denominational and a broad Christianethos is fostered in all aspects of the work of the College.The College has an Anglican Chaplain and Chapel serviceshave a central place in the College routine.

Admissions Information

Admission to Wymondham College is available to all thosewith UK or EU/EEA nationality or other legitimate residentialstatus in the UK. There are no other qualifications foradmission and no tests to take (other than for somespecialist places in Sport and Music and BoardingScholarships in the Sixth Form).

Places are available for boarders and day students in Year7 (11+) and Year 12 (16+) and for boarders in Year 9 (13+).

For full information on admissions see the WymondhamCollege Admissions Policy, Procedure and Guidance, whichcan be downloaded from www.wymondhamcollege.org

A Unique Heritage

Wymondham College celebrated its sixtiethanniversary during the 2011-12 academic year. It wasestablished in 1951 on the site of a wartime US ArmyHospital. The College continued to be housed inwartime Nissen huts until the 1990s. Only one Nissenhut, our Chapel, now remains, but we are proud ofour links with the United States and a Heritage Trailaround the campus tells students and visitors thestory of the development of the site before, duringand after the war.

A subtle reminder of our links with America wasincorporated into the design of the new College tiethat has been worn by students since 2011. If youlook carefully at the pictures in this prospectus youmay be able to work out what it is.


“I came to love thiscrazy, brilliant place!” FORMER STUDENT

The curriculum is designed to provide a good grounding inbasic knowledge and skills whilst being sufficiently flexibleto meet the needs of all students.

A wide range of A level courses is available in the Sixth Formto enable students to follow their interests, strengths andenthusiasms. The majority of students will follow a traditionalacademic route into university, but students are alsoencouraged to look at other options if they better suit theiraptitudes and aspirations.

Teaching at the College is rigorous and incorporates thebest contemporary approaches to engage students'interest, facilitate their learning and enable them to makerapid progress towards challenging targets. Students arehelped to learn how to learn and are encouraged to developgreater responsibility for their own work as they progressthrough the College. But support from teachers and tutorsis always at hand – including through the evening in theboarding houses.

The World is Out There

The world is changing rapidly and students at WymondhamCollege have a fantastic range of opportunities toexperience at first hand what this will mean for them and fortheir future careers. Our partnerships with schools in Europe,Asia, Africa and North and South America and with theModel European Parliament help students to see the worldas few others have the opportunity to see it. The College's

World Challenge expeditions give students a personallydemanding experience in the developing world whilst,closer to home, our visiting speakers and work placementprogrammes also provide some fascinating insights into allkinds of debates, issues and career options.

And it doesn’t stop when students leave the College.Students who are not going straight on to university find theCollege’s partnerships a great help in securing gap yearopportunities with overseas partner schools and otherorganisations around the world and a Travel Scholarship,funded by the Old Wymondhamians, can help to makeindividual students’ dreams an exciting reality.

Gifted, Talented and Special Needs Support

The College supports the achievement of all itsstudents. We have many students who areacademically gifted or who have a particular talentsuch as music or sport. These gifted and talentedstudents are supported by the Co-ordinator for Giftedand Talented Students (CoGiTaS) whose role is toensure that they can reach their full potential in allareas. As the College is not academically selectivein its intake, our Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) leads a dedicated and highlyeffective team which provides the specialistassistance needed by students with specialeducational needs.

The core ofCollege lifeThe academic curriculumis the core around whichlife at WymondhamCollege is built.


“We enable students to become independent learnerswho are well-adapted to the needs of an ever-changingand increasingly competitive society. Teachers supportstudents to achieve their potential and expect everystudent to do their best in an encouraging and safelearning environment.”VICTORIA DINWOODIE, TEACHER

There is a full fixture list in the College’s main sports: rugby,football and cricket for boys and hockey, netball androunders for girls. There are opportunities in other sportssuch as boys’ hockey, athletics, swimming, basketball,tennis and five-a-side football. Music is central to theexperience of many students at the College. There is a widerange of choirs and musical ensembles and an ambitiousprogramme of concerts throughout the year. The InterHouse Music Competition for the Mair Cup is one of thehighlights of the College year.

Students participate in regular drama productions. Some ofthese, such as the recent production of “Les Misérables”,are on a lavish scale. On the other hand, an annualcompetition provides an opportunity for younger studentsto explore and present the works of Shakespeare.

The College has a strong tradition of participation in theDuke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and is funded tosupport the Award across all schools in the county ofNorfolk. The College’s volunteer Combined Cadet Forceprovides excellent opportunities for Army and Royal AirForce cadets and enjoys excellent relationships with thearmed services.

The College has close links with a local special school withour students providing practical assistance in classes on aregular basis. Our long standing paired reading scheme

encourages Sixth Form students to assist the learning ofyounger pupils within the College itself.

Holiday activities include ski trips and sailing holidays as wellas more adventurous expeditions to destinations such asthe Far East and Kenya.

Focus on Sport

The College has a strong tradition of competitivesport at all levels from Under 12 to Under 19 level.Sport also plays a major part in extra-curricularactivities offering a broad spectrum of opportunitiesfrom participating in teams to refereeing. The Collegeenjoys considerable success at county, regional andnational level with strong representation in athletics,hockey, football, cricket, netball, tennis and rugby,progressing to the higher stages of the Daily MailCup on a number of occasions.

Wymondham College is a Royal Life Saving Society(RLSS) Approved Training Centre (ATC). Studentscan train as lifeguards and gain the, National PoolLifeguard Qualification (NPLQ).

It’s yourWymondhamlifeThe College activitiesprogramme is known as“Wymondham Life” andprovides a full range ofsporting, cultural and socialopportunities after theCollege day, at weekendsand in the holidays.


“Boarding was not something wethought would ever really happen; nowwe would not change anything. Our sonhas excelled at Wymondham College,not only in his education and dedicationbut also as an individual and in terms of

his own independence.” LYNNE, PARENT OF BOARDERS IN YR 8 AND 13

Boarding –but different

Boarding at WymondhamCollege is different.

Our boarders come from a wide range of backgrounds. Mostare local, but the College's strong reputation means that wealso have students who come to us from all over the UK, fromEurope and from elsewhere in the world. This mix is one of thethings that makes the College a vibrant place to live and learn.

Our boarding is flexible. Many local boarders go home eachweekend but there is an exciting programme of activities forthose who stay – and, of course, there's time to relax and enjoythe company of your friends.

Perhaps the biggest difference is the way in which ourboarding houses are organised. Wymondham College hasalways been fully a co-educational school and since the1970s we have had mixed boarding houses. This meansthat whilst upstairs sleeping accommodation is entirelyseparate, boys and girls mix naturally in the ground floorsocial and work areas. We think we may be the onlyboarding school to have this model of co-educationalboarding – and it is very successful in preparing students fortheir lives beyond the College.

Another thing that is unusual about our boarding houses is themix and range of staff who are available to support and guideour boarders. In addition to experienced Heads of House,each boarding house has either a teaching Deputy Head ofHouse or a house parent. There are always at least twomatrons on duty to look after the personal care of boardersand graduate Residential Fellows complete the residentialteam. In the evening, the resident team is augmented byteachers who act as visiting tutors in the boarding houseproviding teaching support during "prep" time.

Focus on Art and Music

The College Art Department is an exciting and vibrantplace to work. Students have the opportunity todevelop their own work under the guidance of a highlyexperienced team of art staff and with input from wellestablished practitioners in Fine Art, Textile Design andPhotography. The annual art exhibition held either onsite or at a prestigious location elsewhere in Norfolk isan impressive showcase for all that students achieveduring the year.

Students regularly gain places at some of the best ArtSchools in the country on the strength of theirexamination performance and portfolios developedwhilst at the College.

"Enjoy and Achieve" is the central philosophy for theCollege’s Music Department. In addition to curriculummusic lessons, students have access to a wide rangeof performance opportunities, including ensembles, aJazz Orchestra and the Concert Band. The work of thedepartment is supported by eighteen visiting musicstaff and achievement at all ages and in all areas isoften of an extraordinary standard. Students regularlygo on to study music at University or Music College.

The College offers specialist music places in Year 7and Boarding Scholarships for musicians in Year 12.


“Boarding takes education to a wholenew level and Wymondham College is abeacon in its field. As Head of House Iam engaged in the process of changinglives, not just academic advancement. Itis an honour, privilege and joy which

has a profound effect on us all, studentsand staff alike.”

JOHN CHITTY, HEAD OF PEEL HALL

The futureawaits you

The Sixth Form atWymondham Collegeprovides everything youneed to take you on to thenext stage of your life whilstgiving you the opportunityto make a real difference tothe College community.

Based in the Lincoln Hall Sixth Form Centre, all Sixth Formersenjoy an environment which is more akin to a university collegethan a school sixth form but which is underpinned byWymondham College's traditional standards, sense ofcommunity and care for the individual.

Lincoln Hall was greatly extended in 2008 to provideaccommodation for all Year 12 and Year 13 students. The RalphsBuilding provides first class en-suite accommodation for all Year13 boarders. Year 12 students are accommodated in the originalLincoln Hall which has been remodelled to provide comfortablesingle and twin bed accommodation with shared facilities.

All students start Year 12 together as new students in Lincoln.Whether they have come through from the College’s MainSchool or are new to the College, all Lincoln students arestarting together on a new exciting adventure in the Sixth Form.

Our Sixth Form arrangements mean that students have accessto outstanding support and advice throughout the two years oftheir A level courses. Boarders and day students benefit fromthe support of the Lincoln Fellow, a recent graduate of Oxford,Cambridge or another highly selective university, who, alongwith senior teaching staff, has particular responsibility forsupporting students with the university admissions process.

Many students progress to university, typically gainingadmission to the universities of their choice.

Student Leadership

Students throughout the College are expected to showresponsibility, self reliance and leadership. This is especially truein the Sixth Form where there is a great deal of emphasis ondeveloping students’ leadership potential. The Principal’s Council

is an elected body of senior students which works alongside theStudent Council and House Councils to represent the studentvoice in the College. In Lincoln Hall, the Junior Common RoomCommittee is the focus for student social activities.

In addition, each department has a number of student subjectleaders who help staff to develop departmental activities andact as a point of contact for students who may need additionalguidance with their studies. Students lead activities within the‘Wymondham Life’ Programme and take significant positionsof leadership in the Combined Cadet Force.

The Lincoln Lecture

The annual highlight of our visiting speakers programmeis the Lincoln Lecture which is a formal lecture given inthe Chapel by a lecturer of national or international renownon a subject related to the life and work of AbrahamLincoln or to the relationship between the UK and theUSA. The Lecture is published by the College and is alsoavailable to download from the website. The lecturerdoes not just come to the College to give the lecture –he or she spends the afternoon at the College before thelecture and interacts informally with students, too.

Recent Lincoln Lecturers have included:

Professor Richard Carwardine, Rhodes Professor ofAmerican History at the University of Oxford; Mr JustinWebb, formerly BBC North America Editor; Mr PhilipBreedon, Press Counselor at the United StatesEmbassy in London; Professor Sarah Churchwell,Professor for the Public Understanding of theHumanities at the University of East Anglia.


“Wymondham Collegehas afforded me the

opportunity to expressmyself both creativelyand academically. Thework and community

culture here is preparingme really well for myfuture life and career.”

YR 13 STUDENT

NORWICH

WYMONDHAM

ATTLEBOROUGH

THETFORD

WATTON

A47

A47

A47

A11

A11

DEREHAM

RAIL LINKS

RAILWAY STATION

AIRPORT

Wymondham College is close to major roadsand rail routes. Norwich International Airportoffers connections via Paris or Amsterdam to afull range of international destinations. LondonStansted Airport, with low cost direct flights tolocations across the UK and Europe, is easilyaccessible by road or rail.

A11

A11To T

hetford

(19Mile

s)

GolfLinks

Road

B1172 ToWymondham

(4miles)

A11To N

orwich (

14Miles)

To Attleb

orough

(3 Miles)

Wymondham CollegeWymondhamNorfolk NR18 9SZ

+44 (0)1953 609000

[email protected]

www.wymondhamcollege.org

Wymondham College | Home Page

Documents

Transcript of Wymondham College | Home Page