ARROW VALE Prospectus
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The school always has a positive atmosphere and the teachers are always smiling.�
Headteacher’s Welcome Welcome to the prospectus for Arrow Vale Community High School, through which we aim to provide you with all of the information you will require as a parent or carer. Our ethos is very clear and simple. We expect our students to reach the highest standards through our teaching and support. We aim to help them move on to higher education or high quality employment. We aim to keep them safe and happy so that they may enjoy, learn and achieve whilst they are at our school. A harmonious ethos and outstanding relationships underpin all that we do and provide the foundation for the school’s work and success.
Tradition…
Achievement and standards at Arrow Vale are at an all time high. We are proud to be one of the most improved schools in the country over the last couple of years. However, we are never complacent and we already expect this record to be broken in each of the next two years.
In terms of uniform, behaviour and school standards we are traditional. We expect students to wear our full uniform, attend well, behave appropriately and to give their best effort. We expect them to participate in the wide range of learning experiences available in and beyond the school day.
As you will see from our prospectus, and much more should you visit us, Arrow Vale has a number of unique factors. We are a school that exists solely for the benefit of our students: with the aim that they should be successful in their education while they enjoy school and are happy.
…and Innovation
However, a prospectus can only give you a taste of Arrow Vale and you are more than welcome to come and have a look around. Just contact the school to make an appointment and we would be happy to show the school off to you!
We are committed to ensuring that we prepare each and every one of our students for a fulfilling and successful life in the fast changing twenty-first century. We are a learning community where together we aim to discover new and exciting things, aiming high to be the best that we possibly can be. We aim for our students to achieve excellence academically and also to develop fully as individuals. Staff are committed to ensuring that they ‘go the extra mile’ in order to make sure the students excel in all that they do at the school.
I look forward to meeting you. Guy Shears
Headteacher
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Lessons are great and the teachers ensure that their lessons are fun as well as educational.�
Opportunities &Progression We are proud to be able to offer a flexible and imaginative curriculum that puts students at the heart of the process. The curriculum on offer for our students allows individual learning pathways. The benefit of this approach is that it will enhance every student’s life chances by allowing them opportunities to study an appropriate curriculum best suited to them. We ensure that all students have the guidance needed to make informed option choices for Key Stage 4 and Sixth Form. In Year 9 we focus on developing the skills and knowledge required to effectively access the broad range of courses on offer in Key Stage 4. Emphasis is also placed upon developing literacy and numeracy skills so that students can access all parts of the curriculum.
through to a bespoke offer for students with specific learning needs. All pathways are designed to allow progression to higher study in the Sixth Form, and will allow all students to achieve their potential. In Sixth Form, we offer a breadth of Level 2 and 3 courses which enable progression to university, further education or apprenticeships. Our Sixth Form prospectus contains more information about life and studying at Arrow Vale post-16.
At Arrow Vale we place a high value on the social, moral, spiritual and cultural aspects of education as it is these which will help our students become young people who have an understanding of the world around Our Key Stage 4 curriculum offers a mixture of one or two year courses them and their place within it. These values are embedded within all in a variety of educational routes: from traditional GCSE routes, including parts of the curriculum and contribute to the holistic education of all of our the English Baccalaureate; to mixed ones that include vocational courses; students.
Creativity &Challenge Effective and engaging learning is our priority at Arrow Vale. Students will participate in a wide range of learning activities in and out of lessons and can expect to work independently at home as well as in school. Our aim is for all students to participate in lessons which actively engage them and provide them with all they need to achieve their best. We know that our students enjoy lessons and learn well. We also offer an extensive range of extra-curricular opportunities, including visits, trips, shows, performances and other events, and would expect all students to be involved in developing their learning in these ways. The world is constantly changing and we want our students to leave school with the skills and confidence to be successful in this world. In all lessons and our Learning 4 Life tutor programme, we work on the development of the vital TRIC skills:
Team Painting by Natalie Walker, Year 13
Reflective
Independent
Creative
Ultimately, learning at Arrow Vale is about helping everyone to achieve their potential and have happy, fulfilled futures.
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The fact that the variety of subjects challenges you makes every day at school enjoyable.”
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Having the sports facilities means that in P.E. I can access a wide variety of different activities.�
Our Specialism The Specialism aims to deliver high quality education for all, using sport and its values as a vehicle for motivation and sustainable improvement.
Our specialism means that we are given funding to use sport as a vehicle for improvement within the school and our community. It also gives us an enhanced capacity to deliver high quality educational opportunities to all of our students, in all of their subjects. It has allowed us to work with our partner schools to enhance sporting opportunities. It has also provided excellent opportunities for our students to work as Young Leaders. The Specialism has allowed teachers to share their expertise in subject areas such as Maths, which has had a positive impact on achievement. We have excellent sports facilities including a fitness suite, gym, sports hall, dance studio, outdoor table tennis facilities, sports science lab, interactive gym, astro turf and rugby field.
Support &Encouragement Supporting students has been a very important part of the success of the school over recent years and we pride ourselves on our inclusive ethos. Student Care
Learning Support
We are a happy and successful school. We place considerable importance on ensuring that we create a learning environment where students enjoy coming to school and feel excited and motivated by the many opportunities we have to offer. Students value their relationships with staff, which are centred upon care, challenge and support.
At Arrow Vale School we are passionate about inclusive education for all. The highly qualified and committed Learning Support team strives to identify and provide the best and most appropriate curriculum and emotional support to meet the individual needs of every child.
Every student has a Form Tutor and a Head of Year who know them really well. The Form Tutor is usually the first point of contact for parents. Every student also has a Year Team Leader who will regularly monitor and analyse their progress and ensure that they are achieving well. High attendance is an important part of being successful. We keep parents well informed about their child’s progress and any concerns we may have. The celebration of success happens in many ways at Arrow Vale: TRICs credits, Boast Cards, phone calls home, termly prizes, Student of the Week awards, celebration assemblies and high profile rewards events are just some of the ways we acknowledge and showcase all students’ achievements.
Teaching staff are highly qualified in meeting the needs of individual students within lessons and are supported by a committed and experienced team of classroom assistants. Additionally, the Learning Support department offers a range of support classes to address specific literacy, numeracy, curriculum, language and social and emotional needs. There is also provision to aid students with more structured support, providing extensive opportunities for our students to learn and work beyond the classroom. Students have their own allotment on site and access to the Youth House. There are daily breakfast, break and lunchtime clubs which provide a safe environment and opportunities to further develop students’ skills for life.
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Here at Arrow Vale the teachers always support you and the choices you make.�
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We are able to give our opinion on the changes that are made which makes us feel valued.�
Student Leaders One of our strengths is the value we place on listening to our students and actively involving them in decision making. • • • • • • • •
Year and School Councils Learning Forum Curriculum Forum Community and Charity Committee Sports Leaders Student ICT Technicians Prefects Mentors
Students from all years are encouraged to get involved with our student leadership groups. Each of these groups are led by our Sixth Form Senior Leaders and give students a way to have a say in our continued development. Ideas and initiatives generated by students have played an important part in Arrow Vale’s rapid improvement and many students are proud of having been involved in our journey. A significant number of our students enjoy the challenge of having specific roles with key responsibilities in areas such as P.E. and ICT support, helping staff and other students with a variety of tasks. Older students are encouraged to become prefects and contribute to the school community; this is an especially important part of life in the Sixth Form. All students in Years 12 and 13 are actively involved in supporting students lower down in the school. The personal development gained from being involved in student leadership has helped many of our students in their applications to university and employment.
Facilities &Resources We have all the resources needed to excel. Excellent sport facilities, including a fitness suite, state of the art sports lab, gym, sports hall, dance studio, outdoor table tennis facilities, astro turf and a rugby field. 10 ICT suites, with over 300 computers. The Olympus CafĂŠ, a welcoming meeting and eating area, attached to our main dining facility. 3 dedicated art rooms, with a Mac editing suite and photography dark room. A modern and spacious Sixth Form area, complete with quiet study space and IT suite. Performing Arts facilities, including 2 drama studios, a band practice area, radio room and Mac suite. An observation classroom, equipped with a viewing room and recording facilities. A theatre with full lighting, audio and video capabilities. State of the art hair and beauty salons. Learning resource centre with IT provision.
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Arrow Vale has many fantastic facilities which gives you a wider choice when deciding which subjects to take.�
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The school provides the support that is needed to ensure that we get the best from our education.�
Arrow Vale Community High School | Green Sward Lane | Matchborough West | Redditch | B98 0EN 01527 526800 | office@arrowvale.worcs.sch.uk | www.arrowvale.worcs.sch.uk For further information about the school governance and policies please refer to the school website.