Caterham Getting the best from every student
High School
A Dynamic Education Welcome to Caterham High School, where we ensure our young people realise their aspirations and achieve their goals. As a community school for students aged 11 to 18, we are committed to discovering and nurturing the abilities of every child. Setting the highest expectations in terms of learning and behaviour, we are justifiably proud of the academic achievements of our students. Most of our students join our thriving sixth form, with many progressing onto university. We also recognise children’s abilities in other areas, so we provide a wealth of opportunities and courses that allow every student to develop and showcase his or her unique talents.
The school promotes a ‘can do’ culture in which everyone is encouraged to strive for excellence. Our progressive curriculum places great emphasis on building skills that prepare students for a successful career and a fulfilling life. Using our strengths in Sport and the Arts, we focus not only on acquiring knowledge but, also on developing qualities and skills that are valued in the workplace and the community. We uphold the traditional values of respect and tolerance, resulting in harmony in our multicultural community, where the contribution of every individual is valued. With just six forms in each year, we know all the children really well. We work closely with parents and carers to ensure that students are fully supported and make good progress to a high standard. I warmly invite you to visit the school to experience for yourself its positive atmosphere and the outstanding opportunities it offers students. Belinda Chapple Headteacher
Caterham High School
Success for Everyone We are dedicated to ensuring that all students have the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Based on a progressive and inclusive curriculum, our teaching is innovative and challenging in both content and delivery. Students achieve most when they enjoy their learning, so we encourage active participation in the classroom and the involvement of parents and carers at home. Proactive setting of targets and monitoring of achievement ensure that all students make the best possible progress, and we encourage them to take increasing responsibility for their own improvement. Setting in some core subjects allows students to work at the optimum pace. More able students are provided with additional challenges to ensure they fulfil their potential. Those needing support in their learning receive targeted help, both within and outside of the classroom from one of our team of Support Assistants who cater for students with learning
Caterham High School
difficulties and those for whom English is an additional language. Through high standards of teaching, thorough preparation and extracurricular revision, our dedicated staff help students to maximise their potential in examinations, with success celebrated in our special results ceremonies. Caterham High School also offers provision for the whole borough for students with hearing impairment. We employ several specialist Teachers of the Deaf, who are trained in signing and use radio link amplification equipment to support students with their learning. Our experienced Support Assistants provide one-to-one assistance in the classroom and in small groups within acoustically treated rooms to ensure that hearing-impaired students have full access to the curriculum and achieve well.
“ Teachers are positive and excited to teach us and lessons are engaging and fun - but also helpful.� Year 8 student
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Skills for the 21st Century We focus on developing career and life skills that will enable students to make the most of future opportunities.
“ …an expanding and responsive curriculum is enhancing choice and opportunity for students in Key Stage 4 and the sixth form.” Ofsted
With interactive whiteboards and computers used throughout the school, ICT is used to bring the curriculum to life and to stimulate and engage students in their learning. Additionally, our VLE –Virtual Learning Environment – also helps to develop independent study skills. Various vocational courses on offer at both Key Stages 4 and 5 enable students to gain qualifications that boost their employment prospects. To build their life skills, our young people benefit from Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education (PSHCE). Delivered by specialist teachers, this programme helps students to develop the decision-making ability and self-confidence to make positive life choices. Students and families receive comprehensive support in their Key Stage 4 pathways and careers decisions. Connexions advisers visit the school regularly to provide one-to-one help,
teaching staff offer sound advice and the annual Opportunities Day gives Year 9 students the chance to talk to organisations about a variety of careers. Most students stay on to take advantage of the fantastic opportunities offered by our sixth form, which attracts young people from a number of local schools. Sixth formers benefit from purpose-built accommodation, highly qualified teachers and a wide choice of academic and vocational courses at A and AS Level, as well as a range of BTEC National courses. We have a rich performance of events to support sixth form students to make choices about their next steps, including our own University Day, when several universities come in to talk to students. We are proud of our exceptionally high success rate in university applications.
Caterham High School
Enriching Opportunities Students benefit from our exceptionally strong provision in Sport and the Arts, plus a wealth of extra-curricular activities. Our House System helps to engender a team spirit, encourage competition and recognise individual student achievement in its widest sense. As a Specialist Sport College, we not only strive for excellence in sporting performance but also employ it effectively to develop motivation, perseverance and integrity – characteristics that underpin academic success in the wider context and are highly prized in the workplace. Physical activity also fosters teamwork, a sense of belonging and healthy lifestyles, all of which help students to thrive in their learning. Our superb facilities include a floodlit Astroturf, multipurpose sports hall, 20-metre heated swimming pool, 30-station fitness suite, dance studio and dedicated PE ICT suite. Our students have achieved notable success in competitions at borough, county and national levels, in a wide range of sports.
Caterham High School
We are proud to have achieved Arts Council England’s prestigious Artsmark Gold Award, in recognition of our Art, Music, Drama, Dance and Media Studies provision. There are many opportunities for students to showcase their talents, including dramatic performances and concerts by our choirs, orchestra, string ensemble and wind band. In addition, specialist music teachers offer private tuition in a variety of instruments.
Students participate in a broad range of after-school and lunchtime activities – from gymnastics to African drumming – as well as revision clubs. Other activities include charity fundraising events, outdoor pursuits, field trips, university visits and foreign expeditions, with students also inspired by visiting speakers from a variety of business and voluntary organisations. Our Sports Day is always a spectacular event that embraces the whole school. Each form represents a country, mirroring the Olympics, and they participate in the traditional competitive events as well as more modern sports. The event culminates in an impressive closing ceremony that awards and celebrates teamwork, effort and achievement.
“ The impressive range of enrichment activities makes a strong contribution to promoting students’ health and fitness.” Ofsted
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A Positive Place to Learn
Exceptional pastoral care supports our students’ personal development, builds their self-esteem and underpins their progress.
“ Care, guidance and support are a strong feature of the school’s work and, in this atmosphere, students feel confident that they are safe.” Ofsted
Caterham High School
Committed to maintaining a safe and positive environment that is conducive to learning, we foster an ethos that values respect, tolerance and co-operation. With a robust system of rewards and sanctions to support this, the school is characterised by a calm atmosphere and excellent relationships between students and staff. Pastoral support begins during transition, when we visit our feeder primary schools and welcome Year 6 pupils to Taster Days. Once they join the school, their Year Leader – supported by a non-teaching Pastoral Support Assistant – is responsible for their progress and wellbeing, with their Tutor providing daily support. Sixth formers also provide some one-to-one mentoring for students in lower years. As Year Leaders and Tutors remain with students throughout their school career, they get to know them really well and provide a clear point of contact for parents. Students and their families can also seek help from our Pastoral Team and Medical Welfare Assistant. The well-being of students is important to us so we also have a trained counsellor.
Recognising that parents play a key role in achievement, we aim to work in partnership with families. Parents and carers receive three progress reports each year and have the opportunity to discuss their child’s progress at Academic Review Days and Parents’ Evenings. We listen to the views of parents and students, with our School Council playing an active role in the life of the school. As well as our focus on physical activity, we provide freshly cooked, nutritious food for lunch – and at our Breakfast Club – and are proud to have received the National Healthy Schools Award.
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By Underground • The nearest station is Gants Hill, which is on the Central Line. By Bus from Gants Hill Station • The 128 bus route stops at ‘The Unicorn’, and the 169 terminates at ‘The Glade’ close by the school. For further information on train times and fares, please call the National Railway Enquiry Line 08457 48 49 50, or Transport for London on 020 7222 1234, or visit www.tfl.gov.uk
Caterham High School
Caterham Avenue, Clayhall, Ilford, Essex IG5 0QW Tel: 020 8551 4321 Fax: 020 8551 1933 welcome@caterham.redbridge.sch.uk
www.caterham.redbridge.sch.uk
Visits to the school are warmly welcomed. Please contact r.bergin@ecaterham.net if you wish to visit us during the school day.
PRODUCED BY BUSINESS MAPS LDT FROM DIGITAL DATA – © BARTHOLOMEW (2004)
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From M25 • Leave the M25 at junction 27 and join the M11 towards Central London. • Continue on the M11 to its terminus and bear right on the slip road to join the A406 North Circular Road. • Take the next slip road exit and at the roundabout take the second exit onto the A1400 Southend Road. • Take the fifth turning on the left into Caterham Avenue and the first left into Heathcote Avenue. • Caterham High School is situated on the left hand side.