Welcome It is our pleasure to welcome you to Stratford upon Avon School. We are a large comprehensive school with approximately 1500 students including a popular Sixth Form which enables us to meet the needs of local youngsters from the age of 11-18. We hope that this prospectus will whet your appetite and give an indication of how passionate we are about ensuring that your child is inspired, challenged and supported throughout their time with us. Each of our students at Stratford upon Avon School brings unique and differing qualities to our School Community and we seek to create an environment that allows all abilities and interests to thrive, develop and mature. Our aim is to enable students to gain the best possible qualifications, to enjoy a range of extra-curricular interests and leave us able and willing to make a positive contribution to society. Every day the world invites us to make a difference. Our job is to motivate, enthuse and engage; to create an environment where ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things. Our aim is to become one of the best schools in the country. This prospectus is designed to give you an initial taste of what it is like to be part of our community at Stratford; you are very welcome to come and visit to see for yourself. For further information you can visit our website on www.stratforduponavonschool.com, Email staff@stratfordschool.co.uk or call us on 01789 268051.
Mr N Wallace, Headteacher
Why Choose Stratford upon Avon School As the largest secondary school in South Warwickshire, we are able to offer an enviable variety of subjects, opportunities and support to our students. We operate a College system and every student will become part of one of the four Colleges when they enter the school. Students meet daily in a vertical tutor group which ensures there are no barriers between year groups and helps create a nurturing, family environment. We are a school that embraces and celebrates the uniqueness of our students, is proud of our comprehensive values and is rooted in the heart of the Stratford-upon-Avon community. We work closely with parents and business in the local community on a variety of exciting and enriching projects for the benefit of our youngsters. Students who join us open the door on a plethora of clubs, courses, trips and visits as well as access to community involvement both within school and the local area.
Extra-Curricular Opportunities Sports Clubs We have a thriving PE Department that creates access for students to a huge variety of clubs during the year these include; Football Hockey Rugby Tennis Netball Trampolining Cricket Athletics Badminton Circuit Training Rounders Golf and many more.
Performing Arts Clubs Our impressive Performing Arts department allows for all levels of interest through its clubs and shows. As well as putting on a series of musical gigs that showcase instrumental talent from across the age groups, there are also opportunities to get involved in dance and drama productions throughout the year. These range from variety performances and musicals to drama productions. The clubs available include; Dance Club Break Dance Club Drama Club Stratford Voices Drummit Art Club Portfolio Workshop Ukulele Club Performing Art Tech Club (stage management and lighting)
Instrumental Lessons We have a broad range of exciting instrumental lessons and clubs available to all students. Theses go beyond the more expected instruments to include things like Ukulele and hand drums. If you have an interest in learning any instrument that is not currently offered, please contact the Performance Coordinator as we may able to arrange for lessons. Currently Lessons are available in; Guitar (acoustic/electric/bass) Classical guitar Piano/keyboard Drums String Woodwind Brass
Trips and Visits We are also privileged to be able to offer a range of trips and visits both to supplement the curriculum and provide personal enrichment or team building experiences. We have a particular commitment to the Duke of Edinburgh Award which is open to Year 10s upwards. Below are examples of the types of trips typically available during an academic year. Alongside these, we also have an array of guest speakers and visiting workshops we organise within the school to enhance students’ learning. Ski Italy Trip
Sporting Legacy Trip to the London 2012 Olympics Site
Geography Fieldtrips to Scarborough and Church Stretton
Belgium Battlefields Trip
French Exchange Trip
Carnegie Book Award Trips
Biology Fieldtrip to Somerset
PGL Liddington Hall
Cornwall Rewards Trip
PGL Osmington Bay
London 2012 Olympics Spectator Trips
Work Related Learning Trips to RAF Cosford & Engineering Education Scheme at Birmingham Uni
World Challenge Trip to Kenya & Tanzania Duke of Edinburgh Award Expeditions Austria Trip USA – New York & Washington
Science trips to Warwick University, Institute of Physics Lecture & Particle Physics Masterclass
Numerous Theatre Trips
Rugby, Football, Athletics & Tennis Competitions / Tournaments
Government & Politics Trip to the Houses of Parliament
Participation in BBC Songs of Praise
London Tate Galleries Trip
Film Studies Cinema Trips
Race for Life at Stratford-upon-Avon School
On-site Workshops - Art, Novel Writing, Author Visits
Careers Development Education A major part of our role is assisting students to make the right choices for their future careers. To this end, we identify their particular strengths and make available independent information on all the options open to them throughout their school career. Students will be able to identify and develop the key employability skills and career development tools that will enable them to enter successfully into further study, Higher Education and the world of work. This vital work is led by our own full-time Careers Manager, supported by key staff and augmented with access to independent career professionals. Career Development Education forms part of the PSE programme from Year 7 onwards, and is embedded into other areas of the curriculum. Students receive particular guidance during the selection of their KS4 options. Senior students have guided lessons and access to independent personal discussions in order to help them carry through relevant action plans for their Post-16 pathways. Students in the Sixth Form have timetabled lessons in Career Management and Life Skills and additionally receive extensive personalised expert support for career decisions and University applications through talks, workshops, visits, workexperience and personal advice.
Community Clubs Stratford upon Avon School also acts as a hub for countless community clubs, associations and organisations. This has the added bonus that we have forged strong links with a number of clubs including Stratford Athletics Club, Stratford Hockey Club, Stratford Tennis Club, Comets Netball Club and many, many more. Community clubs run after school hours, weekends and during school holidays and broaden the opportunities available to our students even further through activities like martial arts, cookery, drama, sports and music. The school runs a Community Day in June: where visitors can easily find out more information about clubs and courses available and participate in taster sessions.
Curriculum We offer a broad and balanced curriculum at Stratford upon Avon School that is stimulating and engaging and offers personalised learning for all students. Further details are available on our website www.stratforduponavonschool.com.
Subjects at Key Stage 3 : All students study a programme of: English, Mathematics, Science, Modern Foreign Languages, Design & Technology, Geography, History, Art, Physical Education, Performing Arts, Computing Skills (ICT), Personal Development Programme and Photography.
Subjects at Key Stage 4: At KS4 students will study the core subjects of English, Maths, Science and PE. Students also study four other option subjects, selected from a range of over 20 GCSE and accredited 14-16 courses, alongside Personal and Social Education. This diversity of option choices embraces the academic and traditional along with innovative new subjects such as Computer Science, those focussed on personal and community such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award, and a range of vocational courses developed with external bodies. This enables the School to provide a variety of pathways to suit each individual student’s needs: Science, for example, is offered as either three separate subjects, double award Science and Btec Science. We believe that youngsters will be more motivated and successful studying subjects that they particularly enjoy or have a certain aptitude for. To this end, there are a number of optional subjects which students are may choose from, including: French, German, Spanish, History, Geography, Sociology, Design Technology, Food Technology, Textiles, Drama, Fine Art, Dance and PE.
In the Sixth Form: We are in the privileged position of being able to offer our students’ access to Further Education within our Sixth Form. Courses available Include A and AS Level Courses and BTEC courses. There are also enrichment courses available which include Peer Mentoring, Journalism, Study Skills, Sports and Work Experience.
Entering Year 7 In order to secure a place at Stratford upon Avon School you must apply through the Local Authority admissions system before the specified date, which is published on their website www.warwickshire.gov.uk/applyforschool. You will receive a letter informing you whether you have been offered a place at Stratford upon Avon School in due course. Successful applicants will be invited to attend two transition days in school which are generally held in the last week of June. The first transition day introduces the students to the school and their tutor group. They will get the opportunity to try a number of activities and lessons as well as participate in team building exercises designed to let the students get to know one another. The second transition day involves students undertaking CAT testing. These are general tests designed to give the school information about the student’s aptitude for learning and current knowledge base. The results of the CAT testing are used to set students into appropriate teaching groups in September. These groups are examined regularly and students may be moved according to how they progress during the academic year. Parents and Guardians will be invited to an evening meeting shortly after the transition days to learn more about the school to ensure that everyone is prepared to make transition to secondary school a smooth and successful experience.
The Pastoral System Our strong pastoral system is based upon the College System. Every student is allocated to one of four Colleges which are intern divided into two with a College Leader for each half, this means there are eight College groupings for students. Pastoral issues are dealt with via the support structures within each College. Tutor Groups
Each College has approximately 8 tutor groups. These are in a vertical system which means students from every year group are represented in the tutor group. Students will be placed in a tutor group with 4 or 5 other members of that year group and will remain in that tutor group throughout his/her time at the school.
College Team
This comprises your Tutor, the Head of College, and College Administrator and many associated staff members including, learning mentors and a student counsellor. This team is dedicated to the personal wellbeing and academic achievement of the students in their care and along with the Form Tutor will help to ensure that each student is mentored and their progress is tracked through their time at the school.
Student Services
Student Services help students make the most of their time at Stratford upon Avon School. They provide ‘student support’ in terms of information, advice, guidance, wellbeing and supply essential sales to enable the students to be ready practically and sometimes emotionally, so they can attain and enjoy their school day.
Attendance Officer
Please call the attendance line on 01789 209296 if your child is unable to attend school. The Attendance officer will deal with any problems or queries regarding your child’s attendance and will keep a track of their attendance throughout the year.
Uniform – Years 7 to 11 Our students are expected to be excellent ambassadors for the school both in behaviour and in appearance. Students are expected at all times to wear full school uniform. Personal appearance impacts both on the mind set of an individual and the perceptions of everyone they come into contact with. We look forward to working closely with you to ensure that our students present themselves in the best possible light. Any student not appropriately dressed may be isolated and/or provided with items of uniform for the day from the school supplies, in addition to further sanctions. Full details of our uniform are available on our website www.stratforduponavonschool.com a copy of which will be issued to new students in the information packs issued.
Our Facilities We have an extensive range of amenities which enhance the learning of students. These include ICT and significant science resources. Our sporting infrastructure is the best in the area and comprises an indoor sports hall and gym as well as a fitness suite and classrooms. Outside we have a games field, floodlit all weather pitch, tennis courts and a four hundred meter all weather athletics track complete with throwing cage, long jump and high jump areas. We have three fully equipped catering classrooms and a large technology department with a range of modern equipment. Our Performing Arts facilities are also extensive and were recently added to. We now have two drama rooms complete with AV, a dance studio and changing rooms, we also have two dedicated music rooms complete with a variety of instruments. We have an extremely large main hall which divides into two when necessary and enables us to have large social area during lunchtimes. We also have a large Learning Resource Centre (LRC) which includes a Sixth Form mezzanine study area. The Sixth Form also have their own block complete with common room, including a staffed cafĂŠ, and outside area. All our classrooms are fully equipped with all resources required, including interactive whiteboards.
Food at Stratford upon Avon School The catering at Stratford upon Avon School is all done on site by a qualified Head Chef and team. The food is sourced locally wherever possible and we pride ourselves on the quality of our provision. The canteen, known as ‘The Full Stop’ is open in the mornings for breakfast, at break time, lunchtime and after school. The menu below is an example as the menu is changed weekly. Details of the menu for the weeks ahead are available in the newsletter and on our website.
Quotes from our Students
"There are so many opportunities to try different sports. Rounders, Trampolining, dance and football to name just a few."
"The food in the canteen is amazing."
"My favourite place in school is the LRC. You can chat to friends, play cards and there are 1000s of books to suit everybody."
"I know that if I put in the effort my school will help me achieve anything I want to."
“I have learned so many skills in a fun way! I have even studied Chaucer and Shakespeare and Tennyson”
“I like Science because you learn to understand the world around you by finding out how things work”
“Throughout my time at Sixth form I received a huge amount of support from Staff and also other students in the Sixth form. The support ranged from being advised on personal statements, help with coursework and revision to just having somebody to talk to if you were stressed about exams or was worried about what to do after sixth form”
Admissions
Year 7 entry is 290 pupils. For children living in Warwickshire the closing date for applications for a September 2015 admission is 31st October 2014. This date is issued by the Local Authority. You can apply online from 1st July 2014 onwards at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/admissions For further information please contact school admissions on 01926 742037 / 742047. Please note that Warwickshire County Council continues to provide an Admissions Service for the school post academy-conversion. Entry into other years depends on numbers in that year at time of application. Please contact the school in the first instance. Sixth Form Entry closes early January 2015.
Admission Criteria - From September 2014, the admission criteria are, in order of priority: 1. Children in the care of, or provided with accommodation by, a local authority (under Section 22 of the Children Act 1989) and children who were looked after, but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or became subject to a residence order or special guardianship order). 2. Children living in the priority area who will have a brother or sister at the school at the time of admission. 3. Other students living in the priority area. 4. Children of staff employed at the school for two or more years at the time the application is made, or those recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skills shortage. 5. Children living outside the priority area who will have a brother or sister at the school at the time of admission. 6. Other children living outside the priority area. Note: Children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs that names a school will be admitted. In this event the number of places that remain for allocation will be reduced. Within these criteria, first priority is given in order of distance between the child’s home and the school (shortest distance = highest priority). Distance will be calculated by the straight line measurement from the address point location coordinate of the applicant’s home address (as set by Ordnance Survey) to the centre point (‘centroid’) of the preferred school. All measurements are subject to re-positional accuracy changes.
SEN And Disability Provision Information
Arrangements for the admission of pupils with disabilities: For students transferring from primary schools, specialist Pastoral staff and the Learning Support Co-ordinator meet with the relevant primary staff to discuss how the needs of individual students with disabilities have been met in the school environment, and assess any anticipated difficulties. Students and their parents are met in school and a visit or series of visits are arranged for the students during the summer term prior to Year 7. For students transferring at stages other than at the start of year 7, visits to school with parents to meet appropriate staff, including learning support staff, are arranged. Students’ needs and how they will be met are discussed and the students are given the opportunity to meet other students and spend some time getting to know the school as appropriate.
Details of steps to prevent disabled students being treated less favourably than other students: Stratford-upon-Avon School prides itself on being an inclusive school. Students with disabilities thrive and take an active part in all aspects of school life: they represent the school through sporting and community involvement; they achieve well academically; their achievements are recognised and celebrated through our awards evenings; they attend a range of extra-curricular activities and residential visits and establish friendships which extend beyond the school.
Details of existing facilities to assist access to the school by students with disabilities: Stratford-upon-Avon School’s buildings are only a few years old and were designed and built to facilitate full access. There are three lifts, access at the ground is level, and there is a full range of escape chairs for use by wheelchair users and anyone with limited mobility.
The accessibility plan (required under the Equality Act 2010) covering future policies for increasing access to the school by students with disabilities: The accessibility plan is an organic document, which describes measures to ensure that all students with a disability have access to the full curriculum and range of activities. Further details of this and the school’s Disability Equality Statement and Plan are available from Mr Mellor, Deputy Head.
Information about the implementation of the governing body’s policy on students with special educational needs and any changes to the policy during the last year: The governing body’s policy on students with special educational needs gives details of the ways in which the learning support department and the wider school acts to ensure that students’ additional needs are effectively met. The Learning Support Policy is available on the school’s website.
Contact Us Stratford upon Avon School Alcester Road Stratford upon Avon CV37 9DH
Tel: 01789 268051 Fax: 01789 261919 Email: staff@stratfordschool.co.uk Website www.stratforduponavonschool.com
Student Absence Line 01789 209296
www.stratforduponavonschool.com