John Mason Prospectus

John Mason School Excellence through Creativity

“Specialism partnerships are outstanding and the quality of student’s work in Art and design is exceptional” Ofsted

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Welcome It is a privilege to be Headteacher of John Mason School. The students here are inspiring young people.

They enjoy being part of an innovative community and want to make a real difference to the lives of others.

We believe that John Mason can make a real difference to the life chances of all our students and that we can help nurture confident, active and socially responsible citizens. We are proud of our inclusive approach, which is built on the principle that a creative and personalised education is an entitlement for each student. We strive for excellence in every aspect of our work.

Achievement is at the heart of our philosophy on education. We encourage creativity, risk taking, personal and physical development, individuality and spirited, enquiring minds within a setting of traditional values.

Our dedicated staff aim to raise aspirations, to challenge and inspire students and provide the care and support they need to achieve their goals. We work hard to provide an extensive range of enriching experiences for the students, as learning outside the classroom is very much valued and encouraged.

Come and see for yourselves what we have to offer. Speak to our students and staff. They will be only too happy to tell you how rewarding it is to be part of the John Mason learning community.

I look forward to working with you.

Di Mashiter – Headteacher

We are a friendly, caring, inclusive community

Learning & achievement‌ We prioritise the progress of each student at John Mason School and are committed to ensuring that all students, regardless of their starting points, achieve the very best outcomes possible.

We recognise and celebrate success in all areas. Our aim is to enable students to value, enjoy and be excited by learning, taking responsibility for their own education.

02 ... through creativity At John Mason School we are inspiring learners through creativity.

Our belief is that where students have the chance to share their thinking, reflect critically on what they are doing and develop their analytical skills, the quality of their work soars.

We are extremely proud of our Visual and Performing Arts status and its impact on achievement across the school. As well as our excellent ‘06 Gallery, ICT in every classroom and innovative links with our community, becoming a specialist school has allowed us to put creativity at the heart of learning.

Proud of our creativity

“There are lots of really fun and exciting extra-curricular activities” Year 7 student

Learning through partnership‌ The support of parents and carers helps maximise what can be achieved and so we work in close partnership and appreciate the encouragement and support offered.

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Every student has the capacity to succeed. The foundation for this success lies in understanding their individual needs. This personalised approach caters for all abilities and seeks to match our academic mentoring programme, delivered by the tutor.

Tutors, subject teachers and the leadership group mentor individuals throughout their time at John Mason School.

We help and support our students in making crucial decisions about their present and future opportunities and to build their confidence and belief in what they can achieve.

‌ & community John Mason School is at the heart of the Abingdon community, serving 22 primary schools and working with our consortium partners. When students, staff and families join our school they become part of that community and are encouraged to make a valid contribution throughout their time with us as part of the John Mason Association (JMA).

Students are given the opportunity to serve the school community as language leaders, junior sports leaders, reading buddies, supporting musicians and peer mentors.

John Mason offers regular family learning events for the local community, such as father and son cookery and art workshops open to all.

Passionate about learning; Keen to inspire

“My teacher teaches us to think outside the box�

Year 9 student

“The school has an extremely positive ethos which permeates all aspects of its work�

Ofsted

Learning through opportunity…

Diversity of opportunity is a hallmark of John Mason School.

To broaden the mind and develop self confidence, students are encouraged to participate in and take full advantage of extra curricular trips and visits on offer, including our Welsh farm. We believe that participation in the ‘extended school’ develops the individual’s ability to successfully manage the demands of adult life.

07 … & co-operation Positive partnerships with students and their parents and carers are crucial in maximising potential. We actively seek the views and opinions of these important stakeholders in our quest to achieve excellence.

Our rigorous quality assurance measures enable us to act upon the feedback we receive, which shapes our continuing development.

Students are proud to be elected to the School Council where their voice on teaching and learning and school facilities is valued.

Valuing ourselves and each other

Learning through progression John Mason School is part of the 14 – 19 Abingdon Consortium, including Abingdon and Witney College, Fitzharrys and Larkmead, which allows us to offer our students a broad and exciting range of academic and vocational qualifications.

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We are justly proud of our Sixth Form students who are an integral part of the life and learning of John Mason School. Our students work closely with their personal tutors, who guide and coach them through their studies, monitoring both their academic progress and own personal development in preparation for life in the 21st century.

Determined to be the best that we can be

“Thank you for your enthusiasm in teaching my son. He certainly loves school and is truly inspired by his teachers� Year 8 Parent

Excellence through Creativity

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John Mason School Excellence through Creativity

Wootton Road, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 1JB Telephone: 01235 524664 Fax: 01235 520711 Email: office.4126@johnmason.oxon.sch.uk

www.johnmason.oxon.sch.uk