Bishop Justus Prospectus 2013/14

Bishop Justus Church of England School

THROUGH FAITH & LEARNING

PROSPE CT U S

Bishop Justus Church of England School

THROUGH FAITH & LEARNING

Welcome Bishop Justus is caring, challenging and high achieving.

Our learning community combines the most exciting and positive elements of the comprehensive system with the strong ethos and beliefs of a Christian school. As a church school we keep our Christian values at the heart of everything we do. Our distinct ethos enables us to create a popular, thriving and highly successful environment that produces excellent outcomes in terms of academic success and attitudes to learning. A place where well behaved and respectful students take pride in their school and care for one another. We work in partnership with parents to achieve this shared ambition for our students.

The curriculum is well structured and innovative. It is enriched by our extra-curricular programme with opportunities for learning outside of the normal curriculum, enabling further growth and development as we encourage our young people to take their place in the world as global citizens.

Our aim is to develop each young person’s potential to the full and we expect all students to do their very best to achieve this. We are privileged to learn and work in a state-of-the-art building that provides first class facilities in all areas. Our students are happy and enjoy being part of the Bishop Justus community.

I am immensely proud of what we continue to achieve as a school. I hope this prospectus captures something of the essence of the school in a few words and images, and begins to show you a school that is caring, academically rigorous and highly successful.

I am delighted to welcome you to see for yourselves what Bishop Justus has to offer.

Kathy Griffiths – Headteacher

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The school does not stand still and is uncompromising in its approach to improving outcomes for all students.

Ofsted

Bishop Justus Church of England School

THROUGH FAITH & LEARNING

INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY Our Christian community, in which every individual is valued and feels safe to grow, makes our school a very popular choice.

We want our young people to think for themselves and to have a natural interest in the world around them. This is reflected in both the curriculum and extra-curricular activities where they learn skills for successful participation in the wider world such as debating and public speaking. ‘Philosophy for Children’ helps to develop enquiring minds, critical thinking and the ability to reason.

Through these experiences students grow to understand the world around them and their own place in it. This is also seen in our stimulating trips and dedicated ‘impact days’ which allow students to work with community groups and local businesses to explore what it means to be succesful citizens in the twenty-first century.

Every young person is encouraged to respect others and to care for the environment in which we all work. Student progress is tracked carefully and high quality tutoring within a personal development programme helps students and parents to make the most of the opportunities the school has to offer.

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Bishop Justus Church of England School

THROUGH FAITH & LEARNING

CURRICULUM The curriculum encompasses all activities which promote positive development and well-being. Personalised information, advice and guidance help students to make effective decisions about their own learning whilst our curriculum pathways successfully offer an appropriate range of qualification and progression routes.

Creative subjects identify emerging aptitude and develop existing talent. State of the art facilities in art, media and music include media suites, photographic and video equipment, spacious practical spaces, recording studios and practice rooms. Music students of all abilities have access to a wide range of instruments and a ‘Musical Futures’ curriculum which enables them to make and enjoy music. We have many extra-curricular activities which reflect diverse musical traditions often supported by staff from other disciplines who make music themselves. Additionally, dance and drama are taught within the curriculum as well as through extra-curricular provision.

There are regular opportunities to attend live theatre and concerts.

Sport is vital to a healthy lifestyle and the opportunities it offers for leadership significantly contribute to the personal development of students. Physical education is an important part of the curriculum in school, out of school and as an extra-curricular activity. Our sports teams are achieving ever increasing success whilst individuals are encouraged to pursue their own chosen disciplines to the highest of standards. As well as enjoying exceptional facilities for competition, our young sportsmen and women can choose to follow the Sports Leader Awards with affiliated coaching qualifications.

A universal strength of teaching across departments is the strong subject knowledge and enthusiasm of teachers.

Ofsted

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Bishop Justus Church of England School

THROUGH FAITH & LEARNING

LEARNING Students at Bishop Justus expect to achieve well in an environment that focuses on everyone making excellent progress.

Staff work alongside students to challenge, nurture and support. The school maximises the potential for academic success through recognising and responding to learning styles, providing additional support to those who need it and challenging the more able. With the help of tutors and mentors, students take responsibility for their own learning by organising their own work and setting appropriate personal targets.

Our child-centred environment is both purposeful and productive; it develops enquiring minds, emotional intelligence and social skills.

Students are helped to recognise transferable skills between subjects and use these to enhance their learning.

Our curriculum pathways signpost students through education from eleven to eighteen years of age supported by a range of traditional, vocational and additional programmes of study.

We are proud of the enviable learning environment we are able to offer including a stimulating Learning Resource Centre; outstanding media, music and ICT facilities; fully equipped science laboratories; terraced art studios; industry-standard design technology workshops; first class sports facilities including all weather facilities and extensive playing fields; and wetland areas.

There is an unrelenting drive and passion to deliver the school’s vision‌ every child an achiever irrespective of their starting point.

Ofsted

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Bishop Justus Church of England School

THROUGH FAITH & LEARNING

COLLABORATION The school takes a leading role in a growing range of community initiatives. Interactions between our students and other members of the community bring further depth and experience to their learning.

Through positive relations with an expanding network of local projects, primary schools, churches and businesses, we benefit from the rich and varied experiences of others. As guest speakers and community leaders address social, spiritual and moral issues, our students show considerable empathy with those experiencing difficulties by readily engaging in charitable activities. All form groups are represented on the student council which significantly contributes to the ongoing development of the school.

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Bishop Justus Church of England School

THROUGH FAITH & LEARNING

LEADERSHIP At Bishop Justus outstanding leaders drive improvement and embed ambition. All students take responsibility for their own learning and everyone has the opportunity to be a leader.

Students are encouraged to recognise and develop their own leadership skills as they move through the school.

There are opportunities to provide peer mentoring to others, work alongside teachers to develop teaching and learning, and contribute to the development of the school through the prefect system. Leadership stretches beyond the confines of the classroom through activities such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, or the mentoring of younger learners in local primary schools.

Strong student role models and ongoing training contribute to our leadership aspirations. Pride in the school uniform is led by our older sixth form students who wear smart business dress and demonstrate an exceptional work ethic in pursuit of the highest academic standards.

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FUTURES Learning at Bishop Justus is both intellectually stimulating and highly relevant to the world of work embracing enterprise activities, work experience and visiting speakers. Individual mentoring and group presentations from local business people are both practical and aspirational, engaging our young people in meaningful dialogue about their future progression.

The school embraces opportunities to enhance the curriculum to meet the needs of all our young people. Students are well prepared for life beyond school through high quality advice, guidance and support. They understand the conditions needed to succeed on their chosen future pathway in education, training or employment.

The vast majority of students move into our very popular sixth form which provides excellent progression routes for our learners. Careers guidance, work shadowing and business partnerships are fully integrated within our provision.

Our school alumni contribute to long-lasting success and enables us to raise aspirations through continued engagement.

On leaving our students progress to some of the very best universities in the country.

Bishop Justus Church of England School

THROUGH FAITH & LEARNING

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Bishop Justus Church of England School

THROUGH FAITH & LEARNING

Magpie Hall Lane Bromley BR2 8HZ Tel: 020 8315 8130 Fax: 020 8315 8131 Email: admin@bishopjustus.bromley.sch.uk Website: www.bishopjustus.bromley.sch.uk

A Church of England Sponsored Academy