Dedication, Inspiration, Opportunity
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Welcome Southgate School provides a strong, dynamic education in which students are valued as individuals within a culture of celebrating achievement. Our prospectus will give you a flavour of the established success of our school and the many ways that we maximise opportunities for our students and ensure they become independent, innovative learners.
Our state-of-the-art facilities for the Arts, Sport and IT, as well as a vibrant Sixth Form centre, are put to constant use through dynamic events – exhibitions, drama performances, a school orchestra, an ‘Oscars’ Evening for our Media students and sports events.
Southgate School is unique in that our pursuit of academic success is built upon a solid foundation of excellent and supportive teaching. We are dedicated to developing leadership and independence in each of our students – important skills that they will use and value throughout their lives. We listen to and act upon our students’ view and they play an important role in shaping decisions within the school.
Our unique Futures Programme provides students, from the day they join us, with a structured enrichment package enhanced by our solid links with top universities and established businesses. For our students’ education, the classroom is just the beginning. Martin Lavelle, Headteacher
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Academic Excellence
First and foremost we are proud of our strong academic tradition. The fact that year after year our student outcomes are significantly above national averages and that we add value to every child’s potential shows that we are a very successful school. This success is built on a relentless quest to improve what we do. It is also built on our unique blend of academic rigour combined with a determination to challenge all groups of
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learners regardless of their starting points; the background of a student should not determine their future. We aim to have a national reputation for the quality of our teaching and our innovative practice and it is this ambition, combined with care for the individual student, that helps ensure the continued success of our students.
Transition The school is separated into three phases, enabling us to tailor all aspects of our curriculum and enrichment; Transition (Years 7 and 8), Pathways (Years 9, 10 and 11) and Sixth Form (Years 12 and 13).
Our successful Transition programme work is widely recognised as being of the highest quality and a model for other schools as referenced by Ofsted. We value our partnership approach to Transition with both students and parents. Pupils settle in to school life quickly and they rapidly make excellent progress. Transition from Primary school into Secondary school is extremely important here at Southgate School. It is such a fundamental aspect of making students successful, independent and enthusiastic learners throughout their school life. The happiness of our students is of paramount importance. We pay particular attention to how students settle in and enjoy their Transition period between Years 7 and 8.
Students are inducted through a very structured process. They have their own facilities – playground, common room and separate lunchtimes at different times to older students. Students are empowered through the skills they learn in Transition to build on their success and develop their confidence. Our Sixth Form students provide leadership to our younger students through a very successful peer mentoring scheme. The curriculum offered is balanced and challenging, and is taught in a number of interactive and engaging styles underpinned by robust tracking and monitoring. We run extensive programmes for Gifted and Talented students, Study Support Sessions and Homework Clubs.
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Pathways A seamless transfer from Transition to Pathways enables our students to progress into the upper school as we recognise that this plays a key part in the future happiness and success of the students.
We pride ourselves on getting to know each student individually and developing their personalised learning through a stimulated and varied curriculum, ready to begin their GCSE studies. Planning for GCSEs begins early in Year 9 so that students and parents can make informed decisions when considering a wide range of subjects to choose from. We place particular emphasis on guidance for the future with information on Higher Education and career options to enable our students to pursue their aspirations linked to GCSE choices. Our focus on Years 10 and 11 enables students to achieve their full potential in their GCSE studies. All students in Year 10 participate in two weeks’ work experience taking their learning beyond the classroom where they can develop knowledge, life skills and prepare for the future. Academic and character education is a key part of the Southgate experience for every student. All Year 11 students receive guidance post GCSE to assist them with their future career or study at Sixth Form.
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Enrichment What sets us apart from many other schools is our strong emphasis on enrichment and educating the whole child and it is our expectation that students get involved in extra curricular activities.
We host wonderful plays and concerts with our orchestra and various bands for our own students and the wider school community, we celebrate the incredible creativity of our students through frequent Art exhibitions, the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme is an established success here and our haul of trophies from local sporting events is a real testament to our strong sporting tradition. Departments are encouraged to organise activities which include ski trips, visits to the usa and Europe. Additionally we offer a unique Southgate Futures Programme which outlines for students what they can expect in terms of their own development and possible career path, from the moment that they join us. From Year 7 onwards students will benefit from access to top universities, lessons with PHd students, a regular programme of external speakers, links with businesses and Higher Education providers.
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Southgate
Sixth Form The Sixth Form at Southgate School is an exciting place to study. We offer our students academic rigour and challenge, as well as providing them with the grounding and opportunity to be the leaders of the future.
Students have a range of choices with over twenty A Level courses on offer. Work in the Sixth Form is demanding and student achievement and attainment is high. The majority of our students progress on to Higher Education, many of which attend first class universities. We have a comprehensive programme to support their ongoing education and ensure their future study and career success. We offer a wide variety of enrichment activities, including academic visits, voluntary work, clubs and talks from guest speakers. Students can build up their enrichment hours through volunteering in the community to gain a school award. Students also have leadership opportunities to be prefects and peer mentors, supporting younger students through their studies. They have a new, dedicated study area but also have a common room area in which to socialise.
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Futures Southgate Futures Programme is a unique approach to developing our students by showing them what they can expect in terms of their own development and possible career path, from the moment that they join us until the time that they leave.
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From Year 7 onwards students will benefit from access to top universities, lessons with PHd students, a regular programme of external speakers, links with businesses and Higher Education providers. When they reach the Sixth Form students become role models for other year groups and we are able to call on our strong alumni network to share their experiences with those wishing to pursue similar career paths. Furthermore, sixth formers can take advantage of schemes that will offer volunteering opportunities close to home and abroad in such countries as Vietnam. Southgate School is about so much more than just guaranteed academic success.
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Inspirational
Students Lucy St Louis Former student Lucy trained at Laine Theatre Arts Theatre Credits include: • The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales Theatre) • Ragtime (Open Air Theatre) • Peter Pan (Venue Cymru, Llandudno and Hawth Theatre, Crawly) • Ultimate Broadway (Shanghai Culture Square Theatre) • Alan Jay Lerner Memorial (St. Paul's Church, Covent Garden) • Workshops include: Clocks: 1988 the Greener (Hackney Empire)
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Maria Kiliaris Having achieved four A’s and eight A*’s at GCSE and four A’s at A Level I started my higher education journey at Christ’s College, Cambridge to study Medicine. After completing my first three years and gaining a BA in Preclinical medical studies, I transferred to University College London to complete my clinical training. I now work at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford as a Junior Doctor. It has been the support and encouragement of my teachers at Southgate School that have helped me to achieve my full potential.
Helena Stylianou The two years I have spent in the Sixth Form has been a fantastic end to my time at Southgate School. I achieved eleven A*’s at GCSE and have subsequently achieved four A’s at AS Level. I am delighted to have received an offer to study Economics at the University of Cambridge and hope this helps me fulfil my ambition of becoming an investment banker. The unwavering support and dedication that I have received have proved invaluable in my progression into Higher Education. I will forever be thankful for my teachers who always went the extra mile for me.
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Sussex Way, Cockfosters, Herts EN4 0BL Tel: 020 8449 9583 Email: office@southgate.enfield.sch.uk www.southgate.enfield.sch.uk