Introduction from the Headteacher
“An outstanding school with a culture of high expectations. The school is rightly proud of its specialist status and of the creative opportunities available to students. As a result, students achieve outstandingly well, are happy at school and leave very well prepared for the future.” Ofsted 2007/2008
Here at Stoke Newington School & Sixth Form we pride ourselves in providing our students with excellent creative teaching and learning opportunities within the curriculum and through our programme of extra-curricular activities.
We want all of our students to enjoy their education, do well academically, develop their love of learning and develop personally and socially as
active citizens in our community. The fact that so many choose to stay on into our Sixth Form and take the qualifications they need to get into the universities of their choice, is proof of our success.
We are an inclusive school, catering for students of all abilities and we aim to ensure every child makes excellent progress. From some of the most gifted and talented in the borough who go on to attain many A and A* grades at GCSE and A Level to students with specific learning needs, we are able to offer extension opportunities or targeted support to ensure that they each achieve to the best of their ability.
Our ‘out of hours’ programme complements the curriculum, providing extra support and extension opportunities for students. It is not all about academic study – the programme involves a wide range of arts and leisure clubs and activities, and we encourage all of our students to take part. Some lead to accreditation and they all build confidence and help our students’ personal growth.
I am immensely proud of our students. We host many visits from educationalists based in the UK and abroad and, again and again, they tell us how impressed they are by our students’
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“The school’s success in creating an innovative and flexible curriculum is outstanding. Students enjoy their learning and rate their school very highly� Ofsted 2007/2008
Learning
achieving the best for everyone
Stoke Newington offers a broad and balanced curriculum which has been designed to offer every student the chance to achieve. The mix of academic and vocational qualifications, including the new 14-19 Diplomas, are delivered by teachers who are motivated and passionate about their subjects and hold high expectations for every student. We place great emphasis on creativity in the classroom and use creative approaches to stimulate learning, build confidence and raise attainment. We understand how different students learn, and our teachers work hard to engage students, differentiating between learning styles. The
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school is extremely well resourced with specialist teaching facilities, including over 750 computers, a professional music studio and two media suites. Students have easy access to these facilities, where they learn either individually or in small groups. By making use of appropriate resources at each key stage, we provide opportunities for progression for all students from Year 7 through to Sixth Form. We offer extension opportunities in a number of subjects for our most able students and provide a wide range of additional support for those who may struggle to access the learning. The Inclusion team employs learning support assistants and behaviour
mentors to ensure that our students succeed, by offering a wide range of support including literacy and numeracy withdrawal groups and afterschool tutoring, We are dedicated to ensuring every child makes progress. Our whole school approach to target setting and the weekly homework plan mean that students have realistic targets to meet and they know what they need to do to reach their target grade. This information is shared with parents and carers via progress checks and we aim to work with parents and carers to ensure that every child reaches their potential.
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Wellbeing looking after the whole person
Time spent in school prepares students for life in the wider world and helps them become rounded individuals. We want them to do their very best in all areas of their lives, becoming active citizens who will play a positive role in a shared future. We encourage them to be ambitious for their future learning, to think for themselves and to articulate their opinions in a positive manner. Appreciation of diversity is a core value of our school. From the classroom to the extra-curricular activities that take place, students are encouraged to participate in all areas of school life. They may represent the
school in one of the many successful school sports teams, become a Student Rep or a member of the school’s Creative Council, whilst themed weeks such as Health Week bring the whole school together. There is a high emphasis placed on praise and there are many opportunities to reward and celebrate success, from individual and tutor group merits, to performances and prize-giving in achievement assemblies.
to achieve, stay healthy, keep safe and make a positive contribution to the community. Building long term relationships with their students as they progress through the school, they are able to support and guide, encourage and help, directing them to the wide range of services available, whether it be the internal behaviour mentors, learning mentors or specialist support for learning difficulties.
The tutor and the Head of Year play an extremely important part in ensuring that our students are able
In every classroom the staff make sure that topics are relevant to life today, and our Lifeskills (PSHE)
programme together with Careers and Work Related Learning help our students find the right path on leaving the school.
“The care, guidance and support provided by the school at all levels are outstanding.� Ofsted 2007/2008
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“Students participate in a large number of creative activities; as a result, their cultural development is outstanding.� Ofsted 2007/2008
Creativity
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in the way we approach teaching of all subjects Creativity lies at the heart of everything we do. We are proud of our reputation as a creative and vibrant school and the unique opportunities that this brings to our students, staff and community. There are opportunities to learn in every situation, in any location, and we encourage our students to find and make use of them. As a High Performing Specialist School, our specialist subjects are key to whole school improvement and the development of creativity across the curriculum. Whether in the arts or sciences, teachers engage with external partners, agencies and professionals. Our staff
have great power to innovate, take risks and find new creative ways of approaching teaching and learning to engage, motivate and inspire our students with a love for learning. Our students benefit greatly from our links with organisations such as the Barbican, the BBC, and universities such as Imperial College and the University of the Arts. They take part in workshops, visit theatres, galleries, museums and places of work which provide them with new experiences and opportunities to bring their learning alive. The quality and ambition of our creative projects are recognised
nationally and, in 2008, we became one of the country’s first Creative Schools. We continue to innovate and the additional funding this has given us is helping us to deliver our ground-breaking Creative Council and Creative Manifesto. These involve students working collaboratively with teachers and practitioners to develop creativity across the school and are an exciting way for our students to contribute to their own learning.
Community
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contributing to local life
“Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.” Marian Wright Edelman, Children’s Rights Activist
Stoke Newington School works hard to support the diverse community who live, work and study in N16. We take innovative and creative approaches to promoting social cohesion through activities as diverse as an annual festival involving puppets, performance and procession across five primary schools, to the Exchange Project which works to empower local people of all ages to create networks to reduce isolation and create a safer environment for everyone. When students join the school, their parents and carers automatically become members of our community. They are invited to take a full and
active role in the school and their child’s school life. We encourage positive dialogue with the school and take an open approach to communication, publishing staff contact details and all communication channels. Our inclusion programme means that parents and carers are able to work with their child, the school, and associated agencies to meet their needs. In addition to parents’ evenings, there are Parent Support Groups for each year group and we encourage parents and carers to join the Stoke Newington Parents’ Forum, which
runs information evenings as well as social events to raise money for the school. The Extended Schools team offers a range of classes for parents and carers along with the wider community, and welcomes suggestions for new activities. Students themselves are encouraged to raise money for the Pete Brennan Memorial Trust, which helps students in need, while The Friends of Stoke Newington School was set up to support the advancement of education to young people in the local area.
Clissold Road, London N16 9EX t: 020 7241 9600 f: 020 7241 9699 email: admin@sns.hackney.sch.uk www.sns.hackney.sch.uk