2016-17
Rastrick
High School & Sixth Form
“When I started in Year 7, I was both nervous and excited because I wasn’t from a nearby primary school in the area. I settled in really quickly because I made lots of new friends and we helped each other learn the ropes of Secondary School.” Year 7 Student, September 2015
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Welcome We have a vision at RHS; our vision statement is chase perfection, catch excellence – this statement symbolises our belief that every day at school is an important stepping stone in our learning journey. Rastrick High School focuses on students making progress and rewards students for not just the progress they make, but the effort they have put into getting there. Our students are some of the top performing learners in the country; our 2015 GCSE results placed us as one of the top comprehensive schools in the local authority and one of the top twenty schools in the region. We believe that every student can be successful. We will support every child in becoming more confident in themselves and more open to new experiences and challenges; not just through their formal lessons, but also through their tutorials, assemblies and focus days enhanced by the wide range of school enrichment activities they will have the opportunity to experience at Rastrick High School. This prospectus, along with the transition events and open evening, may well answer all of your questions about our school, but if you still have questions to ask, then please do get in touch with us through phone, email or better still, arrange to come in and see us. We will be happy to meet with you, give you a guided tour of the school ‘in action’ and in turn, to answer all your questions or queries. Rastrick High School is a supportive, friendly, yet challenging and competitive environment. We have limitless aspirations and high targets for our students, based on an ethos which demands the very best efforts and expectations from everyone in our organisation. Rastrick High School is on an exciting journey, I would like you to be part of it. Best wishes Steve Evans Headteacher
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Rastrick High School & Sixth Form
Transition, be part of our team! “My first year at Rastrick has been great and I have made so many new friends. All of my teachers make my lessons fun and educational.” Year 7 Student, September 2015
Our successful transition events ensure students feel confident and part of the Rastrick team when they begin with us in Year 7. Varying events take place for a range of Year 6 students, both in their own primary schools and at Rastrick High School, some of which are led by our own student leaders, ensuring primary students understand and begin to learn the high expectations we place on our own students. The aim of transition is to ensure students feel comfortable with the environment and are not overawed by the size of the school when they start with us in September. These events help students to get to know key staff and begin to make friends, so that when they begin in September, their natural anxieties are at a minimum and they are therefore ready to learn and succeed.
How will we help make you part of the Rastrick team? We believe that ‘together we are stronger’ and recognise that by supporting each other as a school community we can all play a vital role in helping each other to achieve our goals. We recognise that a large part of a student’s experiences will be shaped by their Year group. As part of this Year group, they will be given personalised support and bespoke learning experiences in their Form Group tutorials, through assemblies and in the many enrichment activities they will have the opportunity to take part in. Each Year group is led by an Achievement Leader and an Achievement Manager, whose roles are to monitor your child’s welfare and academic progress and also offer guidance and support where and when you or your child needs it. Each Form group is led by a Form Tutor who plays an important day to day role in ensuring the Form group are organised, happy and ready for the challenges of the day.
Teaching and Learning At Rastrick High School, we put learning first. Our teachers work extremely hard to ensure lessons are challenging, inspirational and enjoyable; they are experts in their subjects and have high expectations of all students. They are supported by a team of staff, teaching assistants, administrators, technicians and laboratory assistants, all of whom are working towards ensuring that teaching and learning is at the heart of our school. We believe that high aspirations, where all students are challenged, is a vital factor in them being successful. Our relentless pursuit of excellence is achieved through a supportive learning environment where we encourage all students to achieve their challenging targets in all of the subjects they study. All lessons include a range of activities including group work, debate,
research and enquiry so that students experience a variety of learning styles. We pride ourselves on the quality of support and individual feedback we give to students to allow them to reach their goals. The communication of these goals and the progress students are making towards them is an important part of our relationship with both our students and parents and to this end we report to parents five times a year, highlighting individual student achievement, attitude to learning and attendance. A recent survey completed by over 100 students in Years 7 to 12 has shown that over 90% agree they feel challenged in lessons and over 90% feel able to achieve their target grades.
Education 11-18 Chase Perfection
Catch Excellence
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Our Curriculum We deliver a high quality and diverse curriculum through outstanding teaching and learning.
Broad range of subjects & Pathways
Across our school and Sixth Form we offer a broad range of subjects and pathways along with an excellent range of enrichment activities that aim to produce well rounded, confident young people who are equipped to face the future. Beyond our core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science we offer a variety of subjects that encompasses the Arts, Humanities, Modern Languages, Sports and Technology.
The school is well equipped for learning in the 21st century. We have large classrooms and the latest technology to enable the very best learning experiences. The school has superb ICT, Design Technology and Music facilities, as well as an Astroturf sports field, Mathematics and English Centres and newly developed social spaces for students to use at break and lunchtimes.
Aspirations and Expectations At Rastrick High School we strive to ensure that all our students are taught to develop a desire and enthusiasm for learning. We endeavor to support all of our student’s aspirations and as a school we expect that all members of our community are passionate in helping each other to reach their goals. We pride ourselves on providing a calm and focused climate for learning. This is built on the key values of respect and responsibility and also on the belief that everyone at the school has the right to learn in a calm and safe environment. The school supports and celebrates our students’ successes through the schools
rewards system which is based on the key principle that we reward all students who make progress and contribute to the school community. Our school community is an essential part of raising our children’s aspirations; the role parents play is integral and as such, we ensure we have an open dialogue with parents around key issues in school, such as IAG (Information, Advice and Guidance), academic attainment, academic progress, attendance and the wellbeing and happiness of our students.
Supporting your child Inclusion is integral to life at Rastrick High School. There isn’t a one size fits all approach; students’ needs are discussed and reviewed with parents and professionals on an individual and regular basis and a programme of support is implemented.
Students with specific needs Our excellent SEN team will support students in mainstream lessons and also offer additional support such as literacy groups, mentoring and enrichment activities. A recent student survey shows that students who require extra teaching needs agree they receive the extra help they require.
The Pastoral Support Structure within the school supports students as individuals as they progress through school and ensures that children who have other additional needs, or who may be vulnerable, receive the support they need. We have excellent links with external agencies and the team work closely with members of staff, parents and students to ensure every child’s needs are met. Again the emphasis is on a bespoke system, which ensures we are inclusive through every aspect of the school day.
Enrichment The culture of enrichment beyond the formal curriculum aims to broaden horizons for students and is integrated into all aspects of school life. A considerable emphasis is placed on community links, charity work and the development of student leadership. This has included raising funds for Children in Need, Comic Relief and Oxfam and more local charities including Overgate Hospice. The school competes in a wide variety of external competitions, receiving National Awards for the O2 Go4SET initiative and Sky Sports Literacy Project. We have close links with the National Citizenship Service, an accredited volunteering charity which connect young people with volunteering opportunities.
Our school has a long and successful tradition of involvement in: Sport, Music, Drama, Dance, Outdoor Activities and the Arts at a local, regional and national level. The Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme is open for students from Year 9 upwards and there is an opportunity for all Year 7 students to take part in a residential outdoor adventure experience. There are many excellent societies and clubs which include: Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) club, Creative Writing, choirs, chess club,
concerts bands, drama productions, a debating society, Geography society, football, netball, table tennis, fitness, rugby, judo, mountain biking, film making group, fashion, textiles and professional cookery to name but a few. The school’s most recent trips to all over the world have included: Design & Technology trip to New York, skiing in Austria and Italy, History trip to France & Belgium, Modern Languages trip to Finland, Spain & France and a Physics trip to Switzerland.
Admissions to Rastrick High School – September 2017 The Published Admissions Limit (PAL) for Year 7 students at Rastrick High School is 300. Where applications for admission exceed the number of places available, the school will follow the Calderdale Authority admissions criteria to decide which children to admit. Details of this can be found on both the school and Calderdale Council websites under Admissions.
Important Dates Wednesday 12 October 2016 Open Evening Friday 14 October 2016 4pm deadline for music criterion application forms submitted directly to Rastrick High School Monday 17 October 2016 Parent/carers to be informed of audition date and time Thursday 20 October 2016 Auditions to take place and will be carried out with an independent adjudicator
Admissions info:
Friday 21 October 2016 Parent/carers to be informed of the outcome of the audition
Talented Musician Development Programme There is a further admissions opportunity for entry into Year 7 if your child has a talent in Music or Voice. Our programme offers up to sixteen admissions annually to students who have musical potential and can show evidence of skill, potential, passion and commitment to playing a musical instrument or to singing. They will receive: • a peer mentor who will act as a positive role model and will support your child and assist with skill development and help expand musical understanding • help in extending their skills through the opportunity to study a second instrument
• opportunity to develop skills for lifelong learning. This enhances the high quality academic provision offered to all students which includes: • access to lessons by a specialist team of instrumental staff • enrichment theory classes to develop theoretical knowledge • enrichment aural classes to develop musicianship • a wide range of enrichment ensembles • the opportunity to develop vocal skills
Monday 31 October 2016 Deadline for application to be made to Local Authority
• regular performance opportunities • the opportunity to become a peer mentor to a less experienced student. How do I apply? Application forms and further information may be found on the Rastrick High School website www.rastrick.calderdale.sch.uk under Admissions. Alternatively, contact the Headteacher’s PA sally.mason@rastrick.calderdale.sch.uk or 01484 406372. Applicants will be invited to attend an assessment session at the school where their musical aptitude will be assessed.
Every child deserves the best start in life and we will build the foundations for children to grow. We believe that children learn best through a balance of well-planned purposeful play, taking every child’s individual needs into consideration. We will provide an enabling environment where children are able to form positive relationships and develop lifelong skills.
A perfect start to your child’s educational journey! • Ages 0-4 years • Prices from £35 a day • Term time only rates also available • Childcare vouchers accepted • 15 hours free nursery provision for 2, 3 & 4 year olds We are now accepting applications for places. You can register your interest or send an enquiry to smarties@rastrick.calderdale.sch.uk or phone 01484 728050. Smarties at Rastrick High School Field Top Road, Rastrick, Brighouse, West Yorkshire HD6 3XB
www.smartiesnursery.rastrick.org
Smarties Nursery at Rastrick High School
Rastrick
High School & Sixth Form
Field Top Road Rastrick, Brighouse West Yorkshire HD6 3XB t: 01484 710235 f: 01484 720043 e: rhs@rastrick.calderdale.sch.uk t @RastrickHigh w: www.rastrick.calderdale.sch.uk
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Rastrick High School Academy Trust, a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales with company number 7737429. Registered Office: Rastrick High School, Field Top Road, Rastrick, Brighouse, West Yorkshire, HD6 3XB.
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