Poole High School Prospectus

Poole High School Poole Dorset BH15 2BW Tel: (01202) 666988 Fax: (01202) 660674 Email: school@poolehigh.poole.sch.uk www.poolehigh.poole.sch.uk

Contents Headteacher’s welcome

page 1

Our aims page 2 Student support and guidance for learning

page 4

The learning environment

page 8

The learning experience

page 10

Business and Enterprise College

page 14

Learning beyond the classroom

page 16

Frequently asked questions

page 18

Proud to be successful

page 20

Welcome Welcome to the Poole High School prospectus. I hope that it provides you with a comprehensive introduction to our values, expectations and ways of working.

Our last Ofsted report noted “The school has an extremely positive ethos that permeates all aspects of its work”.

We agree, and do all that we can to ensure that students have the opportunity to grow into mature young adults and succeed at their studies whilst also enjoying their time here.

We place strong emphasis on good standards of behaviour and courtesy. We enjoy working with young people and preparing them to take their place as global citizens of the twenty-first century. We do not simply chase league table positions or do anything if they aren’t in the interests of our students’ progress and personal development.

We also have an excellent staff team here with a strong commitment to high quality teaching and learning, backed by high quality support for students, governors and parents.

We are known for our distinctive House system, our care and support for student learning which Ofsted rated outstanding, and a belief that a good school is about developing the whole person, within and beyond the classroom.

We are passionate about learning, about the music and the arts, about sport, and about developing in young people a sense of the excitement of scholarship, as they prepare to take their place as citizens in a complex world. We believe we have an important mission in developing our future leaders.

Thank you very much for your interest in our work and I hope very much that you choose our school for your children.

Fan Heafield

Poole High School Our aims We aim to enable all our pupils to achieve their full potential in all areas of school life.

We believe that in order to achieve this the school must be a secure, happy and well ordered environment where learning activities are purposeful and rewarding.

We recognise that not all students have the same abilities in all areas but we aim to enable every pupil to achieve the very best he or she possibly can and we believe that an individual’s success should be measured against their potential and not against the success of others.

We value equally the development of pupils academically, socially, culturally and in their sporting skills. We hope that when students leave us they have developed into well-rounded individuals who are fully equipped to contribute to society in a positive and thoughtful manner. We hope that they leave us with an appreciation of the value of ambition, honesty, cooperation and consideration for other people and their beliefs.

In order to be able to achieve these aims, all staff at Poole High School work very hard to ensure that the school environment is friendly, positive and welcoming. We all know that we learn best when we are having fun, so lessons are planned so that they are interesting and engaging and, most importantly, enjoyable.

We are proud to have exceptionally positive relationships between staff and pupils and between school and home.

This enables us to respond extremely rapidly and highly effectively if any pupil has problems or worries, whether it is to do with an issue inside or outside school.

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Poole High School Student Support and Guidance for Learning If students are happy and feel supported, they flourish in

is treated equally and fairly. We believe the needs of every

school and will be more able to achieve their personal best.

student are important and we work hard to ensure that all

Supporting students and making them safe is our top priority,

students are listened to and cared for. Poole High School’s

whether it is monitoring and keeping them on track with their

Support and Guidance for Learning team is a large group

learning or whether they need help to deal with personal,

of committed staff led by an Assistant Headteacher.

social or other issues. Every student at Poole High School

The Poole High School House System At Poole High School we have seven Houses. Each of these is like a mini-school within the main school. Each house has its own Head of House, House Officer, tutor team and House Office with a direct line telephone number. The aim is to ensure that even though we are a very large school, every student feels known and valued and part of a smaller unit within the whole school community. Our House System is recognised as a great strength of the school and it is interesting to note that many schools elsewhere in the country are moving to similar systems in order to improve the quality of their support for students.

On joining the school, each student is allocated to a House and they will stay with that House throughout years 7-11.

Where possible, when students joining us have older brothers or sisters at the school, they are assigned to the same House so that parents can benefit from relationships already established with the Head of House and the House Office.

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Each student has a tutor throughout years 7-11 at Poole High School. The role of the tutor is to help, guide and support the students in the tutor group and to monitor their academic progress. Tutors build up very strong relationships with the students in their tutor group and are the first point of contact (in most cases) between school and home.

Poole High School relies on its close partnership with parents and pupils in order to maintain its high standards and positive atmosphere. Parents who have any concerns or questions are encouraged to contact the school at the earliest opportunity to discuss the matter. The school holds regular Parent Consultation Evenings but staff are always happy to see a parent at other times by appointment.

Poole High School is also very fortunate to benefit from the services of a Student Welfare Officer. Parents can be secure in the knowledge that their children will be professionally cared for should they fall ill or have an accident at school.

The Student Welfare Officer also keeps a record of and helps to administer any on-going medication that individuals require.

In addition, a number of staff have first-aid qualifications.

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Poole High School Student Support and Guidance for Learning (continued) Starting at Poole High School

Student Voice

The majority of our pupils join us at the start of year eight and

Article 12 of the UNCRC: “Children have a right to say what

great care is taken to ensure that this transfer is as smooth as

they think in all matters affecting them, and to have their

possible. Prior to joining Poole High School, there is a “Taster

views taken seriously.”

Day” in July and this provides an opportunity to meet tutors,

There is a well established and highly effective Student

to make new friends and participate in various “ice-breaking” activities. In addition a New Parents’ Evening is held in July which offers further information and the opportunity to meet members of staff who will play a key role when pupils start the following September. To support your child in making the transfer to upper school you will receive a courtesy call from their form tutor in the early weeks of the new term. During the Autumn Term you will also have the opportunity to meet the form tutor at the Parent Consultation Evening.

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Parliament at Poole High School. The full Parliament meets once per half term and is made up of one elected Parliament Representative from each tutor group. An elected Cabinet of student representatives, including a Prime Minister, lead the Parliament and head up six sub committees responsible for addressing the following areas of school life:

• Teaching & learning • Student wellbeing • Buildings and Facilities • Extra curricular activities • Public Relations • Charities and citizenship

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Poole High School The Learning Environment Poole High School is very fortunate to have excellent facilities.

We have benefitted from an extensive, multi-million pound new buildings programme in recent years as well as carrying out significant refurbishment of existing, older rooms. Although our buildings vary greatly in age and style they are in a very good state of repair. This is a reflection of the care and respect that the vast majority of our pupils show towards the school and also the excellent work of our dedicated maintenance and grounds team in ensuring that any repairs needed are quickly carried out.

Poole High School has extensive grounds. Not only does this provide excellent opportunities for PE and other outdoor activities but it also creates a very pleasant and relaxing environment, particularly in the summer months when pupils can play on the grass and sit under the trees at break and lunchtimes.

As well as a large sports hall and extensive playing fields, the school has its own indoor heated swimming pool and a multi-gym fitness room.

The school library is very large, extending over two floors and is extremely well stocked, providing an excellent learning resource for students of all ages and for staff.

The large new school canteen, operational from 2010, is purpose built and provides an outstanding facility for students and staff to enjoy healthy meals within an extremely comfortable and sociable environment.

The school has a number of fully equipped computer suites with all machines fully networked and with connection to the internet. All classrooms have at least one computer and an increasing number are equipped with interactive, electronic whiteboards and data projectors.

There are well equipped, specialist suites of classrooms for many subjects including Science, Technology, Art and Music.

Our Senior School has its own social area, study, resource areas and canteen.

Opened in January 2009, the Poole High School Theatre with seating for up to 500 people provides an outstanding venue for school productions, drama lessons and school assemblies.

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Poole High School The Learning Experience Full details of the current National Curriculum and information for parents can be found at the following website: www.nc.uk.net Our school curriculum is the engine room of our school. It drives the opportunities and experiences of all our students and forms the basis of the qualification prospects of every child in our care.

We constantly look for ways to make this as stimulating and engaging as possible but we have never abandoned ensuring the type of examinations that young people take with us are suitably challenging and well respected by employers and further education alike.

Each stage of your child’s school career will see them study the full range of courses they will need to access the best opportunities in later life. We believe in an individualised approach that suits each child’s abilities and interests but based on traditional, high calibre subjects with the academic rigour that they will need to make the progress they need.

Year 7 is a year in which any academic underachievement will be targeted and moved on. Students will be tested for standards in reading and writing and Mathematics and then targeted work will be done to ensure they are all achieving at an appropriately challenging level. Those with a more academic bent will be set on a faster academic track and pushed to ensure their skills in English and Mathematics underpins good progress in all other subjects. We encourage almost all students to study a language for the start and support many in continuing to GCSE. In addition this year will see students being taught the sound learning skills that will allow them to become independent and resilient learners. Pupils/students need to have learnt how to be tenacious and resourceful, imaginative and logical, selfdisciplined and self-aware, collaborative and inquisitive. This is achieved through a number of project based cross-curricular experiences and relies on students demonstrating their learning in the most interesting way they can. We also aim to help them to continue to develop ambition, active lifestyles, thoughtfulness, caring, leadership, good citizenship, happiness and good working habits.

Year 8 sees students start on their academic journey towards making good choices for their examination courses.

There will have been chances to move into different groups based on end of year examinations and so many students meet a new group of people and face new challenges. The full national curriculum is offered throughout this phase and students will also be introduced to other subjects through taster courses in subjects they may not yet have met such as Business Studies or Computer Science.

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Year 9 is a critical year where important option choices will be made, every opportunity is taken to ensure students know about the courses they can select with further information and taster sessions. The skills that underpin success at GCSE and beyond will be revisited at a higher level; these include research skills, essay and report writing skills, skills of presentation and lots more. In many subject areas, the GCSE courses will be starting during this academic year. Mathematics, English and Science all get underway with much of the year covering the start of these courses, thereby allowing students to refocus their learning in the context of GCSE standards.

Years 10 and 11 A key component is our ability as a large school, to offer a wide range of subjects both in years 10 and 11 as well as in the Senior School. These include Psychology, Sociology, Physics, Chemistry and Biology as separate subjects, Film Studies, Computer Science, Design Technology in Food, Textiles, Resistant Material and Electronics as well as many more.

Students will study for at least eight GCSEs that includes the study of Mathematics, English Literature and language, at least two Science GCSEs, a Modern Foreign language and three further GCSE subjects from the approved list of high calibre qualifications. We also encourage the more ambitious students to attempt the EBACC qualification as a part of their studies, which involves studying English, Mathematics, Science, History or Geography and a modern foreign language. We also offer BTEC courses where this is appropriate and have a string partnership with the local college in order we can offer more practical hands-on courses. Running alongside all of this, we ensure students have a good grasp of employability skills that will serve them well as they start to think about the world of work. There are lots of opportunities for student’s to take part in Employability events and there is a dedicated work placement fortnight during year 10, something we have managed to keep at the centre of our schools provision.

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We firmly believe that in the classroom nobody has the right to prevent another pupil learning and to this end we have high expectations of our students. This helps us to foster a classroom atmosphere that is pleasant and relaxed but purposeful and productive. We constantly strive to develop a sense of community spirit and accountability; this ensures we have a happy and diligent community.

In every academic year, all staff recognise that learning must be a positive, enjoyable and rewarding experience. Students will take part in all sorts of classroom experiences, from Science experiments to Drama performances, from practical lessons in food and resistant materials to essay skills and quiet writing, from visits and outside experiences to Music and Dance.

Our curriculum has something for everyone and is the basis of a rewarding and stimulating school experience.

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Poole High School A Business and Enterprise College Poole High School was awarded Specialist School status as a Business and Enterprise college in September 2009.

In order to achieve this prestigious status the school had to secure ÂŁ50,000 sponsorship from local businesses and submit a detailed action plan to the Department for Children, Schools and Families. As well as enabling the school to embark upon an ambitious four-year programme of school development it has brought significant extra funding to the school direct from the government.

As a Business and Enterprise College we use our specialist status to raise standards of achievement and the quality of learning for all our students, in all subjects. We aim to enrich and extend learning by encouraging economic and business understanding, enterprise activities and opportunities for pupils to follow a wide range of learning pathways.

Poole High School is an active partner in a learning society with our local family of schools and our community, sharing resources and developing and sharing good practice. We work in partnership with the wider community, including business and industry, to enhance opportunities for lifelong learning in the context of business and enterprise.

For further information on Specialist Schools and Business and Enterprise Colleges please visit the Specialist Schools Trust website at www.specialistschools.org.uk

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Some examples of our Business and Enterprise activities within the school:

• Fit for Learning and Exams programmes aimed to raise

achievement for year 11 and Senior School students

year 10 2 week work placement opportunity

Award to selected year 9 and Senior School students

and Senior School students

future career pathways

• Preparing students for the world of work including

• Level 2 and Level 3 Chartered Management Institute • Young Enterprise Company Programme for year 10

• Enterprise Days to develop the key employability skills • Offering independent advice and guidance for our students Within the community:

• Collaboration with local businesses and curriculum areas

to forge important links and share experiences of the world

of work

and Senior School students the opportunity to take part

in the Employability Programme

knowledge of vocational courses

students can take part in engineering and technology

based activities

• Supported by Young Enterprise, offering selected year 9 • Collaborating with local colleges to widen our students • Membership of our local STEMNET division where

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Poole High School Learning Beyond the Classroom There is a wide range of additional activities in which pupils

and others are completely separate. These vary from year to

are encouraged to take part. There are clubs and activities

year but the list below gives a flavour of some of those that

after school on most days as well as trips and visits locally and

have been offered recently.

further afield. Some of these are directly linked to their subjects

Animal Club

Cultural visit to Paris

Annual Year 10 art trip to Tate Modern

Theatre visit for French play

Art workshops

Maths Club

Russell-Cotes Museum

Choir

Biology fieldwork trips to Kimmeridge

Jazz Band

Ecology work on school grounds

Trips to the BSO (symphony Orchestra)

Trips to local businesses

Football

Business Event Days

Rugby

Business Conferences

Cricket

Lectures in London

Basketball

Chess Club

Netball

History trips to WW1 Battlefields Trip

Hockey

Berlin

Tennis

Robotics competition at Poole and Bournemouth College

Athletics

Clothes Show Live

Trampolining

Victoria and Albert Museum - fashion through the ages

Wave Boarding

Fashion Show at Bournemouth University

Futsal

Drama and Dance School Productions, theatre trips

Badminton

Language Trips

Climbing

Cultural visit to Catalonia, Spain

Swimming

Visit to Loire Valley, France

Weight Training

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Dance

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Poole High School Some frequently asked questions

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Q&A What is Poole High School’s admissions policy?

Students will be admitted at the age of 12+ without reference to ability or aptitude within Poole’s agreed secondary scheme for co-ordinated admissions arrangements. Our admissions policy

Is there a school uniform?

Yes. As you can see from the photographs in this prospectus the uniform is very simple but smart and we believe that this

(as is required for every school) is reviewed annually. A copy of the most recent policy may be found on our website. If you would like a paper copy, please contact the school.

at all times and in the correct manner. Whilst at school and

Is Poole High School formally affiliated with any particular religion or religious denomination?

on their way to and from school.

No. Assemblies are held each week for individual Houses and

is very important as it promotes mutual pride and a sense of community. We expect all pupils to wear full school uniform

How much homework is set?

year groups which provide opportunities for collective worship and reflection. Religious Education is studied by all students,

We believe that homework is an essential extension to

following the Poole Agreed Syllabus. Any parent wishing to

school study and helps to develop independent learning skills.

exercise their right to withdraw their child from collective worship

The amount of homework set will increase as students go

and/or religious education should notify the student’s Head of

up through the school. In year 7, students should expect to

House in writing. Students who are withdrawn may undertake

complete 60 minutes of homework per day. Each pupil has

alternative study in their House Office or the school library.

a homework timetable and a planner in which to record the homework set and its completion date. We ask parents to check this with their children on a weekly basis.

What happens if a student misbehaves?

What support is there at Poole High School for students with special educational needs?

There is an appointed team of specialist teachers and assistants

There is a structured and stepped system of sanctions which

to teach and support students with special educational needs.

includes referrals, after school detentions, report cards and

Further details of provision and contact details are available

community service which are employed when students do

from the school.

not meet the standards of behaviour expected at Poole High School. However, we recognise that everybody makes mistakes

How can I contact the school?

and the aim of our sanctions is to encourage pupils to learn from

Our telephone, email and website details are on the back cover

these mistakes and not repeat them. A full copy of the school’s

of this prospectus. If you would like to visit us or discuss any

inclusion policy is available on request.

aspect of the school, we would be delighted to hear from you.

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Poole High School Proud to be Successful At Poole High School we recognise that it is essential that success is celebrated so that pupils continue to be motivated and therefore go on to even greater success in the future.

A merit system operates within the school and this leads to certificates, recognition and awards.

Rewards It is part of the school’s philosophy that praise and reward should have great emphasis and they play a key part in the aim of the school to value the achievements of all students. All students respond better to praise rather than reprimand hence rewards are a very important part of classroom management.

The school places great emphasis on monitoring and informing students regularly about how they are performing.

Discretionary MERITS can be given for a variety of reasons by a member of staff and students can be recognised for their work, achievements, attitude, effort and contribution to the community. These merits build up into a system of rewards outlined below:

Letters of Outstanding Achievement: Each Head of Department has a standard letter that can be sent home to parents praising pupils for excellent work, effort or improvement in their curriculum area. Copies are sent to and retained by the House Office. In addition departments may reward students for their sustained effort via certificates, prizes or the award of Student of the Term. Students who also have high attitude to learning scores are written to regularly congratulating them on their efforts.

Sporting Awards: The PE Department works to encourage all of our students to take an active interest in extra - curricular sporting activities.

It offers a wide range of clubs and activities after-school and rewards students by use of certificates and personal prizes.

There is also a sports awards annual event each year which is attended by around 400 students and parents.

Community Award:

Recording Achievement: We believe that it is important for students to keep a record of their achievement. All students are therefore encouraged to keep all of their certificates safe for future reference. A list of certificates/ letters/ commendations will be kept and regularly up-dated within tutor time by the student which will build into the reward structure.

Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme Students selected to participate in this scheme undertake 4 challenges as follows: Service to the Community, Physical Recreation, Skill Development and Expedition Training in outdoor environments.

They may achieve Bronze, Silver or Gold Awards Equally importantly we believe that the day-to-day recognition of good work and behaviour should be praised verbally whenever it is witnessed. We believe that it is important to reprimand pupils who are doing something wrong.

Class teachers – Instant MERIT for each student to be recorded on the school’s system and monitored by the tutors and the house.

Departments – through the on going tracking procedures that all teachers will contribute to, and any additional Departmental processes.

Class and tutor groups – merits can be given to a class or tutor group as a whole to encourage group working / community spirit.

Community contribution – at the discretion of any member of staff, teaching or non-teaching.

Pastoral system will total Merit Awards 25 MERITS = pen, 50 MERITS = Bronze Certificate, 100 MERITS = Silver Certificate, 200 MERITS = platinum award 250 MERITS = Headteachers award.

Pupils are awarded Community Awards for outstanding service to the school or local community. These are intended to reward pupils for their efforts outside the school curriculum (e.g. fundraising, environmental projects, House monitors, prefects, House council representatives etc).

Governors’ Commendation – students are nominated

Excellent Attendance:

Discretionary rewards: Apart from the formal systems,

Students who have 100% attendance in any one term will be rewarded with a certificate. Where a student achieves a minimum of 95% attendance in any one term with no detentions, he/she will be given an award at the end of term.

Excellent Attitude to Learning (AtL): Students with excellent AtL will receive regular recognition and rewards across the year

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on an annual basis for Governors’ recognition during a celebration with the Governors. Student of the term award for the best student in each tutor group based on the discretion of the form tutor and Head of House. all staff are consistently asked to recognise and reward all forms of achievement. Recognition of success is shared in tutor periods, in House assemblies and via the Pupil/Staff bulletin. Each House conducts a termly ‘Celebration of Success’ assembly awarding prizes/certificates. Pupil’s work is displayed in classrooms/corridors/foyer as much as possible.

Contents Headteacher’s welcome

page 1

Our aims page 2 Student support and guidance for learning

page 4

The learning environment

page 8

The learning experience

page 10

Business and Enterprise College

page 14

Learning beyond the classroom

page 16

Frequently asked questions

page 18

Proud to be successful

page 20

Poole High School Poole Dorset BH15 2BW Tel: (01202) 666988 Fax: (01202) 660674 Email: school@poolehigh.poole.sch.uk www.poolehigh.poole.sch.uk