Dereham Neatherd High School
A Specialist Language College
Learning Without Limits
Welcome To Neatherd
Visitors to the school comment on the calm, orderly atmosphere with a real focus on learning. Our students are encouraged to care for and support each other. They are the true strength of the school and we entrust them with real responsibility. We are proud to be an inclusive community High School with a Specialist Resource Base for children with autism. Alongside academic achievements, our sport and creative arts are second to none. We have strong links with our local primary schools and the Dereham Sixth Form College. In addition, we are fortunate that the Friends of Neatherd offer our school very strong parental support together with the contributions of the influential Parent Focus Groups.
“We have been blown away at the level of support and care given to our son since he joined the school; nothing is too much trouble and the school’s attention to detail is second to none. Quite simply this is the best school for miles. I cannot heap enough praise in their direction. ”
Year 9 Parent
Dereham Neatherd High School Prospectus
The transition from Primary School is carefully managed. Our dedicated staff and popular Year 6 Summer School help make the move as enjoyable as possible.
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This is a terrific school, inclusive, committed and caring. I am honoured to be its Head. The children can be very proud of themselves. They care for each other so well and give the school its happy, community feel. We attract high calibre staff to work as a strong team. They support the children in our care in achieving their hopes and dreams. We work hard to ensure your children develop into fine, confident and aspiring young people.
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Neatherd is a successful and popular High School at the heart of the community of Dereham and its surrounding villages. We have a tradition of high standards and a commitment to excellence in learning. We provide a wide range of activities within and beyond school, to enrich the experience of every child.
Peter Devonish, Headteacher
Our Vision
Learning Without Limits
INclusion
We strive to meet each child’s needs through a personalised approach We respect each other, providing equal opportunities for all We take pride in our team We foster moral courage in our children
Responsibility
We encourage our students to develop their leadership and get involved We want our students to be self-motivated and ready to learn We want our students to be independently minded
Excellence
We have high expectations for everyone and encourage each student to be the best they can We lead by example by demonstrating professionalism and resilience
Aspirations
We want each child to achieve their personal goals We prepare our students for the future We show our students the possibilities, by encouraging them to discover, challenge and develop
Care Happiness
We care for our children and look after each other We take pride in the fact that we are a community high school; our community extends beyond our school, parents and carers to the community beyond We celebrate achievement Our school is calm but purposeful
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A Student-Centred School We take the student voice very seriously, and our students are consulted on all important decisions. Regular debate takes place through House and School Councils. Students have access to a wide pastoral support network including a dedicated Head of House and House Support Officers. Taking Care of Ourselves
We are a ‘Healthy School’ and a ‘Food for Life’ Partnership Gold Award School. We place great importance on the quality of the food we serve, using locally sourced and organic ingredients where possible. Children are encouraged to grow and cook good quality food in our Gardening and Cook clubs, bringing fresh flavours to the table. This also ensures the right fuel to focus on learning! Leading the Way
Students have opportunities to develop as leaders, through initiatives like the Junior Sports Leader Award, and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. They may choose to become mentors or buddies to new students. Senior students can take
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leadership roles such as becoming International Prefects and Student Team Leaders. All students are encouraged to take part in community and charitable events.
“The opportunities to take on extra responsibility such as becoming a peer mentor or a Student House Representative have really helped build my son’s self confidence as well as improving his communication skills.”
Dereham Neatherd High School Prospectus
Listening to our Students
Year 10 Parent
“The school offers great rewards that have inspired my son - house points, the success shop, reward trips and the end of year presentations. I’m always proud to see him do well.” Year 8 Parent
Sport for Every Child A Great Reputation
Neatherd strives for excellence in sports, and we enjoy a great reputation in competitions. We have excellent facilities, including a full size, all weather sports pitch. Opportunities
There are lots of opportunities to participate in sport, both at lunchtime and after school. The school takes part in local and regional competitions, with a number of students playing at county level. There is a good mixture within the core Physical Education (PE) curriculum which ensures all students have access to sport and develop the skills needed to continue an active lifestyle beyond school. Healthy Outdoors
Students have access to Outdoor Education through initiatives including the Year 8 Bramley Lakes outdoor pursuits centre visit. There they can enjoy rafting, archery, climbing, abseiling and team building. We see sport as a very important part of maintaining every child’s healthy lifestyle.
“My son really loves sport. I was so impressed with the range of sports played at Neatherd, how smart they look in their kit and the success that the teams have locally. There could only be one choice for my son and that was definitely Neatherd!” Year 7 Parent 4
Creativity at Heart Committed to Arts
We have a strong commitment to the Creative Arts and demonstrated by our ArtsMark Award. The arts play a crucial role in making the school an exciting place to be, while supporting students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
Drama, Dance, Art, Photography and Music can all be taken at GCSE Level. There is also a thriving Performance Arts community of which we are so proud that we perform our annual productions at Dereham Memorial Hall. There are lively lunchtime and after-school groups engaged in dance, drama and singing. Art produced by our talented pupils is on display throughout the school and our music ensembles include a rock choir, samba band, ukulele orchestra and concert band. We are working to develop more contemporary rock bands from our talented musicians. Over the course of the school year, more than a quarter of our students take part in a creative arts event. Opportunities are provided to work with Creative Arts professionals leading to many performances within the community.
“My daughter was overwhelmed with the quality of the students’ work. She was hooked and I knew immediately that Neatherd was where she wanted to be.” Year 11 Parent 5
Dereham Neatherd High School Prospectus
Within and without the Curriculum
Excellence in Education Challenging Curriculum
We believe in a broad, balanced and challenging curriculum for every child. Our teachers have the highest expectations and use their expertise to ensure that all children reach their full potential. We offer a wide range of subjects in all year groups. All students study Maths, English, Science, Society and Ethics and PE throughout their time with us. We provide the full range of National Curriculum subjects at Key Stage 3. At Key Stage 4 we offer students a range of options which include both GCSE and vocational courses. Embracing 21st Century Technology
We rightly see technology as an asset to learning and being critical in preparing our children for their future adult lives. The school has excellent facilities. We are accredited with the prestigious ICT Mark and we are a lead school in the Network of Excellence for the Teaching of Computer Science. Addressing all Needs
Children with Special Educational Needs are fully part of our school community. We take pride in the excellent pastoral care and academic support we provide through our
dedicated team of teaching assistants. ‘The Link’ provides more intensive learning support. Our Specialist Resource Base provides excellent support for children with autism. We believe that a strong partnership with parents and carers is critical. We set challenging targets and ensure that each child’s current performance is reported upon every term. We encourage parents and carers to feel part of our community by joining the Friends of Neatherd or one of our Parent Focus Groups.
“We can’t thank Neatherd enough for viewing our son as an ‘individual’ and working with his strengths. He has grown in confidence so much in just 10 months. We love them for that. Excellent school with excellent values.” Year 10 Parent
“The curriculum is broad and balanced and is especially good for those who need additional support or specialist intervention.” Latest Ofsted Report
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Innovation in Learning We are as well respected for innovation in our approach as for our high standards, ensuring our students and staff remain excited about the learning journey. We support children in developing the skills to make progress in their learning. Deeper Focus
Curriculum Enhancement Week enables more applied and extended learning for all students. This includes field trips and multi-cultural activities. Flexible Learning Day opportunities complement this throughout the year where the timetable is suspended. This allows a deeper focus on particular aspects of learning both within and across subject areas. Reaching Out
School trips and partner projects are great ways to enrich the curriculum in a memorable way. We are a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) Hub School and our students have taken part in many regional and national competitions.
School trips, such as theatre visits, field trips and media events, have proven invaluable in enriching students’ learning.
“There are lots of opportunities to be creative and to interpret different themes. It helps me to be free thinking.” Year 8 Students
“I’m given lots of freedom to experiment and express. There are lots of ways in which we can try things out.”
Dereham Neatherd High School Prospectus
An Exciting Journey
Year 10 Student
“Our children are thriving at Neatherd in a safe and friendly environment. A great range of lunch time and after school clubs keep them occupied whilst increasing their knowledge. Teachers are very passionate about the subjects they teach and this comes through in the students’ enthusiasm.” Year 9 Parent
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International Learning
Global Citizens
The International Community
We hold the International Schools Award and are commited to helping our students understand their place in the world. We have links with schools in France, China, Spain and Estonia. Our students are also encouraged to take part in visits to other European countries including Germany and Italy. Wider Engagement with Europe
Other curriculum areas strengthen our international ties, through sporting and educational visits. The PE department organises an annual Ski trip to Europe and the History department takes students on an insightful study tour of the First World War battlefields. Students also go as far afield as Iceland and China.
These provide language and cultural experiences way beyond the classroom, giving students some of the most exciting and memorable learning experiences of their lives.
“Extra-curricular activities such as sports and cultural visits are plentiful and enjoyed by many. The school’s language specialism has introduced a further international dimension to students’ experiences.”
Dereham Neatherd High School Prospectus
As a Specialist Language College we want to develop each child as a Global Citizen. It is important that all students develop language skills and are aware of different cultures and backgrounds. Students have the opportunity to study French and Spanish.
Latest Ofsted Report
“I wanted to say how amazing I think Neatherd is. The correspondence I have received has always been outstanding and I really cannot praise you all enough. I never expected to get so much help for my son – I never need to ask for it; you are always there for him!” Year 8 Parent
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“As long term foster carers we have had dealings with many schools in Norfolk. We have looked after children from quite diverse backgrounds and having very individual needs. We cannot express enough how much the staff at Neatherd High School have not only met their individual needs and supported the children, but also supported us.The communication from the school is second to none; they want to see the children succeed as much as we do. This in itself we see as a speciality you don’t find very often.”
Dereham Neatherd High School Norwich Road Dereham Norfolk NR20 3AX t: 01362 697981 f: 01362 698463 e: office@neatherd.org w: neatherd.org