Whole School Prospectus

Devizes School & Sixth Form College are proud to be part of The White Horse Federation Multi-Academy Trust

Welcome to The White Horse Federation

The White Horse Federation runs a growing network of primary, secondary and special schools with clusters in Swindon, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire

The White Horse Federation was founded with the aim of improving the life chances and raising the aspirations of young people – we want our schools to be beacons in our region; places that children and young people come, knowing we are in their corner and that we will do everything in our power to help them thrive and succeed

The Trust believes in the power of a first-rate curriculum: such an education is the best foundation for helping young people to succeed and overcome social barriers, irrespective of their backgrounds or starting points

Our aim is for our students to leave our schools ready to take their place in the world - well-educated, motivated and with strong leadership skills, personally accomplished and determined to make a positive and lasting contribution to the world By forging strong partnerships with parents and carers, promoting equal opportunities, and continuously improving our practices, we create an inclusive and supportive educational community where every student can thrive and achieve their full potential

Simon Cowley Interim Co-CEO Director of Education

Daniel Smith Interim Co-CEO Director of Education

HEADTEACHER’S WELCOME

Thank you for your interest joining our school

I am tremendously proud and honoured to be the headteacher of Devizes school, and I never cease to be amazed by the achievements of our students and the dedication of our staff.

At Devizes, we place a huge amount of emphasis on politeness, respect and kindness At the same time, we always aim for the very highest standards of teaching and learning in the classroom We have very high aspirations for our students and encourage them to be the best they can possibly be

As a school, our commitment to our students is that we will provide inspiring high-quality lessons and enthusiastic teachers We will also ensure you have exciting enrichment and personal development opportunities to help you achieve your potential and to grow the wider skills and knowledge that employers, universities and other training providers value.

Choosing a school is one of the most important decisions a parent or carer can make. We promise to ensure that all of our children will enjoy their learning in a safe and secure environment. We are an inclusive organisation and believe strongly in ensuring equal opportunities for all. Where needed, we provide bespoke individual support for or students, and we aim to get to know all of them as individuals within our school community.

Mr David Cooper

“OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS IS THAT WE WILL PROVIDE INSPIRING HIGH-QUALITY LESSONS AND ENTHUSIASTIC TEACHERS”.

OUR VISION & VALUES

VALUES, CULTURE, AND CHARACTER THROUGH EXCELLENCE IN STANDARDS. DEVIZES SCHOOL RAISES ASPIRATIONS AND BUILDS FUTURESWE CHANGE LIVES.

AT DEVIZES SCHOOL WE HAVE 3 CORE VALUES WE WISH TO SEE IN EVERYTHING WE DO:

COURAGE PRIDE RESILIENCE

• WE HAVE COURAGE TO ALWAYS TRY AND DO THE RIGHT THING, EVEN WHEN IT IS DIFFICULT TO DO SO

• WE HAVE PRIDE IN OURSELVES, EACH OTHER, AND OUR SCHOOL

• WE HAVE THE RESILIENCE TO NEVER GIVE UP AND ALWAYS BOUNCE BACK

WE DO THIS WITH THE SPIRIT OF KINDNESS, TRUST, AND CHEERFULNESS

THESE THREE VALUES RESONATE THROUGH MUCH OF OUR SCHOOL LIFE. IN OUR CURRICULUM, OUR SUPPORT PROGRAMMES AND OUR REWARD SYSTEM. WHERE OUR STUDENTS DISPLAY OUR VALUES, WE WANT TO CELEBRATE IT!

WE ALSO FIRMLY BELIEVE IN THE IMPORTANCE OF CHARACTER EDUCATION. STUDENT LEARNING IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST ACADEMIC STUDIES - IT ENCOMPASSES WHAT IT MEANS TO SHOW RESPECT AND BE INTENTIONALLY KIND

WE LOOK TO NOT JUST TELL OUR STUDENTS HOW TO BEHAVE, BUT TO TEACH THEM HOW TO CORRECTLY ENGAGE WITH OTHERS IN ALL SITUATIONS. OUR WARM BUT FIRM APPROACH TO SCHOOL LIFE BUILDS A STUDENT’S INTERPERSONAL SKILLS, AND WE ARE CONSTANTLY TOLD BY VISITORS HOW POLITE, RESPECTFUL AND ENGAGING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE

THIS IS ALL BASED ON:

• SPEAKING TO STAFF WITH RESPECT IN A WARM, WELCOMING AND FRIENDLY STYLE

• GIVING OUR TEACHERS 100% OF OUR FOCUSED ATTENTION WHEN SPEAKING

• DEVELOPING OUR LANGUAGE SKILLS TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY WITH THOSE AROUND US

“DEVIZES SCHOOL HAS GIVEN ME AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES. THEY CONTINUALLY IMPROVE ALL WHO ATTEND.”

OUR CURRICULUM READING AND LITERACY

WE AIM TO PROVIDE OUR STUDENTS WITH THE VERY BEST STANDARDS OF EDUCATION.

WE RECOGNISE THAT TO DO THIS WE MUST AIM TO MEET THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF OUR VARIED SCHOOL COMMUNITY, WITH A BALANCE OF THE ACADEMIC AND VOCATIONAL COURSES DESIGNED TO PREPARE THEM FOR THE MODERN WORKING WORLD

OUR EVER-IMPROVING RESULTS COME FROM A CURRICULUM THAT IS CAREFULLY DESIGNED TO BUILD ON THE EXPERIENCES, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE STUDENTS GAIN EACH YEAR. BROAD AND BALANCED, IT ENSURES ALL LEARNERS ARE STRETCHED AND SUPPORTED TO MAKE ACCELERATED PROGRESS, AND PROVIDES THE PROSPECT OF PURSUING INDIVIDUAL INTERESTS FURTHER.

KEY STAGE 3

IN KEY STAGE 3 (YEARS 7-9) STUDENTS STUDY A FULL RANGE OF SUBJECTS-TAUGHT IN BOTH ABILITY-BASED GROUPS AND MIXED SETS-TO GIVE THEM A COMPREHENSIVE EXPERIENCE OF TOPICS AND COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FROM CORE SUBJECTS OF ENGLISH, MATHS, SCIENCE, GEOGRAPHY & HISTORY TO VARIED SUBJECTS IN BOTH OUR ‘CREATIVE & PERFORMING ARTS’ AND ‘TECHNOLOGY, ENTERPRISE & DESIGN’ FACULTIES-DEVIZES STUDENTS RECEIVE A FANTASTIC PACKAGE OF LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

KEY STAGE 4

THE KEY STAGE 4 CURRICULUM (YEARS 10-11) ALLOWS STUDENTS CHOICE ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF OVER TWENTY ACADEMIC AND VOCATIONAL COURSES THIS ENSURES STUDENTS FOLLOW A CURRICULUM THAT IS RELEVANT, PERSONALISED AND EXCITING FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL A STRONG CORE OFFER OF ENGLISH, MATHS, SCIENCE & PSHE ENSURES THAT KEY LITERACY AND NUMERACY SKILLS ARE DEVELOPED TO PREPARE ALL STUDENTS FOR ADULT LIFE

WE RECOGNISE THE IMPORTANCE THAT READING FLUENCY HAS ON SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE’S SUCCESS AT DEVIZES SCHOOL OUR STUDENT’S READING AGES ARE REGULARLY MONITORED TO ENSURE ALL STUDENTS CAN ACCESS THE CURRICULUM AND FULFIL THEIR POTENTIAL WHERE NEEDED, ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS IN PLACE TO ENSURE ALL STUDENTS DEVELOP STRONG LITERACY SKILLS. EVERY LESSON LOOKS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGING WITH CHALLENGING TEXTS THAT SUPPORT THIS.

“TEACHERS ARE ALWAYS WILLING TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO HELP STUDENTS. FURTHERMORE, THE STUDENT COMMUNITY IS FULL OF LOTS OF KIND-HEARTED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO CHAT. AT DEVIZES SCHOOL, EVERYONE IS WELCOME.”

A TRULY GREAT SCHOOL EXPERIENCE GOES BEYOND THE CLASSROOM AND TIMETABLED LESSONS. IT IS WHEN A STUDENT CAN TRULY SAY THEY WERE A PART OF A COMMUNITY AND ENJOYED THE BENEFIT OF SUCH A WIDE RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES.

AT DEVIZES SCHOOL, WE PROVIDE MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENRICHMENT AND EXTRACURRICULAR INVOLVEMENT FROM A WIDE RANGE OF SPORTS CLUBS AND SUBJECT BASED ACTIVITIES TO SCHOOL CONCERTS AND PERFORMANCES, FROM REWARD EVENTS AND TRIPS AROUND THE UK AND ABROAD, WE WANT TO MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY MOMENT AVAILABLE, AND GRANT OUR STUDENTS EXPERIENCES THAT WILL STAY WITH THEM FOR A LIFETIME.

OUR CAREERS EDUCATION PACKAGE HELPS STUDENTS GAIN INSIGHTS FROM BOTH LOCAL AND NATIONAL EMPLOYERS, UNDERSTANDING CRUCIAL SKILLS NEEDED FOR THEIR FUTURE ROLE IN THE WORKPLACE EDUCATIONAL VISITS ENRICH OUR CURRICULUM FURTHER, AND ALLOW STUDENTS TO SEE THE APPLICATION OF THEIR LESSONS IN THE WORLD OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

BEING A PART OF A COMMUNITY ALSO MEANS FEELING VALUED, SUPPORTED AND INVOLVED. DEVIZES STUDENTS GAIN THIS FROM BEING INVOLVED WITH OUR STUDENT LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME AND EVOLVING SCHOOL COUNCIL, OR BENEFIT FROM OUR WONDERFUL TEAM OF PASTORAL SUPPORT STAFF WHEN LIFE’S CHALLENGES REQUIRE A CARE-DRIVEN, SOLUTION-FOCUSED RESPONSE WE MAKE SURE TO COME TOGETHER AT MOMENTS IN OUR ACADEMIC YEAR, SUCH AS OUR REMEMBRANCE SERVICE AND WELL-BEING EVENTS TO SHOW THAT WE CAN STAND IN SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER IN PRESERVING A HEALTHY BALANCE IN HOW WE APPROACH THE CHALLENGES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL

IT’S BECAUSE WE AIM TO LIVE OUT THE MESSAGE THAT DEVIZES SCHOOL IS A FAMILY, WHO ALWAYS SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER.

“THE CARE AND SUPPORT DEVIZES STAFF HAVE GIVEN MY SONS HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING, NOT ONLY DEVELOPING THEIR LOVE OF LEARNING BUT OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES TO LEAD AND PARTICIPATE IN SCHOOL LIFE.”

STUDYING FURTHER WITH DEVIZES SCHOOL

PROVIDING FOR OUR STUDENT’S NEXT STEPS POST-16, OUR SIXTH FORM EQUIPS YOUNG ADULTS WITH ALL THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO TAKE ON THE WORLD.

OUR SIXTH FORM IS WELL KNOWN FOR HAVING EXCELLENT ACADEMIC STANDARDS, WITH FANTASTIC FACILITIES, A FRIENDLY WELCOMING ETHOS, AND STRONG FINAL DESTINATIONS INCLUDING RUSSELL GROUP UNIVERSITIES WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING INNOVATIVE LEARNING AND TEACHING TO PREPARE YOU FOR LIFE AND FUTURE CAREERS THE SIXTH FORM IS VERY POPULAR CHOICE WITH STUDENTS AS THE PLACE TO LEARN SUCCESSFULLY WITH A SATELLITE CENTRE AT LAVINGTON EVEN MORE YOUNG PEOPLE BENEFIT FROM THE STRONG AND SUCCESSFUL EDUCATION THAT DEVIZES SIXTH FORM OFFERS. WE PROVIDE AN EXTENSIVE RANGE OF COURSES FOR STUDENTS TO SELECT THEIR OWN LEARNING PACKAGE PLUS MANY ACTIVITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE UP THEIR UNIQUE SIXTH FORM EXPERIENCE

OUR SIXTH FORM IS A HIVE OF CREATIVITY, WARMTH AND INDIVIDUALITY WHEN YOU TAKE A WALK AROUND THE SIXTH FORM YOU WILL SEE THE PERSONALITY OF OUR SIXTH FORMERS BURSTING THROUGH THE SIXTH FORM CENTRE OFFERS FIRST RATE STUDY FACILITIES AND A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS TO THRIVE THROUGH THEIR FINAL STEPS OF LIFE AS A DEVIZES STUDENT.

“DEVIZES IS NOT OUR LOCAL SCHOOL, BUT BOTH MY CHILDREN WERE SO IMPRESSED WITH THE SCHOOL AND ITS ATMOSPHERE, THAT THIS IS WHERE THEY WANTED TO COME. THEY HAVE BOTH FLOURISHED HERE AND WILL BE LOOKING TO STAY HERE FOR THEIR A -LEVELS.”

STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO A BROAD CHOICE OF COURSES, WHICH MEANS THAT WHATEVER THEIR PATHWAY FOR THE FUTURE, THERE WILL BE SUBJECTS WHICH CAN HELP THEM ON THEIR JOURNEY. THEY WILL BE ENCOURAGED AND GUIDED TO GRADUATE AS INSPIRED, WELL-ROUNDED YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE QUALIFICATIONS TO MAKE THEIR ASPIRATIONS A REALITY

NOW YOU’VE READ ABOUT OUR WONDERFUL SCHOOL, WHY NOT COME AND SEE IT FOR YOURSELF? IF YOU’D LIKE A TOUR OF THE SCHOOL, YOU CAN BOOK ONE BY CONTACTING OUR MAIN RECEPTION:

WE’D BE DELIGHTED TO SHOW YOU AROUND AND DISCUSS YOUR CHILD POTENTIALLY JOINING US HERE AT DEVIZES

Devizes School & Sixth Form College

The Green, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 3AG

T: 01380 724886

E: devizes school@devizes.wilts.sch.uk

www.devizesschool.co.uk