WelcometoUpperShirleyHighSchool.Iam immenselyproudtoleadourvaluesledfamily school.Wearepassionateaboutprovidingyoung peoplewithopportunitiestodeveloptheirown individualuniquetalentsandbethebestthatthey canbe.USHstudentsaretrulyinspiring;theyare respectful,eloquentandfullofcharacter.
Weareheretoachieveandweareproudofour strongtraditionofexceptionalacademic performance.AsaproudmemberoftheSSAT LeadingEdgeGroup,anationalnetworkofhigh performingschools,ourcaringandaspirationalstaff arefullydedicatedtoguidingourstudentsto success.
Ihopeyoufindalltheinformationyouneedinour prospectus.Pleasecontactusifyouwantanymore informationortomakeanappointmenttocomesee theUSHfamilyinaction.
ChristopherSykes Headteacher
Our Vision USH is a happy place where all are challenged to achieve; where we are distinguished as leaders of learning and the passion of our people transforms futures.
Visionand Values OurBelieve,RespectandSucceedvalueslaythe foundationtobea‘happyschoolwhereallare challengedtoachieve’.Thesevaluesareattheheartof everythingwedo;weexpectallmembersofour communitytoembodyandmodelthem.
Wearecommittedtoprovidingawiderangeof opportunitiesforourstudents,investingheavilyintrips, extracurricularclubs,performingarts,sportsandcareer guidance.Providingyoungpeoplewithmomentsof excitementandenjoyment,momentstheywill rememberforever,issoimportanttotheUSH community.
Weholdourstudentstohighstandards,asexcellent behaviourisfundamentaltoeffectivelearning.Wefollow theUSHWay:wemaintainapositivemindset,treat peoplewellandstriveforexcellenceinallthatwedo.
Ourcurriculumisdesignedand adaptedtobeambitiousforall;itis carefullysequencedtoensure studentslearnandrememberwhat theyaretaught.AtKeyStageThree, ourcurriculumencouragesstudents todeveloptheirthinking;theyexplore awiderangeofsubjects,creatinga solidfoundationofknowledgeand skillsreadyforKeyStageFour.
withoutLimits."Wewantourcurriculumtospark students'curiosityandfosteraloveoflearning.Our diversecurriculumiscreatedtomeettheneedsofall learnerstoensuretheyallsucceed.
Wehaveawiderangeofcoursesonoffer,including:
English
Maths
FurtherMaths
Science
SeparateSciences
History
Geography
French
Spanish
ReligiousStudies
Citizenship
Construction
FilmStudies
HealthandSocialCare
BusinessStudies
CreativeiMedia
PhysicalEducation
BTECSports
Drama
FineArt
Textiles
Graphics
Photography
Music
MusicTechnology
DesignandTechnology
FoodandNutrition
PSHE
“The quality of the curriculum provision at Upper Shirley High School is as good as I have seen anywhere.” SSAT Framework for Exceptional Education, 2023 LStudenteadership WeareproudoftherolestudentsplayinmakingUSHsuch avibrantcommunity.StudentVoiceisintegraltothe runningoftheschool.Weofferawidenumberofstudent leadershipopportunitiesincluding:
HouseCouncils
SeniorStudentLeadershipTeam
SportsLeaders
AttendanceChampions
WellbeingAmbassadors
Eco-Committee
PlanetUSHAmbassadors
EqualitiesandRightsAdvocates
Anti-BullyingReps
ReadingMentors
OurStudentLeadersarewonderfulrolemodelsand encapsulatethesenseofcommunitywevaluesomuch.
“Onepupilsummedupthebenefitsof this,saying,‘Thisschoolbringsoutthe bestinyou.’” Ofsted-January2025
DPersonalevelopment Oursequencedpersonaldevelopmentprogrammeallows studentstolearnaboutwhatisgoingonintheworld,develop debatingskills,reflectoncurrentaffairsandbuildknowledgeof nationalawarenessdays.
Ouroutstandingcareers programmeinspiresstudentsfrom Year7toYear11.Theyconsidertheir post16optionswiththehelpofour partnersfromSolentand SouthamptonUniversity.Welink withtheUSHcommunitytorun careerseventssuchas‘Meetthe Professional’and‘MockInterview Week’,givingstudentsvital experienceaheadofPost16.
haverewardtripstothemeparks,bowling alleys,iceskatingandtothecinema. Therearealsoarangeofinternationaltrips whetheritbealifechangingtripto Zanzibar,skiingintheAlpsorexploring Europeancapitalcities.
“TheapproachtowellbeingatUpperShirleyHigh Schoolisextremelywell-embedded–itisclearly centraltothecharacterandethosoftheschool.”
contributetothewiderlifeoftheschool.Some oftheevents,organisedandsupportedbyour PTFAinclude:
Grandparents’RemembranceMorning
MacmillanCoffeeMorning
SummerFete
PTFACurryandQuiz
HalloweenDisco
FireworksEvening
ParentForum
Pastoral Care hastheopportunitytosucceedatUSH.Eachyear groupissplitinto8tutorgroupssupportedby:
HeadofYear
PastoralSupportWorker
SeniorLeadershipTeamLink
HeadsofHouse
Theteamarepassionateaboutsupportingthe wellbeingofallstudents,ensuringtheyaresafe inschool.Wepromotewellbeingandpositive mentalhealththroughthetutortimecurriculum. Wereallycareaboutourstudents.
“Everythingyouneedishere.We arealwayslistenedtobecauseit isacommunity.Weknowthat wecanachievemoreaspartof ateam.”Abdul-Y8
“Teachers talk about how supportive and kind their teachers are.” SSAT Framework for
Exceptional Education, 2023
TheLearningSupportandGuidanceteamare passionateaboutremovingbarrierstolearning, andhelpingstudentsrealisetheirpotential.
Wehaveaskilledteamof3teachers,2guidance mentorsand13TeachingAssistants;they organisearangeofinterventionssupporting childrentodeveloptheskillstheyrequireinorder tosucceedacademically,sociallyand emotionally.
AllchildrenleaveUSHwitharangeofskillsthat willenablethemtocontinuetheirjourneyinto adulthood,ashappy,readyandindependent youngadults.
“Thestaffwhosupportpupils arepassionateaboutSEND andInclusionandwantthe bestforallchildren”HAMWIC
SpeechandLanguageTherapy
ZonesofRegulation
NumeracySkills
SkillsMentoring
ELSA
DrawandTalk
ForestSchool
Boxing
BikeMechanics
“Studentsdescribetheschoolasagenuinelyhappy placeandexpresstheirprideinbeingpartofthe
Perform gArts taketothestage. Weofferarangeofopportunitiesforstudentsto developtheirtalents,including:
Thewholeschoolcommunitycelebratesdiversity. Studentsspokeexcitedlyabouttheirexperienceof cultureweekandtheirprideinbeingpartofamulticulturalschool.SSATWellbeingReport,2024
Physicalactivityandsportisanimportantpart ofschoollife.Wehaveabrandnewsportshall, MUGA,athleticsfield,fitnesssuiteandschool gymwhichallowustoofferawiderangeof sports.Theschoolconsistentlyperformswellin inter-schoolcompetitions.OurYear7and8 footballteamwontheSouthamptonLeaguein 2025!
ThePEDepartmentofferarangeofextracurricularactivities,fixtures,tripsandteamsto join,including:
Basketball
FootballFixtures
NetballClub
CrossCountry
CityAthletics
Boxing
SocialFootball
Volleyball
Badminton
TripstoWimbledon
Dance
TableTennis
channelsandour‘DayintheLifeofaY7Student’video, simplyscantheQRcodesbelow.
‘ADayintheLife’Video
