The Sittingbourne Community College Prospectus

A fine education at the heart of your community

The Sittingbourne Community College

A member of Swale Academies Trust

“The teachers treat us as individuals and really push us to achieve our desired grades” Ben, Year 11

There’s a genuine feeling that we’re all learning and succeeding together

SITTINGBOURNE COMMUNITY COLLEGE HAS BEEN PART OF THE SWALE ACADEMIES TRUST SINCE JANUARY 2012, AND ARE PROUD OF THE CHANGES AND DEVELOPMENTS WE HAVE UNDERGONE TO IMPROVE OUR SCHOOL. Everything we do is centred around

student

success,

maximising potential and raising aspirations. We aim to support our students to achieve the best possible academic outcomes, as well as equipping them with the necessary skills for adulthood.

We have a dedicated team of staff committed to providing the

best

standards

for

our

students, making Sittingbourne Community College an excellent environment in which to learn.

“Students are well behaved and polite, and are proud of their school. They are our greatest ambassadors.”

Head Teacher

www.sittingbournecommunitycollege.org.uk

“My child’s needs are being catered for, the school is supportive and helps them to develop life skills” Parent

SITTINGBOURNE COMMUNITY COLLEGE WAS JUDGED AS ‘GOOD’ IN ALL FOUR AREAS OF THE OFSTED FRAMEWORK WITH DISCUSSIONS TAKING PLACE ABOUT A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF ASPECTS BEING ‘OUTSTANDING’.

Inspectors commented on ‘exemplary attitudes to learning’ which have made a significant contribution to improving attainment.

Students are ‘polite to adults, helpful to visitors, and generally respectful to one another’.

Inspectors commented that ‘There is a positive ethos in the College. Students feel safe and have a good understanding of how to keep themselves and others safe, as demonstrated by their very high standards of behaviour around the site and in lessons.’

We are very proud of our students, and pleased that their excellent attitudes were witnessed by an Ofsted team.

We firmly believe that young people perform better when expectations are made clear to them. We expect everyone to always try their best, and this can be applied to all areas of school life from uniform to attendance, from behaviour to homework.

Whilst there might be

occasions when some of us get it wrong, we expect students to compensate for this with renewed efforts at a later occasion.

We also expect members of our school to treat everyone as they would like to be treated themselves. We believe that this will maintain the culture of mutual respect that already exists at Sittingbourne Community College and that is an essential aspect of ensuring that everyone fulfils their potential.

4

OFSTED& FUN&GAMES EXPECTATIONS www.sittingbournecommunitycollege.org.uk

“Independent learning is encouraged in all subjects” Hannah, Year 10

AT SITTINGBOURNE COMMUNITY COLLEGE WE RECOGNISE OUR STUDENTS AS INDIVIDUALS. Our aim is to prepare our students for higher education, further education and the working world. To do this we have created a curriculum that enables students to be supported and flourish within an academic and vocational environment. The core subjects of English, maths and science are at the centre of everything we do, and performance in these areas is very strong. Alongside this, history, geography and French are a key focus of our curriculum, with students studying at least one of these through to GCSE. At key stage three students also study a wide range of subjects, including art, dance, drama, music, technology, ICT and ethics. However, since we know that students succeed best in the subjects they enjoy, they can start to specialise by choosing their first options from the end of year eight. There are further opportunities to choose option subjects in year nine.

At SCC creative and performing arts are particularly strong, with many students opting to study art, dance, drama and music. The College also has a strong sporting reputation, boasting several national champions. Alongside the formal timetable students can participate in a wide range of extracurricular clubs, catering for the tastes and needs of all.

“Students have the opportunity to study a full range of subjects at a variety of levels - there really is something for everyone.”

Deputy Head Teacher

CURRICULUM 6

www.sittingbournecommunitycollege.org.uk

“The teachers are approachable, friendly and the school has a nice atmosphere” Parent

MEMBERS OF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY

ARE

BLESSED

WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS

SOME

FANTASTIC

FACILITIES, BOTH AS PART OF THEIR LESSONS AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. Our library is undoubtedly the

WeThere’s nurtureaevery genuine aspiration, feeling from that we’re all computer scientists to

learning and recording artists succeeding together

heart of the school, and is a hive of activity at the start and end of the day and at break-times with children wishing to access the computers for study purposes and to make progress on the Accelerated Reader programme.

Our

sporting

facilities

are

a

resource that many residents of the town pay for the privilege to use, but our students get to access for free on a daily basis.

FACILITIES These include cutting edge 3G football pitch, astro turf, eight football pitches, one rugby pitch, a cricket square and outdoor nets. Indoors we have a multiuse

sports

hall,

two

further

gymnasiums and a fitness suite.

Our Performing Arts specialism is reflected in our own dedicated theatre,

industry

standard

recording studio, music practice rooms and modern dance studios; all spaces where we seek to nurture our talented youngsters, of which there are many.

8

www.sittingbournecommunitycollege.org.uk

“The school offers good discipline and pastoral care” Parent

AT THE HEART OF SCHOOL LIFE, THE CHAUCER AND DARWIN LEARNING COMMUNITIES ARE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING CARE, GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT TO ALL

PASTORAL CARE

STUDENTS. Community leadership is undertaken by a Principal working closely with a Vice-Principal and two Learning Leaders. The team direct and support the work of form tutors who are involved in everything from form time activities and assemblies to a shared responsibility to encourage every student to achieve their best. This work is supported by two Pastoral Support Managers who develop close contacts with students to maximise and maintain high standards of behaviour in lessons and around the school.

Learning Leaders work closely with students at critical points in their school career. Each is committed to supporting every student to achieve their potential. Our students value highly the work that Learning Leaders do with them: very often it is this relationship that provides the extra level of support that many require to achieve their best.

“The aim of the community structure is to give a smaller school ethos, ensuring that every child feels cared for.

A dedicated team of staff ensure that every issue is dealt with for every child.”

Deputy Head Teacher

10

FUN&GAMES www.sittingbournecommunitycollege.org.uk

“It was great receiving an amazon voucher in assembly for attendance” Jack, Year 10

Our students are truly inspired by varied and exciting lesson plans

WE HAVE WORKED EXTREMELY HARD AT SITTINGBOURNE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO ENSURE THAT GOOD ATTENDANCE IS A PRIORITY FOR ALL STUDENTS. Students who are not here cannot make progress with their learning so we have to make it one of our greatest priorities.

The best way to secure good attendance is to ensure a varied and

interesting

curriculum

delivered by the best available teaching staff. In addition to this we also have a dedicated team of administrators who ensure that attendance records are accurate and analysed so that students who may be struggling to get the most from school are supported where attendance is an issue.

ATTENDANCE Senior staff from each community provide

this

support,

and

attendance is a regular focus of assemblies and tutor times, with rewards on offer for those whose attendance

is

excellent

and

improving.

“We

prioritise

because

without

students

cannot

we reward

attendance being

here

succeed;

those with good

attendance in a number of ways.”

Deputy Head Teacher

12

www.sittingbournecommunitycollege.org.uk

“I feel safe in school and I have a good understanding of how to keep myself safe” Alice, Year 7

THROUGH A FLEXIBLE, CHILD CENTRED APPROACH WE AIM TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL STUDENTS WITH ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS, ENSURING THEY ARE; FULLY INCLUDED IN ALL ACTIVITIES, ARE ABLE TO OVERCOME BARRIERS TO LEARNING, AND ACHIEVE THEIR POTENTIAL. Meeting the needs of every student is part of high quality provision, and all our teachers share responsibility for this.

Good communication and established links with local primary schools help to ensure a smooth transition for students. We aim to promote confidence and enthusiasm by developing learning skills and ensuring every student has a sense of achievement.

We have a team of specialist, highly skilled and dedicated teaching assistants who provide students with a range of support within and beyond the classroom. They deliver programmes of tailored interventions to meet short and long term individual needs. Students with specific literacy needs are supported through specialist provision in year 7 and 8. We also have two specialist units, which support the progress of both deaf students and those with speech and language difficulties.

“We

strive

student’s

to

meet

individual

every needs

through personalised intervention packages and effective provision.

It is our belief that every student can succeed when their needs are met.”

Head Teacher

14

AENFUN&GAMES www.sittingbournecommunitycollege.org.uk

The Sittingbourne Community College “This is a good school where learning and behaviour are exemplary”

Tel: 01795 411900 Fax: 01795 411902 Email: office@sittingbourne.kent.sch.uk Web: www.sittingbournecommunitycollege.org.uk

DESIGN BY SEA LIMITED

The Sittingbourne Community College Swanstree Avenue, Sittingbourne Kent, ME10 4NL

www.sea-ltd.co.uk

Ofsted 2013