Varndean School Prospectus 2013

Welcome to Varndean School

Varndean School is a place where people matter. We believe that individuality is very much an internal quality that we foster and encourage through the widest variety of learning experiences. Our staff get to know the whole young person and their families, and we pride ourselves in tailoring the learning to suit the needs of the student.

We aim to get the very best out of every student. Through planning engaging learning, assessment, support and intervention, students know where they are in their learning and how to improve.

Thinking about their futures, we encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning and well-being.

This includes work-related learning and enterprise, as well as having the highest number of students who successfully complete the Duke of Edinburgh Award in the area.

Student leadership, democracy and student voice are central to the way our school is developing. We believe that developing leadership skills in all students will help us nurture young adults who, in turn, will become good parents, partners and citizens. We all have a role to play in this work and we value the good relationships that we have with families in helping shape the lives of our future leaders. I feel personally at ease in the knowledge that my own future and well-being is in the hands of the young people that I have daily contact with at Varndean School.

We have a really happy school where student relationships, with each other and staff, are excellent. We have launched a smaller school system each with their own identity; Angelou, Russell, Turing, Ellis.

We are beautifully situated at the top of a learning campus with views across Brighton and Hove to the English Channel that inspire great thinking for a great school. We work closely with our primary and secondary partners to ensure the sharing of best practice.

Varndean is a great place to learn and develop, in friendly, smaller and supportive environments – we hope your child enjoys his/her time here.

I look forward to meeting you in the future.

Mr. W. Deighan Headteacher

Vision Varndean School is a place where the whole person counts. Our aim is that every student exceeds their entry predictions by making four levels of progress, which is more than the government recommends. Every child we teach should be able to think and respond to life’s challenges with courage and imagination.

Learning and Teaching Learning is at the heart of our school. We have high aspirations for all our students, and offer a range of vocational courses and all of the traditional subjects one expects from an institution with over 125 years of history.

An online learning platform allows students to access classroom ideas on demand. We have applied to NACE for accreditation as a centre of excellence for Gifted and Talented children and our Individual Learning Support department caters for students with a wide range of learning challenges. We believe in excellence for all.

Beyond the classroom Our sports teams compete across the city and beyond. Our music department has a reputation for bringing out the best in everyone and our numerous drama productions are breathtaking.

The Artsmark Gold award recognizes the depth and breadth of our contribution to the Arts which includes the part we play in the Brighton Festival.

Our students have a long history of charitable giving and we are a lead school in the Children Helping Other Children Smile (CHOCS) initiative.

Challenge and Pride Our motto represents the aspirations we have for your child. We believe talents must be developed fully. Many young people arrive at secondary school not knowing what their talents are. Our job is to help them discover and nurture them.

We will challenge your child to exceed their expectations.

Professional Development We fund action-based research, allowing colleagues to continuously improve their teaching practice and learn as professionals. We are one of the few schools that deliver the Outstanding Teacher Programme in the city. Our investment in teachers helps us to invest wisely in your child’s future.

Transition to secondary school Links with Primary Schools Key staff from Varndean visit local primary schools during the summer term before students start. Important information about learning, personal development and special needs is shared at this time.

Tutor Groups Students are placed in mixed ability tutor groups, supported by a form tutor, who remains with them as the tutor group moves up the school. The form tutor provides care, support and guidance, both pastoral and academic. Our year 7 classes are taught together for about half of their subject timetable, providing continuity from their Year 6 experience.

Much thought and care is taken over how form groups are made up, taking into account children’s friendships and advice from primary schools.

Links with Parents and Carers All children offered a place spend a day with us during the summer term, and their parents/carers are invited to meet the form tutor and other key staff. This is a further opportunity to provide us with information and ask questions. We also run transition workshops for parents.

Children with special educational needs will have a personal integration plan which may involve more frequent visits during the summer term.

The first week at Varndean Year 7 students start before the rest of the school. Some of our student leaders are allocated to each form group to act as helpers. Homework is introduced immediately. Our ‘Year 7 Welcome Evening’ is held in September, and there is another opportunity to meet with subject teachers later in the year.

There are also further opportunities to meet with the form tutor during Student Review Day in November.

Curriculum We are determined to provide a curriculum relevant for every student and believe that our personalised approach maximises every student’s opportunity to achieve their potential.

In Key Stage 3

(Years 7 and 8)

students study: English, Mathematics, Science, PE, Modern Languages, Technology, ICT, Art, Drama, Music, Dance, Geography, History, Religious Studies and Learning for Life.

Key Stage 4 (Years 9, 10 and 11)

Year 9 students begin GCSE courses in some subjects and prepare for option choices in others. In addition to the compulsory core of English, Maths, Science, PE, Religious Studies and Learning for Life, students may choose from BTEC Business, Philosophy and Ethics, Media Studies, Art and Design, History, Geography, Psychology, French, Spanish, German, Health and Social Care, Music, Music Technology, Drama, GCSE or BTEC Dance, GCSE or BTEC Physical Education, ICT Computing and CIDA Game Making and BTEC Hospitality, as well as a full range of courses offered by our partners City College and Plumpton College.

Progress In keeping with our school motto ‘Challenge and Pride’, at Varndean we have decided that we should be aiming high for every student and not settling for average progress. Therefore all of our learning goals are based on all children making at least 4 levels of progress (from the end of Key Stage 2) over 5 years.

Throughout every student’s journey at Varndean School parents are kept fully up to date with the amount of progress they are making. We will do this at regular intervals throughout the year with half termly progress checks; Student Review day; full reports and parents’ evenings.

As well as this, progress data can be seen online through our Parent Portal at any point.

Setting It is important that the design of any curriculum meets the needs of the students whom it serves - we believe that our blended approach which includes some setting and some mixed ability teaching - gives students the best possible chances of meeting or exceeding their learning goals. As a student progresses through the school there will be an increasing number of subjects in which they are set. By the end of Year 9, students are set in all core subjects (English, Maths and Science).

At other times, mixed ability groups are used which is particularly good for year 7 students. This provides an important transition step from primary to secondary school and allows them to build positive relationships with peers in their form.

Independent Learning Support Support for all At Varndean School we pride ourselves on the individual learning support given to all of our students and have been highly praised in Ofsted inspections. Students on the special education needs register are carefully monitored and provided for with learning opportunities personalised to meet their specific needs.

Teaching assistants Additional teachers or teaching assistants may work with students on a one to one basis, in small groups or within a whole class environment.

A copy of the school’s Special Needs policy is available on the school website or on request.

Gifted & talented Stretching those with potential Varndean has a track record of stretching those with the potential to be exceptional.

We have applied to NACE, the national organisation that oversees the development of gifted and talented children, to become an accredited centre of excellence.

Additional tuition & coaching Students with exceptional strengths in academic, sporting and cultural areas are given the opportunity to receive additional tuition, coaching and instruction.

Curriculum Plus

Personal Care

Enrichment

Help is at hand

We run an extensive list of extracurricular and study support opportunities. These include a wide variety of musical, artistic and sporting activities, such as the annual drama production, stop frame animation, creating clothes and accessories for a fashon show, taking part in the Brighton Festival and the running of one of the largest centres for Duke of Edinburgh in the city. We also organise a wide variety of day trips and longer visits, including residential trips abroad for sport, languages and the arts.

There are lots of places that students can go to get help, find advice and share their concerns. In the first instance students will go to their personal tutor who they will see for a registration period every morning. They can also visit their School Base where they will find their School Leader and Student Manager. They will help students solve many issues, from getting a new timetable to sharing concerns about friendship groups.

For a few days in the summer term, the school works in a completely different way. We provide extensive enrichment opportunities to enable students’ to extend their learning in something they are passionate about, try something completely new or focus on their preparations for Post-16 education or training. This is a feature of the school we are very proud of.

School Leaders work closely with the Deputy Head of School and Head of School,who will be there to support students with more complex needs and challenges.

We have a dedicated team of highly experienced Student Managers based in each school base. They are specially trained to deal with emotional and other pastoral issues, as well as providing valuable first aid. They play an important role of liasing with external agencies when required, including the school nurse; school counsellor; CAMHS and social services.

Day to day

School Uniform

The school day The school day is made up of 3 lessons, each made up of two 50 minute sections.

Assembly and Tutor time (20 minutes each day) take place at the start of each day.

Assembly or tutor time.

Learning for life 08:45-09:15 (Monday only)

08:45

Lesson 1a

09.05

Lesson 1b

09.55

BREAK

10.45

Lesson 2a

11.05

Lesson 2b

11.55

LUNCH

12.45

Lesson 3a

01.25

Lesson 3b

02.15

End of school day

03.05

Assemblies Assemblies are designed to give students a sense of belonging to a larger community, as well as an opportunity for thought and reflection.

We also use assemblies to recognise the achievement of individuals and groups within the four schools and the wider school as a whole. Parents/carers have a right to withdraw their children from assemblies, on religious grounds, although we would not recommend this.

All Varndean students wear: • Varndean School blazer • Varndean School tie • White shirt • Black school trousers/skirts • Plain black sensible footwear Dress • • • •

for religious affiliation: Varndean tunic Varndean blazer Black trousers White hijab or headscarf

School ties School ties are colour-coded depending on the school (Angelou, Russell, Turing or Ellis).

The Head Boy and Girl wear a solid silver version, with senior sudents wearing a solid colour.

Angelou

Russell

Turing

Ellis

School uniform is supplied by Khalsa Schoolwear and can be ordered online or on selected days throughout the school year.

More information: Web: www.khalsaschoolwear.co.uk Tel: 020 7729 3286

If you wish to apply to Varndean School, contact the School Admissions team: School Admissions Section, Children & Young People’s Trust, PO Box 2503, Kings House, Grand Avenue, Hove BN3 2SU. Tel: 01273 293 653 Email: schooladmissions@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Varndean School Tel: Balfour Road Fax: Brighton Email: BN1 6NP Website:

01273 561281 01273 564614 school@varndean.co.uk www.varndean.co.uk