Magdalen College School Prospectus

mAgdAlen College sCHool BRACKleY pRospeCtus

Founded 1548

WelCome from the headteacher Dear Parents and Carers Thank you for showing an interest in Magdalen College School for your child’s secondary education.

At Magdalen we aim to provide an excellent quality of education for all our students and this is exemplified through our recent successes in the GCSE examination results of the last few years in which: • Over 80% of students gained grades A*–C • Over 75% of students gained grades A*–C including English and Maths The school was recently presented with awards by the Specialist Schools Academies Trust for outstanding progress from Key Stage 2 and outstanding improvement in student achievement.

Examination success is only a part of what we value at Magdalen: we believe in providing an all-round education and our enrichment activities, extracurricular trips and foreign visits give opportunities for students to develop personally and to prepare them for their future lives. We offer an excellent level of pastoral support and our house system offers students opportunities for leadership as well as the chance to interact with students in a range of different year groups and contexts.

We hope that this prospectus will give you the information needed to make the right choices for your child’s next step.

Yours sincerely

I H Colling (Mr) Headteacher

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Welcome from the Chair of governors The Governing Body of Magdalen College School are proud of our long history of serving the local community and believe that young people learn best in a spirit of partnership between home, school and the wider community.

The Governors and staff aim for all students to be given every opportunity to realise their aspirations by developing their academic and personal potential in an enriching, stimulating and supportive environment.

Oliver, Year 7

“magdalen is a supportive and respected school. i would recommend magdalen any day.�

We are proud of our school, our students and our community. I look forward to welcoming you to Magdalen College School.

Hugh Cooper Chair of Governors

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ouR mission Members of the school community come to school each day to make a difference to the lives of young people in the Brackley area, to improve their life chances, present them with opportunities to develop as individuals and to prepare them for the lives ahead of them.

To achieve this mission our aims are: 1. To enable everyone to achieve their full potential 2. To be an outstanding school, where achievement of all pupils is outstanding, all students feel safe and behave well, brought about by outstanding teaching and leadership 3. To enable students to be healthy (physically and mentally) and active 4. To enable students to develop as individuals and to be prepared for adult life, supported by high-quality enrichment opportunities 5. To achieve high levels of engagement of stakeholders in the life of the school to support positive opportunities for all students The successful education of all our students depends on an active three way partnership between students, parents and the school. Each partner has a set of rights, responsibilities and expectations.

Eleanor Year 9

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“magdalen is an excellent school.

We are a community, i like it here. school is a place i feel safe.�

Code of Conduct Respect Responsibility

We will take responsibility for our own actions and behaviour.

Engagement

We will all be fully engaged in the learning process and behave in a way that enables everyone else to be equally engaged.

Success

We will recognise, praise and reward the efforts and successes of each other.

Preparation

We will be fully prepared for learning, arriving on time with everything we need.

Expectation

We will have high expectations of ourselves and each other and will aim to make a positive contribution to the school community.

Choice

We all have the right to make a choice and must be ready to accept the consequences (both positive and negative) that may follow.

Treatment of Others

We will show respect and fairness and will treat everyone as we would like them to treat us.

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An inspiring curriculum Our curriculum is recognised as being an outstanding element of our provision. At Magdalen students in all years follow a broad and balanced curriculum which gives them the best preparation for progressing to higher education institutions or the world of work.

It is reviewed each year to ensure that it reflects best practice and decisions are made which reflect the needs of our students in a constantly changing environment. Our students are able to start to make subject choices early in their education to enable them to focus on their strengths and develop their talents and interests.

Years 7 & 8 In addition to the standard curriculum subjects our students in year 7 have Creative Curriculum lessons.

These focus on project-based active learning which encompass subjects including Geography, Religious Education and PSHCE (Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education).

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They are also given opportunities to develop their Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills to broaden their problem solving abilities and their ability to learn independently.

Year 9 In Year 9 students start GCSE courses in RE, ICT and Languages. In Languages students have the opportunity to choose from Spanish, French or German. They also choose three areas within the Technology curriculum covering Textiles, Food Technology, Resistant Materials and Electronics to enable them to focus on in more depth in preparation for GCSE. Throughout years 7 to 9 there is a Learning to Learn and work related programme delivered through designated lessons and extended tutor periods.

Years 10 & 11 In addition to the core subjects (English, Maths, Science, Religious Education, ICT, Physical Education), students have a broad base of option subjects to choose from including:

Lucy, Year 7

“Magdalen is a great school because it helps you learn and it has a friendly welcoming environment.”

• Fine Art

• Applied Performing Arts

• Business Studies

• Lens Based Art

• Drama

• Resistant Materials

• Electronics

• Physical Education

• Music

• Graphics

• Sociology

• Food Technology

• German

• Technology Textiles

• Geography

• Child Care

• History

• Environmental & Land Based Science

• Spanish

• French

• Creative Textiles

• Workskills

• COPE (Certificate of Personal Effectiveness) GCSE Every year a selected group of students also have the opportunity to attend college to access a vocational provision.

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CARing foR ouR students It is very important that in a large school each student feels part of smaller groups within the school. Here the key person is the Form Tutor who has daily contact with students and who: • Gets to know individuals well • Helps deal with any problems • Maintains close links with home • Monitors overall progress, both academic and social The work of the Form Tutors is co-ordinated by a Leader of Learning, one for each year group. Our student support team offer advice and help to students on general and more specific issues.

enrichment Activities These are a part of every day life in our school. Most of our students participate in at least one of the many clubs that meet regularly. These cover a wide range of sport, music and creative activities. Students also have access to a wide variety of curriculum based trips and visits including trips abroad, field studies, recreational trips and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, to enhance their studies and broaden their experiences. Students benefit greatly from the enrichment activities on offer as these help to build confidence, team-working skills, knowledge and agility and they are good fun too.

Admissions 8

Our first priority is to serve children from our local community and surrounding area; however we do welcome all enquiries. We run a number of open evenings and open mornings and we would be delighted to welcome you.

Please contact the school for an application form and further information. Information is also available on our website.

siXtH foRm Magdalen College Sixth Form offers a wide range of A Level courses organised into three pathways: A2, AS and Applied GCE courses and a one year level 2 provision. Full details of courses available are in our School Sixth Form prospectus.

Our Sixth Form students fulfil a vital role within the school community offering leadership skills, support for younger students and aspiration for achievement.

Their many talents and achievements inspire us all.

Laura, Year 10

“i would recommend mCs to anyone who wants a great education. i’ve been here for four years and it’s amazing.”

For Sixth Form enquiries please use e-mail sixthformenquiries@magdalen.northants.sch.uk or www.magdalen.northants.sch.uk

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ouR HeRitAge The site now occupied by the school was originally the Hospital of St. James and St. John, founded around 1150 by Robert le Bossu, Earl of Leicester. In 1484 it was given to Magdalen College, Oxford, by 1548 there was a school at the site. The school's initial purpose was to enable pupils of the college in Oxford to escape the plague affecting Oxford at the time. In September 1973 Magdalen College School merged with the Girls Grammar School (Brackley High) and Brackley Secondary Modern School to form a new comprehensive school on two sites, while the girls' school was converted into the new SouthďŹ eld Primary school.

Many of the school buildings are listed, including the school chapel the earliest datable parts of which are late12th century. The chapel underwent a major restoration 1869–1870 by Buckeridge. It is constructed of stone rubble and is the oldest school chapel still in use in England. It remains in regular use by the school, Church of England and local community.

In January 2013 the school became an Academy to enable provision to be developed further to enhance the experience for students. Our link with Magdalen College Oxford continues today with 4 foundation governors from The College supporting our work alongside parent, staff and community governors to provide us with a broad governing body committed to supporting our work to provide an excellent education for our students now and into the future.

Further information on our history can be found on our website.

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motiVAtion Commitment suCCess

ContACt detAils Waynete Avenue, Brackley, Northamptonshire, NN13 6FB 01280 846300 generalenquiries@magdalen.northants.sch.uk

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www.magdalen.northants.sch.uk

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Magdalen College School is the trading name of Magdalen College School Brackley Academy Trust, a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales under company number 8316633 whose registered office is Magdalen College School, Waynflete Avenue, Brackley, NN13 6FB.