Annex 2a

 

CHELMER VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL, ESSEX

Foundation Comprehensive Mixed 11-18

Headteacher: David N Franklin

Tel no.  01245 440232  Fax no. 01245 441774

Email: school@chelmer.essex.sch.uk

 

Chelmer Valley High School is the first school in Essex to acquire Engineering College (EC) status and will begin operating as an EC from September 2003. The school has worked with Essex LEA on a range of projects, particularly school improvement twinning arrangements with another Essex secondary school. It is the lead school in Mid-Essex Schools Central Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) Consortium working with others Mid-Essex schools. It is also a partner in the Essex Consortium for School Improvement, a Networked Learning Community.

 

The school proposes to use Specialist Engineering College status to raise the standards of teaching and learning in the specialist subjects: Design & Technology, Mathematics and Science at Key Stage 3, 4 and post-16 through increased use of ICT, a variety of teaching and learning styles through INSET and team teaching. It will also plan to develop an ICT tracking and assessment system to monitor students’ progress, set individual student targets together with the identification of underachieving students. The school proposes to increase the use of ICT to promote a wider variety of and learning styles, INSET and development of ICT tracking and assessment systems to monitor student progress. In Maths the school will continue to provide lunchtime classes and independent study facilities with additional curriculum time for out of hours learning opportunities for their top ability group. The school will also offer booster lessons, revision classes and targeting minimum coursework grades for each teaching group to raise student expectation of their own coursework marks.

 

The school aims to develop stronger cross-curricular links between D+T, mathematics and science through engineering and science days together with plans to offer early entry GCSE in D&T, followed by engineering research projects in Year 11 to enhance Gifted and Talented provision and the promotion of engineering and design and technology at post-16 as a career route, particularly for girls.

 

Existing links with the River Chelmer Partnership, the Chelmer Valley’s seven feeder primary schools will be enhanced by its specialist school status. In particular, it will promote engineering based skills in the primary schools through problem solving and extended days in engineering related subjects and through the use of ICT. This will include provision of 2D design software and INSET, design skills day for Year 6 pupils and the installation of software in partner schools. Provision for the Gifted and Talented includes a 3 day workshop for Year 8 students in science. Proposals for Post-16 enrichment activities include CAD/CAM, electronics and materials science.

 

Work with the wider community includes ICT and e-learning, the use of design technology solutions to enable the elderly residents of a sheltered housing complex to access ICT resources and extend their ICT skills. Students will tutor the elderly and design a website for the housing complex. The school also plans to provide Literacy and Numeracy classes to address the needs of the local Travellers group, including help with the driving theory tests.

 

There are strong links with sponsors, including the Old Forge Engineering, Imagistics International and Essex Economic Partnership and plans to involve them and other local employers in the school’s enrichment activities and to make use of professional engineers and technologists to provide mentoring for talented D&T students.


 

Kesgrave High School, Suffolk

Comprehensive Community Mixed 11-18

Headteacher: George Thomas

Tel no. 01473 624855  Fax no. 01473 612317  E mail:  office@kesgrave.suffolk.sch.uk

 

The school will operate as a Technology College from September 2003 and is at the centre of a very large, new and still growing, housing development. Technology College status will enable the school to explore a range of qualifications appropriate to 14 – 18 age group and to deliver a mix of practical learning approaches which meet the needs of local schools and the various communities it serves.

 

The school pioneered a three day period to deliver the curriculum and having  proved popular with staff and pupils alike, with a positive impact on standards, teaching and learning strategies, and behaviour. In addition it has given students many opportunities to enhance both individual and group learning and to developing their skills as learners. Other schools in the county have restructured their timetable likewise and others are considering adopting Kesgrave’s approach. Kesgrave will continue to invest in ICT to provide motivation for pupils (particularly boys) across the curriculum alongside targeting underachieving/disaffected students and to develop further “Active Learning” across both school and the wider community.

 

The Maths department will take steps to increase pupils achieving A* and A grades, motivate gifted and talented pupils via entry to UK Maths Challenge alongside increased use of a range of  “Out of Classroom” experiences such as trips to Ipswich Town Football Club to challenge and encourage Yr 11 A Level students. In tandem with a local business the department will develop a Key Stage 4 database to track pupils’ estimation skills and reaction times. In Science a new Ecology Centre with plant science provision will be open to secondary pupils including partner schools, plus accommodating visits from primary pupils. Design & Technology will run a mix of lunchtime and after school clubs and enhance virtual learning opportunities. Significantly, it will also promote the image of women in engineering via visits by female engineers; promoting a contemporary image of engineering using sophisticated CAD/CAM packages and targeting gifted and talented Yr 9 girls for a “Day in the World of Work” Engineering experience. In addition, primary aged pupils will work with Yr 12 students at Kesgrave’s ICT Centre to help develop ICT skills alongside aiding transition. 

 

Reflecting the school’s commitment to Lifelong Learning, ICT and internet related courses will be offered to over-50’s creating a Kesgrave based “Silver-Surfers” community. The school will also train staff of local sheltered housing so they can open up ICT options to their residents. Year 12 students will be involved in developing a web site for Martlesham Parish Council and project which will be extended to other interested organisations. A large number of parents work at the nearby BT research laboratories, Martlesham Heath and the school has a good range of links with this major employer.


Howden School, East Ridings of Yorkshire

Community Comprehensive Mixed 11-18

Headteacher: Mr Roger Burman.

Tel no. 01403 430870    Fax no. 01430 432435

Email: howdenschool@hs.eril.net

 

The school will operate as a Technology College from September 2003 and is situated in a small rural market town of Howden in the south–western corner of East Riding. Howden School was identified by OfSTED as a rapidly improving school and Technology College status will enable the school to  accelerate further school improvement.

 

The school will be involved in collaborative support for teaching and learning in D&T, Science, Mathematics and ICT in its own feeder primary schools, including staff training, clubs and summer schools and on-line support in the specialist subjects. The Science faculty currently offers opportunities for pupils to participate in “Women in Industry” alongside looking at ways to raise achievement of girls at KS 4 through involvement in competitions to improve learners’ confidence and twilight sessions for parents and students examining learning techniques. Parents also have the opportunity to accompany pupils on field trips.  Howden will also offer alternative accreditation for lower performing pupils in the school’s on–site Inclusion unit, alongside offering diversification at KS 4 for most able students, including restructuring of science timetable to facilitate industry links. The school will become a centre of excellence serving a consortium of local specialist schools, plus the local and wider East Riding communities and will offer training in the new Design Centre for primary school staff, local businesses and community groups.

 

Traditionally, there have been few employment opportunities beyond agricultural based and community provision will seek to address this by putting in place CAD/CAM introductory courses and ICT courses for returners to work, including via the “Something for ME” project which aims to reduce barriers for women returning to work, food hygiene courses for the community and small businesses and support for the local RSPB reserve by pupils using school design and make facilities. In conjunction with Community Education, Boothferry, the school currently offers a ”Drop-in” Family Internet Class and the school will also be appointing a Community ICT link co-ordinator and trainer who will provide services and training to a wide range of local community groups.

 

Sponsors include MFI UK Ltd, Smith & Nephew and a range of local technology and engineering based firms who offer a mix of curriculum support and will be looking to extend this focus particularly at Key Stage 4, and building on existing work experience programmes for pupils and staff. In addition, The Press Association of Britain and Ireland (Northern Division) is locating its Operating Centre in Howden and this opens up a range of exciting opportunities for a partnership between the school and PA, including access to cutting edge media technology ICT facilities, training and employment opportunities in a field new to the area.

 

 

SKIPTON GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL, NORTH YORKSHIRE

Voluntary Controlled Girls 11-18

Headteacher: Mrs Janet Renou

Telephone: 01756 707800   Fax no. 01756 701068

Email: sghs@sghs.org.uk

 

The school is situated on the western edge of Skipton in the Craven area and will start operating as an Engineering College from September 2003. Approximately 25% of students apply each year for degree courses in the specialist subject areas, Mathematics, Science, Technology and in engineering. 

 

The school plans to raise the standards in the specialist subjects and broaden the curriculum, provide INSET in teaching strategies for weaker pupils and use ICT for teaching and learning to improve motivation. In particular, to breaking the gender stereotypes in engineering, focusing on the ‘high tech’ and to contribute to national balance of girls' take-up of engineering supported by WISE. It plans to introduce new Vocational GCSE in Engineering during 2003/4 in collaboration with Rolls Royce. The school also plan to make places available to Sixth Formers from Ermysted’s Boys’ School. The broadened post-16 curriculum will emphasise business and enterprise as it relates to engineering. There are plans to liaise with university partners to ensure Key Stage 3 pupils in the top sets will participate in the World Class Tests in Mathematics and Problem Solving and will have enhanced access to ICT by the provision of kit for whole class interactive teaching in Maths rooms.

 

Work with partner schools include identifying and make provision for Gifted and Talented students at Key Stage 2/3 in the specialist subjects, ensuring boys and girls performance is equal. Students will also attend Saturday club and virtual Summer School. Plans to work with wider community include working with the TTA to provide members of the wider community with an interest in teaching opportunity to further interest and for suitably qualified candidates to gain QTS through the GTP. Plans also include providing certified CAD courses for employees in small business, self-employed and those returning to work, plus ICT course for the 60+ age group 

 

Through its links with Bradford University (British partner), the school is involved in the Science and Technology Impact on Household Electrical and Electronic Appliance Design ‘STEAD’ project funded by the EU under its programme of ‘IMPROVING.” It is intended to contribute to educational standards across the Continent and forms part of the European Week of Science and Technology in November 2003. The school also has links with the University of Edinburgh’s School of Engineering and Electronics

 

Sponsors include Skipton Building Society, Rolls Royce and Silentnight Holdings and Skipton Mechanics Institute.

 

 

Villiers High School, LB of Ealing

Community Comprehensive Mixed 11-16

Headteacher: Ms Juliet Strang.

Tel no. 0208 813 8001   Fax no. 0208 571 9260

Email: julietstrang@akhter.com

 

The school will operate as a Technology College from September 2003 and will serve an area with multiple deprivation where many pupils enter school with KS2 SATS results well below the national average. Technology College status will enable students to strive to excel in Maths, Science, D&T and ICT enhancing students core and extra curricular activities, plus working with primary feeder schools alongside Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College promoting continuity and progression at post-16, plus extending opportunities and courses available to adults locally. The school places importance on the continuous professional development for teachers, recognised as a strength of the school in an OfSTED inspection earlier this year.

 

The D&T faculty plans to develop a vocational GCSE in Catering, including new approaches in the Food Technology syllabus including links with FE colleges alongside developing links with industrial food producers. The ICT department intends putting in place exchanges focussing on ICT technologies in action including at BA, BAA and Taylor Woodrow, plus inviting pilots, engineers, software systems managers to meet students and share expertise and extend work experience opportunities. In Science, the school will look at ways of raising attainment, learning needs, learning materials and teaching strategies with a view to considering their impact on female students. In mathematics, Villiers will participate in “MOTIVATE” organised by Goldman Sachs involving solving problems in mathematics with other schools set by an Academic from Cambridge University via video link. Pupils return to school to consider how to solve the problem and as a team return to give a solution via a video link.

 

The School runs “email partners” enabling pupils from very different backgrounds at Villiers and a high performing girls’ school to exchange views and develop communication skills in science. Proposals also include creating a video linked debating club for Gifted and Talented pupils allowing them to debate current ethical issues in Science. The school also has a long tradition of providing evening ICT courses for parents and a priority for the school will be the provision courses for unemployed adults and employed adults doing low paid, low skills work with local, flexible, easy access provision enabling them to achieve qualifications in ICT. Plans also include creating a CISCO Academy offering accredited courses in Computer Maintenance and Networking.

 

Major sponsors include BAA Heathrow and Goldman Sachs Bank USA and the school also has well established links with a mix of industry, local organisations and charities. Community activities include in tandem with

 

British Airways Learning Centre and Science and Design and Technology facility presentation of a project including a performance and exhibition about the life and histories of refugee students called ”Migrating Swallows.” 

 

The school working with BAA will offer BAA employees ICT training, plus accredited courses in budget management, numeracy and mentoring of senior staff. Through the Somalian Youth Project the school is also supporting the education of parents and young people to help them raise attainment levels and develop good relations with the local Somalian community.  

 

Cheslyn High School

 

Cheslyn High School is an 11-19 mixed comprehensive community school situated in the south of Staffordshire near Walsall.  It is larger than most secondary schools with catchments area that include Cheslyn Hay and the surrounding area, and in particular Shareshill, Featherstone and Essington. 

 

Cheslyn High School can already boast a good standard of achievements in GCSE PE with A-C scores above national average aims to improve participation rates and levels of attainment further.  It has large numbers of pupils achieving high standards in a range of sports at county and national levels and is committed to providing further opportunities for students to gain accredited qualifications in PE and sport related courses.  The school will also undertake lead work in the area of gifted and talented performance.

 

Cheslyn High aims to develop opportunities for Adults Other Than Teachers to become involved in the provision of PE and sport through a structured Adult Education programme.  The school will provide greater opportunities for young disaffected people in the community in conjunction with community officer and develop health and reduce anti-social behaviour within the community through the creation of sustainable partnerships with external agencies, including South Staffordshire Health Authority.

 

As the third Sports College in Staffordshire, the Cheslyn High School’s designation as Sports College will form part of the LEA’s strategy for developing PE and sport in the county and will host a School Sports Co-ordinator Partnership.  The school is already part of the West Midlands consortium of schools assisting in the provision of Initial Teacher Training.

Chew Valley School, Bristol (11-18 mixed, Community, Comprehensive)

 

The School plans to raise standards of achievement in the arts at all Key Stages and to extend curricular opportunities with increased subject enrichment, out of hours learning and business links, and to increase participation in the arts, especially post-16.

 

Plans for the performing arts include: increasing access to music ICT for all pupils; strengthening music composition and ICT skills for Year 11 pupils through workshops at Bath Spa University; developing cross-curricular cultural projects in music (Asian, South American and African); developing topics in drama to stimulate boys’ interest and participation (eg circus skills, physical theatre and stage fighting); providing performance and technical theatre workshops in conjunction with Bath Theatre Royal and Bristol Old Vic Theatre School; introducing a Technical Theatre Module at Key Stage 5 focusing on lighting and sound; using the performing arts as teaching and learning tools across the whole curriculum (eg drama in Science and puppet shows in modern foreign languages); introducing dance GCSE and dance courses post-16; providing opportunities for working with arts professionals; and accommodating work experience placements in the performing arts industries.

 

Plans for working with other schools include: providing workshops in music technology for gifted and talented secondary pupils and workshops in music composition for partner primary pupils; establishing a dance residency with a local dance company to work with partner primary schools – culminating in schools’ participation in the Chew Valley Dance Festival; and providing INSET in music, dance and drama for staff at partner schools in conjunction with Bristol Old Vic and Bath Theatre Royal.  Plans for working with the wider community include: providing taster sessions on confidence building through performing arts for people with mental health problems; developing intergenerational projects in the performing arts with young people and elderly people working together with professional artists to create performance pieces. 

 

West Midlands

 

King Charles 1 School (Science)

 

King Charles 1 School is a co-educational, comprehensive school in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, with about 970 pupils aged between 13 and 18. The school has the support of local businesses including GKN plc and Midshire Business Systems Ltd.

 

The School plans to raise standards of attainment at Key Stages 3 and 4 in science subjects and mathematics by mentoring underachievers, increased use of ICT (e.g. data logging, internet and whiteboards), providing CPD training for staff at Key Stages 3 and 4, sharing ‘good practice’ sessions between staff; and appointing extra staff to target particular groups and work with feeder schools. The School plans to work with the University of Birmingham in providing talks on various aspects of physics, chemistry and biosciences; organising Researchers in Residence type activities and Nuffield Bursaries; and providing themed workshops for the School and its partner schools.

 

As part of its community programme, the school plans to work with Wyre Forest District Council to set up a waste management and recycling scheme; runs courses for adults in GCSE astronomy (GCSE), an RHS course in horticulture, and A level chemistry and physics; and promote enrichment opportunities for partner schools through the provision of masterclasses.

 

Yorkshire & Humberside

 

Tapton School (Science)

Tapton School is a large 11-18 co-educational comprehensive school in Sheffield with about 1,500 pupils on roll. It is a Beacon School and part of an EIC partnership. In 2001 the science department was awarded ‘lead department’ status under the EIC initiative.

 

The School plans to raise standards of attainment at Key Stage 4 by increasing Y10 science curriculum time; focusing on an investigative approach to science to improve pupils’ practical skills, coursework assessment and motivation; and developing schemes of work to target the least and most able pupils. The School also plans to introduce Applied Science vocational GCSE or GNVQ Intermediate Science; AS science for public understanding; and provide a science teaching input to A level general studies

 

Community plans include working with teachers from the partner schools to develop a wide range of problem solving activities into teaching schemes for Key Stage 1/2 pupils; providing science lectures for adults to promote the role of science in society; and providing training for science technicians in all secondary schools in the city.

 

London

 

Bishop Ramsey CofE Voluntary Aided Secondary School (Science)

Bishop Ramsey CE VA Secondary School is a mixed, split site comprehensive school situated between Ruislip and Eastcote in the north of the London Borough of Hillingdon.  It draws pupils from a wide area and is regularly over-subscribed.

 

Bishop Ramsey’s application is based on a good vision for building on the strengths of the two specialist departments, and on developing a community link which has not previously existed because of the wide nature of the schools’ catchment area. It has good range of partner schools.

 

The school has comprehensive plans to raise overall attainment with an emphasis on the improvement in teaching and learning.  It plans to develop a suitable curriculum for the disaffected.  Community plans include working with the local Sikh School to discuss the link between science and faith; providing in-class support to a local school and currently in special measure; providing courses in numeracy for adults; and providing a series of lectures on the overlap between science and religion.

 

Grey Coat School (Science and Maths & Computing)

Grey Court School is a Beacon comprehensive school in the London Borough of Richmond. It caters for about 1,000 boys and girls aged between 11 and 16. It is the first school in the country to be awarded Science and Maths & Computing College status.

The School plans to raise standards of attainment at Key Stages 3 and 4 in science subjects and mathematics and computing by developing current content based schemes of work; sharing good practice through lesson observation and team teaching; mentoring C/D borderline pupils and those at risk of disaffection to include coursework clinics and extra curricular lessons; develop differentiated work schemes for pupils with SEN; and increase the use of ICT software to support learning and development.

Community plans include working with partner schools, including two SEN schools, by offering demonstration lessons; the provision of master classes; shared use of ICT equipment; and the provision of on-line taster courses to support Key Stage2/3 transition. Support for the community includes providing courses on Public Understanding of Science, Astronomy, Environmental Science GCSE, Financial Management and ICT. Grey Court School will work in partnership with local businesses to enhance work-based experiences for pupils and set up mentoring programmes.

The school also has a strong involvement with initial teacher training and acts as a professional development centre taking trainee teachers from wide range of backgrounds.

Queen Elizabeth’s School is a 13-18 Church of England voluntary controlled mixed comprehensive upper school serving the small town of Wimborne Minster and a very large rural area to the north and east.  The School’s GCSE PE 5+ A*-C results in 2001-02 were well above school average and improving over three years. 

 

Queen Elizabeth’s School aims to provide a centre of excellence for PE and Sport for all pupils aged 5-19 in the East Dorset area, as part of LEA coordinated Sports College strategy.  It will enhance opportunity for elite performers through the provision of high level coaching and progression routes, whilst focusing on Healthy Lifestyles and Life Management for all students.  It will work with its family of schools and secondary partners to raise student attainment by promoting mentoring, coaching and self esteem through provision and partnership with the Primary Care Trust.

 

Aiming to contribute to this largely rural community, the school worked closely with the local council and other agencies to identify very specific and focused community needs and gaps in provision and developed some high quality, diverse and exciting sports provisions that will bring significant support from the local council and care services.  It will use sport as a vehicle to promote inclusion as part of a coordinated, multi agency strategy and improve the sporting futures for all groups, especially the disadvantaged across the rural community.  It will provide training and development opportunities for teachers and Adults other than Teachers, including initial teacher training, governing body coaching awards and providing of routes into higher level qualification.

 

REDHILL SCHOOL, DUDLEY

 

 

Redhill School becomes the first designated Language College in the local education authority of Dudley.  The School is located near the centre of Stourbridge, a town in the industrial West Midlands.  

 

The School is a large mix comprehensive with pupils aged 11 to 16.  The school draws its pupils from some 19 primary schools.  The socio-economic profile of the areas surrounding the school varies.  Some parts are more advantaged than average while others are above average levels of disadvantage.  Some eight per cent of pupils come from ethnic minority backgrounds.

 

The School offers a range of foreign languages at various levels, including French, German, Spanish and Urdu.  There is a strong exchange link with a school in Dusseldorf, Germany and intends developing links with France and Spain.  

 

The School has established a firm partnership with the Black Country Learning Council’s Network for Excellence 14-19 Pathfinder which is committed to supporting the delivery of Modern Foreign Languages in the Black Country.  

 

They intend to offer twilight and evening classes to provide courses which would lead to GCSE or equivalent for adults in the community for French, Spanish, German and Italian.  And also provides courses which leads to qualifications in business language usage in French, German and Spanish.  It will offer excellent ICT facilities and expertise for the development of language skills, some of which may be on-line.

 

Sandringham School, St Albans, (Community, Comprehensive 11-18 mixed)

 

The School’s application for specialist (performing and visual) Arts College status formed part of an associated application for specialist school status with two other local secondary schools. The School, already awarded Artsmark Gold, plans to use the arts to raise standards in a range of curricular areas at all Key Stages; to raise standards of literacy at Key Stages 3 and 4; and to develop creativity and emotional intelligence.

 

Plans for the visual arts include: running an “Art for Hire” scheme for local shops and businesses and encouraging greater use of ICT hardware and software in arts courses to motivate boys. Plans for the performing arts include: introducing boy friendly dance genres (e.g. street, break, salsa);linking dance students with lecturers at De Montfort University; introducing a drama module into Year 9 and encouraging early entry to GCSE drama; arranging a festival of GCSE and A2 level drama work at a local theatre, with cross curricular links to dance, music and the visual arts; working with Middlesex University to provide masterclasses for PGCE students and INSET for drama teachers; enabling drama students to work with professional standard theatre ICT and form a stage production group; introducing opera as a musical form by holding master-classes, workshops, recitals and events focussing on opera for young people and producing and performing a children’s opera. All Year 7 pupils will have keyboard experience to encourage increased take-up of GCSE music and pupils in Year 9 will study song-writing, practical and composition work and music in advertising. Pupils at all Key Stages will have access to music technology, with workshops and residencies in music technology, composing, voice, string, wind, steel pan, Gamelan, African drumming and Indian music.

 

Plans for working with the community include: hosting a visual arts summer school for partner primary and secondary schools with workshops in textiles, ceramics, photography and print-making; offering secondary partners AS dance and a BTEC module in the performing arts with training in, and support for, technical theatre; providing workshops in music technology and keyboard for primary partners; holding dance classes in partner primary schools, culminating in a dance display; and providing opera classes for staff from partner schools; providing mixed craft courses(e.g. water colour, ceramics, graphics and publicity, theatre photography, prop-making and mask-making) for adults in conjunction with a range of arts organisations and technical stagecraft courses leading to accreditation; establishing a community theatre to stage pantomimes and musicals; termly workshops for members of the local community will be offered in steel pan, Caribbean, singing, keyboard, opera and music technology; and evening classes in street dancing and salsa.

 

ST AIDANS ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL 

 

 

St Aidans is the first designated Language College in the local education authority in Sunderland.  The school is an 11-18 VA Catholic comprehensive school for boys.  It is located in a residential area south of the centre of the city of Sunderland and draws its pupils from the whole city of Sunderland.  There is a social and economic mixture, with pupils coming from a range of backgrounds.  A significant number come from areas where unemployment rates are high. 

 

Following the decline of traditional industries in Sunderland, much regeneration has been concentrated in high- technology and international businesses, including significant Japanese investment.  The School has the support of the Excellence in Cities partnership and is also working in close partnership with the LEA MFL advisor and the Comenius Centre, contributing to initiatives for gifted and talented pupils and hosting events.

 

The two main languages taught are French and Spanish.   There are plans to offer German in Years 5 & 6, Italian and Japanese for the gifted and talented after school or breakfast classes and introduce British Sign Language.

 

 

The Bradbourne School, Sevenoaks (Visual Arts) – GO Region South East

 

As a specialist Arts College, The Bradbourne School in Sevenoaks plans to upgrade its visual arts facilities and enhance teaching and learning in the arts for the benefit of its own pupils and for the benefit of other schools and the wider community.

 

Plans for the School include: INSET and professional placements to develop staff’s art expertise; fast tracking of the most able Year 7 pupils to GCSE in Art & Design; and extending the choice of arts options available at GCSE and Post 16. Pupils will also have greater access to study visits, with art gallery trips for all Key Stage 3 pupils and visits abroad at Post 16 level, and will benefit from presentations by visual arts related businesses such as product designers and photographers.

 

Plans for working with other schools include: INSET for staff on a range of topics such as digital photography; the appointment of an Advanced Skills Art Teacher to undertake outreach work; enrichment activities including masterclasses and artists in residence; and an annual exhibition involving partner primary schools. Proposals for the wider community include: launching a community art gallery which local groups can use for exhibitions; running courses to meet identified needs eg a painting and drawing class for elderly people; and creating an Artists Resource Centre.

 

WILMSLOW HIGH SCHOOLCHESHIRE LEA/ GO N.W.

 

Wilmslow High School is a co-educational school in Wilmslow, Cheshire, with about 1600 pupils on role aged between 11 and 18.  The school has the support of local businesses and clubs including The Wilmslow Arts Group and various local sporting clubs.

 

Wilmslow High School plans to improve levels of attainment and participation rates in PE and sport in order to improve academic standards for students of all abilities.

 

The school plans on increasing leadership skills in the school through using activity within the PE programme.  This would be attained by running Junior Sports Leadership Award and Community Sport Leadership Award courses for students, who will then be able to organise inter-house competitions and work with the schools’ partner schools

 

Wilmslow High School plan to run a series of programmes aimed at various community groups, including “Fitness for the Retired” which will be held at the local youth centre.

 

WOOLSTON SCHOOL

 

Woolston School is an 11-16 mixed comprehensive.  It is situated on the eastern edge of Southampton.  It is within easy reach of three international airports and the ferry port of Portsmouth.  International trade and the tourist industry plays an important role in the city’s economic life.  The City Council has strong cultural and economic links with partner areas in France, Germany and China which are reflected in the school’s plans.

 

The school serves an urban area with most pupils coming from a large local primary school.  There is a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds to its pupils, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Only 2.5% of pupils come from ethnic minority families.    

 

The school is part of the 14-19 Pathfinder initiative and works closely with the LEA particularly in the use of ASTs and consultants.

 

The school participates in joint annual German exchanges open to years 9 and 10 and French exchanges open for years 8 and 9.  Language clubs for both French and German on weekly basis open to students in KS3.  Attendance is encouraged through use of reward and prizes.  Spanish has been recently introduced as a third language choice.  The strong links with a post – 16 college will enable students to study Mandarin (two small pilot groups have gained OCLN accreditation from 2001-2003).    

 

The school will share good practice in language teaching with their partner schools and language learning opportunities to the wider community. They intend to become a centre of excellence for language teaching in the city and train teachers for the future.