The school is part of the Wokingham Federation which consists of seven Secondary schools. The Federation has one of the largest consortiums of teacher training through Schools Direct. There has been a significant development in the way data is used to ensure every teacher provides a learning experience suitable to enable every individual to progress. The leadership team has been fully staffed from Easter 2013 and each member has clear roles and responsibilities for school improvement. The line management system has been simplified and restructured which means that systems of communication, monitoring and intervention are having a greater impact. STUDENT GROUPING The school sets in English, maths, and science from Year 7. In other subject areas where there are sufficient numbers for more than one class, setting is used wherever possible. Each lesson lasts for 60 minutes giving a total of 25 hours teaching time throughout the week to follow the national curriculum. CURICULUM In KS4, two pathways are offered – one with a vocational strand, the other comprises academic GCSEs. The curriculum has been reviewed with more emphasis on providing focus on basic skills in KS3 to ensure the gap is narrowed for the increasing number of lower ability students joining us. Stretching the more able has resulted in some subjects, for example separate sciences, beginning in year 9. The school EAL provision has been recognised as a centre of excellence and planning is in place to support local schools with transition programmes for EAL students. The school houses a resource unit for dyslexic students which is staffed by a fully qualified teacher and currently caters for 5 students. The school places individual students in alternative provision as appropriate and works closely with local providers to identify those students who would best benefit from off site work. The school offers a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities which includes booster sessions, sporting activities, and music and drama performances. In addition, a number of our students undertake externally certified activities such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award and Sports Leader awards. Following very successful take up, the school has been identified as a National Citizen Service (NCS) Champion school; this will mean a significant number of key stage four and five students will benefit from a full programme of residential community projects. The school provides for a range of activities in the community and houses a nationally acclaimed table tennis club, a highly regarded gymnastics club and a very popular footballing centre for local children.
Achievement and Standards: Overall Grade 2. What are we saying about ourselves Where’s the evidence? Achievement KS4 trends What does this mean we have to do? Taking account of their different starting points, the proportions of students who make or exceeded expected progress compares very favourably with national averages. Therefore results demonstrate strong progress and good achievement Grade 2- good Further improve attainment and progress of pupil premium students Further improve outcomes in year 11 A*-C (EM) for FSM, Action and action plus students Raise standards of achievement at KS5 Increase outcomes of most able by increasing A/A* to above national average