prospectus

Wade Deacon High School

Prospectus

Founded

'A Commitment to Excellence'

A Technology, Mathematics & Computing Specialist College and Training School

1507

Wade DeaconHigh School

Students make an outstanding contribution to the school and local community.

Ofsted Report March 2011

Dear Parents

Wade Deacon High School is dedicated to offering your son or daughter a very high quality education within a

well-disciplined and pleasant school environment. We provide the very best in traditional education, such as, a smart school uniform and high standards of behaviour, with a modern curriculum in an atmosphere of respect. This is delivered using up to date equipment and teaching methods to fully prepare your child for the challenges of the future. Our ‘commitment to excellence’ began more than 500 years ago, when the original grammar school was founded in 1507. The school was renamed in 1931 after Sir Henry Wade Deacon, a prominent local industrialist. Since the introduction of comprehensive co-education in 1974 our reputation for excellence has grown locally and nationally. Wade Deacon High School currently operates across two campuses on Birchfield Road and Peelhouse Lane until our new school is completed in early 2013.

EXECUTIVE HEADTEACHER’S INTRODUCTION

We believe in giving every child the opportunity to develop his or her talents to the full and we expect every pupil to work very hard in order to achieve this. We are committed to an exceptional education where tradition is respected and innovation is encouraged.

We want your child to flourish and to grow in resilience, courage, and optimism, as well as achieving their personal best in examination successes. We also trust that in their time with us, your child will have further developed their self-confidence, their respect for others and their ability to work both independently and with other people. We measure our achievements through theirs.

Yours sincerely,

Pamela Wright OBEExecutive Headteacher and National Leader of Education

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Outstanding teaching and a very rich curriculum combine to ensure that students’ learning is outstanding.


SPECIALIST COLLEGE STATUS

SCHOOLETHOS

Wade Deacon High School was awarded Specialist Technology

College Status in 2000 and re-designated with High Performing School Status (HPSS) to include a second specialism in Mathematics and Computing in 2005. In 2009, we maintained our HPSS, were awarded a third specialism of Training School and were designated a Gifted & Talented Lead School. This status was achieved because of our quest to continually improve the quality of learning and teaching for the benefit of all pupils and the community. We made a commitment to not only raise standards in the designated areas of science, computing, mathematics and technology, but to all areas of the curriculum available to pupils. In addition, we are committed to training and the life-long learning of all our members of staff and the community.

The increasing use of Information and Communication Technology has been a key factor in the recent developments of the school. Pupils and staff work side-by- side with the latest technological developments to enhance further the quality of our teaching and learning. We help pupils to develop real life solutions to real life problems, using industry standard equipment to achieve their goals.

As a major contributor to the concept of lifelong learning, we are a school that makes a difference within our community. We achieve this by engaging in collaborative projects with our community partners and sharing our resources with them.

Throughout school, pupils are encouraged to take pride in

themselves, their actions and their achievements. We have high expectations of pupils’ academic work and the manner in which they conduct themselves around the school campus and in the community beyond. An orderly and disciplined environment is a key feature of our work in school. The success of this is based on promoting and maintaining excellent standards of self-discipline, school uniform and the promotion of a sense of pride and belonging to our school.

High levels of attendance are expected throughout each year group in school so that everyone can take full advantage of

the range of curricular and extracurricular opportunities available. Levels of attainment are most easily raised when pupils attend all lessons allowing continuity of the teaching and learning environment.

Regular home-learning is an integral part of the learning culture of the school. Tasks set are intended to broaden and develop an individual’s scope for independent learning as well as reinforcing work completed during the school day. The monitoring of this takes place via Personal Organisers, which are maintained by the pupil and checked by parents and teachers.

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All groups of students, including those with special educational needs and/ or disabilities, make excellent rates of progress.


OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL

At Wade Deacon, every child matters. We pride ourselves on the provision of

personalized learning, striving at all times to ensure that every child either achieves or exceeds their potential. Therefore, we provide a variety of curriculum pathways to suit abilities, talents and needs, wherever and whenever possible.

From Year 7 to Year 11, every child’s Progress to Success is continually assessed. Four times a year and at the end of each year, their progress and attainment is evaluated and reviewed so that they are placed in the most appropriate pathway for their GCSEs. Every child is different. Therefore, to provide a flexible personalized curriculum, every child will begin their GCSE courses in Year 9. Some pupils will take their GCSE subjects over 3 years, others may be fast tracked over two years and extend their learning in Year 11 through the offer of a variety of other options to prepare them for Further Education. Most pupils will have a combination of both depending on their specific talents, gifts, abilities and needs.

finalized until after the first half term; thisenables the school to obtain all the necessary information regarding the progress of your child.

There are two curriculum pathways that run from Year 7 to Year 11: the Success Pathway and the Baccalaureate Pathway.

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THE FOUNDATION STAGE

We believe that the Foundation Stage in Years 7 and 8 is crucial to your child’s success in later life. This stage in your child’s education is designed to teach them the skills that are crucial, not just for excellent grades, but for an excellent life. Therefore, your child will be prepared, academically and socially during this time to enable them to achieve their potential in their GCSE years. We will build on the skills of literacy, numeracy, interpretation, deduction, analysis and evaluation to create learners who are independent and can approach their studies with sophistication, creativity and originality.

From Year 7, in most subject areas, pupils are placed into sets according to their KS2 scores. However, in Year 7, this is not

Every child in the Success Pathway receives personalized and small group learning to ensure that they have the necessary literacy and numeracy skills for life. In Year 7 and Year 8, they will study most of their subjects together in a caring, learning environment where they feel safe and confident enough to participate. The aim is to ensure that by Year 9, pupils can access the GCSE curriculum and achieve success.

If your child is in the Success Pathway in Year 7 and Year 8, then s/he will study all the subjects below, except that History, Geography and R.E. will be built into a thematic scheme of work that focuses on literacy and numeracy skills. As the aim is to build literacy skills, the Success Pathway will not study French.

In Success Pathway: Years 7 & 8, your child will study:

• English with Drama• Mathematics• Science• Humanities (themed approach)• Design, Music & Technology• ICT and Careers Education• Physical Education• Art• Personal, Social & Health Education• Citizenship & Enterprise

SUCCESS PATHWAY

Students develop into mature, well-rounded young people who work hard and enjoy all that the school has to offer them.


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The school successfully fosters in its students extremely positive attitudes to learning.


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Success Pathway KS4: Y9, Y10 & Y11.

Pupils in the Success Pathway will follow a very varied and personalized curriculum that enables them to achieve at least 5 good GCSEs at A*-C grades based on their talents, gifts, abilities and needs. In addition, they will take a variety of other qualifications that are built around life skills, leadership and future careers such as college courses and The Duke of Edinburgh Award. They will be able to take advantage of an intensive and aspirational Careers’ Programme which will support them into Further Education and/or the world of work. As a minimum, pupils will study the following courses*:

Success PathwayCompulsory Courses

• English GCSE• Mathematics GCSE• Personalized Life Skills course,

(equivalent up to 2 GCSEs at grade B).• A personalized GCSE Physical

Education course (either BTEC Sport; P.E. GCSE or Dance)

• Science (equivalent to 2 GCSEs)• Design and Technology GCSE• ICT GCSE

Success PathwayOption Pool: pupils select one from:

• Art• Drama• Product Design GCSE• Music (Pupils must be able to play a

musical instrument competently)

Success PathwayCompulsory Non-Exam Courses

• Citizenship & Enterprise• Personal, Social & Health Education

(PSHE)• Careers• Duke of Edinburgh Award

*the selection of courses may change owing to new developments in qualifications over time.

Ofsted (March 2011) said:

“The outstanding curriculum is exceptionally well matched to students’ needs from the moment they join the school in Year 7. Excellent transition arrangements mean that the school has ample information about students’ learning so additional support is provided immediately in literacy and numeracy for those who need it.”

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The English Baccalaureate is a highly academic qualification designed by the Government. Pupils in this pathway, in the Foundation Stage, study the following subjects:

• English with Drama• Mathematics• Science• History*• Geography*• Design & Technology**• Physical Education• Art• French• ICT and Careers Education• Citizenship & Enterprise• Personal, Social & Health Education

*Religious Education is embedded into the History and Geography curriculum.

**Music Technology will be delivered as part of the Technology curriculum. If your child is keen and enthusiastic about music and would like to learn to play a musical instrument, then the school will offer this provision which will be timetabled during the school day or during Period 6 after school. If this option is chosen, please be aware that the school would appreciate your support in ensuring that 100% of the peripatetic lessons are attended and that your child will be expected to perform, with others, at a variety of school events.


“At Key Stage 4, students follow a range of pathways, including vocational courses, which are very well tailored to their needs and aspirations.”

BACCALAUREATE PATHWAY

Baccalaureate Pathway KS4: Years 9, 10 and 11.

To achieve the English Baccalaureate qualification, a learner must attain A*-C grades in the following GCSE subjects:

• English Language• Mathematics• Science• History or Geography• A Modern Foreign Language

Other compulsory courses are:

• Physical Education• GCSE ICT• PSHE and Citizenship & Enterprise

(non-exam)

Therefore, all those pupils who are in the Baccalaureate Pathway will have good literacy and numeracy skills and continue to study the GCSE subjects above from Year 9.

Science:

Those pupils who achieve highly in Science are given the opportunity to study separate Sciences (Biology, Physics and Chemistry GCSEs) from Year 9. This is reviewed at the end of Year 9 to ensure that all pupils are on the most appropriate course to enable them to achieve their potential. All pupils will study a Science course that will allow them to attain at least 2 GCSEs in this subject.

Physical Education:

All pupils will take a qualification in Physical Education and this will be personalized to maximize your child’s strengths in this area. All pupils will experience a variety of sports such as rock climbing, swimming, table tennis, judo and the more traditional sports of netball, rounders, football and rugby. In addition, some pupils will take a Leadership Award.

Options:

Pupils will be able to choose one option from a variety of courses* such as:

• German• Business Studies• Drama• Music• Design & Technology (1 GCSE)• Design & Technology (2 GCSE)• Art• Music Technology

*Course options may change owing to new developments in qualifications and courses over time.

There are 25 lessons in a week with 5 lessons in each day. However, your child may choose to take advantage of the extra-curricular activities that are on offer in Period 6 after school, whether that be Mandarin, Music, Physical Education or any one of the plethora of activities that take place.


“Wade Deacon High School provides an outstanding education for its students and lives up to its aim of being “committed to excellence” in all aspects of its work. Students’ attainment is high and their achievement is outstanding, not only in academic terms, but also in the way they develop into mature, well rounded young people who work hard and enjoy all that school has to offer them.”

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Students behaviour is considerate, polite and courteous and their attendance is high.


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Students make outstanding progress to reach high standards.


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Students say they are valued and have equal opportunities to participate and succeed.


For those pupils designated as having special educational needs, there is a

network of support systems across the whole curriculum. Wherever possible, pupils work in mainstream classes with support, but facilities are provided for short-term individual withdrawal when appropriate. The school has a Unit for Hearing Impaired pupils who receive in-class support and the technological back-up facilities to help them overcome their impairment. Emphasis is again on mainstream integration with a programme of withdrawal for intensive individual language and speech work.

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL

NEEDS

PASTORAL CARE

The general welfare of pupils is closely monitored by the Personal

Tutor and Progress Leader. The Year 7 tutor team will remain with their form groups throughout five years and are the main point of reference for parents when contacting school.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ENRICHMENT

The success we achieve in the classroom is enhanced by a wide

range of enrichment courses which are made available to all pupils. We encourage everyone to use part of their recreation time for participation in one or more of these opportunities. Clubs and societies, clinics and extra classes are all designed to broaden the experiences of our young people outside of their compulsory curriculum diet.

SPORT & RECREATION

A full range of individual and team games is offered to boys and girls

of all age groups and abilities, with team games represented in District and County competitions. Recreation activities such as fitness programmes, self-defence classes, swimming and aerobics areavailable to complement the full range ofcompetetive team sports.

We continue a long and successful tradition of Outdoor Education with pupils involved in sailing, canoeing, climbing and abseiling. Pupils also have the opportunity to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

We have established close relationships with No.12 School

and No.1 School in Tongling, China and St. Cyprian’s Anglican School in Kumasi, Ghana. Our relationships with these schools have been particularly worthwhile, with our pupils learning about other cultures through a number of collaborative projects. Pupils from all schools have enjoyed lessons taught by teachers participating in an exchange programme.

INTERNATIONALLINKS

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We believe that much of our academic success can be attributed to the secure and supportive framework that our pastoral system provides for all pupils. By feeling comfortable in their daily work where they are free from any interruptions, pupils can concentrate 100% on fulfilling their true academic potential.

We believe it is important to celebrate the success of our pupils at every

opportunity. Systems of reward and praise

REWARD SYSTEMS

A variety of instrumental bands, orchestras and a choir are key

features of our musical arrangements. Performances are given throughout the year at a variety of events.

As drama and dance continue to grow in popularity within the curriculum, a variety of extra-curricular performances have resulted, In recent years we have produced versions of Charles Dickens’ ‘Oliver Twist’, Michelle Magorian’s ‘Goodnight Mister Tom’ and pupils have danced at the O2 Arena in London

CREATIVE ARTS

Pupils have the opportunity to participate in local and foreign

residential activities. These include venues such as:

• Conway Centre• Mediterranean Adventure Holidays• Cultural visits to Venice, Verona &

Lake Garda, Italy• Exchange visits to Tongling, China• Skiing and snowboarding in the French

Alps, USA and Canada• Outdoor pursuits in Caledonia Canal,

Scotland and Mount Famau, North Wales

• Art visits to Paris, London, Tattenhall in Cheshire and Edinburgh

RESIDENTIAL EXPERIENCES

PARENTAL SUPPORT

The successful partnership between parents, pupils and teachers is a

major contributing factor to the success of Wade Deacon. As parents you are kept continually informed about your child’s progress throughout the year. You will receive regular information about academic progress including a full written report and are given the opportunity to discuss the progress of your son or daughter with the teaching staff at a Parents’ Evening once during each academic year. We actively encourage all parents to contact us at any time to discuss a potential problem or concern they may have.

By telephoning the school in advance, an appointment can be made to meet the appropriate member of staff, as soon as possible.

Pupils have timetabled lessons throughout Years 9 -11 covering a

full range of topics helping them to make informed decisions about the choices available to them on leaving school at the end of Year 11.

Included in this programme are work related learning, careers conventions and help and advice from a network of local employers.

CAREERS, WORK RELATED

LEARNING & ENTERPRISE

feature highly within the school and acknowledgement is regularly given to those standards of work, effort, behaviour and attendance, which are considered to be excellent. Pupils’ work is displayed prominently around the school and we regularly report the achievements of our pupils in the local press and in newsletters available to all parents.

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The school is proactive in identifying areas of potential inequality and taking action to prevent discrimination and promote inclusion.


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Students receive excellent support and guidance as they approach each new stage of their education.Ofsted Report March 2011

We Believe:

- All pupils are entitled to an educational enviroment in which their individual abilities and talents are fully developed.

We Provide:

- Quality teaching to the highest standards that produces excellent examination results.

- A caring community spirit with happy and succesful pupils at its centre.

- An enviroment in which respect, courtesy and integrity towards other people abound.

We Offer:

- A wide range of extra-curricular activities with particular strengths in our Saturday boost sessions as well as our popular programmes for primary school pupils and their parents.

- Many opportunities for pupils to contribute to, and enhance the life of, our wider community.

- A variety of social activities to engage pupils of different ages, abilities and interests.

IN CONCLUSION

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Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this prospectus and the information is accurate at the time of printing.

www.wadedeacon.com

Executive Headteacher: Mrs P A Wright OBE

Head of School: Mrs J A Gormley MEd, BA, NPQH

Birchfield Road CampusBirchfieldRoad,Widnes,WA87TD

Telephone: 0151 423 2721

Peelhouse Lane CampusPeelhouse Lane, Widnes, WA8 6TE

Telephone: 0151 423 2721

prospectus

Documents

new school

specialism of training

smart school uniform

pleasant school environment

original grammar school

high quality education

gifted talented lead

high standards of behaviour