“We are a good school—ambitious to become outstanding!”

Walney School SPECIALIST

ENGINEERING

COLLEGE

Prospectus

2011—2012

Introduction

“Parents are happy with the quality of education, care

and support provided”

Dear Parents/ Carer

Welcome to the Walney School Prospectus.

Please use the information provided here to begin to learn about

Walney School. We shall be happy to answer any questions or queries

you have when you visit us, or communicate on an individual basis.

When we were inspected by Ofsted in November 2009 we received

more good grades than we had in 2006, but were disappointed to be

given a Notice to Improve. However, we are very pleased with the outcome of the

Monitoring Inspection visit which took place on Wednesday 30th June. It recognises

that the school’s progress in terms of improvement and in raising students’

achievements is satisfactory.

Much of the attention of the monitoring inspection was focused on students’ progress

in English and Mathematics, especially those with Special Educational Needs,

including the Gifted and Talented. However, the schools’ improvement work during

the last two terms has been focused on all subject areas. Therefore, the

achievements and improvement recognised reflect whole school practice:

Significant improvements in the quality of teaching.

Good practice in the use of assessment for learning techniques in lessons.

Continued school improvements based on accurate school self evaluation.

High levels of consistency in the scrutiny of students’ marked work.

Strong departmental leadership leading to rising standards.

Robust systems for monitoring the quality of teaching, learning and student

progress.

Teaching assistants contributing significantly to individual student progress in

lessons.

Good teamwork between Learning Support and subject areas to target

intervention to individual needs.

Data used to challenge students to achieve their potential.

Effective Partnership working with National Challenge and Local Authority.

The recognition of the monitoring visit marks progress on the course of our

continuous improvement to ensure that each student at Walney School achieves the

best they are capable of.

Yours sincerely

A Dickenson Head Teacher

An 11—16 comprehensive School based on

Good teaching, organisation and discipline

Within a secure and caring environment

Our School

“Walney School provides a secure, safe environment in which students

feel valued and well cared for.”

School Facilities

Walney School is an 11-16, co-educational comprehensive school and serves the island of

Walney and Barrow. We make a clear statement through our Equal Opportunities Policy

that every youngster of whatever ability, class, religion or race has unique needs and is of

equal value.

We have approximately 660 youngsters housed in a modern and maintained school.

Although this number may appear large when compared to a Primary School, our tutor

and pastoral care system enables every youngster to be listened to and valued.

We have attractive buildings on an extremely pleasant site with

extensive playing fields overlooking the sea. Facilities for

youngsters and staff are excellent and include specialist

computer rooms with connection to the Internet, science

laboratories, technology areas and a Library/Resource area.

Most departments occupy suites of rooms and benefit from the

use of our computer network.

The School has pioneered the integration of physically

disadvantaged youngsters into mainstream schooling and

has excellent support facilities to meet their needs including

access ramps and a lift

School Term 2011-2012

(provisional) Autumn Term 2011 Wednesday 7th Sept to Friday 16th December Half Term

Monday 24th to Friday 28th October Spring Term 2012 Wednesday 4th January to Friday 30th March Half Term Monday 13th to Friday 17th February

Summer Term 2012 Tuesday 16th April to Thursday 19th July Half Term Monday 4th June to Friday 8th June

Staff training days to be confirmed

School Day

Monday to Thursday 08.50-08.55 Registration 08.55-09.10 Assembly / Tutorial 09.10-10.10 Lesson 1 10.10-11.15 Lesson 2 11.15-11.30 Break 11.30-12.30 Lesson 3

12.30-13.30 Lunch 13.30-13.35 Registration 13.35-14.35 Lesson 4 14.35-15.40 Lesson 5 Friday

08.50-08.55 Registration 08.55-09.10 Assembly / Tutorial 09.10-10.10 Lesson 1 10.10-11.15 Lesson 2 11.15-11.30 Break

11.30-12.30 Lesson 3 12.30-13.30 Lunch

13.30-13.35 Registration 13.35-14.35 Lesson 4

School Activities

What Walney has to offer you and your child

Very close links between home, school and community.

Termly News Letters

A detailed Record of Achievement and up to two formal

consultation evenings a year; individual interviews at

any time

Active School - Community involvement

Frequent engagement with the members of the

community to enrich the learning of the children

An active programme of enterprise involvement.

Learning by trips and visits out of school

Regular study visits to France and German

Geography field trips to the places of interest within the

local area

One week work placement for all year 10 students and

many other opportunities for study visits

Working with Furness Learning Innovation Programme

Skiing trips to Italy

Our values are based on good teaching, organisation and

discipline within a secure and caring environment. We believe

that all pupils should feel safe and valued members of the

school community and be given every opportunity to

recognise and achieve their full potential in a wide variety of

ways.

Extra activities We believe that extra-curricular activities are an important part of school life and there

are a wide and varying range of activities on offer at Walney school.

Competitive sport

Live Performance

Outdoor Pursuits

Governors have agreed a policy on charging for certain school activities. Copies of this are available on request from the school. Voluntary contributions may be requested from parents/carers to cover the cost of visit, provided that no student is prevented from taking part through inability to pay.

“Students take good advantage of the extra curricular clubs and sports”

“Teachers who are professional, hard working and who show a strong commitment

to helping pupils achieve”

Curriculum

Key stage 3 - Years 7, 8 & 9

Key Stage 4 - Years 10 &11

National Curriculum Core subjects

National Curriculum Foundation

subjects

National Curriculum Compulsory

subjects

Drama and Guidance

Mathematics, English &

Science.

History, Geography,

Music, Design Technology,

Art, Modern Foreign

Language, P.E & ICT.

Religious Education, Sex

Education, Careers &

Citizenship.

National Curriculum Core subjects

National Curriculum Extended Core

subjects

National Curriculum Compulsory

subjects

Personal Social Education (PHSE)

and two Option Subjects

Mathematics, English,

Science & ICT

Design Technology, ICT,

Modern Foreign Language,

or Certificate of Personal

Effectiveness (COPE)

P.E, Religious Education,

Sex Education, careers &

Citizenship.

The option blocks are made up of a number of subjects which

depend upon:

Pupil choice in considering a broad and balanced curriculum

and need.

The availability of the most effective resources, including

staffing.

The option blocks usually included subjects such as :

History, Art,,Performing Arts, Cope, Media Studies

Geography, Sports Studies, including BTEC and GCSE.

Diploma subjects include: Engineering, Construction and

Society, Health & Development.

Religious Education is part of the curriculum for all pupils and is delivered as a separate

subject. Year 11 pupils will be given the opportunity to take the GCSE examination

“Good support to pupils includes a well run induction scheme for new pupils and

a comprehensive guidance programme”

School Policies

Admission Policy

As a Trust, Walney will establish its own Admissions Policy in line with the

Cumbria General Admissions Policy, which now stands. This is available on

request from the school.

Under the re-organisation of Secondary Education in Barrow, Walney’s published

admission number has been increased from 144 to 180. The school is set to grow

from 660 to 900 in number.

The school enlargement project This is now well under-way to bring up-to-date additional facilities to the school.

Attendance

The importance of attendance is shown in the introduction of Electronic

Registration and Lesson Monitoring in September 2008. This has had a positive

effect on pupils attendance which we must continue to improve.

Minimum current attendance target : 94%

Internet Safety

The safety of pupils internet /computer use is paramount for Walney School,

which employs many levels of security, both inside and online, to protect its

users and the integrity of the School Network.

The school enforces a strict ‘Acceptable Use’ Policy which the pupil and parents/

guardian must sign in order for their child to gain access to the computer

network and internet. The aim of the Policy is to ensure that pupils will benefit

from learning opportunities offered by the school in a safe and effective manner.

Any documents or policies relating to your child's education are available on

request from the school.

Plan view of Enlargement Project

Code of Conduct

Behaviour and Discipline

At Walney School we expect good behaviour from our pupils - that pupils’ attitudes

and actions contribute to effective learning in the classroom, the quality of life in

school and the functioning of the school as an orderly community. We teach our

pupils to understand what is expected of them and to respond accordingly. We

expect them to be considerate, courteous and to relate well to each other and to

adults.

During their time in school we expect pupils to take increasing

responsibility for their own actions – appropriate to their age and maturity. We

encourage them to develop self esteem, self discipline and to adhere to high

standards of behaviour which contribute to their and others’ effective learning.

The school takes a strong line on providing a safe environment for all

people and any aggressive behaviour or bullying is dealt with swiftly,

seriously and thoroughly - prospective parents and pupils can be

assured of this and are asked to support it.

Special Education Needs

Walney is a designated school for pupils with

physical/medical needs.

Pupils are fully integrated into lessons and in-class

support is given where individual education plans

require.

Non-statemented pupil benefit from a wide range of

methods of support within the bounds of

resources.

School Uniform

Walney school has a School uniform policy which applies

to all pupils, which has been led by our Pupils Council.

We do expect parents and pupils to confirm to our dress

code particularly with regard to jewellery and footwear.

For a full description

and details please see

the school web site. www.walneyschool.co.uk

“Parents receive regular information from the school and

appreciate being kept in touch”

“Consistent drive improves pupil standards of achievement”

Walney school SPECIALIST ENGINEERING COLLEGE

Sandy Gap lane Barrow-in-Furness

Cumbria LA14 3JL

Tel: 01229 471528/471349 Fax:01229 474900

Website: www.walneyschool.co.uk