Chiltern Edge School Prospectus 2014-15

5/20/2018 Chiltern Edge School Prospectus 2014-15

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Prospectus 2014/15

Chiltern EdgeSchool

A happy and harmonious schoolChiltern Edge School

Reades Lane, Sonning Common, Reading, Berkshire, RG4 9LN

Vision Statement

The community as a whole will be proud of the school and will regard it

as a valued resource. It will be the school of first choice for the majority

of children in local primaries and will be recognised as a school with

high standards and high expectations of all. Students and their parents

will play an increasingly significant role in influencing the future ofChiltern Edge School.

Students learning experiences during and beyond the school day will

challenge and excite them as they prepare for adult life in an ever

changing world. Academic success will be balanced by opportunities to

shine in sports, the Arts and community service. Decisions they make

about their futures will be well judged and will make the most of their

skills and interests.

The school will continue to attract high quality staff who will make the

most of the opportunities to enhance their skills and extend

themselves professionally. They will enjoy working at the school and

will continue to explore best practice and improve on previous best.Through their efforts the school will continue to develop as a vibrant

learning community.


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Welcome toChiltern EdgeSchool

We are very proud of our school and the achievements of our students. We look forward to showing you round!

Chiltern Edge is a very distinctive and vibrant community. We believe that as the smallest

secondary school in Oxfordshire and Reading we offer a very supportive learning

environment. This enables teachers to know their students well and each young person to

feel that they can succeed and make their own contribution to school life.

Whatever your priorities, we believe that Chiltern Edge would be a very positive choice

for your child. We offer outstanding pastoral care, a competitive academic curriculum

with excellent exam results and a wide range of sporting and artistic extra-curricular

activities. As an International School we recognise the importance of an outward

looking and culturally diverse education. Community Service is a key aspect of life in

our school. The brilliant work of our Houses in fundraising for their chosen charitiesand the campaigning of our active Amnesty International group demonstrates how

Chiltern Edge students learn the importance of making a significant contribution to the

world they want to grow up in. The efforts of our anti-bullying Power Group were

recently recognised nationally when they received the prestigious Diana Award.

Thank you for considering Chiltern Edge as a choice for your son or daughter. I hope that you will take the opportunity to visit us

on our Open Evening and Open Mornings in the Autumn term to see what we have to offer. Of course we also conduct tours

throughout the school year and these can be arranged by contacting our Receptionist.

Daniel Sadler, Head Teacher

Chiltern Edge is located on a spacious eleven hectare site on the edge of Sonning

Common Village. Most of our well drained sports pitches are located in the South

Chilterns AONB. The school regularly hosts large sporting events such as the South

Oxfordshire primary school cross country series. We have excellent sports facilities

including a full size sports hall, tennis courts, gymnasium, fitness training room

and squash courts.

Over ten million pounds has been spent on our site over the last decade.

Upgraded facilities include;

Performing Arts block with professional standard Dance and

Drama studios.

Dedicated Design Technology suite with specialist rooms for Food,

Textiles and Resistant Materials.

Modern Foreign Languages suite

School library

New school reception and meeting rooms

Upgraded Science labs

The school has a state of the art wireless network and computer technology is

a regular feature of learning from programming in PC suites to composing

music on mini iPads.

We have a full size lecture theatre with excellent AV equipment. This space is

used regularly for activities as wide ranging as House assemblies, visiting

speakers and the daily lunchtime Film Club. The school is wheelchair friendly

which underlines our commitment to working in partnership with the

co-located Bishopswood Special School and to making the school site

accessible to the whole community.

SchoolSite

Students are prepared

well for the next stage of

their education, training

or employment

- Ofsted Report

The Head teacher provides

highly effective leadership

- Ofsted Report

Students view the school

as safe and secure

- Ofsted Report


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Support forlearning

At Chiltern Edge we aim to give every

learner the challenge and support they

need to make outstanding progress.

We conduct a comprehensive testing

programme on entry to ensure that we

know the potential of our year 7 students.

Challenging but achievable targets are set

for each subject and these are tracked

carefully. Students who hit their targets

early have them uplifted to ensure they

maintain momentum.

Teachers work hard to plan and deliver

interesting and varied lessons which

stretch and engage the whole class.

Intervention programmes and one to

one support ensure that students who

fall behind have the help they need to

get back on track.

Our GATE programme identifies and

engages students who show high ability

in one subject or across the curriculum.

A regular programme of extra learning

opportunities such as Maths Challenges

and external visits is designed to help

these pupils aim for the top. Teachers

regularly organise activities in lessons

which take learning to another level for

GATE students. In Year 11 our PORTAL

programme has a strong track record in

helping more able students hit the top

grades. We regularly consult with GATE

students to ensure that they are

receiving the support they want.

In our Curriculum Support Department

a team of highly trained teachers and

teaching assistants work with

numerous external experts such as

Educational Psychologists to ensure

that students with SEND receive both

the academic and the pastoral help that

they need to be happy and successful.

The school provides strong support for

independent on-line learning through

excellent software packages such as

Doddle, SAM Learning and GCSE Pod.

These enable students and parents to

focus on the particular areas where

pupils need extra help or challenge.

Parents are kept well informed through

detailed progress sheets and annual

written reports.

Regular Learning Review and Subject

Teacher evenings give opportunities for

face to face conversations. Heads of

House, Tutors and Teachers meet

much more regularly with parents when

there are concerns about progress on

either side.

Throughout the school, Careers

education and work related learning

have a high profile.

This programme starts as early as Year

7 and builds to a very focused series of

guidance events in Year 11. Chiltern

Edge students move on to a wide

variety of destinations ranging from

those who gain entry to Oxbridge and

Russell Group Universities after A Level

to others who move straight into

employment through apprenticeships

with local and national employers.

Our four Houses Draco, Lyra,

Orion and Pegasus are small

communities of around 125

students led by an

experienced Head of House.

They are designed to ensure

that every student can access;

1. Skilled pastoral care

2. Academic challenge and

mentoring

3. Community activities such as

charity fundraising

4. Opportunities to compete for

the House in Sports and

other competitions

5. Student leadership roles

The Tutor groups meet for twenty

minutes at the end of each day to

review learning and focus on our

SEAL curriculum (Social and

Emotional aspects of Learning).

During this time the House Council

will also meet and other House

business such as the organisation of

sports teams takes place.Formal

House assemblies take place once

per week and range from House

celebration events to talks from

senior staff and presentations from

external speakers. Whole year group

assemblies take place periodically to

focus on specific topics such as

Option choices and Year 7 Camp.

Students who benefit from an

especially nurturing environment also

receive excellent support and care in

our Curriculum Support Department

where the school Power Group

is based.

The Heads of House are supported by a strong t eam of specialist non-teaching staff

including our Attendance Officer, Pastoral Manager, Counsellor, Careers Co-ordinator

and a full time School Nurse.

Students are all part of a vertical tutor group containing around five pupils from each

year in the school. This arrangement helps to build cohesive relationships between

students of different ages and, for example, benefits new Year 7 pupils by giving them

support from older mentor prefects in their own group.

HouseSystem

Improvements in

students outcomes

can be attributed to

a well-planned and

evolving curriculumthat is designed to

meet their needs

- Ofsted Report

A positive atmosphere

permeates the school

- Ofsted Report


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A comprehensive programme of extra-curricular visits is

designed to enrich the experiences of our pupils and to

bring their learning to life. Of course, we retain the core of

traditional residential opportunities such as the German

Exchange to Hollfeld, Year 7 camp in Henley, trips to

Kilvrough Outdoors Centre, the geography field visit to

Yenworthy and the Austrian Ski trip whilst many more have

been added in recent years.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award programme in Year 9 brings

opportunities for expeditions in the South Chilterns and in

recent years a wide range of Performing Arts visits to

workshops and performances in the West End has inspired

our students. Another highlight in Year 7 is the day trip to

Boulogne with the legendary visit to a chocolate factory!

We aim to ensure that many trips are affordable and

accessible to all students and we work with parents to help

spread the costs when they do arise.

Sport

For many students, the most memorable and formative events

in school take place outside the classroom. At Chiltern Edge

we are passionate about getting every student involved in the

wider life of the school.

We participate in a huge range of sports fixtures ranging from

Rugby and Netball to Canoeing and Triathlon In a small school

like Chiltern Edge every student has the chance of being

involved in a team if they want to. Chiltern Edge students

perform at the highest level. For instance, in 2014 one of our

girls captained the Wales U16 Football team, our Head Boy

achieved a place in the Wasps Rugby Academy and three

students were County Champions in Athletics.

Former students have gone on to Olympic and National

representation in a range of sports including Sam Townsend,

current World Cup champion in Rowing and Fran Kirby who is

part of the England Football squad. After school clubs,

practices and fixtures take place on a regular basis.

All students are actively encouraged to take part in our

Inter-House competitions including Sports Day.

Performing Arts

Drama, Music and Dance play a pivotal role in life at Chiltern

Edge. Our students love to rehearse and perform.

From an outstanding series of autumn musical productions to

the vibrant summer festival organised by the students

themselves and the annual Amnesty International concert the

standard and variety of talent on display never ceases

to amaze.

As in sport, participation and excellence are the keynotes.

All who rehearse for the school production are offered a role

and leads in the show in recent years have gone on to places

in the National Youth Theatre, RADA and Trinity Laban. Former

pupils perform at the highest level. Natalie Dormer lately star

in Game of Thrones was Head Girl at Chiltern Edge.

Public Speaking

Another distinctive strand in the life of students at Chiltern

Edge is our long standing strength in Public Speaking. All

students are taught the principles in English lessons and many

take part in the school competition. Chiltern Edge students

have regularly won awards in the local Youth Speaks contest.

Beyondthe classroom

The emphasis placed on behaving well,

showing respect and being polite contributeswell to the students spiritual, moral, social

and cultural development

- Ofsted Report

Documents

Chiltern Edge School Prospectus 2014-15