EDUCATIONChoices

8-pageYear 7

InformationGuide

2 Thursday, June 28, 2012

OUTSTANDING COMMENTS

OFSTED 2012

“The progress of all students is accelerating andattainment is rising.”

“Students are responsible, behave courteously andenjoy positive relationships with their peers as wellas with school staff.”

“Raised aspirations are clearly evident and are welladvertised through the ‘Going for Gold’ programmewhich encourages students to reach their fullpotential.”

Parents and carers have few concerns, one parentstated “This school is like a breath of fresh air. Mychild was bullied at her last school, but Parklands hasgiven my daughter the opportunity to feel safe andconfident in order to excel in all areas of interest.”

t: 0151 486 2612

f: 0151 728 4333

e: parklands.hs@parklands.liverpool.sch.uk

www.parklands.liverpool.sch.uk

Parklands High School, Ganworth Road, Liverpool, L24 2RZ

Open day12th September

2012

In 2011 Parklands achieved the best

results in the school’s history, as 82%

of pupils achieved 5 or more GCSEs!

Book an appointment and meet Mrs Sharples,our inspirational Headteacher, and take a tour of the school.

Come and see our exceptional teaching and learning in practice.

Parklands new uniform fromSeptember 2012

3Thursday, June 28, 2012

Year 7 Open Days

Make sure to do your homework

ADMISSION tosecondary schools isnot automatic; soonce you havechosen your

preferred school, you willneed to familiariseyourselves with itsadmissions criteria.

Schools’ admissionauthorities use admissions(or ‘oversubscription’)criteria to allocate places,should they receive moreapplications than there areplaces available.

Depending on the status ofthe individual school, theadmission authority mightbe the local authority, or,alternatively, the school’sgoverning body.

Of course, whereverpossible you will be offered aplace at the school of yourchoice. However, this is notguaranteed.

Independent schools havetheir own admissionscriteria, which may or maynot involve an entranceexamination, depending onthe academic status of theschool.

Details of state schools’admissions criteria can befound at the educationdepartment of your localauthority, as well as in schoolprospectuses and literaturefor parents produced by

individual schools.Do note, admissions

criteria varies from school toschool; but, that said, theSchool Admissions Codestipulates that content isuniversally clear, fair andobjective.

Examples of admissionscriteria typically include ifyou live in the area coveredby the school of your choice,if your child has a siblingalready at the school, or, inthe case of religious schools,whether your family is of thesame faith.

Sometimes, a secondaryschool is actually linked to aprimary school, which

obviously makes thingsrelatively straightforward.

If your chosen schooldeclines your child a place,you can appeal, once, againstits decision.

However, you will need tobe up to speed regardingtimelines for appeals, socheck with your localauthority, or the websitegiven below to ensure you donot miss essential deadlines.

For more information onschool admission procedures,to download a copy of theSchool Admissions Code, orto find out the appealsprocedure in more detail,visit www.direct.gov.uk.

What do you do if youare denied a place?

Choosingthe rightschool foryour childis vital fortheir futureandwell-being

When you visit the school for an Open Day, observe theway pupils conduct themselves

STARTING secondaryschool is a big deal foryour average pupil.The older pupils willlook like grown-ups,

and the place will appearmuch bigger and moreformidable.

Coupled with that, somepupils will find themselves inthe uncomfortable position ofbeing separated from theirprimary school buddies, asthey are moved to a differentschool entirely.

Whatever the individualcircumstances of your child,you, as a parent, can make thetransition as smooth andstress-free as possible, bydoing some homework of yourown, and choosing the bestpossible educationalinstitution for his or herneeds.

School open days offer anideal way to help you makethat choice. Even if you haveset your heart on a particularschool, possibly because of itsposition in the performanceleague tables, exam results,Ofsted reports and onlineschool profile, it is highlyrecommended you attend theopen days of schools in yourlocality.

Indeed, by visiting theschools in question, you mayactually change your mind

regarding the best one for yourchild.

Naturally, excellent GCSE-and A-Level results areimportant. But they are notthe be-all-and-end-all.

When attending an open day,you will be able to soak up theatmosphere of the place,observe the way the pupilsconduct themselves, anddecide if you think your childwould fit in, and be happy inthe school.

When attending an open day,prepare to don your sleuth’shat and to adopt theobservation skills of MissMarple or Hercule Poirot.

Seriously though; use youreyes. Is the place wellmaintained, both externallyand internally? Are the loosclean and tidy? Are theclassrooms light, airy andgenerally pleasant places tobe? First impressions such asthese speak volumes.

Peruse notice boards, andsee what’s going on, when.And if you are not informedduring the open day, find outabout access to technology,such as laptops; for homework,out-of-hours tuition, revisionprogrammes and the like.

Enquire about the provisionof after-school clubs which willenable children to pursueparticular interests, such as a

secondary language facility, ora sporting passion likefootball, netball or swimming.

Find out if there is anydrama tuition available,whether as a curricularsubject choice, or in the formof a club; and, if so, if there isany follow- up, such as schoolconcerts for parents.

After-school clubs givepupils further opportunities todevelop their social,team-working and confidenceskills – all of which will equipthem for the University of Life.

Naturally, no two childrenare the same, and someexperience difficulties whichwill require extra input atschool.

Consequently, enquire aboutfacilities for remedialteaching, particularly inEnglish and maths. Ask too,about streaming, and how theschool goes about catering fordiffering abilities.

If the subject is not broughtup in the school’s open day, askabout the homework policy.School uniform and othercosts can also be discussed.

At the end of the day, it isyour child who is going tospend the majority of his orher time there. So, take themalong, and value their input,too. Their opinions shouldcount.

Applications are open to Catholic girls from all schoolsand parishes in the Archdiocese of Liverpool and beyond.You are invited to come along and see this popular school.Meet pupils and staff, view facilities and collect aninformation pack with our application form. Enthusiasticpupils will guide you around the site. There will be twopresentations in the school hall during the evening.

Please enter via the Elmfield site on Ullet Road

Be confident your daughter willbe happy & well supported in our

secure pleasant environment.

Believe in BelleriveInspiring Success & Lifelong Achievement

Windermere TerraceSefton ParkLiverpoolL8 3SB

tel: 0151 727 2064

www.bellerivefcj.org

OOPPEENN EEVVEENNIINNGGTuesday 3rd July 2012 6.00 - 8.30pm

For entry to year 7 in 2013Fait

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4 Thursday, June 28, 2012

St Hilda’s CE High School

ST HILDA’S has aproud tradition ofdeveloping students tofulfil their potentialand follow their

dreams for the future – atradition which has at its corethe tenets of the Christianfaith, coupled with an ethos ofrespect and hard work.

Its successful May 2012Ofsted inspection rated theschool as Good overall, withOutstanding behaviour andsafety.

In addition, the 2012Statutory Inspection ofAnglican Schools rated theschool as Outstanding in allareas, including collaborativeworship, effectiveness ofreligious education, and theleadership and managementof the school.

Both reports praised theexcellent positive relationshipbetween pupils and staff,leading to a very happyatmosphere for learning.Indeed, visitors to the schoolinvariably comment on itswarm welcome andpurposeful air.

Last summer saw anotherexceptional set of results.GCSE students reached ahigh standard, with 80%

gaining at least five A* to Cgrades; and, in English alone,90% of pupils achieving thesehighest grades.

Giving your child the beststart in life is important, andSt Hilda’s delivers anextensive, largely academiccurriculum to the pupilswithin its care.

Numerous extra-curricularactivities keep the school‘buzzing’ until late in the

evening. Pupils participate ina range of after-school clubs,and from its soap makingcompany to fencing anddance, there is alwayssomething going on.

If you want an exceptionalsecondary school whichprovides a vibrant, happy andsupportive environment foryour daughter, come and havea look at what St Hilda’s canoffer.

St Hilda’s offers a verywarm welcome to all

St Hilda’sis avibrant,happy andsupportiveschool

t: 0151 525 6326 | www.archbishopbeck.com Cedar Road, Liverpool, L9 9AF

“Excellence is not an act it is a habit”

It is our experience at Archbishop Beck Catholic Sports College

that excellence can only be achieved through hard work and

unwavering dedication to high standards. A reputation for quality

cannot be gained through short term achievements.

At Archbishop Beck Catholic Sports College we are committed to

delivering high quality results every day and this is why we focus

on the all round education of our young students.

As Ofsted reported “This is a compassionate school, where

individuals are valued and nurtured.”

Paul DickinsonHeadteacher

6.15pm & 7.15pmHeadteachers Presentation

6pm - 8pm

Thursday20th September

Open Evening

“ Only the Best will Do”“ Only the Best will Do”

5Thursday, June 28, 2012

St John Bosco Arts College

ST JOHN Bosco ArtsCollege is anoutstanding place forchildren to learn. ThisCatholic college for

girls aged 11 to 18 offers highquality care and guidance,coupled with an outstandingquality of teaching andcurriculum.

Arrangements for safe-guarding its students, and theeffectiveness with which thecollege promotes communityawareness, are also key.

St John Bosco ArtsCollege’s academic achieve-ments are testimony to thehard work of all staff at thecollege, who work inpartnership with parents andstudents. It endeavours toensure the curriculum ispersonalised, and that itresponds to the individualneeds of all children whostudy here.

What’s more, it looks at alldevelopments in teaching andlearning in a creative way,ensuring that all lessons arestimulating, interactive andrelevant.

Ofsted recognised itsstudents “enjoy their time atthe college; that they “want toachieve,” and are “eager tocontribute to college life.”

Educational experiencesthroughout the academic yearincluded a business studiestrip to New York, a languages

trip to Paris and a sixth formvisit to Auschwitz, to namebut a few.

St John Bosco Arts Collegeis a designated arts collegewith state-of-the-art dance,drama and music facilities.

It is also involved in anumber of high profile eventsand activities, working inpartnership with a range oforganisations including theEnglish National Ballet,Liverpool Playhouse Theatreand Liverpool Institute ofPerforming Arts.

This offers invaluableopportunities for students togain experience working with

professionals in exciting andpositive environments.

The staff at St John BoscoeArts College believe indeveloping each childpersonally, socially,academically and morally.

They place strong emphasison ensuring their studentsbecome rounded individuals,and that they have a positiveoutlook on life. And theyequip students with skillsthat will set them up for thefuture.● If you would like furtherinformation, visit the websitewww.stjohnbosco.com or callthe college on 0151 546 6360.

Quality care all round

Students enjoy their time at the college

• Open Day Tuesday 10th July 1-3pm & 4-6pm• FREE Summer School 23rd July to 3rd August 10am–3pm

• Open Day Thursday 20th September 1-3pm & 4-6pm

Holly Lodge Girls’ College

Holly Lodge Girls’ CollegeQueens Drive, West Derby, Liverpool L13 OAE • Tel: 0151 228 3772 / 220 4234

www.hollylodge.liverpool.sch.uk •www.twitter.com/HollyLodgeLiverHeadteacher Ms J E Tinsley BA Hons NPQH

Is your daughter in Year 5 or 6? Why not come along and see this school in action;

To book a place please contact R. Powell on 0151 228 3772 or email r.powell@hollylodge.liverpool.sch.uk

6 Thursday, June 28, 2012

St Julie’s Catholic High School

ST JULIE’S CatholicHigh School iscelebrating re-accreditation of itsArtsmark Gold

Award – a coveted accoladeoffered by the Arts Councilfor England that recognisesexcellence in the compre-hensive provision of artseducation throughout thewhole school curriculum.

Headteacher TimAlderman said: “I amdelighted the Arts Councilhas recognised St Julie’sdynamic arts educationprogramme.

“Our students have reallyenjoyed working with theRoyal Shakespeare Companyand the Liverpool EverymanPlayhouse, and I would liketo thank all our staff for theirhard work in achieving thisaward.

“Artsmark is more thansimply a mark of distinctionto us. Taking part in thescheme has enabled us todevelop our arts provision,and see the students whotake part become moreself-confident, engaged andexcited about learning.”

Of course, St Julie’s is notonly about expressive arts.

Students carry that self-confidence through itscarefully devised curriculumthat stretches them fromtheir first day in Year 7, rightthrough to completion ofcourses in the popular mixedSixth Form.

Superb pastoral andlearning support mechan-isms underpin everything StJulie’s does, and its successis borne out in consistentlyhigh exam results, strongperformance against theEnglish Baccalaureate qualif-ication, and its excellenttrack record in progressingstudents on to university andthe destinations they want to

reach after leaving school.St Julie’s sporting record is

enviable, with netball,hockey, football, athletics andcross country teams fre-quently topping tournamenttables.

But with a hugelysuccessful dance and dramaprogramme, cheerleadingsquad, science and gardeningclubs and much more,everybody has a chance toshine at St Julie’s.● You can visit the schooland find out more at the Year4 and 5 Open Evening, onThursday, July 5 or Thursday,September 27, from 4pm until6pm.

Arts accolade is theicingon the cake

Danceanddramais verypopularat StJulie’s

7Thursday, June 28, 2012

Year 5 Taster DayYear 5 Taster DayFriday 29Friday 29thth JuneJune10.00am - 3.00pm10.00am - 3.00pm

Girls : 0151 932 2414 -Girls : 0151 932 2414 - Boys : 0151 949 9333

www.merchanttaylors.comThe Best Education for LifeThe Merchant Taylors’ Schools, Crosby: a company limited by guaranteeRegistered in England: Company Number: 6654276Registered office: Liverpool Road, Crosby, Liverpool L23 0QPRegistered Charity Number: 1125485

Please phone to book your visit

Merchant Taylors’ SchoolsFor boys and girlsaged 4-18 years

If your child is unable toattend tomorrow’s Taster Day,then please contact us forother opportunities to visit theSchools.

Fast becoming theBIGGEST childrens’ dance show

on MerseysideSunday 8th July, 6.00pm,

BT Convention Centre(Adjacent to ECHO arena)

BOOK YOUR TICKETSOnline www.echoarena.com By Phone 0844 800 3680

In Person** At ECHO Arena Box OfficeTickets cost £15.00*

* Booking and handling fees apply. **Fees do not apply when paying cash in person at the box office. All profits go to Liverpool Unites.

8 Thursday, June 28, 2012

LEARN AND

GROW

NEW BUILDINGS. TRADITIONAL EDUCATION. BETTER OPPORTUNITIES.

Why not find out more aboutwhat Knowsley’s Centres forLearning can offer your child?

Open days and evenings aretaking place over the comingmonths.

Visit www.knowsley.gov.ukfor more information