Poole High School

Poole

Dorset

BH15 2BW

Tel: (01202) 666988 Fax: (01202) 660674

Email: school@poolehigh.poole.sch.uk

www.poolehigh.poole.sch.uk

Headteacher’s welcome page 1

Our aims page 2

Student support and guidance for learning page 4

The learning environment page 8

The learning experience page 10

Business and Enterprise College page 14

Learning beyond the classroom page 16

Frequently asked questions page 18

Proud to be successful page 20

Contents

WelcomeWelcome to the Poole High School prospectus. I hope that it provides you with a comprehensive introduction to our values, expectations and ways of working.

Our last Ofsted report noted “The school has an extremely positive ethos that permeates all aspects of its work”. We agree, and do all that we can to ensure that students have the opportunity to grow into mature young adults and succeed at their studies whilst also enjoying their time here. We place strong emphasis on good standards of behaviour and courtesy. We enjoy working with young people and preparing them to take their place as global citizens of the twenty-first century. We do not simply chase league table positions or do anything if they aren’t in the interests of our students’ progress and personal development.

We also have an excellent staff team here with a strong commitment to high quality teaching and learning, backed by high quality support for students, governors and parents. We are known for our distinctive House system, our care and support for student learning which Ofsted rated outstanding, and a belief that a good school is about developing the whole person, within and beyond the classroom.

We are passionate about learning, about the music and the arts, about sport, and about developing in young people a sense of the excitement of scholarship, as they prepare to take their place as citizens in a complex world. We believe we have an important mission in developing our future leaders.

Thank you very much for your interest in our work and I hope very much that you choose our school for your children.

Fan Heafield

We aim to enable all our pupils to achieve their full

potential in all areas of school life.

We believe that in order to achieve this the school must be a secure, happy and well ordered environment where learning activities are purposeful and rewarding.

We recognise that not all students have the same abilities in all areas but we aim to enable every pupil to achieve the very best he or she possibly can and we believe that an individual’s success should be measured against their potential and not against the success of others.

We value equally the development of pupils academically, socially, culturally and in their sporting skills. We hope that when students leave us they have developed into well-rounded individuals who are fully equipped to contribute to society in a positive and thoughtful manner. We hope that they leave us with an appreciation of the value of ambition, honesty, co-operation and consideration for other people and their beliefs.

In order to be able to achieve these aims, all staff at Poole High School work very hard to ensure that the school environment is friendly, positive and welcoming. We all know that we learn best when we are having fun, so lessons are planned so that they are interesting and engaging and, most importantly, enjoyable.

We are proud to have exceptionally positive relationships between staff and pupils and between school and home. This enables us to respond extremely rapidly and highly effectively if any pupil has problems or worries, whether

it is to do with an issue inside or outside school.

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Poole High School Our aims

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Poole High School Student Support and Guidance for LearningIf students are happy and feel supported, they flourish in

school and will be more able to achieve their personal best.

Supporting students and making them safe is our top priority,

whether it is monitoring and keeping them on track with their

learning or whether they need help to deal with personal,

social or other issues. Every student at Poole High School

The Poole High School House SystemAt Poole High School we have seven Houses. Each of these

is like a mini-school within the main school. Each house has

its own Head of House, House Officer, tutor team and House

Office with a direct line telephone number. The aim is to

ensure that even though we are a very large school, every

student feels known and valued and part of a smaller unit

within the whole school community. Our House System

is recognised as a great strength of the school and it is

interesting to note that many schools elsewhere in the country

are moving to similar systems in order to improve the quality

of their support for students.

On joining the school, each student is allocated to a House

and they will stay with that House throughout years 7-11.

Where possible, when students joining us have older brothers

or sisters at the school, they are assigned to the same

House so that parents can benefit from relationships already

established with the Head of House and the House Office.

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is treated equally and fairly. We believe the needs of every

student are important and we work hard to ensure that all

students are listened to and cared for. Poole High School’s

Support and Guidance for Learning team is a large group

of committed staff led by an Assistant Headteacher.

Each student has a tutor throughout years 7-11 at Poole High

School. The role of the tutor is to help, guide and support

the students in the tutor group and to monitor their academic

progress. Tutors build up very strong relationships with the

students in their tutor group and are the first point of contact

(in most cases) between school and home.

Poole High School relies on its close partnership with parents

and pupils in order to maintain its high standards and positive

atmosphere. Parents who have any concerns or questions are

encouraged to contact the school at the earliest opportunity

to discuss the matter. The school holds regular Parent

Consultation Evenings but staff are always happy to see

a parent at other times by appointment.

Poole High School is also very fortunate to benefit from the

services of a Student Welfare Officer. Parents can be secure

in the knowledge that their children will be professionally cared

for should they fall ill or have an accident at school.

The Student Welfare Officer also keeps a record of and helps

to administer any on-going medication that individuals require.

In addition, a number of staff have first-aid qualifications.

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Poole High School Student Support and Guidance for Learning (continued)Starting at Poole High SchoolThe majority of our pupils join us at the start of year eight and great care is taken to ensure that this transfer is as smooth as possible. Prior to joining Poole High School, there is a “Taster Day” in July and this provides an opportunity to meet tutors, to make new friends and participate in various “ice-breaking” activities. In addition a New Parents’ Evening is held in July which offers further information and the opportunity to meet members of staff who will play a key role when pupils start the following September. To support your child in making the transfer to upper school you will receive a courtesy call from their form tutor in the early weeks of the new term. During the Autumn Term you will also have the opportunity to meet the

form tutor at the Parent Consultation Evening.

Student VoiceArticle 12 of the UNCRC: “Children have a right to say what they think in all matters affecting them, and to have their views taken seriously.”

There is a well established and highly effective Student Parliament at Poole High School. The full Parliament meets once per half term and is made up of one elected Parliament Representative from each tutor group. An elected Cabinet of student representatives, including a Prime Minister, lead the Parliament and head up six sub committees responsible for

addressing the following areas of school life:

• Teaching & learning

• Student wellbeing

• Buildings and Facilities

• Extra curricular activities

• Public Relations

• Charities and citizenship

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Poole High School The Learning EnvironmentPoole High School is very fortunate to have excellent facilities. We have benefitted from an extensive, multi-million pound new buildings programme in recent years as well as carrying out significant refurbishment of existing, older rooms. Although our buildings vary greatly in age and style they are in a very good state of repair. This is a reflection of the care and respect that the vast majority of our pupils show towards the school and also the excellent work of our dedicated maintenance and grounds team in ensuring that any repairs needed are quickly carried out.

Poole High School has extensive grounds. Not only does this provide excellent opportunities for PE and other outdoor activities but it also creates a very pleasant and relaxing environment, particularly in the summer months when pupils can play on the grass and sit under the trees at break and lunchtimes.

As well as a large sports hall and extensive playing fields, the school has its own indoor heated swimming pool and a multi-gym fitness room.

The school library is very large, extending over two floors and is extremely well stocked, providing an excellent learning resource for students of all ages and for staff.

The large new school canteen, operational from 2010, is purpose built and provides an outstanding facility for students and staff to enjoy healthy meals within an extremely comfortable and sociable environment.

The school has a number of fully equipped computer suites with all machines fully networked and with connection to the internet. All classrooms have at least one computer and an increasing number are equipped with interactive, electronic whiteboards and data projectors.

There are well equipped, specialist suites of classrooms for many subjects including Science, Technology, Art and Music.

Our Senior School has its own social area, study, resource areas and canteen.

Opened in January 2009, the Poole High School Theatre with seating for up to 500 people provides an outstanding venue for school productions, drama lessons and school assemblies.

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Poole High School The Learning ExperienceFull details of the current National Curriculum andinformation for parents can be found at the following website:www.nc.uk.net

Our school curriculum is the engine room of our school. It drives the opportunities and experiences of all our students and forms the basis of the qualification prospects of every child in our care. We constantly look for ways to make this as stimulating and engaging as possible but we have never abandoned ensuring the type of examinations that young people take with us are suitably challenging and well respected by employers and further education alike.

Each stage of your child’s school career will see them study the full range of courses they will need to access the best opportunities in later life. We believe in an individualised approach that suits each child’s abilities and interests but based on traditional, high calibre subjects with the academic rigour that they will need to make the progress they need.

Year 7 is a year in which any academic underachievement will be targeted and moved on. Students will be tested for standards in reading and writing and Mathematics and then targeted work will be done to ensure they are all achieving at an appropriately challenging level. Those with a more academic bent will be set on a faster academic track and pushed to ensure their skills in English and Mathematics underpins good progress in all other subjects. We encourage almost all students to study a language for the start and support many in continuing to GCSE. In addition this year will see students being taught the sound learning skills that will allow them to become independent and resilient learners. Pupils/students need to have learnt how to be tenacious and resourceful, imaginative and logical, self-disciplined and self-aware, collaborative and inquisitive. This is achieved through a number of project based cross-curricular experiences and relies on students demonstrating their learning in the most interesting way they can. We also aim to help them to continue to develop ambition, active lifestyles, thoughtfulness, caring, leadership, good citizenship, happiness and good working habits.

Year 8 sees students start on their academic journey towards making good choices for their examination courses. There will have been chances to move into different groups based on end of year examinations and so many students meet a new group of people and face new challenges. The full national curriculum is offered throughout this phase and students will also be introduced to other subjects through taster courses in subjects they may not yet have met such as Business Studies or Computer Science.

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Year 9 is a critical year where important option choices will be made, every opportunity is taken to ensure students know about the courses they can select with further information and taster sessions. The skills that underpin success at GCSE and beyond will be revisited at a higher level; these include research skills, essay and report writing skills, skills of presentation and lots more. In many subject areas, the GCSE courses will be starting during this academic year. Mathematics, English and Science all get underway with much of the year covering the start of these courses, thereby allowing students to refocus their learning in the context of GCSE standards.

Years 10 and 11 A key component is our ability as a large school, to offer a wide range of subjects both in years 10 and 11 as well as in the Senior School. These include Psychology, Sociology, Physics, Chemistry and Biology as separate subjects, Film Studies, Computer Science, Design Technology in Food, Textiles, Resistant Material and Electronics as well as many more.

Students will study for at least eight GCSEs that includes the study of Mathematics, English Literature and language, at least two Science GCSEs, a Modern Foreign language and three further GCSE subjects from the approved list of high calibre qualifications. We also encourage the more ambitious students to attempt the EBACC qualification as a part of their studies, which involves studying English, Mathematics, Science, History or Geography and a modern foreign language. We also offer BTEC courses where this is appropriate and have a string partnership with the local college in order we can offer more practical hands-on courses. Running alongside all of this, we ensure students have a good grasp of employability skills that will serve them well as they start to think about the world of work. There are lots of opportunities for student’s to take part in Employability events and there is a dedicated work placement fortnight during year 10, something we have managed to keep at the centre of our schools provision.

We firmly believe that in the classroom nobody has the right to prevent another pupil learning and to this end we have high expectations of our students. This helps us to foster a classroom atmosphere that is pleasant and relaxed but purposeful and productive. We constantly strive to develop a sense of community spirit and accountability; this ensures we have a happy and diligent community.

In every academic year, all staff recognise that learning must be a positive, enjoyable and rewarding experience. Students will take part in all sorts of classroom experiences, from Science experiments to Drama performances, from practical lessons in food and resistant materials to essay skills and quiet writing, from visits and outside experiences to Music and Dance. Our curriculum has something for everyone and is the basis of a rewarding and stimulating school experience.

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Poole High School A Business and Enterprise CollegePoole High School was awarded Specialist School status as a Business and Enterprise college in September 2009. In order to achieve this prestigious status the school had to secure £50,000 sponsorship from local businesses and submit a detailed action plan to the Department for Children, Schools and Families. As well as enabling the school to embark upon an ambitious four-year programme of school development it has brought significant extra funding to the school direct from the government.

As a Business and Enterprise College we use our specialist status to raise standards of achievement and the quality of learning for all our students, in all subjects. We aim to enrich and extend learning by encouraging economic and business understanding, enterprise activities and opportunities for pupils to follow a wide range of learning pathways.

Poole High School is an active partner in a learning society with our local family of schools and our community, sharing resources and developing and sharing good practice. We work in partnership with the wider community, including business and industry, to enhance opportunities for lifelong learning in the context of business and enterprise.

For further information on Specialist Schools and Business and Enterprise Colleges please visit the Specialist Schools Trust website at www.specialistschools.org.uk

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Some examples of our Business and Enterprise activities within the school:• Fit for Learning and Exams programmes aimed to raise achievement for year 11 and Senior School students

• Preparing students for the world of work including year 10 2 week work placement opportunity

• Level 2 and Level 3 Chartered Management Institute Award to selected year 9 and Senior School students

• Young Enterprise Company Programme for year 10 and Senior School students

• Enterprise Days to develop the key employability skills

• Offering independent advice and guidance for our students

future career pathways

Within the community:• Collaboration with local businesses and curriculum areas to forge important links and share experiences of the world of work

• Supported by Young Enterprise, offering selected year 9 and Senior School students the opportunity to take part in the Employability Programme

• Collaborating with local colleges to widen our students knowledge of vocational courses

• Membership of our local STEMNET division where students can take part in engineering and technology

based activities

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Poole High School Learning Beyond the ClassroomThere is a wide range of additional activities in which pupils are encouraged to take part. There are clubs and activities after school on most days as well as trips and visits locally and further afield. Some of these are directly linked to their subjects

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Animal Club

Annual Year 10 art trip to Tate Modern

Art workshops

Russell-Cotes Museum

Biology fieldwork trips to Kimmeridge

Ecology work on school grounds

Trips to local businesses

Business Event Days

Business Conferences

Lectures in London

Chess Club

History trips to WW1 Battlefields Trip

Berlin

Robotics competition at Poole and Bournemouth College

Clothes Show Live

Victoria and Albert Museum - fashion through the ages

Fashion Show at Bournemouth University

Drama and Dance School Productions, theatre trips

Language Trips

Cultural visit to Catalonia, Spain

Visit to Loire Valley, France

Cultural visit to Paris

Theatre visit for French play

Maths Club

Choir

Jazz Band

Trips to the BSO (symphony Orchestra)

Football

Rugby

Cricket

Basketball

Netball

Hockey

Tennis

Athletics

Trampolining

Wave Boarding

Futsal

Badminton

Climbing

Swimming

Weight Training

Dance

and others are completely separate. These vary from year to year but the list below gives a flavour of some of those that have been offered recently.

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Poole High School Some frequently asked questions

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QA&Is there a school uniform?Yes. As you can see from the photographs in this prospectus

the uniform is very simple but smart and we believe that this

is very important as it promotes mutual pride and a sense of

community. We expect all pupils to wear full school uniform

at all times and in the correct manner. Whilst at school and

on their way to and from school.

How much homework is set?We believe that homework is an essential extension to

school study and helps to develop independent learning skills.

The amount of homework set will increase as students go

up through the school. In year 7, students should expect to

complete 60 minutes of homework per day. Each pupil has

a homework timetable and a planner in which to record the

homework set and its completion date. We ask parents to

check this with their children on a weekly basis.

What happens if a student misbehaves?There is a structured and stepped system of sanctions which

includes referrals, after school detentions, report cards and

community service which are employed when students do

not meet the standards of behaviour expected at Poole High

School. However, we recognise that everybody makes mistakes

and the aim of our sanctions is to encourage pupils to learn from

these mistakes and not repeat them. A full copy of the school’s

inclusion policy is available on request.

What is Poole High School’s admissions policy?Students will be admitted at the age of 12+ without reference to

ability or aptitude within Poole’s agreed secondary scheme for

co-ordinated admissions arrangements. Our admissions policy

(as is required for every school) is reviewed annually. A copy

of the most recent policy may be found on our website. If you

would like a paper copy, please contact the school.

Is Poole High School formally affiliated with any particular religion or religious denomination?No. Assemblies are held each week for individual Houses and

year groups which provide opportunities for collective worship

and reflection. Religious Education is studied by all students,

following the Poole Agreed Syllabus. Any parent wishing to

exercise their right to withdraw their child from collective worship

and/or religious education should notify the student’s Head of

House in writing. Students who are withdrawn may undertake

alternative study in their House Office or the school library.

What support is there at Poole High School for students with special educational needs?There is an appointed team of specialist teachers and assistants

to teach and support students with special educational needs.

Further details of provision and contact details are available

from the school.

How can I contact the school?Our telephone, email and website details are on the back cover

of this prospectus. If you would like to visit us or discuss any

aspect of the school, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Poole High School Proud to be Successful

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At Poole High School we recognise that it is essential that success is celebrated so that pupils continue to be motivated and therefore go on to even greater success in the future.

A merit system operates within the school and this leads to certificates, recognition and awards.

Rewards It is part of the school’s philosophy that praise and reward should have great emphasis and they play a key part in the aim of the school to value the achievements of all students. All students respond better to praise rather than reprimand hence rewards are a very important part of classroom management.

The school places great emphasis on monitoring and informingstudents regularly about how they are performing.

Discretionary MERITS can be given for a variety of reasons by a member of staff and students can be recognised for their work, achievements, attitude, effort and contribution to the community. These merits build up into a system of rewards outlined below:

Letters of Outstanding Achievement: Each Head of Department has a standard letter that can be sent home to parents praising pupils for excellent work, effort or improvement in their curriculum area. Copies are sent to and retained by the House Office. In addition departments may reward students for their sustained effort via certificates, prizes or the award of Student of the Term. Students who also have high attitude to learning scores are written to regularly congratulating them on their efforts.

Sporting Awards: The PE Department works to encourage all of our students to take an active interest in extra - curricular sporting activities. It offers a wide range of clubs and activities after-school and rewards students by use of certificates and personal prizes. There is also a sports awards annual event each year which is attended by around 400 students and parents.

Community Award: Pupils are awarded Community Awards for outstanding service to the school or local community. These are intended to reward pupils for their efforts outside the school curriculum (e.g. fundraising, environmental projects, House monitors, prefects, House council representatives etc).

Excellent Attendance: Students who have 100% attendance in any one term will be rewarded with a certificate. Where a student achieves a minimum of 95% attendance in any one term with no detentions, he/she will be given an award at the end of term.

Excellent Attitude to Learning (AtL): Students with excellent AtL will receive regular recognition and rewards across the year

Recording Achievement: We believe that it is important for students to keep a record of their achievement. All students are therefore encouraged to keep all of their certificates safe for future reference. A list of certificates/ letters/ commendations will be kept and regularly up-dated within tutor time by the student which will build into the reward structure.

Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme Students selected to participate in this scheme undertake 4 challenges as follows:

Service to the Community, Physical Recreation, Skill Development and Expedition Training in outdoor environments. They may achieve Bronze, Silver or Gold Awards

Equally importantly we believe that the day-to-day recognition of good work and behaviour should be praised verbally whenever it is witnessed. We believe that it is important to reprimand pupils who are doing something wrong.

Class teachers – Instant MERIT for each student to be recorded on the school’s system and monitored by the tutors and the house.

Departments – through the on going tracking procedures that all teachers will contribute to, and any additional Departmental processes.

Class and tutor groups – merits can be given to a class or tutor group as a whole to encourage group working / community spirit.

Community contribution – at the discretion of any member of staff, teaching or non-teaching.Pastoral system will total Merit Awards - 25 MERITS = pen, 50 MERITS = Bronze Certificate, 100 MERITS = Silver Certificate, 200 MERITS = platinum award 250 MERITS = Headteachers award.

Governors’ Commendation – students are nominatedon an annual basis for Governors’ recognition during a celebration with the Governors. Student of the term award - for the best student in each tutor group based on the discretion of the form tutor and Head of House.

Discretionary rewards: Apart from the formal systems, all staff are consistently asked to recognise and reward all forms of achievement. Recognition of success is shared in tutor periods, in House assemblies and via the Pupil/Staff bulletin. Each House conducts a termly ‘Celebration of Success’ assembly awarding prizes/certificates. Pupil’s work is displayed in classrooms/corridors/foyer as much as possible.

Headteacher’s welcome page 1

Our aims page 2

Student support and guidance for learning page 4

The learning environment page 8

The learning experience page 10

Business and Enterprise College page 14

Learning beyond the classroom page 16

Frequently asked questions page 18

Proud to be successful page 20

Contents

Poole High School

Poole

Dorset

BH15 2BW

Tel: (01202) 666988 Fax: (01202) 660674

Email: school@poolehigh.poole.sch.uk

www.poolehigh.poole.sch.uk