St Gregorys Prospectus

Saint Gregory’sCatholic CollegeA Specialist College of the Performing Arts

In Christ we f lourish

2010–2011

‘St Gregory’s is an outstandingCollege where students thrive.’

- Ofsted Report 2008

2221_ST GREGORYS PROSPECTUS:Layout 1 10/8/10 13:03

Welcome to St Gregory’s

2010-11 Prospectus2

Thank you for your interest in St Gregory’s. The purpose of thisprospectus is to give you a sense of what St Gregory’s has to offer.We are a relatively small co-educational school with explicitly

Catholic Christian values. We want all our children to flourish anddevelop as rounded individuals who will bear witness to the Gospel inthe wider community.

We have a well deserved reputation for academic excellence, with most ofour pupils going on to further education. In 2009, 81% of our Year 11 pupilsachieved five or more A*- C passes at GCSE, and 66% achieved the samewith English and mathematics. 44% of all GCSE entries achieved eitheran A* or A grade. In our most recent Ofsted inspection in 2008 everyaspect of our provision was judged Outstanding. As a result we havebeen designated a National Support School and we have been invited toshare our approach to Christian personalisation at national conferences.

The next phase of our journey will be exciting as we seek to expand ourprovision in accordance with the new opportunities opening up locallyand nationally. We have already embarked on a public consultation on thepossibility of a sixth form at St Gregory’s, which now has the support ofthe Local Authority, and will consider carefully other possibilities inconjunction with the Trustees of Clifton Diocese.

This year’s Open Evening will take place on Thursday 30 Septemberand our Open Morning on Thursday 7 October. You are very welcome tocome along and see St Gregory’s for yourself. For more details of theseevents please contact the College office on the number below.

St Gregory’s is a co-educational, 11-16 Catholicvoluntary-aided school with Specialist Status in thePerforming Arts in the Diocese of Clifton and theunitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset.Number on roll as of September 2010: 820

Headteacher: Mr. R. Friel MA (Hons) NPQHChair of Governors: Mrs Maggie Goodbody

Address: Combe Hay Lane, Odd Down, BATH BA2 8PA

t: 01225 832873f: 01225 835848e: [email protected]:www.st-gregorys.bathnes.sch.uk

St Gregory’s is an outstanding Collegewhere students thrive – Ofsted Report 2008


2010-11 Prospectus 3

Our Mission

Jesus holds ustogether, Jesus theheart of our schoolSinead, Y8

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Friendshipin our hearts,praise inour soulSinead, Y8

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Life ispreciousY11 student

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Every childmatters in theeyes of the LordDaniel, Y8

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Respect andequality arethe foundationsof our schoolJoel, Y11

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Bullying has no place hereY11 student“ ”

No doors are closed here and every person isgiven a key to unlock their talents for the futureEmer, Y10“ ”

There are no boundaries betweenthe different cultures and races hereEmma, Y10

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In our school,we work together as acommunityHarriet, Y9

Webelieve that every child is made in the image of God and should be valued as a unique and giftedcreation with a divine origin and an eternal destiny. As a Catholic school, our aim is to promote thedignity and well being of every child and ensure that they flourish in the course of their journey with

us in a safe, happy and enriching environment. We aim to provide our students with the personalised ‘deeplearning’ which will help them to gain the skills, knowledge, and understanding of self, others and the worldwhich they will need for a fulfilled and happy adult life. Above all, our aim is to instil in our children Christianvalues and a love of God and his Son Jesus Christ so that they will become principled citizens and witnesses tothe Gospel, who will contribute to the common good of society.

We asked our students how they would like to express our mission. These are some of the things they said:

We areall equalin the eyesof GodRichard, Y8

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StGregory’s is a voluntary aided secondary school,which was established by the Diocese of Clifton.It primarily serves designated Catholic parishes in

Bath and North East Somerset, North West Wiltshire andthe north of the County of Somerset and admits children of11-16 years. A map of the designated area is available forinspection at the school office.

The governing body, acting in accordance with arrangementsagreed with the Clifton Diocesan Committee for Schools andColleges and within the Code of Practice, is responsible foradmissions. In line with the new Code of Practice forAdmissions the governing body, as admissions authorityfor the school, will operate an equal preference system.In the event of over-subscription, all applications forthe school will be considered equally against the over-subscription criteria and ranked in order of how they meetthe criteria. This information will be given to the Local Authority (LA) who will then consider all applications foreach applicant and offer the highest preference which is available.

The governors will admit up to the planned admission level of 160 for pupils entering Year 7 in September 2011.

Admissions outside the normal age group will be individually considered and the advice of the LA’s specialistadvisers (e.g. Educational Psychologists) and other relevant professionals, including the child’s presentHeadteacher, will be sought before a decision is made.

For families living within B&NES, application for a place in Year 7 in September 2011 at the College should be made onthe B&NES common application form and this should be submitted to the Admissions and Transport Department atBath and North-East Somerset Council, PO Box 25, Riverside, Temple Street, Keynsham BS31 1DN by 31 October2010. For families living outside of B&NES, parents should indicate their preference for a place at St Gregory’s on theapplication form for their own LA e.g. Wiltshire, Somerset, South Gloucestershire. These authorities will then informB&NES about this preference who will in turn inform the Governors of St Gregory’s.

In addition parents/carers should complete an ‘Additional Information Form’ issued by the College in order thatthe governors may apply their admissions policy fairly and consistently. Failure to do so may affect which categoryof applicant a child is placed into. These forms should be returned to the College Admissions Officer at StGregory's by 31 October 2010. Governors may consider supporting evidence (e.g. baptismal certificate,reference from minister, references and/or certificates regarding performing arts aptitude) sent in up to the dateof the Governors’ Admissions Panel meeting in December 2010.

After the submission deadline of 31 October 2010, any applications received by the Local Authority will betreated as a late application and will not be considered until the first round of offers have been made and thenthe over-subscription criteria will be applied. Any late applicants should complete their home LA’s commonapplication form and return it to their home LA as soon as possible. The College’s additional information formshould, however, be sent to the school direct.

The governing body will consider all applications against its policy criteria and inform the LA of places to beoffered. The LA will offer places on behalf of the governing body on 1st March 2011. A waiting list, including lateapplications from families moving into the area or who were otherwise unable to apply by the specified date, willbe maintained until the end of the academic year in line with the Local Authority’s co-ordinated scheme.Applicants will be ranked in the same order as the over-subscription criteria and places offered on that basis, withthe exception of children who are subject of a direction by the Local Authority or who have been allocated to theCollege in accordance with the local Fair Access Protocol, who will take precedence over those on the waiting list.Applications received after the end of Term 1 October 2011 will be considered as casual applications as outlined inparagraph 8 of this policy.

2010-11 Prospectus4

Admissions


In the event of over-subscription, the governors will offer places according to the following criteria applied in sequence:

1 Baptised Catholic children in public care (looked after children).

2 Other Baptised Catholics within the designated area of the College.

3 Other children in public care (looked after children).

4 Children who live in the designated area whose parents are members of, and adherents to, otherChristian denominations.

5 Those children within the designated area attending the seven Catholic partner primary schools (i.e. StJohn’s, Bath; St Mary’s, Bath; St Benedict’s, Midsomer Norton, SS Joseph and Teresa, Wells; St Paul’s,Yate; St Patrick’s, Corsham; St Mary’s, Chippenham; and children from Our Lady of Lourdes within thedesignated area) who have brothers and sisters already at St Gregory’s College at the date of applicationand who will be in attendance at the time of admission.

6 According to the provisions set out in section 102 of the 1998 Standards and Framework Act (also:paragraphs A. 69 – 72 of the School Admissions Code of Conduct) the governors will offer up to 16 (i.e. 10%)places to those pupils who can demonstrate an aptitude in the performing arts i.e. Music, Dance, Drama andwho live in the designated area.

7 Other children within the designated area with brothers or sisters already at the College at the date ofapplication and who will be in attendance at the time of admission.

8 Other pupils at the seven Catholic partner primary schools (see: 5 for list) within the designated area, andchildren from Our Lady of Lourdes within the designated area.

9 Other children within the designated area.

10 All other children.

For categories 1, 2, a baptismal certificatemust be submitted with the College’s Additional Information Form forapplicants to be considered within these categories. A map of the designated area is available from the College.

For category 4 a member of other Christian denominations is a person who is baptised or initiated according tothe rites of that denomination. Adherence means current and regular worship (as a guide, regular means once amonth attendance at church). According to the advice of Clifton Diocese adherence to that denomination needsto be supported by a minister of that denomination; a letter of referenceProforma, available from the College, completed by a minister of religiontherefore must be submitted with the College’s Additional InformationForm for applicants to be considered within this category.

TiebreakersCategories are filled in order, beginning with 1. When applications exceedthe number of places available in any category, places for that and allremaining categories will be allocated using the ‘random allocation’technique in front of a witness with no connection to the College.When using random allocation within a category, priority will be giveninitially to sibling applicants who will be drawn first.

NB These are extracts from the College Admissions Policy, with a view toproviding the main points. The full policy is available on request from theCollege Admissions Officer.


Admissions cont.


Collective Worship and Liturgy

Asa Catholic College, prayer and worship are central to our dailyroutines. Each morning registration begins with collectiveworship led by the tutor. The whole College will gather together

in two assemblies every Wednesday morning for scripture readings,hymns, prayers and reflections. Pupils are fully involved in thepreparation and presentation of worship and sometimes pupils leadthe worship themselves.

In addition to daily collective worship, there is a weekly voluntaryMass in the chapel, Masses at the beginning and end of year and for holydays of obligation. The Religious Education department also organisesreconciliation services during Advent and Lent and special liturgiesthroughout the year. Preparation for the sacraments is done throughlocal parishes but the College is fully supportive and encourages pupilsto take these significant steps in their spiritual development.

ChaplaincyThis year we have moved our chapel to a new room at the heart of theCollege and will continue to provide a range of stimulating and enjoyablechaplaincy activities. Our College Chaplaincy Group meets regularly andis supported by our chaplaincy assistant. The work of the chaplaincygroup represents our Christian values in action. The chaplaincyorganises a wide range of activities including meditation, Morning Prayer,exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, rice lunches and other fund-raisingactivities for CAFOD, sandwich-making for the homeless and weeklycreative workshops. The Blessed Sacrament is present through theweek in the school chapel. It is a place of great peace and calm.

RetreatsThe retreat programme has been extended to provide opportunities forevery year group. All pupils in Year 7 can look forward to a day’s retreat atDownside in the autumn term. Later in the year, 50 Year 8 pupils will havethe chance to experience a retreat run by the De La Salle brothers atKintbury in Berkshire, as will smaller groups in Years 9, 10 and 11.These retreats are very popular with the pupils as they encounter Godin new and vital ways in settings conducive to reflection and prayer.

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Spiritual Development

The spiritualand moraldevelopmentof students isexemplary andenhances theethos of serviceand respect thatpervades theschool- School ImprovementPartner Report 2010

St Gregory’s is a trulyoutstanding school withexcellent provision forits Catholic life and forreligious education- Diocese of Clifton Inspection Report 2008



Religious EducationAt Key Stage Three, the curriculum is based largely on the Iconsprogramme, with material drawn from The Way, The Truth and The Life.At Key Stage Four, most pupils will undertake the Edexcel GCSEcourse, which is ideally suited to a Catholic College. There is a clearfocus on Catholic doctrine, philosophy and ethical issues. At the end ofYear 10 most pupils are entered for the full GCSE or short course.

Above all, we want all of our pupils to develop a relationship with theRisen Lord. We are mindful of the fact that they are all at differentstages of their life journeys, and that for some, belief will be moreimportant than others. Wherever they are, we aim to be ‘with’ them,to offer support and guidance and resources for spiritual growth.

Education for Personal RelationshipsThis is an area of vital importance in the spiritual development of ouryoung people. Provision is made, particularly within the ReligiousEducation and Guidance programmes, for all pupils to deepen theirawareness of the need for loving relationships, based firmly on theteaching of the Church. They consider how best to form and live theserelationships in daily life, and examine in the light of the Church’steaching the moral issues involved in human relationships today.

In Year 7, pupils are made aware of the physical changes affecting themand of the purpose of those changes in the pattern of God’s creation.In Year 8, the sacraments are explored and the importance and sanctityof marriage is stressed. In Year 9, human reproduction and its placewithin the family is studied in greater detail and the significance of aresponsible attitude and appropriate respect for oneself and othersis highlighted.

In Years 10 and 11, the greater maturity of the pupils requires a moredetailed examination of the family and the issues of abortion, familyplanning, parenthood, HIV/AIDS. All these issues are discussed andexplored in the light of Church teaching.

Note: Parents have a right in law to remove their child from all orpart of the religious education programme or collective worship.While the governors respect this right, and will make individualarrangements if necessary, we would strongly discourage parents fromconsidering this option since it runs counter to the mission of theCollege and its Trust Deed.

We want all of our pupils to developa relationship with the Risen Lord

Jesus holds us together,Jesus the heart of our school - Sinead Y8

Spiritual Development cont.


Personal Development & Well-Being

2010-11 Prospectus8

At St Gregory’s the personal development and well being ofstudents is at the heart of our work. The five outcomes of EveryChild Matters, which we regard as being very close to our

Christian values, are central to our educational purpose. We will continueto ensure that our pupils are safe and happy in College, that theirachievements are celebrated; they take part in the community and areprepared for a life of witness and prosperity when they leave school.The following features of College life are intended to promote those aims.

Pastoral SystemOur pastoral system is based on our long established house system.We have six houses, named after Popes: Peter, Clement, Alexander,Benedict, Leo, and John Paul. Pupils can earn house points for good workin lessons and overall contribution to the life of the College. Running totalswill be read out at Name and Praise assemblies to encourage goodbehaviour and participation. There is an extensive calendar of housecompetitions, sporting and academic, including House Dance and ReadySteady Cook. As part of our increasing emphasis on personalisation, wechanged our pastoral system from a traditional year-based or horizontalsystem, with heads of year, to a house-based or vertical system, withdirectors of house.

Each director of house is a member of senior management. Each housealso has a deputy director, as well as a form tutor for each year group.This team is responsible for the academic progress and personaldevelopment and well being of every pupil in their house throughouttheir journey at St Gregory’s.

We also have an experienced Pupil Support Team, made up of teaching andsupport staff. The team provides learning and behaviour support and a fullprogramme of activities designed to support those pupils who experiencedifficulty in their learning or with their behaviour.

House DaysIn September 2008, we introduced House Days, when the normaltimetable is suspended. These days provide very important opportunitiesfor us to review the progress of every pupil through progress reports, tooffer individual mentoring for pupils, to hold house assemblies, and toprovide a quality guidance programme, involving visiting speakers andorganisations. The guidance programme is carefully planned to supportand inform pupils at different stages of their life in the school and coverssettling into secondary school, learning how to learn, careers advice,health education and all the other areas normally found in a ‘PSHEE’(Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) programme.

No doors are closed here and everyperson is given a key to unlock theirtalents for the future – Emer, Y10


RewardsAs well as the award of house points, good behaviour and goodwitness to Christian values can also be rewarded with verbal praise,written praise in pupil journals, certificates at year assemblies, prizesat annual prize giving, and letters home. Last year we introducedBronze, Silver and Gold Awards for the numbers of house pointsacquired by pupils. These awards are then sent home in the post, andare very well received by pupils and parents. With the kind support ofour PTFA, we are also able to hold Bronze, Silver and Gold draws atName and Praise assemblies, with vouchers for the lucky pupils.Staff draw up lists of pupils to be praised for effort and achievement.These lists are posted on our notice boards. The feedback from pupilsand parents about these developments in our rewards systems hasbeen very positive. It has all helped to strengthen the very positiveculture which has always existed at St Gregory’s.

Pupil VoiceThe main forum for the voice of the pupils is the College Senate.This meets once a month and consists of twelve senators, one boyand one girl from each year, as well as the head boy and head girl.There are members of staff on the Senate, representing teachingstaff and support staff, as well as the headteacher, who attends allmeetings. Last year we launched a new Eco Schools Council witha remit to develop all aspects of sustainability and healthy schools.This council, along with our Green Team, made an immediate impactby introducing recycling, reducing litter, and developing the healthyeating agenda with our caterers Sodexo. We also held MissionConferences last year for each year group. At these conferencespupils spoke very impressively about what they thought our missionwas all about (see: Our Mission). This year we intend to extend ourstudent voice opportunities by introducing a sports council, achaplaincy council and a leadership council.

The provision for the encouragementof community cohesion is excellent– Diocese of Clifton report 2008

Personal Development & Well-Being cont.


St Gregory’s Catholic Collegeis an Outstanding Schooloffering very rich provisionto its student body– School Improvement Partner Report 2010


2010-11 Prospectus10


Every child matters in the eyesof the Lord – Daniel, Y8

We are well ahead of governmenttargets to introduce healthy eating andnutritional standards in all schools

Environment and facilitiesWe promote pupil safety and well-being with ongoing investment inbetter facilities for pupils. We have created a safe and attractive ‘piazza’area in the heart of the College, sponsored by the Parents, Teachers andFriends Association. There have been other considerable improvementsto College facilities in recent years. For example, the education andwell-being of pupils was greatly enhanced with the opening of the KellyBlock, a state of the art 12-classroom teaching block. The provision fordance and drama was improved with the opening of the Gilchrist Studioand our sports and leisure provision was greatly enhanced with thecompletion of a new all-weather pitch with facilities for football, tennisand athletics. In addition, all classrooms now have interactivewhiteboards which have opened up new learning opportunities for thepupils. We installed a new sound system in the main hall which not onlyprovides top quality audio equipment for performances and assemblies,but provides music in the reception, hall area and piazza. We have justcompleted a three-year project to replace all the windows in the Collegewhich has greatly improved not only the appearance of the College butthe comfort and heat efficiency of the classrooms.

Healthy EatingOur College contract caterers are Sodexo, a company of national standingand reputation. A key part of their work is the need to provide healthyeating options and good value within the guidelines set down bygovernment. As a caterer with considerable experience, Sodexo hasalready made a considerable difference to the quality of our catering.We are well ahead of government targets to introduce healthy eating andnutritional standards in all schools. Sodexo run a Breakfast Club beforeCollege, a ‘snack shack’ and milk bar at break and lunch, as well as alunchtime servery which offers an appetising range of hot and cold food.Pupils are encouraged to drink plenty of water during the day. They maybring transparent plastic bottles into College which can be refilled fromour water coolers. Our Eco Schools Council works closely with Sodexoto provide feedback from pupils and ideas for further development.


College TripsSt Gregory’s has an excellent record of trips at home and abroad.Thanks to the commitment of staff, last year we offered College trips toSpain, France, Germany, and America, as well as trips in the UnitedKingdom to Parkend in the Forest of Dean, Morfa Bay and Rock’s Eastfor camping and many Performing Arts trips to galleries andperformances in London and other places. Last year we introduced avery popular Duke of Edinburgh option for Y10 students. Many of thesetrips and activities will run this year. Parents should look out for detailsnearer the time.

Sports and extra-curricular activitiesWe offer a wide range of lunch time and after school activitiesdesigned to promote pupil well being and increase participation in thelife of the community. Many staff give of their time to put on activitiesand clubs. Among the clubs we have: basketball, cricket for boys andgirls, rounders, tag rugby, craft club, and weight training. There isalso show choir, bravo brass, boys’ choir and girls’ choir, flute salad,composing coursework, saxophany, swing band, rock school, and stringgroup after school; astronomy club, art club, book club, chaplaincygroup, chess club, dance club, debating society (Model United Nations),library computers, homework club, drama clubs, warhammer andmodel-making. In addition, faculties offer: maths challenge, mathsmaster classes, revision classes, science club. St Gregory’s also hasa thriving team culture with teams in athletics, basketball, cricket,cross-country, hockey, rounders, rugby, soccer, netball.

Disability AccessIn consultation with students and parents who are disabled, we havedrawn up a Disability Access Plan to establish practical steps towardsensuring greater access to the site and the materials provided by theCollege. The Plan is available from the College on request.



Cultural and spiritualdevelopment is exceptionallystrong and students put intopractice in their day-to-daywork the values they learnin the College

– Ofsted Report 2008



While we pride ourselves on our academic performance in manysubjects, we are especially committed to developing expressivetalents in our pupils in the areas of music, dance, drama and the

visual arts. Our second specialism in languages allows us to offer a rangeof languages up to GCSE level, as well as evening language courses forparents (contact the College for details). We have worked closely with ourpartner primary schools to develop languages, especially Spanish, andhave strengthened our international links with visits and reciprocalarrangements with Spanish schools in Cordoba and the Canary Islands.

Performing Arts have long been a strength at St Gregory’s. Each year,we offer a full programme of arts activities, productions and workshopsfor pupils. In recent years we have staged a number of outstandingproductions which have involved hundreds of students, includingThe Sound of Music, West Side Story, Les Misérables, Oliver and Grease.This year’s production in December will be High School Musical.Other highlights of recent years have included our multi-media StemCell production at Kingswood Theatre, bringing together a wide range ofartists and students, our CARA project which involved artists from ethnicminority backgrounds working with our pupils on the theme of identity,and our Key Stage Three productions of Annie, The Lion, the Witchand the Wardrobe and The Wizard of Oz. In these productions, theperforming arts team were able to rehearse three separate casts forthe leading parts taken from years 7, 8 and 9. We also organised visitsto galleries, a house dance competition, a highly successful breakdancegroup, a poet in residence, choirs and music ensembles, as well asentering teams for the annual Midsomer Arts Festival. The College yearends with Arts Week which provides many opportunities for pupils to takepart in workshops and performances with workshop leaders drawn fromlocal and national arts companies. We offer a range of arts provision forthe local community, including Three Ways School, and have close linkswith Bath Festivals Trust, and Creative Factory. This year we areembarking on a new and exciting singing project with Bath Abbey whichwill provide even more opportunity to develop our choirs in the College.

We will continue to host Curtain Up on Saturday mornings, a local theatreschool with a national reputation for excellence.

I don’t normally likeperforming in front of aclass but this week I didand it felt good– Jack, Year 8, during Artsweek

Specialist School



Since 2002 we have enjoyed the benefits of a state of the art dance anddrama accommodation, the Gilchrist Studio. In 2005, we received agrant to re-furbish our Art rooms and in 2006 we received furtherfunding to re-locate the music room and practice rooms from its crampedaccommodation in the main building to spacious new accommodation.The new suite consists of a music classroom, equipped with the latestmusic technology, a rehearsal room, a recording centre, office and fourspacious practice rooms.

We have further extended curriculum opportunities in music, dance anddrama and by offering more opportunities for extra curricular activitiesafter school. Since September 2008 we have offered a BTEC inperforming arts. Over a third of our pupils take peripatetic musictuition. Specialist training in strings, brass, vocal, percussion andwoodwind ensemble skills feature strongly in the College. Severallarge ensembles and small chamber groups provide performanceopportunities. Many pupils are members of county and nationalmusical organisations.

Specialist School cont.

The College status as aPerforming Arts Collegesupports an outstandingrange of activities topromote individualdifference and diversity.– Inclusion Quality Mark Report

Specialist status was adriving force behind thepersonalisation ofopportunities for studentsin the curriculum andenrichment activities– Ofsted Report 2008


TheCollege uniform consists of a dark green blazer with theCollege badge and motto, a white shirt and College tie, greytrousers or skirt (girls have the option of trousers or skirt)

and low-heeled black shoes. The blazer and tie should be purchaseddirectly from our supplier Trutex, or from Scholars in Bath.

For greater convenience and value for money, the College operates acatalogue ordering system with Trutex. Parents can order uniformon-line, by post or by telephone. The uniform is delivered to eithera home or work address usually within a week.

Uniform should always be worn properly. A very high standard ofuniform is a key part of our aim of sustaining excellence. The onlyjewellery permitted is a watch and a single stud earring in each ear.Make-up, extreme hairstyles, including dyed or shaved patches, andnose or other facial studs or piercings are not permitted.


Uniform

Behaviour for Excellence

Avery high standard of behaviour is expected of pupils at StGregory’s. A calm and orderly atmosphere is important toensure the dignity and safety of all members of the

community. In the classroom, it is of the utmost importance that theright atmosphere for learning is maintained. Around the College, andon the way to and from College, pupils are expected to behave withdignity and respect for each other, their environment, and the localcommunity. The College Behaviour Policy, Behaviour for Excellence(available on request or on the website) sets out a clear and fairsystem of sanctions to discourage unacceptable behaviour based onour Christian values. There is a very strong emphasis on praise,reward and celebration.

Students feel safe inCollege, where exemplarybehaviour reflects the highmoral values promoted– Ofsted Report 2008


All of our pupils follow a broad, balanced, relevant andchallenging curriculum which is designed to meet theirindividual needs as far as possible. We are committed to

developing a culture of ‘personalising learning’ based on excellentteaching and learning, top quality advice and guidance, individualmentoring for those who need additional support, a curriculum whichis constantly being adapted to meet pupils’ needs, and above all anethos which values each individual as a uniquely gifted child of God.

The College day begins with registration and collective worship intutor time at 8.50 am. Whole school assemblies are held everyWednesday morning. The teaching day, which begins at 9.00 am,consists of 6 x 50-minute teaching periods, organised over a two-week timetable. This provides a total curriculum time for Key Stage 3 and 4 of 25 hours per week. There is amorning break of 20 minutes between lessons 2 and 3. Lunch time runs from 12.40 until 1.25 pm. After a fiveminute registration, there are two more lessons in the afternoon and then a staggered dismissal at the end ofthe day to avoid congestion. The College day finishes at 3.10 pm with a provision for supervised study and awide range of extra-curricular activities.

In lower school (Years 7-9) the National Curriculum is delivered according to the revised programmes of studyfor English, Mathematics and Science. Pupils also study Art & Technology, Geography, History, ICT, Music,Physical Education and Religious Education. All pupils study French with German and Spanish offered asadditional languages to more able linguists. Japanese is offered as an after school class in Year 9. Italian isoffered to a small group of pupils in Year 9. In addition, as a Performing Arts College, pupils have weeklylessons in Dance and Drama. In Years 8 and 9 pupils deepen their knowledge and skills in the areas oflearning outlined above and are prepared for end of Key Stage 3 teacher assessments in English andMathematics in December of Year 9.

In upper school (Years 10-11) the curriculum is designed on the principles of personalised learning. We haveintroduced a curriculum model which provides three distinct ‘pathways’ or routes through Key Stage 4.Firstly, theWalsingham Pathway is designed for those pupils for whom a traditional GCSE package wouldnot be appropriate. This does not mean it is an easy option. The pupils study a core of GCSE subjects aswell as vocational qualifications which are equal in value to GCSEs. Pupils are offered a range of level 1 and2 courses for one day a week at the City of Bath College.

The second option is the Glastonbury Pathway. This is designed for pupils who wish to take 8 or 9 GCSEs(or equivalent) and achieve a high number of A*-C passes. There is a compulsory core of combined EnglishLanguage / Literature, Mathematics, Science, RE (short course), NVQ Business French, Geography orHistory, PE (non-exam) and PSHEE (non-exam), ICT and supported study time. In addition, pupils will beable to choose from options including: Art, Drama, Music, Food Technology, Dance, History, PE, BTEC inPerforming Arts, Digital Creator, Diploma in Business, Administration & Finance, Diploma in Engineeringand Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment.


Academic Development

Given the high attainment, excellentprogress for all, the overall judgementof Achievement is outstanding– School Improvement Partner Report 2010


The third route or pathway is the Canterbury Pathway.This is aimed at those pupils who wish to take 10 or moreGCSEs and can do so without undue pressure. The coreconsists of English Language, English Literature, Mathematics(with Statistics for the most able), Science, RE, French,German or Spanish, Geography or History, PE (non-exam) andPSHEE (non-exam) and ICT. Pupils may then choose from thesame option list as Glastonbury with the addition of Frenchand AS Science in Society.

We have continued to develop our curriculum offer in specialistsubjects with the introduction in 2008 of the BTEC inPerforming Arts and NVQ in French. In the Local Authority,we are part of a diploma consortium and from 2009 some ofour students have been taking the diploma in Business,Administration and Finance at St Mark’s for a day at weekand from September 2010 students will be able to takediplomas in Engineering at City of Bath College andNorton Radstock College.

Assessment for LearningEach pupil, in Key Stage 3 and 4, is set a Target for the end ofthe Key Stage. In Key Stage 3, pupils will be set Target Levelsand in Key Stage 4, Agreed Target Grades. These targets arebased on data which is provided by the Fischer Family Trust,the organisation the government is now using to provide performance data for every school in the country.Progress towards targets is measured three times a year in Progress Reports. Effort, Behaviour andHomework are also monitored very closely. Pupils in Year 7, 8 and 9 are streamed according to ability andset in Mathematics.

We are not, however, inviting pupils to work towards their minimum expectation. In each case the pupil willbe challenged to achieve a value-added level or grade and pupil by pupil analysis of results will ensure thatwe are constantly working towards achieving high value-added scores.

This year we will be continuing to develop our assessment of pupils’ work by embedding the principles ofassessment for learning. This involves a greater involvement of pupils in their learning, ensuring that pupilsknow exactly what they must do to achieve their targets through the use of careful comments after majorpieces of work.


Teaching and learning, Care Guidance andSupport and the Curriculum were all judgedoutstanding in 2008 and since then provisionhas been enhanced further leading to acontinuing judgement of outstanding– School Improvement Partner Report 2010

Academic Development cont.



Special Educational NeedsThe curriculum is designed to recognise and value the gifts and intelligences of all our pupils. We recognisethat not all pupils will be able to access the National Curriculum in the same way or at the same pace as otherpupils. Some pupils may need additional support. This will include special tuition in small groups, in-classsupport from teaching assistants and one-to-one provision as much as the College budget allows. All teachingstaff are provided with data and information about pupils to allow them to differentiate their lessons as far aspossible to meet the needs of their pupils.

Work-related learningCareers education is an integral part of the Guidance programme, becoming progressively more detailed as thepupils move towards the end of Key Stage 4. The emphasis is on enabling the young person to make realisticchoices of the Pathways as outlined above, and then of the progression routes after St Gregory’s which arebest suited to his or her abilities and aspirations. The careers programme is led by the tutors and covers keyareas such as self-assessment, decision-making, the implications of subject choice, career information andadvice. From Year 9 upwards, our careers guidance staff will work closely with the Connexions service toensure that the most appropriate advice is given to our pupils as they move closer to further education and achoice of career. In the autumn term a major careers convention brings together schools and Colleges, as wellas major employers, with valuable information for our students.

ProgressionAt the end of Year 11 the vast majority of our pupils stay in education to pursue mostly level 3, or A-Levelcourses. It is our intention, as stated in the Introduction, to pursue the possibility of a sixth form for StGregory’s with support from the Local Authority. It is clear that many of our parents and students would prefera sixth form provision here at St Gregory’s and, in partnership with other schools and Colleges, we hope in thenext few years to be able to provide a range of suitable post-16 courses here at the College.

A full breakdown of the most recent public examination results and attendance figures are available as an insertto the prospectus.

Academic Development cont.

Students show a real thirst forlearning and take pride in theirwork and their College– Ofsted Report 2008



Working with Parents

Welook to parents as our partners in the education of theirchildren. The more closely we can work together with them,the greater the benefit will be for the pupil. We ask parents

for their support in helping to maintain the standards required as aCollege which is sustaining excellence. We ask parents to take a closeinterest in the work and behaviour of their children and to sign the pupilplanners each week. The planner is one of the many ways the Collegeand parents can communicate with one another.

There is an excellent weekly newsletter which goes home by pupilpost and posted on our website each Friday. This keeps parentsinformed about events in the College. There is also a Parents’ Forumwhich meets once a term in the College. This is open to all parents andis an excellent opportunity for parents to meet members of the CollegeLeadership Board and discuss and explore issues of general interest.In Year 7 there are several opportunities for parents to come in to meettutors and teachers to discuss the development and progress of theirchild. This is to help parents adjust from their experience of primaryschool where there is generally more regular contact with staff.After Year 7, there is an annual parents’ evening as well as a PathwaysEvening in Year 9, a Target-Setting Evening in Year 10 and twoTarget-Setting evenings in Year 11. Sample groups of parents areroutinely invited to share their views about the strengths andweaknesses of the College.

Parents are welcome to come to College at any time to discuss theprogress of their child. We do ask, however, that an appointment ismade in advance. If there is a pressing concern, we will always try andmeet parents without an appointment but this is not always possible.An excellent way for parents to take part in the life of the College andcontribute to the education of their children is to join the PTFA(Parents Teachers and Friends Association). The PTFA organisesmany fundraising events and contributes a great deal to the welfare ofthe pupils. For more details please contact the PTFA c/o College.

Extended Services and Parent Support AdviserIn partnership with St John’s and St Mary’s Catholic Primary schools inBath, we have embarked on an exciting new development to provideeven more support for families. With the help of government funding,the three schools have jointly appointed an Extended Services Co-ordinator and Parent Support Adviser. This post is to help those familieswho need extra support with aspects of the educational system or helpin dealing with difficult domestic circumstances. The most recentExtended Services newsletter and contact details are available from theCollege by request.

Parents are routinely invited to share theirviews about the strengths and weaknessesof the College

Bullying hasno place here- Y11 Student


Gift AidWe also ask that all parents make a contribution to the College funds.As a Catholic College, our capital expenditure is not fully funded bycentral government. Each year the governors have to provide 10% ofthe costs of all capital expenditure. In any one year this could mean afigure in the region of £10,000. This is money which the governorshave to raise annually. It is therefore very important that all familiesmake a contribution towards this cost. If donations are Gift Aidedthen the College can benefit further. Parents are contacted annuallyearly in the autumn term with requests for donations

Attendance and TransportIn law, it is the responsibility of parents to ensure that their children attend school. A young person’s progressand development can be adversely affected by absence or frequent lateness. There has been a growing trendacross the country in recent years for parents to take annual leave during term-time to take advantage ofcheaper holiday rates. The College cannot support this practice. If there are exceptional circumstances, suchas on compassionate grounds, then parents may write to the headteacher and ask him to authorise a pupil’sabsence. In most cases, the College will not support such a request. Please make sure that any holidays arearranged to coincide with the College holidays.

Transport to College is the responsibility of parents. We are very fortunate at St Gregory’s to have severalgroups of very dedicated parents who organise coaches from Shepton Mallet and Wells, and support thetransport arrangements from Corsham and Chippenham. Places on these coaches cannot be guaranteed,although most years most of the pupils who wish a place on the coaches can be accommodated.

By arrangement with the local bus company, there are special buses connecting the College with the citycentre and the outskirts of the city. The local education authority runs a coach from Keynsham and Saltfordwith a system of limited charging for baptised Catholic children which came into effect from September 2007.Concessionary fares for other pupils may be available if there is space on the coach. At the end of the day, thecoaches collect the pupils on or close to the College site.

ComplaintsThere may be occasions when parents are unhappy with some aspect of the College’s provision. In the firstinstance parents should try to resolve the issue informally with the appropriate member of staff. This willdepend on the nature of the concern. If the concern is over a pupil and his or her welfare, then the tutor isthe first contact and then the director of house. The majority of concerns are dealt with and resolved in thisway. If there is still no resolution, however, parents may wish to pursue a more formal complaint. Full detailsof how to do this are available from the College. It is worth noting that formal complaints are very rare.We have very good relations with parents and sensible and thoughtful dialogue is usually the best way forward.

A much sought-after and dynamic 11-16Catholic comprehensive which combinescreativity with academic success– The Good Schools Guide 2008


Working with Parents cont.


COM

BEH

AYLA

NE

MENDIP GARDENS

BANWELL ROAD

FROME ROAD

RUSH HILL

ST MARTINS

HOSPITAL

UPPER

BLOOM

FIELD

RD

SULIS MANOR ROAD

BURNT HOUSE ROAD

OLD

FOSSE

RD

OLD

FOSS

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WELLS WAY

RIDG

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SEKILKENNY LANE

POPLAR RD

A367

A367

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ODD DOWNSOUTHDOWN

ENGLISHCOMBE

SOUTHSTOKE

COMBEDOWN

COM

BEH

AYLAN

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SULIS MANOR ROAD

WELLSW

AYPK

A367

B3115

A3062

B3110

BATH

DA

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OTSHT

UOS

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OTSHT

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BRADFORD ROADPADLEIGH HILL

Headteacher: Mr. R. Friel MA (Hons) NPQHAddress: Combe Hay Lane, Odd Down, BATH BA2 8PA

t: 01225 832873 f: 01225 835848e: [email protected]: www.st-gregorys.bathnes.sch.uk


St Gregorys Prospectus

Documents

Transcript of St Gregorys Prospectus