James Earl Chair, Fortune Green & West Hampstead Neighbourhood Development Forum.
The West Hampstead International School Prospectus
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Transcript of The West Hampstead International School Prospectus
8/13/2019 The West Hampstead International School Prospectus
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WHIS is a not-for-profit state school delivered in partnership with:
Dame Alice Owen’s School • Watford Grammar School for Boys • Watford Grammar School for Girls •
Queen Elizabeth School, Barnet • Mount Grace School • The Wroxham Primary School
8/13/2019 The West Hampstead International School Prospectus
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Unashamedly academic
We believe in the unique
power of a rigorousacademic education to
shape engaged,
articulate children who
want to make the most of
life.
Our ambitious curriculum
will balance depth and
breadth, with stretching
targets for learning
languages and science
taught as three separate
subjects.
Our Founding Principles
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Shaping emotionally resilient children
Every aspect of our school environment will be designed to encourage students to grow into
respectful, responsible and motivated young people.
We will provide focused pastoral care to help pupils drive their own academic progress, and offer
support and guidance whenever it is needed.
Strengthening our community
Our vision is for a local school that allows children to preserve and develop the bonds they have
formed with friends from primary school and the communities in which they live.
We will draw upon the great diversity and aspiration found in London’s patchwork of neighbourhoods
to encourage ambition and a global perspective in our pupils.
To support the community which supports us, we will make our school premises available as a hubfor learning, creativity and competition, every day of the week.
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Our teamThe West Hampstead International School
campaign was formed when a group of
local parents identied a shared concern
regarding the emerging lack of school places
in the area. The campaign is led by Dr Clare
Craig, Consultant Hospital Doctor and CEO
of Thanks Doctor; Rob Marshall, a nancial
analyst and governor at a West Hampstead
primary school; Shay Manuel, a family support
worker in Kilburn; and Jo Disson, a government
social researcher.
The West Hampstead International School will
enjoy the full support of the Advanced Learning
Alliance (ALA), a group of outstanding schools
based in North London and Hertfordshire,
including Dame Alice Owen’s and Watford
Boys’ and Girls’ Grammar Schools. The ALA
schools will provide staff, resources, training,
technology and expertise to help ensure thesuccessful delivery of an ambitious programme
of study and enrichment.
When and where?
In May 2014 we will apply to the Department
for Education. Our target is to open and admit
Reception and Year 7 classes in September
2015. We have identied potential locations
around the railway tracks near to the West
Hampstead transport interchange.
Here’s where you come in…
To give our school and your child
the best chance, please ll in the A4
form included in this prospectus, or go
to www.westhampsteadinternational.org and
follow the link to sign up now.
Delivering our vision
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Excellent teaching and learning With the support of exceptional teachers from
our partner schools, we will deliver a rigorous
academic curriculum designed to inspire a
lifelong love of learning, including:
Enrichment and pastoral care
We want to instil in our students a passion
for life, and a strong sense of respect for themselves and for others, by offering:
We will offer
A specialism in languages, supported by
international links and powerful technological
learning aids
A creative, evidence-based approach to
teaching in both joint and single-sex classes
and in sets according to academic ability
A healthy balance between the teaching of
critical thinking and core knowledge
Science taught as three subjects.
A specialism in music, one of many
enrichment activities to engage and
invigorate pupils
A vibrant, caring community with frequent
mentoring – from teachers, pupils past
and present, and gures from industry and
academia
Strict discipline to help develop a keen senseof responsibility and politeness
Thoughtful engagement with our
community through projects, support for
home languages, and creative use of our
public space.
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“The Advanced Learning Alliance
is all about sharing best practice
to deliver consistently outstanding
teaching.” Dr Alan Davison,
Headteacher, Dame Alice Owen’s School
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AssessmentRegular and detailed assessment is a key factor
in the remarkable success of our partner
schools in the Advanced Learning Alliance
(ALA). From the day we open, our staff will
benet from the ALA’s established processes
and systems. Teachers will be able to track
and analyse the progress of students, and
ensure that they are consistently stretched
and supported. These systems will also form
the basis for regular open dialogue between teacher, pupil and parent, helping students to
understand their goals.
Creativity
Our pupils will be given every opportunity to
build powers of self-expression. We want to
develop lively imaginations because this will
lead to innovation and independent thought.
We want to teach our children the joy of
working creatively, and encourage them to
appreciate the creativity of others. Throughout
primary and secondary school, children will
undertake creative writing classes as part of
their literacy programme. In addition to our
specialism in music, students will enjoy a variety
of creative opportunities including art, drama
and community-based projects.
The right environment
At The West Hampstead International School
we will adopt a creative but evidence-based
approach to teaching in single-sex groups and
in sets according to ability.
Studies show that, at different stages in their
development, boys and girls can benet from
being taught in single-sex groups, with a
positive impact on concentration levels and
class participation. In addition, single-sex groups
have shown a reduction in the tendency to
choose subject specialisms in line with gender
stereotypes.
To offer our pupils the best possible
learning environment, The West Hampstead
International School will adopt a ‘diamond’
approach to gender grouping. Boys and girls will
be taught in mixed classes at primary and SixthForm, and taught separately for core academic
subjects during Key Stages 3 & 4. For the rest
of the school day, including during enrichment
classes such as music, and at assembly and
break times, all pupils will be together.
A curriculum balancingbreadth and depth
We believe that an effective teaching style
emphasises both content and technique. We
will give our students a broad knowledge base,
allowing them to develop cultural literacy and
a context for their learning. Our curriculum
will relate closely to the National Curriculum,
and students will work towards GCSEs and
A-levels. In keeping with our high academic
aims, students will study science as three
separate subjects. All pupils will study Spanish
throughout primary level, with an introduction to Latin in Year 7 and further language options
thereafter.
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Learning comes rst
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International perspective
WHIS will have a languages specialism and links
with schools overseas. In this way, we hope
to prepare students for life in our shrinkingworld by teaching them about other countries
and cultures. We will seek to join one of the
recognised international school groups, which
provide curriculum support and access to a
network of schools with a shared ethos.
Music to inspire and engage
Children learn best when they are fully
engaged in school, and music and drama will
form a vital part of our enrichment curriculum.
North London benets from several highly
successful initiatives that have demonstrated
the extraordinary capacity of music to inspire
a love of learning in children of all backgrounds.
In partnership with the Camden Music Service,
we will deliver a wide range of options for
small and large group tuition, with an emphasis
on live performance at every opportunity in
order to build condence and powers of self-expression.
Our specialisms
Languages as a catalyst forsuccess
Learning a foreign language is not just a way
to gain additional qualications – it developsa concrete and demonstrable life skill. As
well as being highly valued by employers, a
widely spoken second language brings cultural
awareness, social skills, and the opportunity
to travel or work abroad. All students will
aim for two GCSEs or equivalent in modern or
ancient languages.
Our youngest students will enjoy the precious
opportunity to learn a language early in
life, with Spanish lessons from their very
rst year. For students joining at secondary
level, the Year 7 curriculum will include intensive
Spanish coaching so that, as soon as they are
ready, children can embark on ambitious
bilingual programmes such as ‘Spanish through
Geography’. In this way, we will bring WHIS
students the proven benets of language
learning for mental development.
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House system and studentfamilies
Each child will belong to a small house group
within the school. They will represent their
house in music, sport and drama competitions,
and the system will encourage pupils to build
relationships with students of different ages.
Every student will have two named school
siblings in each year group, with older students
taking a role in helping younger siblings to feel
welcome and to enjoy school life.
Girls and boys
We believe our ‘diamond’ school approachpromotes the best of both worlds for girls and
for boys. From age 11 to 16, they will enjoy
the proven benets of single-sex teaching for
concentration, self-condence and aspiration.
Then during much of the school day, and
throughout primary and Sixth Form, boys and
girls will spend time together, learning sensitivity
and respectfulness.
Special Educational Needs
The school’s special needs provision will be
driven by our inclusive philosophy. There will
be members of staff dedicated to identifying
special educational needs at an early stage.
These staff will be responsible for enabling
teachers to suppor t those with special needs
in mainstream lessons and, where necessary,
for providing specialist intervention.
Role models and mentors
Our students will benet from various forms
of mentoring and peer group structures:
English as an additionallanguage
We think our school should reect the diversity
of our city and so, as well as intensive English
tuition, we will offer teaching and support in
home languages for those students who speak
English as their second tongue. We believe
these children will embrace their existingbilingualism as an advantage and as a catalyst
to academic attainment.
We believe passionately in helping our pupils to become emotionally resilient young people. Wewill not look to protect our students from failure by denying that it has happened: instead, we will
promote a supportive community which cheers second attempts, and encourages children to put
themselves forward in the classroom without fear of humiliation.
A supportive framework
Academic mentoring from form tutors,
encouraging each child to discuss their
objectives and take ownership of theiracademic career
Teaching in school assemblies, including
stories of unlikely heroes and appearances
from alumni and other role models from
industry and society
Behavioural mentoring, helping children to
respect their peers, their teachers and their
learning environment.
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Responsibility We want all our pupils to realise that they
are responsible for their future, and that only
through effort will they succeed. We believe
that academic success follows when children
are able to articulate their objectives and take
ownership of their school career.
From their rst day, pupils will also be taught
the value of supporting the community by
taking charge of the organisation of school and
house events. Children will be entrusted with
responsibility for the upkeep and decoration
of common areas such as their house rooms.
Leadership and competition
We will ensure that a full afternoon per week
is dedicated to spor t, allowing students access
to excellent facilities. PE classes will provideexercise and will teach the benets of healthy
living. Children will have the opportunity to
engage in a variety of competitive team sports
in house groupings, learning the importance of
teamwork and leadership.
Equipped for life
“The School should be a microcosm
of what we would like society to be:
a collection of caring, motivated,
hardworking and happy people
who are capable of living together
harmoniously while recognising and
respecting each other’s differences.”
Dame Helen Hyde, Headteacher, Watford
Grammar School for Girls
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Engaged and articulate
We want our students to engage with the world around them – its people and its institutions. So
as well as offering a broad curriculum that gives pupils the knowledge and perspective to think for
themselves, we will hold regular debates and public speaking competitions. In order to reinforce the
role of core knowledge in our curriculum, we will also hold house quiz events.
Discipline and behaviour
The West Hampstead International School will create a calm classroom environment that allows
students to focus on learning. We will expect all children to be punctual, wear smart school uniform,
and treat teachers and classmates with cour tesy. Senior staff members and behavioural mentors will
deal with disruptive pupils outside the classroom.
In a culture founded on building trust and self-restraint, students will be given important roles in
the organisation of the school. Our mentoring plans will help students to acquire a sense of respect
for themselves and their peers. Through the small house system and a programme of alumni visits,children will be inspired by positive role models and develop a sense of pride in their school.
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“I am dedicated to developing approachesto teaching and learning that do not rely on
determinist beliefs about ability. I believe
that the most effective school is one where
individuality and difference are celebrated
and everyone is valued.” Dame Alison Peacock,
Headteacher, The Wroxham School
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Breadth and rigour
We have high aspirations for our young
people, and will deliver this vision through
excellent and enthusiastic teaching of a broad
curriculum in a safe, disciplined environment.
As our students will come from a multitude of
ethnic and linguistic backgrounds, we will focus
on developing competence and condence in
spoken language.
During Early Years, our teachers will balance
academic, social and physical development,
preparing children for the diligence and
precision we will bring to learning in later years.
Across the year groups, we will ensure thatchildren have grasped important skills before
moving on to the next stage. Children will be
trusted to set the pace of their learning, and
will be motivated by the satisfaction of their
own success.
Continuity
Children who join us from the very beginning
will enjoy the full benet of our stimulating,
supportive ethos throughout their school
career. They will be well prepared for the
advantages of our ambitious languages
programme, studying Spanish from Reception
class onwards.
In Year 6, pupils will get a taste for the next
stage of their education by spending lesson
and enrichment time with pupils and teachers
from the secondary school.
Creativity
School is not only about academic achievement.
It is also about developing powers of self-
expression during our children’s formative
years. We want our students to enjoy going
to WHIS because it will help them to achieve
more. Children are naturally creative, and our
teachers will promote a classroom culture
that thrives on this, with strategies designed to
spark new ideas and a sense of wonder. Our
lessons will aim for a healthy mix of ‘order
and adventure’.
Music will play a key role throughout the
school, and children will be provided with
plentiful opportunities to learn an instrument
and to perform for friends and family. A broad
range of after-school clubs will allow children to develop interests and hobbies such as choir,
cookery and drama.
The West Hampstead International School will open with 60 Reception places. Our primary andsecondary schools will share the same vision and values, reected in a common objective: to build
a safe, supportive environment where children are happy and engaged, allowing their creative and
academic gifts to ourish.
Our primary school
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Continuity breeds successAt the heart of our vision is a neighbourhood school where groups of
children from the excellent local primaries can move on to secondary
school together. Research has shown that disruption can damage children’s
academic progress, and that students thrive when they can enjoy the
support of friends and familiar peers.
WHIS primary students will benet from the continuity of a smooth
progression to secondary school, but we are equally keen to ensure that
pupils arriving in Year 7 from other local schools will settle in happily. To aid
this transition, we will forge strong relationships with nearby primaries, and
get to know parents and pupils before their start with us.
Giving back
We want our school to be woven into the fabric of the area, and our
students will take on regular neighbourhood outreach work to teach them
the value of being involved with the community.
As the beneciaries of precious taxpayer money, we feel that our freeschool has a moral obligation to make the most of its amenities. So we will
strive for innovative ways in which to open up our physical premises as a
base for community and educational activities:
Parents and carers
Supportive parents and carers will be key to our success, and we believe
that family and school have a mutual obligation to support each child’s
educational career. We expect parents to reinforce the importance of
education by ensuring their child completes homework and attends on
time every day. Parents will be able to view and monitor their child’s
academic and extra-curricular progress online and to have termly meetings
with teachers or subject leaders.
Community
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Hosting local language tutors and schools
Running and hosting community services such as youth clubs, lm and
book clubs, cookery and textiles classes
Hosting community sports clubs.
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Next steps We will apply to the Depar tment for Education in May 2014, with a target of opening to admit
Reception and Year 7 classes in September 2015.
We urgently need your support. Before May 2014, we require written signatures of
support from the parents of children who will attend our school.
To give our school and your child the best chance, please ll in the A4 form included in thisprospectus, or go to www.westhampsteadinternational.org and follow the link to sign up now.
8/13/2019 The West Hampstead International School Prospectus
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-west-hampstead-international-school-prospectus 16/16
Be a part of it We urgently need your support. Before
May 2014, we require written signatures of
support from the parents of children who will
attend our school.
To give our school and your child the
best chance, please ll in the A4 form
included in this prospectus, or go
to www.westhampsteadinternational.org and
follow the link to sign up now.
Contact Uswww.westhampsteadinternational.orginfo@westhampsteadinternational.org
WESTTHE
HAMPSTEADINTERNATIONAL SCHOOL