Education Plus 15 September 2015

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Educa ion+[ Your guide to

education in and around

Bristol 2015 ]

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

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S5

2 Tu e s d a y, September 15, 2015 3Tu e s d a y, September 15, 2015 w w w. bristolpost.co.ukw w w. bristolpost.co.uk

RESULTS UP

� The percentage of Bristol students earningfive or more GCSEs at grades A*-C(including English and maths) over the last11 years:

A GLANCE through newspages on the websites ofsome of Bristol’s secondaryschools reveals a strikingtrend which leaves no doubt

about the health of the city’s edu-cation system.

Schools which just a few years agowere being overlooked by parentshave been proudly trumpeting theirpupil recruitment figures – with re-cord numbers starting in Year 7 inseveral institutions in the city thismonth.

The impressive enrolment stat-istics being bellowed from therooftops by the likes of OasisAcademy Brightstowe and FairfieldHigh are partly down to the ex-cellent work being done in thoseschools. But they can also be at-tributed to a wider trend – the riseand rise of Bristol’s state educationsystem.

The transformation in Bristol’sstate-funded schools could hardlyhave been more dramatic over thepast 11 years – with buildings, res-ults and Ofsted ratings all changing

beyond recognition for the better.A feel-good factor is boosting the

prospects of all Bristol’s schools asthe city sheds its image as one of thecountry’s worst performers.

The new-found popularity of someof the less-fancied schools in the cityreflects how far the city has comesince it was publicly derided bypoliticians including Lord Adonisand its secondaries posted some ofthe poorest GCSE results in theland.

Since then the educational land-scape has changed dramatically. Butto what can the turnaround in res-ults be attributed?

Many would point to the intro-duction of academies, with groupssuch as Oasis Community Learningand the Cabot Learning Federationtaking over several struggling coun-cil-run schools and improving res-u l t s.

Others would suggest that newschool buildings constructed inBristol as part of a redevelopmentprogramme costing hundreds ofmillions of pounds has helped trig-ger the turnaround. Most second-aries in the city have been rebuiltinto gleaming modern centres foreducation under the BuildingSchools for the Future programmeled by the last Labour government.

And undoubtedly, Bristol’s head-line GCSE results figure has alsobeen bolstered by high-flyingformer private schools BristolCathedral Choir School and Col-s t o n’s Girls’ School becoming states ch o o l s.

GCSE results have gone frombeing near to the bottom of the pileto approaching the national aver-age, with continuous improvementbeing recorded between 2004 and2014 before a slight dip this year.This has come during a time when

the national average figure has fluc-tuated and students have faced dis-ruption caused by Governmentchanges being made to the cur-riculum.

According to the city council, theupturn in results is down to a com-

Council recognises and celebrateshead teachers and governors who’vegone above and beyond – and thereare many success stories across thecity. Capital investment in the in-frastructure of schools has also madea big difference. The council has been

working in partnership to secure sub-stantial capital investment to buildnew schools and improve existingones. Over £390 million pounds wasinvested between 2004 and 2011 andthis has been used to not only ensurethat there are enough places for allyoung people, but also to improve thelearning environment and createspaces in which young people canenjoy their learning.

“Targeted school improvementstrategies have been developed andimplemented to make sure changesare made where required. The part-nership of Bristol SecondaryHeadteachers and Academy Prin-cipals is a strong collegiate group ofleaders, who work closely with eachother, the Local Authority and with arange of partners, including HigherEducation and business partners.

“Schools have also been radicallyreorganised through the academyprogramme. There are now a diverserange of providers involved in thedelivery of secondary education inthe city, either working as part of anacademy trust or as part of a largerfederation of academies.”

It is clear the news of Bristol’simproving results is filteringthrough to parents.

At Oasis Academy Brightstowe inShirehampton, formerly Portway

School, the Year 7 cohort this year isthe largest it has been since theacademy was founded eight yearsago. More than 180 Year 6 childrenhave joined from primary schools inShirehampton, Lawrence Weston,Avonmouth, Sea Mills and StokeB i s h o p.

Fairfield High was also celebratingincreasing numbers, with the schoolin Horfield celebrating record applic-ations for 2015.

The number of families puttingFHS as their first preference hasrocketed from 78 last year to 120, eventhough there are fewer children inthe year group. Overall, the schoolhad 310 on-time applications and is intalks with Bristol City Council aboutincreasing its maximum annual in-take in future years.

Speaking earlier this year, thes ch o o l ’s principal CatrionaMangham said: “FHS has had a re-cord number of applications for Year7 places in September 2015. Thiscomes after many successes in thepast year; we are in the top 15 per centnationally for value added, our GCSEresults exceeded many governmenttargets and we have joined the Ex-calibur Academies Trust, a move thatwill provide a strong support net-work and provide opportunities toexpand and improve.”

Marc RathEducation [email protected]

FEEL-GOOD FACTOR FLOWS THROUGH SOARING STATE SCHOOLS

bination of factors including invest-ment in new leaders, leadershipstructures and governance models,as well as the investment in build-i n g s.

A spokeswoman for the authoritysaid: “Three times a year, Bristol City

Head teacher CatrionaMangham

Fairfield High Schoolhas had a record numberof applications for Year 7places in September2015. This comes aftermany successes in thepast year.

“

CONTRIBUTORS TO THISSUPPLEMENT

Reporters� Marc Rath� Kate Edser

Advertising� Marc England� For education advertising give Marc acall on 0117 934 3428 or emailm a rc . e n g l a n d @ l o c a l w o r l d . c o . u k

� 2004 – 26%� 2005 – 28%� 2006 – 30%� 2007 – 31%� 2008 – 36%� 2009 – 40%� 2010 – 46%

� 2011 – 50%� 2012 – 52%� 2013 – 52%� 2014 – 55%� 2015 - 54%( p ro v i s i o n a l )

� Orchard School students celebrate anothersuccessful year

IndexState schoolsAbbeywood CommunitySchool.........................................p28Bradley Stoke CommunitySchool.........................................p28Broadlands Academy................p27Charborough Road PrimarySchool.........................................p28Downend School.......................p24Fairfield High School.................p25Mangotsfield School.................p24Meadowbrook PrimarySchool.........................................p28Oasis Academy Brightstowe....p25Oasis Academy Brislington......p23Oasis Academy JohnWilliams......................................p23Orchard School.........................p27Patchway CommunityCollege........................................p26South Gloucestershire and StroudCollege........................................p27St Bede’s Catholic College.......p26St Katherine’s School...............p23

Independent schoolsBadminton School.....................p40Bristol Grammar School Infantsand Juniors................................p37Bristol Grammar SchoolSeniors........................................p37Clifton College...........................p39Clifton High School...................p36Queen Elizabeth Hospital SchoolJuniors........................................p40Queen Elizabeth Hospital SchoolSeniors........................................p39Redland High Senior School....p38Red Maids’ Junior School........p35Red Maids’ Senior School........p35

Fea t u res

Schools of thought: Meet thehead bloggers – pages 4&5

Quiet revolution: Our specialschools are leading the way –pages 6&7

Why the jury’s still out on testsfor four-year-olds – pages 6&7

��

��

��

��

�� Open Mornings:Thursday 1st OctoberTours at 9:00am and 10:00am

Wednesday 7th OctoberTours at 9:00am, 10:00am and 1:45pmBookable by appointment only

Open Evening:Thursday 1st October6:00pm - 8:00pmCrèche facilities are available

Headteacher talks at 6:00pm and 6:45pm

Abbeywood Community SchoolNew Road

Stoke GiffordSouth Gloucestershire

BS34 [email protected]

Tel: 0117 307 5660

A ‘GOOD’ School inEvery CategoryOfsted

Open Day:Thursday 24th SeptemberTours at 8:45am, 9:45am,11:05am and 1:35pmBookable by appointment only

Open Evening:Thursday 24th September6:00pm - 8:00pmCrèche facilities are available


Bradley Stoke Community SchoolFiddlersWood Lane

Bradley StokeSouth Gloucestershire


Tel: 01454 868840

A ‘GOOD’ School,with ‘OUTSTANDING’Behaviour, Safety andLeadershipOfsted

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E01-

S5


RESULTS UP

� The percentage of Bristol students earningfive or more GCSEs at grades A*-C(including English and maths) over the last11 years:

A GLANCE through newspages on the websites ofsome of Bristol’s secondaryschools reveals a strikingtrend which leaves no doubt

about the health of the city’s edu-cation system.

Schools which just a few years agowere being overlooked by parentshave been proudly trumpeting theirpupil recruitment figures – with re-cord numbers starting in Year 7 inseveral institutions in the city thismonth.

The impressive enrolment stat-istics being bellowed from therooftops by the likes of OasisAcademy Brightstowe and FairfieldHigh are partly down to the ex-cellent work being done in thoseschools. But they can also be at-tributed to a wider trend – the riseand rise of Bristol’s state educationsystem.

The transformation in Bristol’sstate-funded schools could hardlyhave been more dramatic over thepast 11 years – with buildings, res-ults and Ofsted ratings all changing

beyond recognition for the better.A feel-good factor is boosting the

prospects of all Bristol’s schools asthe city sheds its image as one of thecountry’s worst performers.

The new-found popularity of someof the less-fancied schools in the cityreflects how far the city has comesince it was publicly derided bypoliticians including Lord Adonisand its secondaries posted some ofthe poorest GCSE results in theland.

Since then the educational land-scape has changed dramatically. Butto what can the turnaround in res-ults be attributed?

Many would point to the intro-duction of academies, with groupssuch as Oasis Community Learningand the Cabot Learning Federationtaking over several struggling coun-cil-run schools and improving res-u l t s.

Others would suggest that newschool buildings constructed inBristol as part of a redevelopmentprogramme costing hundreds ofmillions of pounds has helped trig-ger the turnaround. Most second-aries in the city have been rebuiltinto gleaming modern centres foreducation under the BuildingSchools for the Future programmeled by the last Labour government.

And undoubtedly, Bristol’s head-line GCSE results figure has alsobeen bolstered by high-flyingformer private schools BristolCathedral Choir School and Col-s t o n’s Girls’ School becoming states ch o o l s.

GCSE results have gone frombeing near to the bottom of the pileto approaching the national aver-age, with continuous improvementbeing recorded between 2004 and2014 before a slight dip this year.This has come during a time when

the national average figure has fluc-tuated and students have faced dis-ruption caused by Governmentchanges being made to the cur-riculum.

According to the city council, theupturn in results is down to a com-

Council recognises and celebrateshead teachers and governors who’vegone above and beyond – and thereare many success stories across thecity. Capital investment in the in-frastructure of schools has also madea big difference. The council has been

working in partnership to secure sub-stantial capital investment to buildnew schools and improve existingones. Over £390 million pounds wasinvested between 2004 and 2011 andthis has been used to not only ensurethat there are enough places for allyoung people, but also to improve thelearning environment and createspaces in which young people canenjoy their learning.

“Targeted school improvementstrategies have been developed andimplemented to make sure changesare made where required. The part-nership of Bristol SecondaryHeadteachers and Academy Prin-cipals is a strong collegiate group ofleaders, who work closely with eachother, the Local Authority and with arange of partners, including HigherEducation and business partners.

“Schools have also been radicallyreorganised through the academyprogramme. There are now a diverserange of providers involved in thedelivery of secondary education inthe city, either working as part of anacademy trust or as part of a largerfederation of academies.”

It is clear the news of Bristol’simproving results is filteringthrough to parents.

At Oasis Academy Brightstowe inShirehampton, formerly Portway

School, the Year 7 cohort this year isthe largest it has been since theacademy was founded eight yearsago. More than 180 Year 6 childrenhave joined from primary schools inShirehampton, Lawrence Weston,Avonmouth, Sea Mills and StokeB i s h o p.

Fairfield High was also celebratingincreasing numbers, with the schoolin Horfield celebrating record applic-ations for 2015.

The number of families puttingFHS as their first preference hasrocketed from 78 last year to 120, eventhough there are fewer children inthe year group. Overall, the schoolhad 310 on-time applications and is intalks with Bristol City Council aboutincreasing its maximum annual in-take in future years.

Speaking earlier this year, thes ch o o l ’s principal CatrionaMangham said: “FHS has had a re-cord number of applications for Year7 places in September 2015. Thiscomes after many successes in thepast year; we are in the top 15 per centnationally for value added, our GCSEresults exceeded many governmenttargets and we have joined the Ex-calibur Academies Trust, a move thatwill provide a strong support net-work and provide opportunities toexpand and improve.”


FEEL-GOOD FACTOR FLOWS THROUGH SOARING STATE SCHOOLS

bination of factors including invest-ment in new leaders, leadershipstructures and governance models,as well as the investment in build-i n g s.

A spokeswoman for the authoritysaid: “Three times a year, Bristol City

Head teacher CatrionaMangham

Fairfield High Schoolhas had a record numberof applications for Year 7places in September2015. This comes aftermany successes in thepast year.

“

CONTRIBUTORS TO THISSUPPLEMENT

Reporters� Marc Rath� Kate Edser

Advertising� Marc England� For education advertising give Marc acall on 0117 934 3428 or emailm a rc . e n g l a n d @ l o c a l w o r l d . c o . u k

� 2004 – 26%� 2005 – 28%� 2006 – 30%� 2007 – 31%� 2008 – 36%� 2009 – 40%� 2010 – 46%

� 2011 – 50%� 2012 – 52%� 2013 – 52%� 2014 – 55%� 2015 - 54%( p ro v i s i o n a l )

� Orchard School students celebrate anothersuccessful year

IndexState schoolsAbbeywood CommunitySchool.........................................p28Bradley Stoke CommunitySchool.........................................p28Broadlands Academy................p27Charborough Road PrimarySchool.........................................p28Downend School.......................p24Fairfield High School.................p25Mangotsfield School.................p24Meadowbrook PrimarySchool.........................................p28Oasis Academy Brightstowe....p25Oasis Academy Brislington......p23Oasis Academy JohnWilliams......................................p23Orchard School.........................p27Patchway CommunityCollege........................................p26South Gloucestershire and StroudCollege........................................p27St Bede’s Catholic College.......p26St Katherine’s School...............p23

Independent schoolsBadminton School.....................p40Bristol Grammar School Infantsand Juniors................................p37Bristol Grammar SchoolSeniors........................................p37Clifton College...........................p39Clifton High School...................p36Queen Elizabeth Hospital SchoolJuniors........................................p40Queen Elizabeth Hospital SchoolSeniors........................................p39Redland High Senior School....p38Red Maids’ Junior School........p35Red Maids’ Senior School........p35

Fea t u res

Schools of thought: Meet thehead bloggers – pages 4&5

Quiet revolution: Our specialschools are leading the way –pages 6&7

Why the jury’s still out on testsfor four-year-olds – pages 6&7

��

��

��

��

�� Open Mornings:Thursday 1st OctoberTours at 9:00am and 10:00am

Wednesday 7th OctoberTours at 9:00am, 10:00am and 1:45pmBookable by appointment only

Open Evening:Thursday 1st October6:00pm - 8:00pmCrèche facilities are available


Abbeywood Community SchoolNew Road

Stoke GiffordSouth Gloucestershire


Tel: 0117 307 5660

A ‘GOOD’ School inEvery CategoryOfsted

Open Day:Thursday 24th SeptemberTours at 8:45am, 9:45am,11:05am and 1:35pmBookable by appointment only

Open Evening:Thursday 24th September6:00pm - 8:00pmCrèche facilities are available


Bradley Stoke Community SchoolFiddlersWood Lane

Bradley StokeSouth Gloucestershire


Tel: 01454 868840

A ‘GOOD’ School,with ‘OUTSTANDING’Behaviour, Safety andLeadershipOfsted

EPB-E01-S5

EPB-

E01-

S5


Bristol is home to a bur-geoning teacher bloggingscene. Scores ofclassroom leaders, includ-ing heads, are putting outtheir thoughts oneverything from politicsto job interviews intowords and sharing themwith a potentially vastdigital audience. Some areblogging anonymously,enjoying the freedom tovent their feelings andfrustrations behind a veilof secrecy. But others inthe city are happy to puttheir name to their work.But why do they blog?And would they recom-mend it to other teach-ers? We spoke to twoprolific Bristol bloggersto find out.

Brian Walton, formerhead teacher atHeadley Park PrimarySchool

BRIAN Walton writes a blogas a way of “de-cluttering hishead”. He said: “It’s a full-onjob being a teacher, so I writefrom that perspective and I

write about what has happened.“Writing it down is a good way of

de-cluttering. I blog from my per-sonal experience.

“If you are the type of person whogoes out for an evening meal andtalks about your job, or talks aboutwork when with family, I would sayyou should blog.

“It means you get a life outsidework. It stops you talking about workat home and all those things floatingaround in my head. It’s good to get itdown in words.”

He started Old Primary Head (areference to Brian having been a headteacher for 10 years) about 18 monthsago, when he was head teacher atHeadley Park Primary in Bristol.

He has since moved to Somerset tolead Brookside Academy in Street.

Brian was inspired to begin blog-ging after joining Twitter and meet-ing other teachers on the socialmedia platform.

“I found it fascinating,” he said. “Idiscovered blogs and there were someteachers making arguments for theprogressive approach and some forthe traditional way of teaching.”

Brian, a National Leader of Edu-cation, attracts 2,000 hits a month onhis blog and also boasts 2,500 fol-lowers on Twitter.

Joining the blogging communitymeant he could connect with otherteachers across the world at the clickof a mouse.

“T hat’s the great thing about it. It’sa national thing.

“You can link really quickly withteachers and people in London, Not-tingham, up north and all around thewo rl d . ”

Brian spends no longer than 40minutes a week on his blog and tendsto write it on Friday evening.

He covers everything from politicsand Ofsted to teachers’ job inter-views, challenges facing newly-qual-ified teachers, senior leadershipteams, ethical leadership, the growthof academy schools and children withspecial educational needs.

His most popular post, a take onstudent behaviour which attracted800 hits in one day, was called Loveand Understanding and made thecase for teachers taking “completere s p o n s i b i l i t y ” for looking after theirp u p i l s.

But he is careful to ensure there isdistance between events happeningand them being reported on his blog.He is also has a policy of not writingabout his own school or naming in-d iv i d u a l s.

Brian said: “It’s about me as aprofessional and I will blog about myexperiences, but retrospectively.Some things are too fresh so I holdback on these kinds of things and I

have even checked with lawyersabout some things.”

Of being critical of the Governmentand authorities on his blog, he said: “Itry not to be too critical but it’s a blogand you want to be as open and honestas possible.

“I’m quite anti-government at themoment – t h e re ’s been a lot of talk butlittle action, particularly aroundt e a ch e r s ’ work-life balance.”

Schools of thought Get the inside track – direct from head teachers

EXTRACT FROM OLD PRIMARY HEAD – CALLED “SHUTYOUR MOUTH – WHY I CANNOT SAY WHAT I THINK”

� “I was once in a governors meetingwhen I was a deputy head in TowerHamlets. It was heated. The chair and thehead teacher had fallen out oversomething ridiculous. The headinterrupted the chair and he suddenlyshot out of his seat and shouted acrossthe table, finger pointing like a loadedgun, “You! You shut your mouth, woman!”It was a horrible moment. What should

have been the subtle practice of thegentile art of educational debate becamea rough, cider swigging, back-alley barbrawl. I think it is why I have spent mylast 11 years as a head trying to never letmy emotions cloud my words. I have notalways been successful. I have found thatyou cannot hide how you feel… but youcan choose the words you use. Even inthe heat of the moment.”

Keziah Featherstone,head teacher at BridgeLearning Campus

FOR Keziah Featherstone, ablog can be considered a“modern diary”. She sayswriting one offers teachers away of exploring themselves

or their profession and receiving

feedback. Recommending the prac-tice to other teachers, she said: “Yo ucan ask for advice and get loads ofpeople supporting you with ideas.You can rage, debate, develop andgrow. Schools are quite small – m ay b ea hundred teachers in a biggish one –and you may not have loads in com-mon with many of them. Blogging, ifdone safely and sensitively, is likesitting in the world’s biggest staff-

room and finding thousands of peoplewho are on your side.”

Keziah started blogging after shewas encouraged to do so by teachersshe was supporting via Twitter. Shetried it, and her work was well re-ceived. She began writing anonym-ously about child protection issues,having worked as a child protectionofficer. By anonymising issues anddiscussing concepts rather thancases she said it became helpful forpeople facing similar situations.

Most of her posts would attract 500or more hits, with some achievingmore than 1,000. But she said: “Whenit seemed like my blogging identitymight get accidentally revealed I de-leted the account – 500,000 words –mostly because I never wanted any-one to know I’d written somethingand for them to think, ‘That sounds abit like me’ – even if it wasn’t.”

Keziah now blogs throughStaffrm.io, which many teachers areusing. It limits a blog post to 500words, which Keziah says is a bless-ing as it makes the entries morereadable. She typically spends 20 to 30minutes writing each post, fittingthem in “when I can’t sleep for think-ing”. She said: “I have only ever hadpositive feedback. But I think that isquite rare and I know of some blog-gers who have taken criticism andnever blogged again.”

EXTRACT FROM KEZIAH ’S STAFFRM BLOG,CALLED “WOMEN LEADERS IN EDUCATION –

WHY IT WORRIES ME”

� “I initially became a schoolleader because I looked up thehierarchy and thought bloodyhell I can do better than that.Then you realise that you canhave more influence over thelives of children, the quality oftheir education, from thatposition.

“I was appointed as anAssistant Headteacher when Iwas four months pregnant – and

everyone knew I was. It wasn’tan issue for my then (male)headteacher; nor should it havebeen. So I’ve been a seniorleader for the entire time mydaughter has been alive, that’sall she knows, and I am luckythat my husband also works ineducation. I suppose we arealso lucky that there are no egosin the family; we work as a teamfor the family unit.”

Bridge Learning Campus

0117 3534472 [email protected]

Open Morning: Saturday 26 September 10:00am —12:00pm

Open Evening: Thursday 1 October 5:00 —7:30 pm

... and every day is Open Day—please contact us for a personalised

tour of the school during lessons...

©LW

Bridge Learning Campus 0117 3534472 [email protected]

Open Morning: Saturday 26 September 10:00am—12:00pm

Open Evening: Thursday 1 October 5:00—7:30pm

… and every day is Open Day—please contact us for a personalised tour of the school during lessons...

EPB-E01-S5

EPB-

E01-

S5


Bristol is home to a bur-geoning teacher bloggingscene. Scores ofclassroom leaders, includ-ing heads, are putting outtheir thoughts oneverything from politicsto job interviews intowords and sharing themwith a potentially vastdigital audience. Some areblogging anonymously,enjoying the freedom tovent their feelings andfrustrations behind a veilof secrecy. But others inthe city are happy to puttheir name to their work.But why do they blog?And would they recom-mend it to other teach-ers? We spoke to twoprolific Bristol bloggersto find out.

Brian Walton, formerhead teacher atHeadley Park PrimarySchool

BRIAN Walton writes a blogas a way of “de-cluttering hishead”. He said: “It’s a full-onjob being a teacher, so I writefrom that perspective and I

write about what has happened.“Writing it down is a good way of

de-cluttering. I blog from my per-sonal experience.

“If you are the type of person whogoes out for an evening meal andtalks about your job, or talks aboutwork when with family, I would sayyou should blog.

“It means you get a life outsidework. It stops you talking about workat home and all those things floatingaround in my head. It’s good to get itdown in words.”

He started Old Primary Head (areference to Brian having been a headteacher for 10 years) about 18 monthsago, when he was head teacher atHeadley Park Primary in Bristol.

He has since moved to Somerset tolead Brookside Academy in Street.

Brian was inspired to begin blog-ging after joining Twitter and meet-ing other teachers on the socialmedia platform.

“I found it fascinating,” he said. “Idiscovered blogs and there were someteachers making arguments for theprogressive approach and some forthe traditional way of teaching.”

Brian, a National Leader of Edu-cation, attracts 2,000 hits a month onhis blog and also boasts 2,500 fol-lowers on Twitter.

Joining the blogging communitymeant he could connect with otherteachers across the world at the clickof a mouse.

“T hat’s the great thing about it. It’sa national thing.

“You can link really quickly withteachers and people in London, Not-tingham, up north and all around thewo rl d . ”

Brian spends no longer than 40minutes a week on his blog and tendsto write it on Friday evening.

He covers everything from politicsand Ofsted to teachers’ job inter-views, challenges facing newly-qual-ified teachers, senior leadershipteams, ethical leadership, the growthof academy schools and children withspecial educational needs.

His most popular post, a take onstudent behaviour which attracted800 hits in one day, was called Loveand Understanding and made thecase for teachers taking “completere s p o n s i b i l i t y ” for looking after theirp u p i l s.

But he is careful to ensure there isdistance between events happeningand them being reported on his blog.He is also has a policy of not writingabout his own school or naming in-d iv i d u a l s.

Brian said: “It’s about me as aprofessional and I will blog about myexperiences, but retrospectively.Some things are too fresh so I holdback on these kinds of things and I

have even checked with lawyersabout some things.”

Of being critical of the Governmentand authorities on his blog, he said: “Itry not to be too critical but it’s a blogand you want to be as open and honestas possible.

“I’m quite anti-government at themoment – t h e re ’s been a lot of talk butlittle action, particularly aroundt e a ch e r s ’ work-life balance.”

Schools of thought Get the inside track – direct from head teachers

EXTRACT FROM OLD PRIMARY HEAD – CALLED “SHUTYOUR MOUTH – WHY I CANNOT SAY WHAT I THINK”

� “I was once in a governors meetingwhen I was a deputy head in TowerHamlets. It was heated. The chair and thehead teacher had fallen out oversomething ridiculous. The headinterrupted the chair and he suddenlyshot out of his seat and shouted acrossthe table, finger pointing like a loadedgun, “You! You shut your mouth, woman!”It was a horrible moment. What should

have been the subtle practice of thegentile art of educational debate becamea rough, cider swigging, back-alley barbrawl. I think it is why I have spent mylast 11 years as a head trying to never letmy emotions cloud my words. I have notalways been successful. I have found thatyou cannot hide how you feel… but youcan choose the words you use. Even inthe heat of the moment.”

Keziah Featherstone,head teacher at BridgeLearning Campus

FOR Keziah Featherstone, ablog can be considered a“modern diary”. She sayswriting one offers teachers away of exploring themselves

or their profession and receiving

feedback. Recommending the prac-tice to other teachers, she said: “Yo ucan ask for advice and get loads ofpeople supporting you with ideas.You can rage, debate, develop andgrow. Schools are quite small – m ay b ea hundred teachers in a biggish one –and you may not have loads in com-mon with many of them. Blogging, ifdone safely and sensitively, is likesitting in the world’s biggest staff-

room and finding thousands of peoplewho are on your side.”

Keziah started blogging after shewas encouraged to do so by teachersshe was supporting via Twitter. Shetried it, and her work was well re-ceived. She began writing anonym-ously about child protection issues,having worked as a child protectionofficer. By anonymising issues anddiscussing concepts rather thancases she said it became helpful forpeople facing similar situations.

Most of her posts would attract 500or more hits, with some achievingmore than 1,000. But she said: “Whenit seemed like my blogging identitymight get accidentally revealed I de-leted the account – 500,000 words –mostly because I never wanted any-one to know I’d written somethingand for them to think, ‘That sounds abit like me’ – even if it wasn’t.”

Keziah now blogs throughStaffrm.io, which many teachers areusing. It limits a blog post to 500words, which Keziah says is a bless-ing as it makes the entries morereadable. She typically spends 20 to 30minutes writing each post, fittingthem in “when I can’t sleep for think-ing”. She said: “I have only ever hadpositive feedback. But I think that isquite rare and I know of some blog-gers who have taken criticism andnever blogged again.”

EXTRACT FROM KEZIAH ’S STAFFRM BLOG,CALLED “WOMEN LEADERS IN EDUCATION –

WHY IT WORRIES ME”

� “I initially became a schoolleader because I looked up thehierarchy and thought bloodyhell I can do better than that.Then you realise that you canhave more influence over thelives of children, the quality oftheir education, from thatposition.

“I was appointed as anAssistant Headteacher when Iwas four months pregnant – and

everyone knew I was. It wasn’tan issue for my then (male)headteacher; nor should it havebeen. So I’ve been a seniorleader for the entire time mydaughter has been alive, that’sall she knows, and I am luckythat my husband also works ineducation. I suppose we arealso lucky that there are no egosin the family; we work as a teamfor the family unit.”

Bridge Learning Campus

0117 3534472 [email protected]

Open Morning: Saturday 26 September 10:00am —12:00pm

Open Evening: Thursday 1 October 5:00 —7:30 pm

... and every day is Open Day—please contact us for a personalised

tour of the school during lessons...

©LW

EPB-E01-S5

EPB-

E01-

S5


THE word is well and truly outthat standards are improvingin Bristol’s state schools. Par-ents are placing their trust inthe city’s secondaries again

after a decade in the doldrums whileprimaries are bursting at the seamswith pupils.

Improving results in GCSE andSAT exams, paired with better per-formance in Ofsted inspections inrecent years, are helping strengthenBristol’s position.

But as mainstream schools are tak-ing the plaudits, there has been aquiet revolution happening in anarea of the city’s education systemwhich is rarely in the spotlight.

The pattern of improvement inBristol is being repeated in specialeducational needs schools, with sev-eral of them notching up impressiveOfsted reports this year. The schoolshelp the city’s most vulnerable youngpeople, ranging from those who arehospitalised and youngsters requir-ing residential education, to pupils

with profound and multiple learningdisabilities and students with emo-tional, social and behavioural needs.

And with an increase in the pro-portion of students with special edu-cational needs forecast in Bristol inthe coming years – with more placesrequired to keep up with demand –the upturn in the fortunes bodes wellfor the future. Four of Bristol’s spe-cial schools celebrated receiving‘good’ Ofsted reports in the previousacademic year. The schools, whichsupport and teach children andyoung people who have behaviouraland social difficulties, are KnowleDGE, Notton House, WoodstockPrimary and Bristol GatewayS ch o o l .

Teaching and achievement withinthe schools reached new heightsthrough a combination of hard workby leadership teams and partnershipworking in areas such as teachertraining. This helped the schools tobuild on their strengths and to moveforward together to excel under Ofs-

ted’s new and more rigorous frame-work. City councillor Brenda Massey,assistant mayor for people with re-sponsibility for education, describedthe glowing Ofsted ratings as “an-other success story in the upwardtrend in Bristol schools”.

She said: “These four schools are afantastic example of what can beachieved through strong leadershipand partnership working. It’s encour-aging to see such good comments inthe recent Ofsted reports and I expect

to see these schools continue to im-prove on the good work they’re doing.This is yet another success story inthe upward trend in Bristol schools,and an example of how learning isimproving across many areas of thec i t y. ”

Woodstock School moved from ‘re -quires improvement’ in its previousinspection to ‘good’. Ofsted reportedthat pupils’ achievement in reading,writing and maths had risen sharplyin the past year.

Les Haines, head teacher at Wood-stock School, said: “Staff and stu-dents have worked exceptionallyhard to ensure that great progresshas been made and it is to their creditthat this is the outcome. All lessonsobserved were judged to be good andall of the results of the inspectionshowed that all staff and students areproud to work at WoodstockS ch o o l . ”

Five years ago Bristol GatewaySchool in Lawrence Weston wasthreatened with closure because itwas deemed to be failing its pupils.

But it has made impressive pro-gress and in the past few years it hasclimbed from ‘requires improve-ment’ to ‘good’.

The 80-pupil school caters exclus-ively for children with emotional,behavioural or social difficulties.Young people aged between 11 and 16from across Bristol attend.

The school received praise for stu-dents’ progress and the standard ofteaching – it was noted that the lead-ership team’s diverse skills wereplaying a key role in driving theschool forward. Inspectors foundG at ew ay ’s GCSE results had almostdoubled in two years and no childrenleaving the school last year had beenclassed as Not in Employment, Edu-cation or Training. The school’s headteacher Kaye Palmer-Greene said:“Bristol Gateway School has been ona very difficult journey but we’vebuilt a really strong team and have areal commitment to progress and im-pact.”

Paul Holroyd, executive head ofBristol Gateway and WoodstockSchool, said: “The leadership teamsin both schools have worked veryhard to achieve a ‘good’ rating fromOfsted and I’m delighted at the pro-gress our students have made.”

Darren Ewings, head teacher atKnowle DGE, said: “We work togeth-er across a variety of different areasranging from arts and sports events

On the up Q u i etrevolution in ourspecial schools

‘WE SALUTE THE DEDICATION AND SKILL OF TEACHERS ’

� Lisa Middle, spokesman for the Bristolbranch of the National Union of Teachers,commended the work of staff in the city’sspecial schools.

She said: “Teaching in any environmentcan be high on challenge, stress andreward but this is particularly true of theseschools and services.

“Progress usually comes in very small

steps which are easily missed oroverlooked and even the local communityis often unaware of the great work that isbeing done. We salute the dedication,commitment, skill and resilience ofteachers and other staff in these schoolsand services. We also applaud the familiesof these young people whose support,collaboration and communication is vital.”

to staff development, training and pur-chasing outside services. The pupils inour schools are the number one pri-ority so we’re continually evaluatingwh at ’s working well, or not, to developa culture of collaboration which sup-ports the children. Support from par-ents and governors has also beenessential to our combined success.”

Knowle DGE received special praisefor its sixth form as students werefound to be “highly motivated andachieve very well’ with an “e xc e l l e n t

range of courses”. Notton House wasnoted for the relationship betweensupport staff and pupils, and has seena steady increase in the number andquality of qualifications that Year 11pupils gain.

Peter Evans, head teacher at NottonHouse, said: “Everyone at NottonHouse School is delighted we havebeen recognised as a ‘good’ school, aswe provide the unique opportunity ofresidential education for young boysin and around Bristol. We are proud tobe a part of the ‘Wa N D ’ alliance ofspecial schools.”

The city council estimates that thenumber of children likely to requireextra support will rise in the comingyears. Over the last five years there hasbeen a significant growth in numbersof children with SEMH (social, emo-tional, mental health) difficulties andautistic spectrum conditions.

There has also been in a rise in the

number children with Speech, Lan-guage & Communication needs(SLCN), complex needs and Multi-Sensory Impairment (MSI).

Currently around 1.5 per cent ofprimary school pupils are in specialistplaces, with a further 0.86 per centsupported in mainstream schools. Insecondary school there are aroundthree per cent in specialist places witha further 0.85 per cent supported inmainstream schools.

Of its plans to cope with the rise innumbers, a spokeswoman for the au-thority said: “The council is workingin partnership and developing plans toexpand existing provision and choice,ensuring places are available to thosewho need them. The council is alsoworking with mainstream schools tolook at inclusion strategies to ensurethat where possible pupils can remainin mainstream education if theyp re f e r. ”

� Jack Wring, who has autism, picking up his GCSEresults at Knowle DGE this year

� Pupilsand staff atBristolGatewaySchoolcelebratetheir goodOfstedre p o r t

� Head teacher LesHaines (2nd left) andteacher Anton Matthews(2nd right) with pupilsReece McCarthy (backleft), Zyon Wright (backright), (front, L-R) JoshWalters, ThayaeThompson-Powell,Jamie-Lee Lloyd, DarrylChristopher and MarcusHall at WoodstockSchool Pic: Dan Regan

Monday 14 September 5.30–8pmOpen mornings daily from 15 September by appointment.

Mangotsfield SchoolOpen Evening

Rodway Hill, Mangotsfield, Bristol BS16 9LH01454 862700 www.mangotsfieldschool.org.uk

THURSDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 5.45–8pmOPEN MORNINGS FROM 21 SEPT–21 OCTPlease contact us to make an appointment.

DOWNENDSCHOOLOPEN EVENING

WESTERLEIGH ROAD, DOWNEND, SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE BS16 6XA01454 862300 | downend.com

A warmwelcome

St Katherine’s School, Pill Road, Bristol,North Somerset BS20 0HU

Tel: 01275 373737 Email: [email protected]

www.stkaths.org.uk/bp1

Buses runfrom all overBristol directto the school.

16th September 2015@ 6:00pm - 9:00pm

St Katherine’s School

St Katherine’s is an award winning secondary school set in abeautiful location just 2.8 miles from Clifton.*

Prospective students and their parents/carersare warmly invited to join us at our Open Evening includinga presentation from Christopher Sammons, Headteacher.

OPENEVENING2015

*Source: www.theaa.com/route-planner.

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THE word is well and truly outthat standards are improvingin Bristol’s state schools. Par-ents are placing their trust inthe city’s secondaries again

after a decade in the doldrums whileprimaries are bursting at the seamswith pupils.

Improving results in GCSE andSAT exams, paired with better per-formance in Ofsted inspections inrecent years, are helping strengthenBristol’s position.

But as mainstream schools are tak-ing the plaudits, there has been aquiet revolution happening in anarea of the city’s education systemwhich is rarely in the spotlight.

The pattern of improvement inBristol is being repeated in specialeducational needs schools, with sev-eral of them notching up impressiveOfsted reports this year. The schoolshelp the city’s most vulnerable youngpeople, ranging from those who arehospitalised and youngsters requir-ing residential education, to pupils

with profound and multiple learningdisabilities and students with emo-tional, social and behavioural needs.

And with an increase in the pro-portion of students with special edu-cational needs forecast in Bristol inthe coming years – with more placesrequired to keep up with demand –the upturn in the fortunes bodes wellfor the future. Four of Bristol’s spe-cial schools celebrated receiving‘good’ Ofsted reports in the previousacademic year. The schools, whichsupport and teach children andyoung people who have behaviouraland social difficulties, are KnowleDGE, Notton House, WoodstockPrimary and Bristol GatewayS ch o o l .

Teaching and achievement withinthe schools reached new heightsthrough a combination of hard workby leadership teams and partnershipworking in areas such as teachertraining. This helped the schools tobuild on their strengths and to moveforward together to excel under Ofs-

ted’s new and more rigorous frame-work. City councillor Brenda Massey,assistant mayor for people with re-sponsibility for education, describedthe glowing Ofsted ratings as “an-other success story in the upwardtrend in Bristol schools”.

She said: “These four schools are afantastic example of what can beachieved through strong leadershipand partnership working. It’s encour-aging to see such good comments inthe recent Ofsted reports and I expect

to see these schools continue to im-prove on the good work they’re doing.This is yet another success story inthe upward trend in Bristol schools,and an example of how learning isimproving across many areas of thec i t y. ”

Woodstock School moved from ‘re -quires improvement’ in its previousinspection to ‘good’. Ofsted reportedthat pupils’ achievement in reading,writing and maths had risen sharplyin the past year.

Les Haines, head teacher at Wood-stock School, said: “Staff and stu-dents have worked exceptionallyhard to ensure that great progresshas been made and it is to their creditthat this is the outcome. All lessonsobserved were judged to be good andall of the results of the inspectionshowed that all staff and students areproud to work at WoodstockS ch o o l . ”

Five years ago Bristol GatewaySchool in Lawrence Weston wasthreatened with closure because itwas deemed to be failing its pupils.

But it has made impressive pro-gress and in the past few years it hasclimbed from ‘requires improve-ment’ to ‘good’.

The 80-pupil school caters exclus-ively for children with emotional,behavioural or social difficulties.Young people aged between 11 and 16from across Bristol attend.

The school received praise for stu-dents’ progress and the standard ofteaching – it was noted that the lead-ership team’s diverse skills wereplaying a key role in driving theschool forward. Inspectors foundG at ew ay ’s GCSE results had almostdoubled in two years and no childrenleaving the school last year had beenclassed as Not in Employment, Edu-cation or Training. The school’s headteacher Kaye Palmer-Greene said:“Bristol Gateway School has been ona very difficult journey but we’vebuilt a really strong team and have areal commitment to progress and im-pact.”

Paul Holroyd, executive head ofBristol Gateway and WoodstockSchool, said: “The leadership teamsin both schools have worked veryhard to achieve a ‘good’ rating fromOfsted and I’m delighted at the pro-gress our students have made.”

Darren Ewings, head teacher atKnowle DGE, said: “We work togeth-er across a variety of different areasranging from arts and sports events

On the up Q u i etrevolution in ourspecial schools

‘WE SALUTE THE DEDICATION AND SKILL OF TEACHERS ’

� Lisa Middle, spokesman for the Bristolbranch of the National Union of Teachers,commended the work of staff in the city’sspecial schools.

She said: “Teaching in any environmentcan be high on challenge, stress andreward but this is particularly true of theseschools and services.

“Progress usually comes in very small

steps which are easily missed oroverlooked and even the local communityis often unaware of the great work that isbeing done. We salute the dedication,commitment, skill and resilience ofteachers and other staff in these schoolsand services. We also applaud the familiesof these young people whose support,collaboration and communication is vital.”

to staff development, training and pur-chasing outside services. The pupils inour schools are the number one pri-ority so we’re continually evaluatingwh at ’s working well, or not, to developa culture of collaboration which sup-ports the children. Support from par-ents and governors has also beenessential to our combined success.”

Knowle DGE received special praisefor its sixth form as students werefound to be “highly motivated andachieve very well’ with an “e xc e l l e n t

range of courses”. Notton House wasnoted for the relationship betweensupport staff and pupils, and has seena steady increase in the number andquality of qualifications that Year 11pupils gain.

Peter Evans, head teacher at NottonHouse, said: “Everyone at NottonHouse School is delighted we havebeen recognised as a ‘good’ school, aswe provide the unique opportunity ofresidential education for young boysin and around Bristol. We are proud tobe a part of the ‘Wa N D ’ alliance ofspecial schools.”

The city council estimates that thenumber of children likely to requireextra support will rise in the comingyears. Over the last five years there hasbeen a significant growth in numbersof children with SEMH (social, emo-tional, mental health) difficulties andautistic spectrum conditions.

There has also been in a rise in the

number children with Speech, Lan-guage & Communication needs(SLCN), complex needs and Multi-Sensory Impairment (MSI).

Currently around 1.5 per cent ofprimary school pupils are in specialistplaces, with a further 0.86 per centsupported in mainstream schools. Insecondary school there are aroundthree per cent in specialist places witha further 0.85 per cent supported inmainstream schools.

Of its plans to cope with the rise innumbers, a spokeswoman for the au-thority said: “The council is workingin partnership and developing plans toexpand existing provision and choice,ensuring places are available to thosewho need them. The council is alsoworking with mainstream schools tolook at inclusion strategies to ensurethat where possible pupils can remainin mainstream education if theyp re f e r. ”

� Jack Wring, who has autism, picking up his GCSEresults at Knowle DGE this year

� Pupilsand staff atBristolGatewaySchoolcelebratetheir goodOfstedre p o r t

� Head teacher LesHaines (2nd left) andteacher Anton Matthews(2nd right) with pupilsReece McCarthy (backleft), Zyon Wright (backright), (front, L-R) JoshWalters, ThayaeThompson-Powell,Jamie-Lee Lloyd, DarrylChristopher and MarcusHall at WoodstockSchool Pic: Dan Regan

Monday 14 September 5.30–8pmOpen mornings daily from 15 September by appointment.

Mangotsfield SchoolOpen Evening

Rodway Hill, Mangotsfield, Bristol BS16 9LH01454 862700 www.mangotsfieldschool.org.uk

THURSDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 5.45–8pmOPEN MORNINGS FROM 21 SEPT–21 OCTPlease contact us to make an appointment.

DOWNENDSCHOOLOPEN EVENING

WESTERLEIGH ROAD, DOWNEND, SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE BS16 6XA01454 862300 | downend.com

A warmwelcome

St Katherine’s School, Pill Road, Bristol,North Somerset BS20 0HU

Tel: 01275 373737 Email: [email protected]

www.stkaths.org.uk/bp1

Buses runfrom all overBristol directto the school.

16th September 2015@ 6:00pm - 9:00pm

St Katherine’s School

St Katherine’s is an award winning secondary school set in abeautiful location just 2.8 miles from Clifton.*

Prospective students and their parents/carersare warmly invited to join us at our Open Evening includinga presentation from Christopher Sammons, Headteacher.

OPENEVENING2015

*Source: www.theaa.com/route-planner.

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Open Evening at

Oasis Academy BrislingtonOpen EveningThursday September 245.30-8pm(Principal’s address at 6pm)

Open MorningsSeptember 28, 29 and 30and October 8(by appointment - call 0117 377 2055)

WorkHard∙L

ookSmart∙

BeNice

Tel: 0117 377 2055Hungerford Rd, Brislington,Bristol, BS4 5EY

@OABrislingtonoasisacademybrislington.org

Exceptional education at the heart of thecommunity is the aspiration of every Oasisacademy, and I am incredibly proud to say thatthat is what we are delivering for thousandsof children and young people in Bristol.

Since I came to Bristol in 2008, whenthe city’s first two secondary academies werelaunched in Hengrove and Shirehampton,I have seen schools and communitiestransformed.The children who started with usthen have finished their schooling and aremaking their way in the world, some becomingthe first in their families to go to universityand others getting started in careers theywould never have dreamed they would enter.That is thanks to the top quality educationthey have received from our talented anddedicated staff teams. We are passionateabout improving life chances by offeringeveryone the chance to achieve the higheststandards of excellence, both academicallyand in other fields such as sport and the arts.

Oasis Academy JohnWilliams and OasisAcademy Brightstowe are both rated asGood by Ofsted.This year they have beenjoined by a third secondary, Oasis AcademyBrislington, which has made significantsteps forward in its first six months andwill continue to improve, building on theestablished strengths of the other two.All three of our secondaries sawmore thanhalf of students achieving the key Governmentbenchmark for GCSE results this summer.

I am also thrilled this month to see theopening of Oasis AcademyMarksburyRoad, our latest primary in Bedminster. Itsnew buildings are stunning and will provideamazing learning opportunities for thefour-year-olds who have just started andthose who follow them.

The academy will work in partnership withour two primary academies in south Bristol,Oasis Academy Connaught and Oasis AcademyNew Oak. Our Oasis “family” in Bristol also

includes two primaries in north Bristol,Oasis Academy Bank Leaze and Oasis AcademyLong Cross, both in LawrenceWeston.

All four struggled as local authority schoolsbut are thriving as part of Oasis CommunityLearning, which has a total of 47 schools acrossthe country.Their provisional Sats results inthe summer were exceptional, with recordnumbers of children achieving at least thestandard expected for their age group.

Our aim is to continue our drive towardsmaking all the academies in our regionoutstanding.The strengths of Oasis in Bristolwere recognised in an Ofsted “focused

The powerof Oasis

inspection” of the chain in March, whichhighlighted the excellent leadership of acad-emies in the SouthWest. The inspectors praisedour strong and distinctive community ethos.

Perseverance – keeping going for thelong haul – and a deep sense of hope arekey elements of our work. We have createdcommunity hubs in both north and southBristol, building strong partnerships withparents and carers and others in the widerneighbourhood.

Our experience is that the support andcollaboration that comes from being partof the Oasis family brings benefits for all.

Regional Academies Director - Rebecca Clark

Open EveningWednesday September 306-8pm (Principal’s address at 6pm)

Open MorningsOctober 3 (Principal’s addressat 10am followed by coffee)

October 5-8(by appointment - call 01275 894680)

WorkHard∙LookSmart∙BeNice

Open Events at

Oasis Academy John WilliamsTel: 01275 894680Petherton Rd, Hengrove,Bristol, BS14 9BU

@OAJohnWilliamsoasisacademyjohnwilliams.org

Open Evening at

Oasis Academy Brightstowe

Open EveningWednesday September 235.30-8.30pm(Principal’s talks at 6pm and 7pm)

Open MorningsOn Wednesdays(by appointment - call 0117 316 7330)

Tel: 0117 316 7330Penpole Lane, Shirehampton,Bristol, BS11 0EB

@OABrightstoweoasisacademybrightstowe.org

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Open Evening at

Oasis Academy BrislingtonOpen EveningThursday September 245.30-8pm(Principal’s address at 6pm)

Open MorningsSeptember 28, 29 and 30and October 8(by appointment - call 0117 377 2055)

WorkHard∙L

ookSmart∙

BeNice

Tel: 0117 377 2055Hungerford Rd, Brislington,Bristol, BS4 5EY

@OABrislingtonoasisacademybrislington.org

Exceptional education at the heart of thecommunity is the aspiration of every Oasisacademy, and I am incredibly proud to say thatthat is what we are delivering for thousandsof children and young people in Bristol.

Since I came to Bristol in 2008, whenthe city’s first two secondary academies werelaunched in Hengrove and Shirehampton,I have seen schools and communitiestransformed.The children who started with usthen have finished their schooling and aremaking their way in the world, some becomingthe first in their families to go to universityand others getting started in careers theywould never have dreamed they would enter.That is thanks to the top quality educationthey have received from our talented anddedicated staff teams. We are passionateabout improving life chances by offeringeveryone the chance to achieve the higheststandards of excellence, both academicallyand in other fields such as sport and the arts.

Oasis Academy JohnWilliams and OasisAcademy Brightstowe are both rated asGood by Ofsted.This year they have beenjoined by a third secondary, Oasis AcademyBrislington, which has made significantsteps forward in its first six months andwill continue to improve, building on theestablished strengths of the other two.All three of our secondaries sawmore thanhalf of students achieving the key Governmentbenchmark for GCSE results this summer.

I am also thrilled this month to see theopening of Oasis AcademyMarksburyRoad, our latest primary in Bedminster. Itsnew buildings are stunning and will provideamazing learning opportunities for thefour-year-olds who have just started andthose who follow them.

The academy will work in partnership withour two primary academies in south Bristol,Oasis Academy Connaught and Oasis AcademyNew Oak. Our Oasis “family” in Bristol also

includes two primaries in north Bristol,Oasis Academy Bank Leaze and Oasis AcademyLong Cross, both in LawrenceWeston.

All four struggled as local authority schoolsbut are thriving as part of Oasis CommunityLearning, which has a total of 47 schools acrossthe country.Their provisional Sats results inthe summer were exceptional, with recordnumbers of children achieving at least thestandard expected for their age group.

Our aim is to continue our drive towardsmaking all the academies in our regionoutstanding.The strengths of Oasis in Bristolwere recognised in an Ofsted “focused

The powerof Oasis

inspection” of the chain in March, whichhighlighted the excellent leadership of acad-emies in the SouthWest. The inspectors praisedour strong and distinctive community ethos.

Perseverance – keeping going for thelong haul – and a deep sense of hope arekey elements of our work. We have createdcommunity hubs in both north and southBristol, building strong partnerships withparents and carers and others in the widerneighbourhood.

Our experience is that the support andcollaboration that comes from being partof the Oasis family brings benefits for all.

Regional Academies Director - Rebecca Clark

Open EveningWednesday September 306-8pm (Principal’s address at 6pm)

Open MorningsOctober 3 (Principal’s addressat 10am followed by coffee)

October 5-8(by appointment - call 01275 894680)

WorkHard∙LookSmart∙BeNice

Open Events at

Oasis Academy John WilliamsTel: 01275 894680Petherton Rd, Hengrove,Bristol, BS14 9BU

@OAJohnWilliamsoasisacademyjohnwilliams.org

Open Evening at

Oasis Academy Brightstowe

Open EveningWednesday September 235.30-8.30pm(Principal’s talks at 6pm and 7pm)

Open MorningsOn Wednesdays(by appointment - call 0117 316 7330)

Tel: 0117 316 7330Penpole Lane, Shirehampton,Bristol, BS11 0EB

@OABrightstoweoasisacademybrightstowe.org

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WITH A-list celebritiesincluding footballerGareth Bale and actressGillian Andersonthrowing their support

behind it this year, Reading Recoveryhas been thrust into the spotlight likenever before.

The stars of the sports field andtelevision screen have highlightedthe importance of primary pupils notfalling behind with their literacy anddamaging their chances of thriving atsecondary school in their teenageye a r s.

But in Bristol, the scheme whichsees six and seven-year-olds givenextra help to catch up with their peersat reading has been running suc-cessfully for 16 years. And the workbeing done on children’s literacy inthe city has earned recognition thisyear, with one Bristol teacher re-ceiving a national award for her out-standing contribution.

Claire Banham, of GlenfromePrimary School, was named 2015

Reading Recovery Teacher of theYe a r.

Fatima Osman, six, of FonthillPrimary School, and Sophie Levene,six, of Oasis Academy, won a chil-d re n’s competition, while GlenfromePrimary School and FonthillPrimary School both received Schoolof the Year awards.

The awards are held to celebrateand honour teachers, children andschool managers who have made anoutstanding contribution to improv-ing literacy through Reading Recov-e r y.

Ms Banham said: “I think thatbeing a Reading Recovery teacher isone of the most rewarding jobs thereis. It’s fantastic to be able to makesuch a difference to the children,giving them the skills they need tobecome a reader as well as givingthem confidence and an enjoyment inre a d i n g .

“At Glenfrome Primary School thefocus on early intervention and thesupport I have had in my role from

leadership, staff and volunteers hasmeant that we have been able toprovide children with the extra helpthey need to become confident read-e r s. ”

Bristol City Council’s Reading Re-covery teacher leaders received aUniversity of West of England (UWE)staff award earlier this year for theirpartnership and collaboration workwith students and tutors from theu n ive r s i t y ’s school of education.

Brenda Massey, assistant mayorwith responsibility for education,said: “I’m delighted to see our pupils,

teachers and schools recognised fortheir achievements in improving lit-e r a cy.

“Initiatives such as Reading Re-covery enable our young people to laya solid foundation on which to buildtheir future success.”

Reading Recovery aims to bringstogether the highest quality of pro-fessional support to enable all chil-dren to achieve excellence in literacy.Each year approximately 20 per centof children across the country leaveprimary school not able to read ad-e q u at e ly.

As they enter secondary school120,000 nationally children strugglewith their education because they arenot at their expected reading age.

A 20-week Reading Recoverycourse has been shown to help 85 percent of six-year-old children to catchup with their peers.

At 11 years old these children main-tain their progress and achieve theexpected Key Stage 2 reading testresults for their age.

The city council says the early in-tervention has changed the lives ofhundreds of children in Bristol.

QUALITY CHOICE HELPS DRIVE IMPROVEMENT

New leaf St a rsback ReadingRecovery project

� Paul Talarico, assistant head at AshtonPark School, believes giving students awider choice of books to read and gettingthem better organised can help driveimprovement in literacy.

He said: “In a world of smartphones,smart apps and smart children, gettingstudents to enjoy the written word beyondsocial media and ‘text speak’ is becomingincreasingly difficult. Of course schoolsare working hard to engage and enthraland the whole class reader is still avaluable staple diet in every school.However, to truly instigate a successfulreading recovery more can be done tobattle powerful digital foes.

“Simply reading a book can certainlyhelp with vocabulary and word recognitionbut in terms of comprehension, well that’sa different story. Dialogue about theirreading is the key; craft, empathy andprediction. Yes this is skilfully addressed inthe classroom by hard working teachersbut what if the student is ‘just not into thisbook’?

“With curriculum time so valuable it’simpossible to truly teach effectivecomprehension to a class with 30 differentbooks being read so what happens next?Rally the troops and establish routines isthe answer. At Ashton Park students havetheir choice of quality, engaging books forall interests and abilities and have aminimum of 20 minutes reading each dayin tutor times, English and literacy-heavysubjects like humanities. To supportcomprehension some students are“Reader Leaders” promoting discussionand evaluation of their reading. Thissupports not only comprehension butessential communication skills for both thereader and the Reader Leader.

“As Dr Seuss said ‘Fill your house (orschool) with stacks of books, in all thecrannies and all the nooks’. That’scertainly a start and the sentiment is clear.Give children a quality choice. Theirchoice. Then rally the troops. Remember,troops aren’t just in our schools, they arein our homes as well.”

� The Bristol winners at this year’s Reading Recovery awards ceremony in London

� Claire Banham, Reading Recovery teacher at Glenfrome Primary School, pictured with Sufran (7) Eros (6), Horaja(7) and Leon (6)

YEAR 10 and 12PLACES AVAILABLE

FOR THISSEPTEMBER!

...TO SPACE STATIONTaking learning to a whole new level

FROMWORKSTATION...

• Science and Medicine• Engineering• Maths

• Technology• Architecture and theBuilt Environment

STUDIO SCHOOL

www.wellswaymat.com

Leadingthe way

www.theikbstudioschool.org.uk

Enquire now to enrol this September:

We have the course for you.

E: [email protected]

T: 0117 916 1025

IKB Studio School

Keynsham, Bristol BS31 1PH

T 0117 9161025

E [email protected]

Last chance to enrol now!

INFORMATIONEVENINGS

21st October11th November2nd December

OpenEventsTuesday 3rd November 9.30am - 11amTuesday 12th January 5pm - 7pm

T. 0117 377 3185E. [email protected]

OpenDayWednesday 21st October9.30am - 3.30pm


Bannerman RoadCommunity Academy

OpenEveningsThursday 8th October 6 - 8pmWednesday 4th November 6 - 8pmMonday 11th January 5 - 7pm

T. 0117 910 8429E. info@dolphinschool.bristol.sch.ukwww.dolphinschool.bristol.sch.uk

OpenEveningsTuesday 6th October 6 - 8pmMonday 9th November 6 - 8pmWednesday 13th January 5 - 7pm


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WITH A-list celebritiesincluding footballerGareth Bale and actressGillian Andersonthrowing their support

behind it this year, Reading Recoveryhas been thrust into the spotlight likenever before.

The stars of the sports field andtelevision screen have highlightedthe importance of primary pupils notfalling behind with their literacy anddamaging their chances of thriving atsecondary school in their teenageye a r s.

But in Bristol, the scheme whichsees six and seven-year-olds givenextra help to catch up with their peersat reading has been running suc-cessfully for 16 years. And the workbeing done on children’s literacy inthe city has earned recognition thisyear, with one Bristol teacher re-ceiving a national award for her out-standing contribution.

Claire Banham, of GlenfromePrimary School, was named 2015

Reading Recovery Teacher of theYe a r.

Fatima Osman, six, of FonthillPrimary School, and Sophie Levene,six, of Oasis Academy, won a chil-d re n’s competition, while GlenfromePrimary School and FonthillPrimary School both received Schoolof the Year awards.

The awards are held to celebrateand honour teachers, children andschool managers who have made anoutstanding contribution to improv-ing literacy through Reading Recov-e r y.

Ms Banham said: “I think thatbeing a Reading Recovery teacher isone of the most rewarding jobs thereis. It’s fantastic to be able to makesuch a difference to the children,giving them the skills they need tobecome a reader as well as givingthem confidence and an enjoyment inre a d i n g .

“At Glenfrome Primary School thefocus on early intervention and thesupport I have had in my role from

leadership, staff and volunteers hasmeant that we have been able toprovide children with the extra helpthey need to become confident read-e r s. ”

Bristol City Council’s Reading Re-covery teacher leaders received aUniversity of West of England (UWE)staff award earlier this year for theirpartnership and collaboration workwith students and tutors from theu n ive r s i t y ’s school of education.

Brenda Massey, assistant mayorwith responsibility for education,said: “I’m delighted to see our pupils,

teachers and schools recognised fortheir achievements in improving lit-e r a cy.

“Initiatives such as Reading Re-covery enable our young people to laya solid foundation on which to buildtheir future success.”

Reading Recovery aims to bringstogether the highest quality of pro-fessional support to enable all chil-dren to achieve excellence in literacy.Each year approximately 20 per centof children across the country leaveprimary school not able to read ad-e q u at e ly.

As they enter secondary school120,000 nationally children strugglewith their education because they arenot at their expected reading age.

A 20-week Reading Recoverycourse has been shown to help 85 percent of six-year-old children to catchup with their peers.

At 11 years old these children main-tain their progress and achieve theexpected Key Stage 2 reading testresults for their age.

The city council says the early in-tervention has changed the lives ofhundreds of children in Bristol.

QUALITY CHOICE HELPS DRIVE IMPROVEMENT

New leaf St a rsback ReadingRecovery project

� Paul Talarico, assistant head at AshtonPark School, believes giving students awider choice of books to read and gettingthem better organised can help driveimprovement in literacy.

He said: “In a world of smartphones,smart apps and smart children, gettingstudents to enjoy the written word beyondsocial media and ‘text speak’ is becomingincreasingly difficult. Of course schoolsare working hard to engage and enthraland the whole class reader is still avaluable staple diet in every school.However, to truly instigate a successfulreading recovery more can be done tobattle powerful digital foes.

“Simply reading a book can certainlyhelp with vocabulary and word recognitionbut in terms of comprehension, well that’sa different story. Dialogue about theirreading is the key; craft, empathy andprediction. Yes this is skilfully addressed inthe classroom by hard working teachersbut what if the student is ‘just not into thisbook’?

“With curriculum time so valuable it’simpossible to truly teach effectivecomprehension to a class with 30 differentbooks being read so what happens next?Rally the troops and establish routines isthe answer. At Ashton Park students havetheir choice of quality, engaging books forall interests and abilities and have aminimum of 20 minutes reading each dayin tutor times, English and literacy-heavysubjects like humanities. To supportcomprehension some students are“Reader Leaders” promoting discussionand evaluation of their reading. Thissupports not only comprehension butessential communication skills for both thereader and the Reader Leader.

“As Dr Seuss said ‘Fill your house (orschool) with stacks of books, in all thecrannies and all the nooks’. That’scertainly a start and the sentiment is clear.Give children a quality choice. Theirchoice. Then rally the troops. Remember,troops aren’t just in our schools, they arein our homes as well.”

� The Bristol winners at this year’s Reading Recovery awards ceremony in London

� Claire Banham, Reading Recovery teacher at Glenfrome Primary School, pictured with Sufran (7) Eros (6), Horaja(7) and Leon (6)

YEAR 10 and 12PLACES AVAILABLE

FOR THISSEPTEMBER!

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• Science and Medicine• Engineering• Maths

• Technology• Architecture and theBuilt Environment

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www.theikbstudioschool.org.uk

Enquire now to enrol this September:

We have the course for you.

E: [email protected]

T: 0117 916 1025

IKB Studio School

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INFORMATIONEVENINGS

21st October11th November2nd December

OpenEventsTuesday 3rd November 9.30am - 11amTuesday 12th January 5pm - 7pm


OpenDayWednesday 21st October9.30am - 3.30pm


Bannerman RoadCommunity Academy

OpenEveningsThursday 8th October 6 - 8pmWednesday 4th November 6 - 8pmMonday 11th January 5 - 7pm

T. 0117 910 8429E. info@dolphinschool.bristol.sch.ukwww.dolphinschool.bristol.sch.uk

OpenEveningsTuesday 6th October 6 - 8pmMonday 9th November 6 - 8pmWednesday 13th January 5 - 7pm


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FOR some parents, academicachievement and progress arethe be-all and end-all for theirchildren. But a number ofprimary schools in Bristol

d o n’t see it that way – and are pouringtheir resources into ensuring pupilsnot only perform well in lessons butlead healthy and fulfilling lives, too.

And this emphasis on wellbeing isnot solely focused on serving morenutritional meals in the schoolcanteen: it extends to physical activ-ity, playtime, personal safety andmanaging emotions.

Nine schools in the city have beenrecognised for their commitment toimproving the health of their pupilsthis year, being presented with theBristol Mayor’s Award for Excellenceas a Health Improving School.

The award was set up in 2014 tocelebrate schools that consistentlydemonstrate high standards in help-ing pupils understand how to im-prove their health and wellbeing. It isaimed at encouraging pupils to leadhealthier and more fulfilled lives.

The award is part of Bristol CityCouncil’s Healthy Schools Pro-gramme, which works with schoolsand young people in Bristol to in-fluence future generations to leadhealthy, happy and safe lives.

As part of the award, pupils learnways to improve their overall health

and wellbeing and make positivechoices for themselves.

They cover topics including:healthy eating and how to grow andcook food, understanding why phys-ical activity is important and how tobe more active, learning about per-sonal safety, building positive rela-tionships with people in their lives,managing difficult feelings, talkingabout their worries and anxieties andknowing who they can turn to forhelp and advice, learning ways toimprove their overall health and well-being and making positive choices fort h e m s e l ve s.

To gain this award schools have toreach standards of excellence acrossa wide range of health issues. Schoolsalso engage in targeted health activ-ities or interventions that bringabout measurable health improve-ments. Schools usually take two yearsto complete the whole cycle andachieve ‘e xc e l l e n c e ’.

The award was first presented lastyear, and eight schools from acrossthe city were given the honour.

Schools receiving their certificate,plaque and banner this year were:� Holymead Primary School� New Fosseway School� Ashton Gate Primary School� Bannerman Road CommunityA c a d e my� Parson Street Primary School� Henleaze Infants School� Broomhill Infants School� Glenfrome Primary School� St Patrick’s Catholic PrimaryS ch o o l

At Henleaze, staff and students

worked for two years to fulfil thecriteria for the award.

Teachers set about making play-time a more positive time for allchildren. They noted some receptionchildren felt the playground was not asafe place to run around, so workedwith them using “circle times” andintroduced more playtime games.

The school started using ShineSports Coaching, an organisationwhich visited and played more struc-tured games with the children.

Staff also ensured that all childrenhad the opportunity to cook at leastfour times a year at school, and

looked at how cooking could be usedto support maths sessions and otherareas of the curriculum.

Parents were encouraged to domore cooking with theirchildren at home,resulting in pu-pils reportingthat they aredoing morecooking withtheir famil-i e s.

Bristolmayor GeorgeFerguson said:“Habits formedduring our childhoodstay with us for life, making it vitallyimportant that we encourage healthypractice from a young age.

“Our aim is for every school inBristol to become a health improvingschool and gain this award, but wehave deliberately set the bar high foreach winning school to become abench mark for others.”

Results from the schools that havetaken part show an increase in eatingfruit and vegetables, children report-ing they feel safer in school, pupilsmore active on the way to school, anincrease in those having school din-ners and a reduction in crisps andchocolate in packed lunches.

� To find out more about the BristolHealthy Schools programmecontact healthyschools@b r i s t o l . g o v. u k .

SCHOOLS TEACHINGHEALTHY HABITSFROM A YOUNG AGE

JO INGLEBY

� ONE person doing her bit to improvethe health of Bristol’s youngsters is JoI n g l e b y.

The chef at Redcliffe Nursery andC h i l d re n ’s Centre is helping a newgeneration learn to cook and supportingother schools to do the same.

Jo was named ‘Cook of the Year’ in theprestigious BBC Good Food and FarmingAwards thanks to her work on a foodproject at the nursery for children agedtwo to four. The project was designedaround children’s strengths andcapabilities in the kitchen, which go farbeyond simply stirring a cake mixture,and aimed to empower children toexperiment with cooking new ingredientsthey had often grown at nearby WindmillHill City Farm. Jo said: “I’m inspired bythe Mediterranean approach to food andeating and believe that cooking can bringfamily and friends together, so it’simportant to teach children about it from ayoung age. I started working withRedcliffe nine years ago as part of an arts

project researching young children’sc re a t i v i t y.

“Previously I trained as an artist beforebecoming head chef at Demuths in Bathand teaching at their cookery school. AtRedcliffe we have food sessions all weekwhere the children explore differentvegetables, which are then on the menuat lunchtime. This encourages thechildren to try new and healthy foods. Wealso cook lunch for the children fromscratch every day using seasonal produceand world recipes.

“With the food project we want tochange the way cooking is traditionallytaught to young children and put thefocus on what children can do rather thanwhat they can’t. We’ve built a child-sizedkitchen at the nursery and encourage thechildren to use their imaginations to comeup the original creations. Their ideas andinventions have been amazing and wedocument the project in a giant scrapbook which parents and children can lookt h ro u g h . ”


Bristol mayorGeorge Ferguson

Habits formed duringour childhood stay withus for life, making it vitallyimportant we encouragehealthy practice from ayoung age.”

“

� BBC Good Food Cook of the Year Jo Ingleby

Why choose Bedminster Down?To fnd out more about academic achievements and opportunites

outside of the classroom drop in during our open days.

“A signifcant feature of hte good teaching at the school

is the excellent relatonship between staf and students.”- Ofsted 2014

Open Evening Wed 16th Sept 6pm - 8pmOpen Morning Sat 10th Oct 10am - 12pm

Tel: 0117 353 2800 www.bedminsterdown.com @bdwonschool

©LW

Inspiretoday...empowerfor life

RatedGOOD byOfsted forteachingand

learning,behaviour

andleadership

Filton Road, Horfield, Bristol BS7 0XZOrchardschoolbristol.co.uk | 0117 377 2000

facebook.com/orchschoolbristol | @orchardsb

WhyOrchard?

OpenEvening:Tuesday,

October 6th,6.30pm

Open morningsTuesdays 9am.Call for details

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FOR some parents, academicachievement and progress arethe be-all and end-all for theirchildren. But a number ofprimary schools in Bristol

d o n’t see it that way – and are pouringtheir resources into ensuring pupilsnot only perform well in lessons butlead healthy and fulfilling lives, too.

And this emphasis on wellbeing isnot solely focused on serving morenutritional meals in the schoolcanteen: it extends to physical activ-ity, playtime, personal safety andmanaging emotions.

Nine schools in the city have beenrecognised for their commitment toimproving the health of their pupilsthis year, being presented with theBristol Mayor’s Award for Excellenceas a Health Improving School.

The award was set up in 2014 tocelebrate schools that consistentlydemonstrate high standards in help-ing pupils understand how to im-prove their health and wellbeing. It isaimed at encouraging pupils to leadhealthier and more fulfilled lives.

The award is part of Bristol CityCouncil’s Healthy Schools Pro-gramme, which works with schoolsand young people in Bristol to in-fluence future generations to leadhealthy, happy and safe lives.

As part of the award, pupils learnways to improve their overall health

and wellbeing and make positivechoices for themselves.

They cover topics including:healthy eating and how to grow andcook food, understanding why phys-ical activity is important and how tobe more active, learning about per-sonal safety, building positive rela-tionships with people in their lives,managing difficult feelings, talkingabout their worries and anxieties andknowing who they can turn to forhelp and advice, learning ways toimprove their overall health and well-being and making positive choices fort h e m s e l ve s.

To gain this award schools have toreach standards of excellence acrossa wide range of health issues. Schoolsalso engage in targeted health activ-ities or interventions that bringabout measurable health improve-ments. Schools usually take two yearsto complete the whole cycle andachieve ‘e xc e l l e n c e ’.

The award was first presented lastyear, and eight schools from acrossthe city were given the honour.

Schools receiving their certificate,plaque and banner this year were:� Holymead Primary School� New Fosseway School� Ashton Gate Primary School� Bannerman Road CommunityA c a d e my� Parson Street Primary School� Henleaze Infants School� Broomhill Infants School� Glenfrome Primary School� St Patrick’s Catholic PrimaryS ch o o l

At Henleaze, staff and students

worked for two years to fulfil thecriteria for the award.

Teachers set about making play-time a more positive time for allchildren. They noted some receptionchildren felt the playground was not asafe place to run around, so workedwith them using “circle times” andintroduced more playtime games.

The school started using ShineSports Coaching, an organisationwhich visited and played more struc-tured games with the children.

Staff also ensured that all childrenhad the opportunity to cook at leastfour times a year at school, and

looked at how cooking could be usedto support maths sessions and otherareas of the curriculum.

Parents were encouraged to domore cooking with theirchildren at home,resulting in pu-pils reportingthat they aredoing morecooking withtheir famil-i e s.

Bristolmayor GeorgeFerguson said:“Habits formedduring our childhoodstay with us for life, making it vitallyimportant that we encourage healthypractice from a young age.

“Our aim is for every school inBristol to become a health improvingschool and gain this award, but wehave deliberately set the bar high foreach winning school to become abench mark for others.”

Results from the schools that havetaken part show an increase in eatingfruit and vegetables, children report-ing they feel safer in school, pupilsmore active on the way to school, anincrease in those having school din-ners and a reduction in crisps andchocolate in packed lunches.

� To find out more about the BristolHealthy Schools programmecontact healthyschools@b r i s t o l . g o v. u k .

SCHOOLS TEACHINGHEALTHY HABITSFROM A YOUNG AGE

JO INGLEBY

� ONE person doing her bit to improvethe health of Bristol’s youngsters is JoI n g l e b y.

The chef at Redcliffe Nursery andC h i l d re n ’s Centre is helping a newgeneration learn to cook and supportingother schools to do the same.

Jo was named ‘Cook of the Year’ in theprestigious BBC Good Food and FarmingAwards thanks to her work on a foodproject at the nursery for children agedtwo to four. The project was designedaround children’s strengths andcapabilities in the kitchen, which go farbeyond simply stirring a cake mixture,and aimed to empower children toexperiment with cooking new ingredientsthey had often grown at nearby WindmillHill City Farm. Jo said: “I’m inspired bythe Mediterranean approach to food andeating and believe that cooking can bringfamily and friends together, so it’simportant to teach children about it from ayoung age. I started working withRedcliffe nine years ago as part of an arts

project researching young children’sc re a t i v i t y.

“Previously I trained as an artist beforebecoming head chef at Demuths in Bathand teaching at their cookery school. AtRedcliffe we have food sessions all weekwhere the children explore differentvegetables, which are then on the menuat lunchtime. This encourages thechildren to try new and healthy foods. Wealso cook lunch for the children fromscratch every day using seasonal produceand world recipes.

“With the food project we want tochange the way cooking is traditionallytaught to young children and put thefocus on what children can do rather thanwhat they can’t. We’ve built a child-sizedkitchen at the nursery and encourage thechildren to use their imaginations to comeup the original creations. Their ideas andinventions have been amazing and wedocument the project in a giant scrapbook which parents and children can lookt h ro u g h . ”


Bristol mayorGeorge Ferguson

Habits formed duringour childhood stay withus for life, making it vitallyimportant we encouragehealthy practice from ayoung age.”

“

� BBC Good Food Cook of the Year Jo Ingleby

Why choose Bedminster Down?To fnd out more about academic achievements and opportunites

outside of the classroom drop in during our open days.

“A signifcant feature of hte good teaching at the school

is the excellent relatonship between staf and students.”- Ofsted 2014

Open Evening Wed 16th Sept 6pm - 8pmOpen Morning Sat 10th Oct 10am - 12pm

Tel: 0117 353 2800 www.bedminsterdown.com @bdwonschool

©LW

Inspiretoday...empowerfor life

RatedGOOD byOfsted forteachingand

learning,behaviour

andleadership

Filton Road, Horfield, Bristol BS7 0XZOrchardschoolbristol.co.uk | 0117 377 2000

facebook.com/orchschoolbristol | @orchardsb

WhyOrchard?

OpenEvening:Tuesday,

October 6th,6.30pm

Open morningsTuesdays 9am.Call for details

EPB-E01-S5

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TEACHERS are all too oftenpraised for “going above andbeyond the call of duty”, tothe point where it has becomealmost meaningless. But one

classroom leader the descriptiongenuinely befits is Jacky Wyatt, whohas been recognised for her workwith children with autism.

Although she works in a main-stream school, Hillcrest Primary inTotterdown, Jacky goes to greatlengths to help children in her carewith an autism diagnosis because shepassionately believes in educationbeing inclusive.

She has guided families throughthe diagnosis process and makes her-self available as a point of contact,often outside of working hours. Jackyadmits the work is “beyond my jobspec” but has been rewarded for herremarkable efforts with a nationalaward from the National Autistic So-ciety. She picked up Award forAchievement by an Individual Edu-cation Professional after being short-

listed by a panel of 11 autism expertswho judged nominees on their in-novation, creativity, impact and sus-t a i n ab i l i t y.

Jacky leads a reception team atHillcrest, where she has taught fulltime for the past ten years. Of the of 60four and five year-olds she taught lastyear, there were three children withan autism diagnosis.

During her time at the school shehas worked with children on the aut-istic spectrum at various stages ofdiagnosis and has attended autismspectrum disorder (ASD) training.

Jacky said: “During my teachingcareer I have been privileged to workwith children and their families in avariety of ways. As a full time teachermy working days, and evenings, areoverwhelmed by providing qualitylearning experiences for the childrenin my care. Despite all of the normalpressures of being a teacher I wantedto show that there is and must be timeto provide support for families and abespoke curriculum for children

with ASD. Inclusion is somethingthat I have always been passionateab o u t . ”

Foundation stage leader Jacky hasactively pursued early diagnosis formany children in her care, recog-nising the importance of early sup-port and intervention for childrenand their families.

She said: “The idea of ‘let’s wait andsee’ is not one I favour. The children Iteach are very young but when I see achild struggling, knowing that there

is so much that can be done to makeschool a happy and successful placefor that child, I prefer to act early.

“I have seen first-hand the effectson families where the possibility ofASD has not been talked about. Yesthe conversations with parents andfamilies are difficult but with theright support and intervention thediagnosis is both liberating and pos-itive. Their child is the same lovedchild that they were yesterday andwith the right support and under-

standing of ASD, families come to seethe unique and truly amazing childthey have. Working closely with fam-ilies and providing that emotionalsupport does go above and beyond myjob spec but the positive ripple effectis invaluable.”

Jacky was nominated for the awardby the parents of a child with autism.In their nomination, they said: “Asparents it was a very difficult year forus both, understanding the diagnosisand coming to terms with its impacton our lives – today and forever for-wards. In that context we feel havingJacky as our child’s teacher was atrue blessing.”

A spokeswoman for HillcrestPrimary said: “It's well-deserved re-cognition for her dedication, expert-ise and empathy, particularly insupporting families coming to termswith learning that their child is onthe autistic spectrum. Her achieve-ment is all the more striking becauseshe was the only nominee for theaward from a mainstream school. Allthe others were autism specialistsworking in special schools.”

Speaking ahead of the awards ce-remony held earlier this year, CarolPovey, director of the National Aut-istic Society’s Centre for Autism,said: “The autism community getstogether once a year to recogniseindividuals and services, like Jacky,doing ground-breaking work in thefield of autism and improving thelives of people with the disability.

“The calibre, variety and sheernumber of nominations we receivedis astounding and Jacky has doneremarkably well to stand out.”

Pioneer Lea d i n glight in helpingautistic pupils

� Teacher Jacky Wyatt pictured at Hillcrest Primary

DISCOVER INNOVATE DESIGN ENGINEER

Open evenings,6.30-8.30pmThursdays, Sept 24,Oct 15th, Nov 19th

Open days,by appointmentThursdays, Sept 24,Oct 1st & 15th,Nov 5th & 19th

New Road, Stoke Gifford BS34 8SF(Nr Parkway Station)E [email protected] 0117 983 80 80W www.bteacademy.co.uk

A specialist technology andengineering academy for14 to 19-year-olds in Bristoland the surrounding area

Create your future

Supported by For further details visitwww.sgscol.ac.uk or call 0800 0567 253

Be part of oursuccess at SouthGloucestershire andStroud’s stand out college!HIGHER, PROFESSIONAL, TECHNICAL

Course areas available include:

• Access to Higher Education• Apprenticeships• Employability courses• Full time A Levels and GCSEs• Full time vocational courses in Animal Management & Conservation,

Art, Design & Photography, Business, Construction, Early Years, Engineering,Hair & Beauty, Health & Social Care, IT, Music, Media & Games Design,Performing Arts, Public Services, Sport or Travel

• Part time adult courses• Traineeships• University Level courses

OFSTED OUTSTANDING 2014For Business, Art, Performing Arts, Sports, Employability,Student Support and Leadership and Managementof the College.

2015OPEN EVENTS

Sat 10th Oct | 10:00 - 13:00

Sat 14th Nov | 10:00 - 14:00

Thur 3rd Dec | 17:30 - 20:00

EPB-E01-S5

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TEACHERS are all too oftenpraised for “going above andbeyond the call of duty”, tothe point where it has becomealmost meaningless. But one

classroom leader the descriptiongenuinely befits is Jacky Wyatt, whohas been recognised for her workwith children with autism.

Although she works in a main-stream school, Hillcrest Primary inTotterdown, Jacky goes to greatlengths to help children in her carewith an autism diagnosis because shepassionately believes in educationbeing inclusive.

She has guided families throughthe diagnosis process and makes her-self available as a point of contact,often outside of working hours. Jackyadmits the work is “beyond my jobspec” but has been rewarded for herremarkable efforts with a nationalaward from the National Autistic So-ciety. She picked up Award forAchievement by an Individual Edu-cation Professional after being short-

listed by a panel of 11 autism expertswho judged nominees on their in-novation, creativity, impact and sus-t a i n ab i l i t y.

Jacky leads a reception team atHillcrest, where she has taught fulltime for the past ten years. Of the of 60four and five year-olds she taught lastyear, there were three children withan autism diagnosis.

During her time at the school shehas worked with children on the aut-istic spectrum at various stages ofdiagnosis and has attended autismspectrum disorder (ASD) training.

Jacky said: “During my teachingcareer I have been privileged to workwith children and their families in avariety of ways. As a full time teachermy working days, and evenings, areoverwhelmed by providing qualitylearning experiences for the childrenin my care. Despite all of the normalpressures of being a teacher I wantedto show that there is and must be timeto provide support for families and abespoke curriculum for children

with ASD. Inclusion is somethingthat I have always been passionateab o u t . ”

Foundation stage leader Jacky hasactively pursued early diagnosis formany children in her care, recog-nising the importance of early sup-port and intervention for childrenand their families.

She said: “The idea of ‘let’s wait andsee’ is not one I favour. The children Iteach are very young but when I see achild struggling, knowing that there

is so much that can be done to makeschool a happy and successful placefor that child, I prefer to act early.

“I have seen first-hand the effectson families where the possibility ofASD has not been talked about. Yesthe conversations with parents andfamilies are difficult but with theright support and intervention thediagnosis is both liberating and pos-itive. Their child is the same lovedchild that they were yesterday andwith the right support and under-

standing of ASD, families come to seethe unique and truly amazing childthey have. Working closely with fam-ilies and providing that emotionalsupport does go above and beyond myjob spec but the positive ripple effectis invaluable.”

Jacky was nominated for the awardby the parents of a child with autism.In their nomination, they said: “Asparents it was a very difficult year forus both, understanding the diagnosisand coming to terms with its impacton our lives – today and forever for-wards. In that context we feel havingJacky as our child’s teacher was atrue blessing.”

A spokeswoman for HillcrestPrimary said: “It's well-deserved re-cognition for her dedication, expert-ise and empathy, particularly insupporting families coming to termswith learning that their child is onthe autistic spectrum. Her achieve-ment is all the more striking becauseshe was the only nominee for theaward from a mainstream school. Allthe others were autism specialistsworking in special schools.”

Speaking ahead of the awards ce-remony held earlier this year, CarolPovey, director of the National Aut-istic Society’s Centre for Autism,said: “The autism community getstogether once a year to recogniseindividuals and services, like Jacky,doing ground-breaking work in thefield of autism and improving thelives of people with the disability.

“The calibre, variety and sheernumber of nominations we receivedis astounding and Jacky has doneremarkably well to stand out.”

Pioneer Lea d i n glight in helpingautistic pupils

� Teacher Jacky Wyatt pictured at Hillcrest Primary

DISCOVER INNOVATE DESIGN ENGINEER

Open evenings,6.30-8.30pmThursdays, Sept 24,Oct 15th, Nov 19th

Open days,by appointmentThursdays, Sept 24,Oct 1st & 15th,Nov 5th & 19th

New Road, Stoke Gifford BS34 8SF(Nr Parkway Station)E [email protected] 0117 983 80 80W www.bteacademy.co.uk

A specialist technology andengineering academy for14 to 19-year-olds in Bristoland the surrounding area

Create your future

Supported by For further details visitwww.sgscol.ac.uk or call 0800 0567 253

Be part of oursuccess at SouthGloucestershire andStroud’s stand out college!HIGHER, PROFESSIONAL, TECHNICAL

Course areas available include:

• Access to Higher Education• Apprenticeships• Employability courses• Full time A Levels and GCSEs• Full time vocational courses in Animal Management & Conservation,

Art, Design & Photography, Business, Construction, Early Years, Engineering,Hair & Beauty, Health & Social Care, IT, Music, Media & Games Design,Performing Arts, Public Services, Sport or Travel

• Part time adult courses• Traineeships• University Level courses

OFSTED OUTSTANDING 2014For Business, Art, Performing Arts, Sports, Employability,Student Support and Leadership and Managementof the College.

2015OPEN EVENTS

Sat 10th Oct | 10:00 - 13:00

Sat 14th Nov | 10:00 - 14:00

Thur 3rd Dec | 17:30 - 20:00

EPB-E01-S5

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THERE was once a day whenthe school system in Bristolwas much simpler. Alook though a list ofthe educational in-

stitutions operating inthe city 20 years agowould reveal a straight-forward scene wherecouncil-run compre-hensives existed along-side church andindependent schools.

Fast forward to 2015 andthe waters are muddier. Localauthority schools now sit in anset-up which contains the likes ofacademies, free schools, studioschools, all-through schools and uni-versity technical colleges (UTC).

As a result, parents and studentscan – quite understandably – becomeconfused by the bewildering array ofoptions open to them.

Choice and diversity are normallycelebrated but you cannot help feel-ing sympathetic towards mums anddads who must attempt to get their

heads around the system inorder to make the right

choices for their children.No longer does a stu-

dent need to attend atraditional secondaryschool between theages of 11 and 16. If sodesired, they could

switch to a UTC or stu-dio school at 14 to take up

more vocational qualifica-tions. And parents applying

for primary school places are nolonger limited to applying to thoseclosest to their front door – if theywish they can apply to attend a freeschool five miles away. One such free

school – Cathedral Primary – hasbeen the most oversubscribedprimary in the city for the past fewyears, such is its popularity withBristol parents.

This September, several moreschools opened their doors in theBristol area to bring yet more di-versity to the city. Digitech StudioSchool in Warmley has opened on thesite of The Grange School & SportsCollege, which will eventually close.

Run by the Cabot Learning Feder-ation, the school for 14 to 19-year-oldswill specialise in the digital, hi-techand creative sectors.

IKB Studio School in Keynsham isfocusing on science, engineering,technology and maths.

Oasis Academy Marksbury Roadhas opened in Bedminster and Fair-lawn School, also an academy, haswelcomed its first students in Mont-pelier. Changes in the types of schools

allowed to open in recent years meanthere are now dozens of academiesoperating in the Bristol area alongwith three free schools, two studioschools and one UTC.

Although the education system inBristol has become fragmented, someschools are working together moreclosely than ever before.Multi-academy trusts are springingup everywhere, with small groups ofschools working in collaboration and

Growing choicefor parents asoptions increase

partnership in order to improve thestandard of education they can offertheir students. Among them is theMalago Learning Partnership, inwhich nine south Bristol schoolsshare teaching and learning, lead-ership and business services.

The partnership started in 2011from a desire from local head teach-ers to make any joint working theywere already doing more structuredand meaningful and in response to

national developments.But not everyone is happy with

some of the new types of school op-erating in Bristol.

Lisa Middle, spokeswoman for theBristol branch of the National Unionof Teachers, has questioned whetheracademies have been effective. TheGovernment continues to claim thatconversion from local authoritystatus to academy brings improve-ment.

She said: “The Sutton Trust re-search from July shows that academysponsorship is not the driver ofschool improvement. The small num-ber of sponsors whose schools areachieving well for their disadvant-aged pupils and for their pupils as awhole is overshadowed by a greaternumber of low-performing chains.

“This means that a far larger groupof providers are having a ‘ne gativeimpact’ and indeed may be ‘har mingthe prospects’ of disadvantaged stu-dents. This is intolerable.”

The union also has reservationsabout the Bristol area’s only UTC,Bristol Technology & EngineeringAcademy, which aligns its hours withthe working world rather than theacademic world.

Ms Middle said: “We hope that theterms and conditions that teachersare employed under will reflect thelonger hours and shorter holidaysrequired of them. We have managedto establish a good working relation-ship but we remain concerned thatthe college is not democratically ac-countable to the community its e r ve s. ”

DIFFERENT SCHOOL TYPES

� FREE SCHOOL: Free schools are setup by groups of parents, teachers,charities, businesses, universities, trusts,religious or voluntary groups, but fundeddirectly by central government. They areoften run by an “education provider” – anorganisation or company brought in by thegroup setting up the school – but thesefirms are not allowed to make a profit. Theschools are established as academies,independent of local authorities. Unlikelocal-authority-run schools, they areexempt from teaching the nationalcurriculum and have increased controlover teachers’ pay and conditions and thelength of school terms and days.

� ACADEMY: Academies arestate-maintained but independently-runschools in England set up with the help ofoutside sponsors. They have morefreedoms than schools under localauthority control. The brainchild of formerLabour prime minister Tony Blair,academies were established in 2000 todrive up standards by replacing failing

schools in struggling local authorities.

� UNIVERSITY TECHNICAL COLLEGE:UTCs are a type of free school introducedas part of the Academies Programme.State-funded and free from local authoritycontrol, UTCs all have a university as alead sponsor. Further education colleges,charitable organisations and the privatesector may co-sponsor a UTC. Like studioschools, University Technical Colleges arespecifically designed to enrol studentsaged 14–19.

� STUDIO SCHOOL: Studio Schools aredesigned for 14-19 year olds of all abilities.They are small schools for 300 students.With a year-round opening and a 9-5working day, they feel more like aworkplace than a school. Working closelywith local employers, Studio Schools offera range of academic and vocationalqualifications including GCSEs in English,maths and science, as well as paid workplacements linked directly to employmentopportunities in the local area.

� Pupilsfrom schoolsin theMalagoLear ningPartnershiptake part inthe MalagoMusicFestival at StMaryR e d c l i ff e

� Year 10 pupils from Bristol Technology and Engineering Academy making carboncomposite panels at GKN Aerospace


©LW

11-18 Foundation Comprehensive (220 in Sixth Form)

Excellent results at GCSE &A levelPastoral care is extremely strong...The relationships between teachers and students arestrong and this results in high expectations for students’ achievement. - Ofsted 2015

Wednesday 16th September 6pm & 7pmOPEN EVENING

Chew Lane, Chew Magna, Bristol, BS40 8QB01275 332272 www.chewvalleyschool.co.uk

AutumnOpen Events

Open Evening:Tuesday 22 September 20156:30pm - 8:30pmPrincipal’s Presentationat 6:30pm and 7:30pm

Open Mornings:Monday 28 Septemberto Friday 9 October 2015Tours at 9:15am & 10:15am(by appointment)

NEW ACADEMY

BUS ROUTE FOR

SOUTH GLOS. FROM

SEPTEMBER!

0117 986 [email protected]@BroadlandsBS31

www.broadlandsacademy.orgBroadlands Academy, St Francis Road, Keynsham, Bristol BS31 2DY

GCSE Results 2015We achieved 62%5 A*-C includingEnglish & Maths.

Learning and SuccessOpen Evening

Wednesday 23rd September6.00pm – 8.00pm

Open Morning –Wednesday 30th September at 9.00am.Please call to reserve a place.

“ ”Patchway Community College

Hempton Lane, Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4AJ 01454 862020email: [email protected] website: www.patchwaycc.com

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THERE was once a day whenthe school system in Bristolwas much simpler. Alook though a list ofthe educational in-

stitutions operating inthe city 20 years agowould reveal a straight-forward scene wherecouncil-run compre-hensives existed along-side church andindependent schools.

Fast forward to 2015 andthe waters are muddier. Localauthority schools now sit in anset-up which contains the likes ofacademies, free schools, studioschools, all-through schools and uni-versity technical colleges (UTC).

As a result, parents and studentscan – quite understandably – becomeconfused by the bewildering array ofoptions open to them.

Choice and diversity are normallycelebrated but you cannot help feel-ing sympathetic towards mums anddads who must attempt to get their

heads around the system inorder to make the right

choices for their children.No longer does a stu-

dent need to attend atraditional secondaryschool between theages of 11 and 16. If sodesired, they could

switch to a UTC or stu-dio school at 14 to take up

more vocational qualifica-tions. And parents applying

for primary school places are nolonger limited to applying to thoseclosest to their front door – if theywish they can apply to attend a freeschool five miles away. One such free

school – Cathedral Primary – hasbeen the most oversubscribedprimary in the city for the past fewyears, such is its popularity withBristol parents.

This September, several moreschools opened their doors in theBristol area to bring yet more di-versity to the city. Digitech StudioSchool in Warmley has opened on thesite of The Grange School & SportsCollege, which will eventually close.

Run by the Cabot Learning Feder-ation, the school for 14 to 19-year-oldswill specialise in the digital, hi-techand creative sectors.

IKB Studio School in Keynsham isfocusing on science, engineering,technology and maths.

Oasis Academy Marksbury Roadhas opened in Bedminster and Fair-lawn School, also an academy, haswelcomed its first students in Mont-pelier. Changes in the types of schools

allowed to open in recent years meanthere are now dozens of academiesoperating in the Bristol area alongwith three free schools, two studioschools and one UTC.

Although the education system inBristol has become fragmented, someschools are working together moreclosely than ever before.Multi-academy trusts are springingup everywhere, with small groups ofschools working in collaboration and

Growing choicefor parents asoptions increase

partnership in order to improve thestandard of education they can offertheir students. Among them is theMalago Learning Partnership, inwhich nine south Bristol schoolsshare teaching and learning, lead-ership and business services.

The partnership started in 2011from a desire from local head teach-ers to make any joint working theywere already doing more structuredand meaningful and in response to

national developments.But not everyone is happy with

some of the new types of school op-erating in Bristol.

Lisa Middle, spokeswoman for theBristol branch of the National Unionof Teachers, has questioned whetheracademies have been effective. TheGovernment continues to claim thatconversion from local authoritystatus to academy brings improve-ment.

She said: “The Sutton Trust re-search from July shows that academysponsorship is not the driver ofschool improvement. The small num-ber of sponsors whose schools areachieving well for their disadvant-aged pupils and for their pupils as awhole is overshadowed by a greaternumber of low-performing chains.

“This means that a far larger groupof providers are having a ‘ne gativeimpact’ and indeed may be ‘har mingthe prospects’ of disadvantaged stu-dents. This is intolerable.”

The union also has reservationsabout the Bristol area’s only UTC,Bristol Technology & EngineeringAcademy, which aligns its hours withthe working world rather than theacademic world.

Ms Middle said: “We hope that theterms and conditions that teachersare employed under will reflect thelonger hours and shorter holidaysrequired of them. We have managedto establish a good working relation-ship but we remain concerned thatthe college is not democratically ac-countable to the community its e r ve s. ”

DIFFERENT SCHOOL TYPES

� FREE SCHOOL: Free schools are setup by groups of parents, teachers,charities, businesses, universities, trusts,religious or voluntary groups, but fundeddirectly by central government. They areoften run by an “education provider” – anorganisation or company brought in by thegroup setting up the school – but thesefirms are not allowed to make a profit. Theschools are established as academies,independent of local authorities. Unlikelocal-authority-run schools, they areexempt from teaching the nationalcurriculum and have increased controlover teachers’ pay and conditions and thelength of school terms and days.

� ACADEMY: Academies arestate-maintained but independently-runschools in England set up with the help ofoutside sponsors. They have morefreedoms than schools under localauthority control. The brainchild of formerLabour prime minister Tony Blair,academies were established in 2000 todrive up standards by replacing failing

schools in struggling local authorities.

� UNIVERSITY TECHNICAL COLLEGE:UTCs are a type of free school introducedas part of the Academies Programme.State-funded and free from local authoritycontrol, UTCs all have a university as alead sponsor. Further education colleges,charitable organisations and the privatesector may co-sponsor a UTC. Like studioschools, University Technical Colleges arespecifically designed to enrol studentsaged 14–19.

� STUDIO SCHOOL: Studio Schools aredesigned for 14-19 year olds of all abilities.They are small schools for 300 students.With a year-round opening and a 9-5working day, they feel more like aworkplace than a school. Working closelywith local employers, Studio Schools offera range of academic and vocationalqualifications including GCSEs in English,maths and science, as well as paid workplacements linked directly to employmentopportunities in the local area.

� Pupilsfrom schoolsin theMalagoLear ningPartnershiptake part inthe MalagoMusicFestival at StMaryR e d c l i ff e

� Year 10 pupils from Bristol Technology and Engineering Academy making carboncomposite panels at GKN Aerospace


©LW

11-18 Foundation Comprehensive (220 in Sixth Form)

Excellent results at GCSE &A levelPastoral care is extremely strong...The relationships between teachers and students arestrong and this results in high expectations for students’ achievement. - Ofsted 2015

Wednesday 16th September 6pm & 7pmOPEN EVENING

Chew Lane, Chew Magna, Bristol, BS40 8QB01275 332272 www.chewvalleyschool.co.uk

AutumnOpen Events

Open Evening:Tuesday 22 September 20156:30pm - 8:30pmPrincipal’s Presentationat 6:30pm and 7:30pm

Open Mornings:Monday 28 Septemberto Friday 9 October 2015Tours at 9:15am & 10:15am(by appointment)

NEW ACADEMY

BUS ROUTE FOR

SOUTH GLOS. FROM

SEPTEMBER!

0117 986 [email protected]@BroadlandsBS31

www.broadlandsacademy.orgBroadlands Academy, St Francis Road, Keynsham, Bristol BS31 2DY

GCSE Results 2015We achieved 62%5 A*-C includingEnglish & Maths.

Learning and SuccessOpen Evening

Wednesday 23rd September6.00pm – 8.00pm

Open Morning –Wednesday 30th September at 9.00am.Please call to reserve a place.

“ ”Patchway Community College

Hempton Lane, Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4AJ 01454 862020email: [email protected] website: www.patchwaycc.com

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Schools couldexpand to meetsoaring demand

BR I S T O L’S primary schoolplaces crisis has been welldocumented over the pastfew years. The surge in thenumber of young children

growing up in the city has forcededucation chiefs to create thousandsof extra places.

Gleaming new schools have beenbuilt and dozens of others have beenthe beneficiaries of multi-millionpound expansion projects.

But what will happen when allthose extra pupils finish at primaryschool and move on to secondary?

That is a problem statisticians inthe city council have been wrestlingwith for several years, with the ex-plosion in numbers of youngsters

coming through the educationalranks meaning action needs to betaken before it is too late.

A glance through a list of Bristolstate secondary school capacities andcurrent pupil numbers reveals thereare plenty of spare places at the mo-ment.

But all that could be about tochang e.

According to the council’s mostrecent strategy document for schoolplaces, the shortfall in Year 7 placescould begin next September in thenorth of the city.

Then from 2019, there could be alack of places city-wide.

Expanding existing secondary pro-vision appears to be the favouredoption, with the construction of newschools less likely.

But what has fuelled the boom?The soaring birth rate which began

seven years ago has been the maindriver, but there has also been a rise

in the standards at Bristol’s stateschools which has given parentsmore confidence in their localprimaries and secondaries.

There is a feel-good factor sur-rounding Bristol schools which hasseen parents look to the city ratherthan choose schools outside the city’s

2013/14 PUPIL POPULATION IN BRISTOL ’SSTATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS (CAPACITY)

boundaries or opt to educate theirchildren privately.

But the uncertainty over where theextra secondary places will be cre-ated may be a source of anxiety formums and dads who are trying tomake long-term plans for their chil-d re n’s education.

� Ashton Park School 1,181 (1,330)� Bedminster Down School 765 (1,090)� Bridge Learning Campus 1,058 (1,365)� Bristol Brunel Academy 1,071 (1,080)� Bristol Cathedral Choir School 736(680)� Bristol Free School 393 (750)� Bristol Metropolitan Academy 707(945)� The City Academy 908 (1,250)� Colston’s Girls’ School 736 (720)� Cotham School 1,394 (1,480)� Fairfield High School 614 (1,080)� Henbury School 624 (945)

� M e rc h a n t s ’ Academy 1,032 (1,120)� Oasis Academy Brightstowe 604(945)� Oasis Academy Brislington 1,196(1,448)� Oasis Academy John Williams 724(1,080)� Orchard School Bristol 655 (925)� Redland Green School 1,358 (1,414)� St Bede’s Catholic College 948 (876)� St Bernadette Catholic SecondarySchool 725 (750)� St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School1,581 (1,530)

According to the Department forEducation, the number of pupilsattending England’s secondaryschools is set to rise by 20 per centover the course of the next decade – arise of more than half a million chil-d re n .

Although there has been a drop in

secondary school numbers since2005, figures are expected to climbnext year as a result of increases inthe birth rate since 2002.

In Bristol, enough extra spaces(839) to fill a new secondary schoolcould be needed by 2021, according tothe council’s School Organisation

Strategy released in 2013.A new strategy outlining the coun-

cil’s plans – based on the latestprojected pupil numbers – is due to bereleased in the early autumn.

At a recent meeting of the Bish-opston Forum, Ian Bell, the council’splacement planning manager, said

the demand for extra places in theBS6 and BS7 postcodes would be metby expanding existing secondarys ch o o l s.

But a different approach might betaken in other areas of the city whereschools cannot be expanded.

Planning has been made more com-

plicated by the emergence of theGover nment’s free school pro-gramme, which allows groups ofteachers or parents to set up theirown schools in locations which arenot necessarily favoured by the citycouncil.

A city council spokeswoman said:“Bristol is an increasingly popularplace to live and more parents thanever are choosing to send theirchildren to schools in the city, sot h e re ’s naturally more pressure onp l a c e s.

“The proportion of good and out-standing schools is well above thecurrent national average.

“The council has been workingvery hard to develop provision tomeet demand and ensure there areenough spaces for everyone in yearsto come.

“In 2014/15 alone, BristolCity Council has created nearly3,000 additional primary schoolp l a c e s.

“Our predictions show a steady in-crease in demand for secondaryplaces across the city from Septem-ber 2017, which will be met withincreased provision over the comingfew years.

“Our approach to increasing pro-vision of primary places has workedwell and we’re currently developing anew integrated strategy which looksat the whole education picture inBristol to ensure future educationprovision is of high quality for allyoung people, whatever their age andwhere they live.”

In Bristol, enough extraspaces (839) to fill a newsecondary school couldbe needed by 2021.”

“

� PupilsatRedlandG re e nschool,which isclose tocapacity

� Developershand over thekeys toMarksburyRoad, one ofBristol’s newprimaryschools.Planning isnow steppingup to ensuredemand canbe met whenthe new pupilshit secondaryschool age

� Colston’s Girls’ School added capacityinto the system when it changed from anindependent to a state school


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Schools couldexpand to meetsoaring demand

BR I S T O L’S primary schoolplaces crisis has been welldocumented over the pastfew years. The surge in thenumber of young children

growing up in the city has forcededucation chiefs to create thousandsof extra places.

Gleaming new schools have beenbuilt and dozens of others have beenthe beneficiaries of multi-millionpound expansion projects.

But what will happen when allthose extra pupils finish at primaryschool and move on to secondary?

That is a problem statisticians inthe city council have been wrestlingwith for several years, with the ex-plosion in numbers of youngsters

coming through the educationalranks meaning action needs to betaken before it is too late.

A glance through a list of Bristolstate secondary school capacities andcurrent pupil numbers reveals thereare plenty of spare places at the mo-ment.

But all that could be about tochang e.

According to the council’s mostrecent strategy document for schoolplaces, the shortfall in Year 7 placescould begin next September in thenorth of the city.

Then from 2019, there could be alack of places city-wide.

Expanding existing secondary pro-vision appears to be the favouredoption, with the construction of newschools less likely.

But what has fuelled the boom?The soaring birth rate which began

seven years ago has been the maindriver, but there has also been a rise

in the standards at Bristol’s stateschools which has given parentsmore confidence in their localprimaries and secondaries.

There is a feel-good factor sur-rounding Bristol schools which hasseen parents look to the city ratherthan choose schools outside the city’s

2013/14 PUPIL POPULATION IN BRISTOL ’SSTATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS (CAPACITY)

boundaries or opt to educate theirchildren privately.

But the uncertainty over where theextra secondary places will be cre-ated may be a source of anxiety formums and dads who are trying tomake long-term plans for their chil-d re n’s education.

� Ashton Park School 1,181 (1,330)� Bedminster Down School 765 (1,090)� Bridge Learning Campus 1,058 (1,365)� Bristol Brunel Academy 1,071 (1,080)� Bristol Cathedral Choir School 736(680)� Bristol Free School 393 (750)� Bristol Metropolitan Academy 707(945)� The City Academy 908 (1,250)� Colston’s Girls’ School 736 (720)� Cotham School 1,394 (1,480)� Fairfield High School 614 (1,080)� Henbury School 624 (945)

� M e rc h a n t s ’ Academy 1,032 (1,120)� Oasis Academy Brightstowe 604(945)� Oasis Academy Brislington 1,196(1,448)� Oasis Academy John Williams 724(1,080)� Orchard School Bristol 655 (925)� Redland Green School 1,358 (1,414)� St Bede’s Catholic College 948 (876)� St Bernadette Catholic SecondarySchool 725 (750)� St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School1,581 (1,530)

According to the Department forEducation, the number of pupilsattending England’s secondaryschools is set to rise by 20 per centover the course of the next decade – arise of more than half a million chil-d re n .

Although there has been a drop in

secondary school numbers since2005, figures are expected to climbnext year as a result of increases inthe birth rate since 2002.

In Bristol, enough extra spaces(839) to fill a new secondary schoolcould be needed by 2021, according tothe council’s School Organisation

Strategy released in 2013.A new strategy outlining the coun-

cil’s plans – based on the latestprojected pupil numbers – is due to bereleased in the early autumn.

At a recent meeting of the Bish-opston Forum, Ian Bell, the council’splacement planning manager, said

the demand for extra places in theBS6 and BS7 postcodes would be metby expanding existing secondarys ch o o l s.

But a different approach might betaken in other areas of the city whereschools cannot be expanded.

Planning has been made more com-

plicated by the emergence of theGover nment’s free school pro-gramme, which allows groups ofteachers or parents to set up theirown schools in locations which arenot necessarily favoured by the citycouncil.

A city council spokeswoman said:“Bristol is an increasingly popularplace to live and more parents thanever are choosing to send theirchildren to schools in the city, sot h e re ’s naturally more pressure onp l a c e s.

“The proportion of good and out-standing schools is well above thecurrent national average.

“The council has been workingvery hard to develop provision tomeet demand and ensure there areenough spaces for everyone in yearsto come.

“In 2014/15 alone, BristolCity Council has created nearly3,000 additional primary schoolp l a c e s.

“Our predictions show a steady in-crease in demand for secondaryplaces across the city from Septem-ber 2017, which will be met withincreased provision over the comingfew years.

“Our approach to increasing pro-vision of primary places has workedwell and we’re currently developing anew integrated strategy which looksat the whole education picture inBristol to ensure future educationprovision is of high quality for allyoung people, whatever their age andwhere they live.”

In Bristol, enough extraspaces (839) to fill a newsecondary school couldbe needed by 2021.”

“

� PupilsatRedlandG re e nschool,which isclose tocapacity

� Developershand over thekeys toMarksburyRoad, one ofBristol’s newprimaryschools.Planning isnow steppingup to ensuredemand canbe met whenthe new pupilshit secondaryschool age

� Colston’s Girls’ School added capacityinto the system when it changed from anindependent to a state school


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The start of the academic year is a time when new students,and staff alike, are welcomed with open arms. But as freshtalent joins, schools have to say goodbye to much-lovedemployees who have led the classroom with excellence. Hereare some long-serving teachers and heads who retired duringthe 2014-15 academic year after several decades’ service.

ICT & computing.Phil held several responsibilities

during his time at the academy, in-cluding 20 years in pastoral rolessuch as deputy and head of year.From 1986 until 2001 Phil also headedup a successful Adult and Com-

munity Education Centre at theschool where some 1,200 stu-

dents a year would studycourses including flowerarranging. He relent-lessly gave his time andsupport to the academyand will now pursue his

fondness of DIY projects,running, hill walking and

t r ave l l i n g .He will now devote more

time to his two daughters and theirfamilies, especially his youngerdaughter and family in Australia. Hesaid: “I take away many fond memor-

ies of the school, of all the excellentstudents I have had the pleasure toteach and the wonderful colleagues Ihave the privilege to work alongsidewhich has made this a great schooland an amazing experience and ca-re e r. ”

David Turrell, SirBernard Lovell School

HEAD teacher David Turrell retiredafter two decades at the helm of TheSir Bernard Lovell School (SBL) in

Oldland Common.When he arrived at the large com-

prehensive school as deputy head in1993, John Major was Prime Ministerand South Gloucestershire Councildid not yet exist.

Two years later, in April 1995, Mr

Phil Wightman,Wi n te r b o u r n eInternational Academy

PHIL Wightman completed 42years at Winterbourne In-ternational Academy,formerly known asThe Ridings High

School. Having joined inthe early 1970s, he hasserved under five differ-ent head teachers. At thebeginning of his career hetaught metalwork, engin-eering drawing, motorvehicle engineering andbuilding, and sport.Throughout the years Phil developedhis own skills and knowledge as tech-nology developed and most recentlytaught engineering, product design,

IT’S BEEN A PRIVILEGE: LONG-SERVING TEACHERS SAY A SAD FAREWELLTurrell became head, meaning heserved under ten education secret-aries. Among his most recent stu-dents are many whose parents wereat SBL in his early days there.

The school achieved many notablesuccesses under his leadership, lead-ing the way in internationalism andvocational education.

Mr Turrell chaired the KingswoodPartnership, in which schools in thearea worked together to offer a broadrange of qualification options for stu-d e n t s.

Speaking before he left his post, hesaid: “It is a great community. Staff,parents and governors are hugelysuppor tive.

“I am delighted, after a difficultyear last year, that results are on theirway back up. Being a head teacher isa wonderful job and it has been anenormous privilege to be head.”

Stephen Browne, TheRed Maids’ SchoolSTEPHEN Browne, director of musicat The Red Maids’ School, retiredafter 36 years.

He graduated from the RoyalAcademy of Music with a first class

honours degree, majoring on pianoplaying, and took over the post ofdirector of music in 1979.

In addition to running a busymusic department, Stephen per-formed widely as a pianist, conductorand choir trainer in and around the

Bristol area.Isabel Tobias, the school’s head-

mistress, said: “There is no doubtthat over the last 36 years he has bothenthused and entertained many stu-dents, encouraging in them a lifelonglove of music.

“We could not have wished for amore modest or more talented dir-ector of music and on behalf of all hiscolleagues, I can honestly say it hasbeen a privilege to work alongsidehim.” In his retirement, Stephenplans to spend time doing interna-tional examining, furthering hispiano playing and pursuing two of hispassions – cooking and fly fishing.

Liz White, St Bede’sCatholic CollegeTHE vice principal of St Bede’s Cath-olic College retired after four decadesof devoted service. Liz White, bornand bred in Bristol, started her firstteaching job at St Bede’s in Septem-ber 1974.

In the intervening 40 years she washead of house, head of careers edu-cation and acting head for a year.

She has taught thousands of pupilsincluding four current members ofstaff, several parents of her most re-cent pupils and two current primaryschool heads in the area – C a ro l i n eHostein of St Francis in Nailsea andDawn Breeze of Holy Family in Patch-w ay.

Mrs White, who was appointeddeputy head teacher 24 years ago,

said as she stepped down: “My par-ents instilled in me the importance ofeducation and I had such a greatexperience during my time in schoolthat I always wanted to be a teacher.

“I wasn’t planning on staying at StBede’s for long, but God had otherplans. I’ve had a fantastic time hereand as well as being able to teach myfavourite subject, I’ve had the priv-ilege of performing a pastoral role,helping pupils with various issuesover the years, to find their way.”

Rob Evans,Wi n te r b o u r n eInternational AcademyAMONG his legacies were a new£19-million building, record-break-ing results and a clutch of sportingstars. Rob Evans retired in the sum-mer after 33 years at WinterbourneInternational Academy.

The academy’s principal bowed outat the end of the 2014-15 academicyear having spent more than threedecades at the academy and its pre-decessor The Ridings High School,with the last six years as head.

The school, which caters for stu-dents aged 11 to 19, was the firsteducational establishment in SouthGloucestershire to break the barrierof 80 per cent of students achievingfive A* to C grades at GCSE includingEnglish and maths.

Earlier this year he told the BristolPo s t : “I would like to personallythank the skilled and dedicated staffthat I have had the honour of workingwith. The support and commitmentof parents/carers has always beenmuch appreciated and remains a keyfactor behind our success.

“However, without doubt what hasmade the last 33 years very special forme has been the students. Our tal-ented, hardworking and enthusiasticstudents make Winterbourne Inter-national Academy the academy thatit is today.”

The married father-of-two andWelsh rugby fan now plans to travelbefore coaching rugby and workingwith disadvantaged children.

� Stephen Browne on his retirement from Red Maids’

Rob Evans

Without doubt what has made the last 33 years very specialfor me has been the students. Our talented, hardworking andenthusiastic students make Winterbourne InternationalAcademy the academy that it is today.

“

� DavidTu r re l lretires fromSir BernardLovellSchool

See our school in action

OPEN MORNINGS

Monday 28th September11.15am -12.45pm

Tuesday 29th September11.15am -12.45pm

A warm invitation to to join us for

Open EveningThursday 24th September 2015 6pm-8.30pm

Tours 6pm -7.45pm ~ Headteacher’s Speech 8pm

ASHTON PARK SCHOOL

Tel: 0117 3772742Email: [email protected]: www.ashtonpark.net/sixth-form

Don’t miss out…come and see us!

ASHTON PARK SIXTH FORM

Exciting Range of New CoursesAmazing Facilities | High Level Care

Unique Employment ProgrammeCharacter Building Activities and

Opportunities

With you everystep of the way

Introductory Speech 6.30 - 7.00pmTours of Sixth Form Centre 7.00pm

OpenEvening

Thursday 8th October 20156.30pm - 8.30pm

Open Day/EveningsWednesday 23rd September 5.00pm - 8.30pm

Head’s Talk 5.00pm - Tours of School 5.30pm


Thursday 1st October 9.15am - 10.45am

Wednesday 7th October 9.15am - 10.45am

A Successful Learning Community

We serve families across South & East Bristol and

welcome all those seeking a quality educaton

within a caring Christan environment.

• Academic Success

• High Expectatons

• Inclusive Ethos

• Good Behaviour

• Traditonal Values

• Strong Pastoral Care

Fossedale Avenue, Whitchurch, Bristol, BS14 9LS

Tel: 0117 377 2050 www.stberns.bristol.sch.uk

• Good Behaviour

©LW

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The start of the academic year is a time when new students,and staff alike, are welcomed with open arms. But as freshtalent joins, schools have to say goodbye to much-lovedemployees who have led the classroom with excellence. Hereare some long-serving teachers and heads who retired duringthe 2014-15 academic year after several decades’ service.

ICT & computing.Phil held several responsibilities

during his time at the academy, in-cluding 20 years in pastoral rolessuch as deputy and head of year.From 1986 until 2001 Phil also headedup a successful Adult and Com-

munity Education Centre at theschool where some 1,200 stu-

dents a year would studycourses including flowerarranging. He relent-lessly gave his time andsupport to the academyand will now pursue his

fondness of DIY projects,running, hill walking and

t r ave l l i n g .He will now devote more

time to his two daughters and theirfamilies, especially his youngerdaughter and family in Australia. Hesaid: “I take away many fond memor-

ies of the school, of all the excellentstudents I have had the pleasure toteach and the wonderful colleagues Ihave the privilege to work alongsidewhich has made this a great schooland an amazing experience and ca-re e r. ”

David Turrell, SirBernard Lovell School

HEAD teacher David Turrell retiredafter two decades at the helm of TheSir Bernard Lovell School (SBL) in

Oldland Common.When he arrived at the large com-

prehensive school as deputy head in1993, John Major was Prime Ministerand South Gloucestershire Councildid not yet exist.

Two years later, in April 1995, Mr

Phil Wightman,Wi n te r b o u r n eInternational Academy

PHIL Wightman completed 42years at Winterbourne In-ternational Academy,formerly known asThe Ridings High

School. Having joined inthe early 1970s, he hasserved under five differ-ent head teachers. At thebeginning of his career hetaught metalwork, engin-eering drawing, motorvehicle engineering andbuilding, and sport.Throughout the years Phil developedhis own skills and knowledge as tech-nology developed and most recentlytaught engineering, product design,

IT’S BEEN A PRIVILEGE: LONG-SERVING TEACHERS SAY A SAD FAREWELLTurrell became head, meaning heserved under ten education secret-aries. Among his most recent stu-dents are many whose parents wereat SBL in his early days there.

The school achieved many notablesuccesses under his leadership, lead-ing the way in internationalism andvocational education.

Mr Turrell chaired the KingswoodPartnership, in which schools in thearea worked together to offer a broadrange of qualification options for stu-d e n t s.

Speaking before he left his post, hesaid: “It is a great community. Staff,parents and governors are hugelysuppor tive.

“I am delighted, after a difficultyear last year, that results are on theirway back up. Being a head teacher isa wonderful job and it has been anenormous privilege to be head.”

Stephen Browne, TheRed Maids’ SchoolSTEPHEN Browne, director of musicat The Red Maids’ School, retiredafter 36 years.

He graduated from the RoyalAcademy of Music with a first class

honours degree, majoring on pianoplaying, and took over the post ofdirector of music in 1979.

In addition to running a busymusic department, Stephen per-formed widely as a pianist, conductorand choir trainer in and around the

Bristol area.Isabel Tobias, the school’s head-

mistress, said: “There is no doubtthat over the last 36 years he has bothenthused and entertained many stu-dents, encouraging in them a lifelonglove of music.

“We could not have wished for amore modest or more talented dir-ector of music and on behalf of all hiscolleagues, I can honestly say it hasbeen a privilege to work alongsidehim.” In his retirement, Stephenplans to spend time doing interna-tional examining, furthering hispiano playing and pursuing two of hispassions – cooking and fly fishing.

Liz White, St Bede’sCatholic CollegeTHE vice principal of St Bede’s Cath-olic College retired after four decadesof devoted service. Liz White, bornand bred in Bristol, started her firstteaching job at St Bede’s in Septem-ber 1974.

In the intervening 40 years she washead of house, head of careers edu-cation and acting head for a year.

She has taught thousands of pupilsincluding four current members ofstaff, several parents of her most re-cent pupils and two current primaryschool heads in the area – C a ro l i n eHostein of St Francis in Nailsea andDawn Breeze of Holy Family in Patch-w ay.

Mrs White, who was appointeddeputy head teacher 24 years ago,

said as she stepped down: “My par-ents instilled in me the importance ofeducation and I had such a greatexperience during my time in schoolthat I always wanted to be a teacher.

“I wasn’t planning on staying at StBede’s for long, but God had otherplans. I’ve had a fantastic time hereand as well as being able to teach myfavourite subject, I’ve had the priv-ilege of performing a pastoral role,helping pupils with various issuesover the years, to find their way.”

Rob Evans,Wi n te r b o u r n eInternational AcademyAMONG his legacies were a new£19-million building, record-break-ing results and a clutch of sportingstars. Rob Evans retired in the sum-mer after 33 years at WinterbourneInternational Academy.

The academy’s principal bowed outat the end of the 2014-15 academicyear having spent more than threedecades at the academy and its pre-decessor The Ridings High School,with the last six years as head.

The school, which caters for stu-dents aged 11 to 19, was the firsteducational establishment in SouthGloucestershire to break the barrierof 80 per cent of students achievingfive A* to C grades at GCSE includingEnglish and maths.

Earlier this year he told the BristolPo s t : “I would like to personallythank the skilled and dedicated staffthat I have had the honour of workingwith. The support and commitmentof parents/carers has always beenmuch appreciated and remains a keyfactor behind our success.

“However, without doubt what hasmade the last 33 years very special forme has been the students. Our tal-ented, hardworking and enthusiasticstudents make Winterbourne Inter-national Academy the academy thatit is today.”

The married father-of-two andWelsh rugby fan now plans to travelbefore coaching rugby and workingwith disadvantaged children.

� Stephen Browne on his retirement from Red Maids’

Rob Evans

Without doubt what has made the last 33 years very specialfor me has been the students. Our talented, hardworking andenthusiastic students make Winterbourne InternationalAcademy the academy that it is today.

“

� DavidTu r re l lretires fromSir BernardLovellSchool

See our school in action

OPEN MORNINGS

Monday 28th September11.15am -12.45pm

Tuesday 29th September11.15am -12.45pm

A warm invitation to to join us for

Open EveningThursday 24th September 2015 6pm-8.30pm

Tours 6pm -7.45pm ~ Headteacher’s Speech 8pm

ASHTON PARK SCHOOL

Tel: 0117 3772742Email: [email protected]: www.ashtonpark.net/sixth-form

Don’t miss out…come and see us!

ASHTON PARK SIXTH FORM

Exciting Range of New CoursesAmazing Facilities | High Level Care

Unique Employment ProgrammeCharacter Building Activities and

Opportunities

With you everystep of the way

Introductory Speech 6.30 - 7.00pmTours of Sixth Form Centre 7.00pm

OpenEvening

Thursday 8th October 20156.30pm - 8.30pm

Open Day/EveningsWednesday 23rd September 5.00pm - 8.30pm



Thursday 1st October 9.15am - 10.45am

Wednesday 7th October 9.15am - 10.45am

A Successful Learning Community

We serve families across South & East Bristol and

welcome all those seeking a quality educaton

within a caring Christan environment.

• Academic Success

• High Expectatons

• Inclusive Ethos

• Good Behaviour

• Traditonal Values

• Strong Pastoral Care

Fossedale Avenue, Whitchurch, Bristol, BS14 9LS

Tel: 0117 377 2050 www.stberns.bristol.sch.uk

• Good Behaviour©LW

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Chris Sammons, St Katherine’s School, Ham Green

We are a thrivingschool in a beautifullocation that really can’tbe beaten. There is nodoubt that the childrenbenefit from the sense ofspace and tranquilitythey feel through beingaway from the bustle ofthe city.”

“

FOR the past ten years edu-cation in Bristol has been im-proving and there’s a hugerange of opportunities tolearn and study.

The city’s schools are thriving with87% of primary and secondaryschools rated as ‘good’ or ‘outstand-ing by OFSTED, and behaviour at anall-time high.

This year exam results were verypositive with GCSE results remain-ing steady despite considerablechanges to the GCSE system nation-ally. The majority of schools saw anincrease in students getting five ormore A* to C grades, excluding Eng-lish and maths. This figure stands at63% compared to 62% last year.

The aspiration is to see even morestudents succeed and there is a strongambition to improve education out-comes even further.

Bristol: Learning City is one waythat this ambition will become a real-ity. Learning City brings together the

city’s leaders, both in education andbusiness, to collectively raise edu-cational achievement. The partner-ship recognises that learning is thekey to Bristol’s success and will en-sure that everyone in the city hasaccess to learning opportunitieswhatever their age and whereverthey live – and a good formal edu-cation is a key part of this.

Bristol is becoming an ever morepopular place to live and the councilhas been planning ahead and invest-ing to ensure it can provide enoughplaces for everyone. In 2014 / 2015almost 3,000 new primary schoolplaces have been created with thecouncil working in partnership tobuild new schools, and expand ex-isting ones.

Open days are planned at schoolsacross the city to enable parents tosee for themselves the facilities inBristol and ask any questions theymay have. Each school produces itsown prospectus and has its own web-

site so parents are encouraged to takea look at these resources before mak-ing a decision.

Paul Jacobs, Service Director forEducation and Skills, said: “T heLearning City partnership is veryexciting and will continue to driveforward educational achievement inBristol. Schools have been on an up-ward trajectory for the past decadeand are now more popular than ever –and we’re working hard with ourschool leaders to ensure this successc o n t i nu e s.

“T here’s a wide variety of schoolsin Bristol, so when choosing a schoolwe ’re advising parents to considerhow a particular school would suittheir child. Parents are asked to se-

lect their top three choices, and wewould advise people to apply for aschool nearby as one of their choices.Admissions policies do vary betweenschools, so it’s important to check thedetails carefully as additional in-formation is sometimes required.”

The deadline for secondary schoolapplications is October 31, 2015, andJanuary 15, 2016, for primarys ch o o l s.

� To get in touch with the schoolsadmissions team, [email protected] orcall 0117 903 7694.

Upward trendC i ty ’s schoolsare thriving

Learning City bringstogether the city’s leaders,both in education andbusiness, to collectivelyraise educationalachievement.”

“

� Students at Oasis Academy Brightstowe celebrate their GCSE results

CHRIS Sammons joined StK at h e r i n e ’s School inSeptember 2012 and, sincehis appointment, the schoolhas followed an exciting

path, with improving results inGCSE, A-level, BTEC and chef ap-p re n t i c e s h i p s.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my ini-tial years at St Katherine’s, ” said MrS a m m o n s.

“We are a thriving school in a beau-tiful location that really can’t bebeaten. There is no doubt that thechildren benefit from the sense ofspace and tranquility they feelthrough being away from the bustle ofthe city.

“I feel extremely lucky to be sup-ported by immensely talented staffacross all areas of the school. Theteaching staff at St Katherine’s con-tinue to astound me with their bound-less energy and enthusiasm, they areexcellent role models for the studentsand convey the importance oflife-long learning.

“I am proud to say that this yearour GCSE and A-level results havecontinued to improve, which is test-ament to the students who have, inmany cases, pushed themselves to

beat their individual targets.“Attendance and pastoral care are

two areas that I believe are extremelyimportant, for they hold the key tomaking strong progress in learning.

“At St Katherine’s we have an ex-tremely positive atmosphere and cel-ebrate achievement in its manyforms; we believe this helps all of ourstudents to feel that they are valuedmembers of our school community.

“Students flourish at St Kather-ine’s because of our approach, ourcommitment and our love of learn-ing. My ongoing aim is to ensure thatour school continues to provide a safeand engaging environment, wherestudents are inspired to achieve ex-cellent results while learning the val-ues and social skills that will sustainthem for the rest of their lives.”

The open evening is on Wednesday,September 16, from 6pm to 9pm.

Individual tours are also availableby appointment by calling 01275373737. For more information, visitw w w. s t k a t h s. o rg. u k

Rebecca Clark and Peter Knight, Oasis Academy Brislington

TWO HEADS are better thanone at Oasis Academy Bris-lington, where ExecutivePrincipal Rebecca Clark andInterim Principal Peter

Knight are aiming to take the largesouth Bristol secondary on to evengreater success.

The academy has made significantprogress since it joined the Oasisfamily of schools in February andeveryone was delighted that theGCSE results in August were up eightpercentage points on the predecessorschool, with 52 per cent of studentsgetting at least five A*-C grades,including English and maths. MissClark, Mr Knight and their staff a redetermined that Brislington’s firstfull year as an Oasis academy will beanother record-breaker.

Miss Clark, the RegionalAcademies Director for Oasis, over-sees more than 3,500 children andyoung people in three secondary andfive primary academies in Bristol, aswell as being responsible for two sec-ondary academies in Southampton.

She is continuing throughout2015-16 as Executive Principal atOasis Academy Brislington to sup-port Mr Knight in continuing to raisestandards for all students.

Miss Clark came to Bristol in 2008when the former Hengrove Schoolbecame an Oasis academy. She wasVice Principal before becoming Prin-cipal and later Executive Principal atOasis Academy John Williams.

Mr Knight has moved from theprimary Oasis Academy Bank Leaze,in Lawrence Weston, to the role at

Brislington. He has worked in a num-ber of primary and secondary schoolsin Bristol and elsewhere, includingOasis academies in Birmingham andSouthampton.

“Having recent primary experi-ence, as well as having school-agedchildren, means I can understand theconcerns of parents as their sons anddaughters move on to secondarys ch o o l , ” he said.

“I look forward to meeting manymembers of the Brislington com-munity at our open events thister m.

“We have the highest expectationsfor all our students. Our motto isexcellence as standard.”

Oasis Academy Brislington’s openevening is on Thursday, September24, from 5.30pm to 8pm.

VICTORIA Boomer has beenpart of the OAJW com-munity for the past sevenyears, initially as vice prin-cipal and now in her third

year as principal.She says: “I am exceptionally proud

of our academy, our students and ourstaff team. Visitors often comment onthe calm and purposeful environ-ment and the ethos of care they feelwhen in the academy, which, in com-bination with our strong exam res-ults, makes us the school of choice forso many.

“Since 2008, we have realised manyimprovements and, put simply, weremain restless to become the out-standing school our community de-

serves. I am passionate aboutproviding an exceptional educationfor all young people, which success-fully achieves the balance betweengreat exam results and nurturing thedevelopment of character, so that allare equipped with the skills to thrivein learning and life.

“I am acutely aware that the yearsyour child spends at OAJW will shapethe rest of their lives; a responsibilityI do not take lightly.

“Every day, we strive to be the bestthat we can be. The basic expect-ations of staff and students alike aresummed up by our straightforwardmantra of ‘Work hard, look smart, benice’.

“We try to keep things as simple as

possible and communicate openlyand honestly with parents and carers.We do not always get it right, butthrough constant reflection, reviewand feedback, we work tirelessly tocontinually improve the service weprovide so that our young people lovelearning, establish great friendships,grow in confidence and, importantly,are happy at school.

“OAJW truly is an inspirationaland fun place to learn and work.”

To meet pupils and staff and ex-perience the atmosphere, attend theopen evening on Wednesday, Septem-ber 30, or an open morning onMonday, October 5, or Thursday, Oc-tober 8. For details, visit w w w. o a s -isacadem yjohnwilliams.org.

Victoria Boomer, Oasis Academy John Williams

Apply for a secondary schoolplace for the school year 2016–2017If your childwas born between 1 September 2004and 31 August 2005 you need to applyfor a school place by 31October 2015.

Applying online is easy andavailable 24 hours a day.You’ll receive immediate confirmation that yourapplication has been received and there’s no riskof your application getting lost in the post. You’llalso know by email as soon as the results are out.

To complete a paperapplication contactSchool Admissions: Bristol City Council,School Admissions (Romney House),PO Box 3176, Bristol, BS3 9FSe [email protected] 0117 903 7694

REMEM

BER THEDEADLINEAPPLY ONLINE

31October2015

www.bristol.gov.uk/schooladmissions

BD6980

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Chris Sammons, St Katherine’s School, Ham Green

We are a thrivingschool in a beautifullocation that really can’tbe beaten. There is nodoubt that the childrenbenefit from the sense ofspace and tranquilitythey feel through beingaway from the bustle ofthe city.”

“

FOR the past ten years edu-cation in Bristol has been im-proving and there’s a hugerange of opportunities tolearn and study.

The city’s schools are thriving with87% of primary and secondaryschools rated as ‘good’ or ‘outstand-ing by OFSTED, and behaviour at anall-time high.

This year exam results were verypositive with GCSE results remain-ing steady despite considerablechanges to the GCSE system nation-ally. The majority of schools saw anincrease in students getting five ormore A* to C grades, excluding Eng-lish and maths. This figure stands at63% compared to 62% last year.

The aspiration is to see even morestudents succeed and there is a strongambition to improve education out-comes even further.

Bristol: Learning City is one waythat this ambition will become a real-ity. Learning City brings together the

city’s leaders, both in education andbusiness, to collectively raise edu-cational achievement. The partner-ship recognises that learning is thekey to Bristol’s success and will en-sure that everyone in the city hasaccess to learning opportunitieswhatever their age and whereverthey live – and a good formal edu-cation is a key part of this.

Bristol is becoming an ever morepopular place to live and the councilhas been planning ahead and invest-ing to ensure it can provide enoughplaces for everyone. In 2014 / 2015almost 3,000 new primary schoolplaces have been created with thecouncil working in partnership tobuild new schools, and expand ex-isting ones.

Open days are planned at schoolsacross the city to enable parents tosee for themselves the facilities inBristol and ask any questions theymay have. Each school produces itsown prospectus and has its own web-

site so parents are encouraged to takea look at these resources before mak-ing a decision.

Paul Jacobs, Service Director forEducation and Skills, said: “T heLearning City partnership is veryexciting and will continue to driveforward educational achievement inBristol. Schools have been on an up-ward trajectory for the past decadeand are now more popular than ever –and we’re working hard with ourschool leaders to ensure this successc o n t i nu e s.

“T here’s a wide variety of schoolsin Bristol, so when choosing a schoolwe ’re advising parents to considerhow a particular school would suittheir child. Parents are asked to se-

lect their top three choices, and wewould advise people to apply for aschool nearby as one of their choices.Admissions policies do vary betweenschools, so it’s important to check thedetails carefully as additional in-formation is sometimes required.”

The deadline for secondary schoolapplications is October 31, 2015, andJanuary 15, 2016, for primarys ch o o l s.

� To get in touch with the schoolsadmissions team, [email protected] orcall 0117 903 7694.

Upward trendC i ty ’s schoolsare thriving

Learning City bringstogether the city’s leaders,both in education andbusiness, to collectivelyraise educationalachievement.”

“

� Students at Oasis Academy Brightstowe celebrate their GCSE results

CHRIS Sammons joined StK at h e r i n e ’s School inSeptember 2012 and, sincehis appointment, the schoolhas followed an exciting

path, with improving results inGCSE, A-level, BTEC and chef ap-p re n t i c e s h i p s.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my ini-tial years at St Katherine’s, ” said MrS a m m o n s.

“We are a thriving school in a beau-tiful location that really can’t bebeaten. There is no doubt that thechildren benefit from the sense ofspace and tranquility they feelthrough being away from the bustle ofthe city.

“I feel extremely lucky to be sup-ported by immensely talented staffacross all areas of the school. Theteaching staff at St Katherine’s con-tinue to astound me with their bound-less energy and enthusiasm, they areexcellent role models for the studentsand convey the importance oflife-long learning.

“I am proud to say that this yearour GCSE and A-level results havecontinued to improve, which is test-ament to the students who have, inmany cases, pushed themselves to

beat their individual targets.“Attendance and pastoral care are

two areas that I believe are extremelyimportant, for they hold the key tomaking strong progress in learning.

“At St Katherine’s we have an ex-tremely positive atmosphere and cel-ebrate achievement in its manyforms; we believe this helps all of ourstudents to feel that they are valuedmembers of our school community.

“Students flourish at St Kather-ine’s because of our approach, ourcommitment and our love of learn-ing. My ongoing aim is to ensure thatour school continues to provide a safeand engaging environment, wherestudents are inspired to achieve ex-cellent results while learning the val-ues and social skills that will sustainthem for the rest of their lives.”

The open evening is on Wednesday,September 16, from 6pm to 9pm.

Individual tours are also availableby appointment by calling 01275373737. For more information, visitw w w. s t k a t h s. o rg. u k

Rebecca Clark and Peter Knight, Oasis Academy Brislington

TWO HEADS are better thanone at Oasis Academy Bris-lington, where ExecutivePrincipal Rebecca Clark andInterim Principal Peter

Knight are aiming to take the largesouth Bristol secondary on to evengreater success.

The academy has made significantprogress since it joined the Oasisfamily of schools in February andeveryone was delighted that theGCSE results in August were up eightpercentage points on the predecessorschool, with 52 per cent of studentsgetting at least five A*-C grades,including English and maths. MissClark, Mr Knight and their staff a redetermined that Brislington’s firstfull year as an Oasis academy will beanother record-breaker.

Miss Clark, the RegionalAcademies Director for Oasis, over-sees more than 3,500 children andyoung people in three secondary andfive primary academies in Bristol, aswell as being responsible for two sec-ondary academies in Southampton.

She is continuing throughout2015-16 as Executive Principal atOasis Academy Brislington to sup-port Mr Knight in continuing to raisestandards for all students.

Miss Clark came to Bristol in 2008when the former Hengrove Schoolbecame an Oasis academy. She wasVice Principal before becoming Prin-cipal and later Executive Principal atOasis Academy John Williams.

Mr Knight has moved from theprimary Oasis Academy Bank Leaze,in Lawrence Weston, to the role at

Brislington. He has worked in a num-ber of primary and secondary schoolsin Bristol and elsewhere, includingOasis academies in Birmingham andSouthampton.

“Having recent primary experi-ence, as well as having school-agedchildren, means I can understand theconcerns of parents as their sons anddaughters move on to secondarys ch o o l , ” he said.

“I look forward to meeting manymembers of the Brislington com-munity at our open events thister m.

“We have the highest expectationsfor all our students. Our motto isexcellence as standard.”

Oasis Academy Brislington’s openevening is on Thursday, September24, from 5.30pm to 8pm.

VICTORIA Boomer has beenpart of the OAJW com-munity for the past sevenyears, initially as vice prin-cipal and now in her third

year as principal.She says: “I am exceptionally proud

of our academy, our students and ourstaff team. Visitors often comment onthe calm and purposeful environ-ment and the ethos of care they feelwhen in the academy, which, in com-bination with our strong exam res-ults, makes us the school of choice forso many.

“Since 2008, we have realised manyimprovements and, put simply, weremain restless to become the out-standing school our community de-

serves. I am passionate aboutproviding an exceptional educationfor all young people, which success-fully achieves the balance betweengreat exam results and nurturing thedevelopment of character, so that allare equipped with the skills to thrivein learning and life.

“I am acutely aware that the yearsyour child spends at OAJW will shapethe rest of their lives; a responsibilityI do not take lightly.

“Every day, we strive to be the bestthat we can be. The basic expect-ations of staff and students alike aresummed up by our straightforwardmantra of ‘Work hard, look smart, benice’.

“We try to keep things as simple as

possible and communicate openlyand honestly with parents and carers.We do not always get it right, butthrough constant reflection, reviewand feedback, we work tirelessly tocontinually improve the service weprovide so that our young people lovelearning, establish great friendships,grow in confidence and, importantly,are happy at school.

“OAJW truly is an inspirationaland fun place to learn and work.”

To meet pupils and staff and ex-perience the atmosphere, attend theopen evening on Wednesday, Septem-ber 30, or an open morning onMonday, October 5, or Thursday, Oc-tober 8. For details, visit w w w. o a s -isacadem yjohnwilliams.org.

Victoria Boomer, Oasis Academy John Williams

Apply for a secondary schoolplace for the school year 2016–2017If your childwas born between 1 September 2004and 31 August 2005 you need to applyfor a school place by 31October 2015.

Applying online is easy andavailable 24 hours a day.You’ll receive immediate confirmation that yourapplication has been received and there’s no riskof your application getting lost in the post. You’llalso know by email as soon as the results are out.

To complete a paperapplication contactSchool Admissions: Bristol City Council,School Admissions (Romney House),PO Box 3176, Bristol, BS3 9FSe [email protected] 0117 903 7694

REMEM

BER THEDEADLINEAPPLY ONLINE

31October2015

www.bristol.gov.uk/schooladmissions

BD6980

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Matt Butler, Oasis Academy Brightstowe

NOTHING in my working lifecan compare with the ex-citement and pleasure ofseeing 180 excited and chat-tering children arriving at

Oasis Academy Brightstowe lastMonday morning to begin their timewith us.

“Our Year 7 is now full, and as afamily man myself I am driven by theambition that every single child whowalks through these doors shouldstand as an equal to children any-wh e re.

“We have invested hugely in ourteaching staff to provide just thisopportunity. Over the course of thenext five years, and hopefully longerif our planned sixth form opens by2020, our students will share a won-derful educational and social exper-ience at Brightstowe.

“When I was a regional directorwith British Airways in South-EastAsia, working in Singapore and HongKong, I had no idea how life-changingmy impending career change wouldb e.

“The decision, taken after long de-liberation, was to teach instead. So Ireturned to the UK, enlisted with the‘Future Leaders’ scheme, learned thecraft at inner city comprehensives inLondon and was appointed Principalat Brightstowe five years ago.

“It’s the best job in the world, madeeven better by the fact my wifeJoanna teaches at Little Mead

Primary Academy in Southmead andmy sons Oscar, seven, and Jasper,five, are thriving at their localp r i m a r y.

“In addition to Brightstowe I amExecutive Principal of Oasis LongCross and Oasis Bank Leaze, the twoprimary academies in the OasisNorth Bristol Hub.

“Levels of attainment at each arerising significantly – in fact, theSATS results for children completingKey Stage 2 at Long Cross have vir-tually doubled to 94 per cent in twoye a r s.

“But the other great achievementthrough our hub is to put Bright-stowe, Long Cross and Bank Leaze atthe centre of community life. It’s notmany weeks since Oasis, working

Our Year 7 is now full,and as a family manmyself I am driven by theambition that every singlechild who walks throughthese doors should standas an equal to childrena n y w h e re . ”

“

William Roberts, Downend School

DOWNEND School is an ex-citing and vibrant learningcommunity where everyyoung person is supportedto achieve their very best.

William Roberts has been the headteacher since 2011. In 2013 he wasjoined by Mark Fuller, who is nowD ow n e n d ’s associate head teacherand oversees the day-to-day runningof the school.

Downend School has seen signi-ficant improvements in GCSE andA-level results over recent years,making the school one of the mostimproved in the area.

The sixth form has achieved thehighest “va l u e - a d d e d ” at A-level of allthe schools in South Gloucestershirefor the last three years running.

Over the last four years, DownendSchool has undergone substantial re-furbishment, with the opening of anew IT hub, inclusion centre andinnovation centre. This summer theschool completely refurbished itsdining hall, library and sixth formc e n t re.

In September 2014, Ofsted recog-nised the strength of DownendSchool, awarding a “good” judg ementin every area inspected. Inspectorsnoted that “teachers have high ex-p e c t at i o n s ” and that “students’ at -titudes to learning are good and theyconduct themselves well around thes ch o o l ”. Inspectors praised “an as-pirational culture throughout thes ch o o l ”.

Downend School’s open evening is

on Thursday, September 17, 5.45-8pm.The school is also holding open morn-ings daily from September 21 to Oc-tober 21 (9-10.30am) when the headteacher and associate head teacherwill personally show parents and stu-dents around the school and answerquestions. Appointments for opendays can be made by contactingSara-Jane Box at Downend School on01454 862300.

The sixth form hasachieved the highest“value-added” at A-levelof all the schools in SouthGloucestershire for thelast three years running.Over the last four years,Downend School hasundergone substantialrefurbishment, with theopening of a new IT hub,inclusion centre andinnovation centre.”

“

� Mark Fuller and William Roberts

David Spence, Mangotsfield School

DAVID Spence started asMangotsfield’s new headteacher this September,joining William Roberts,who has been working at

the school as executive head teachersince April.

Mangotsfield School is committedto ensuring that every studentreaches their full potential. Studentsand staff aspire to excellence in allaspects of school life. The schoolseeks to provide the very best learn-ing experience, so that every studentmakes good progress, regardless oftheir starting point.

Mangotsfield’s curriculum is de-signed to challenge and inspire stu-dents of all interests and abilities.The school aims to provide high qual-ity teaching and learning, exception-al pastoral care and extra-curricularopportunities, which ensure that allyoung people are able to perform attheir very best.

This is an exciting time for Man-gotsfield School. On September 1Mangotsfield become an academy aspart of Castle School Education Trust(CSET). This follows a history ofMangotsfield working closely withCSET and its partner schools, par-ticularly The Castle School andDownend School.

The school community is excitedby the outstanding opportunity thatthis partnership with CSET offers tobuild on past successes and move

ambitiously into the future.Mangotsfield School is holding

open mornings daily from September15 (9am to 10.30am) when the headteacher will personally show parentsand students around the school andanswer questions.

Appointments for open days can bemade by contacting the school on01454 862700.

Mangotsfield’scurriculum is designed tochallenge and inspirestudents of all interestsand abilities. The schoolaims to provide highquality teaching andlearning, exceptionalpastoral care andextra-curricularopportunities.”

“

� David Spence and William Roberts at Mangotsfield

with Ambition Lawrence Weston,successfully revived the LawrenceWeston Carnival.

“The success which we are achiev-ing is down to teaching standards and

a relentless focus both on the basicsand individual needs of each child.

“T hat’s the driving force behind myrole, and I can honestly say that noth-ing I did in business in the past came

anywhere near to the fulfilment andjob satisfaction I now experience asan academy principal.”� For further information, visitw w w. o a s i s a c a d e m y b r i g h t s t o w e . o rg .

Catriona Mangham, Fairfield High School

CATRIONA Mangham hasbeen the head at FairfieldHigh School for six years andhas had the title of Principalsince the school became an

academy earlier this year.Her ambition is for the school to be

rated “outstanding” at its next in-spection – and it is well on theway, having made great strides sinceit was judged by Ofsted to be “good,with outstanding features” in2013.

The school is celebrating recordGCSE results in 2015, with all coresubjects above the national averageon both attainment and achievement,and an amazing value added score of1027.

Fairfield is now oversubscribedand has an extremely diverse intake,with more than 40 flags in the im-pressive atrium representing stu-dents’ n at i o n a l i t i e s.

Ms Mangham is particularlypleased that the inspectors said theschool was the most racially har-monious they had ever visited.

Parents love the community atmo-sphere too, as Mrs Mangham ex-plains: “They say ‘This is not am o n o c u l t u re.

“This is what I want my child toe x p e r i e n c e.

“This is what the outside world isl i ke ’.”

Students of all levels of ability, andthose who arrive speaking little orno English, make exceptional pro-g ress.

Ms Mangham is proud of the broadand balanced curriculum, in whichcreative subjects, languages and hu-manities are very important. “Wehave fantastic staff, who provide theright mix of subjects for our stu-d e n t s, ” she says.

The principal, who came to FHSfrom Wiltshire, believes that the gov-er nors’ decision to join the small butsuccessful Excalibur AcademiesTrust will help the drive towardse xc e l l e n c e.

Excalibur includes the outstandingSt John’s School in Marlborough,which runs the respected Interna-tional Baccalaureate qualificationfor its post-16 students.

Fairfield is aiming to open its ownsixth form, becoming the only schoolin Bristol to offer the new IB careersprogramme, which Ms Manghamfeels will be relevant and beneficialfor her students.

“It is something unique and wehave had great support from localbu s i n e s s e s, ” she said.

Ms Mangham says the link withExcalibur will increase opportunit-ies for staff and students.

She envisages FHS becoming a“think tank school” – and is prac-tising what she preaches, as she hasjust begun a doctorate at BristolUniversity in educational philo-s o p hy.

The FHS open evening is onThursday, September 24, 6pm to 9pm.Visits are welcome, by appointment,at any time.

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Matt Butler, Oasis Academy Brightstowe

NOTHING in my working lifecan compare with the ex-citement and pleasure ofseeing 180 excited and chat-tering children arriving at

Oasis Academy Brightstowe lastMonday morning to begin their timewith us.

“Our Year 7 is now full, and as afamily man myself I am driven by theambition that every single child whowalks through these doors shouldstand as an equal to children any-wh e re.

“We have invested hugely in ourteaching staff to provide just thisopportunity. Over the course of thenext five years, and hopefully longerif our planned sixth form opens by2020, our students will share a won-derful educational and social exper-ience at Brightstowe.

“When I was a regional directorwith British Airways in South-EastAsia, working in Singapore and HongKong, I had no idea how life-changingmy impending career change wouldb e.

“The decision, taken after long de-liberation, was to teach instead. So Ireturned to the UK, enlisted with the‘Future Leaders’ scheme, learned thecraft at inner city comprehensives inLondon and was appointed Principalat Brightstowe five years ago.

“It’s the best job in the world, madeeven better by the fact my wifeJoanna teaches at Little Mead

Primary Academy in Southmead andmy sons Oscar, seven, and Jasper,five, are thriving at their localp r i m a r y.

“In addition to Brightstowe I amExecutive Principal of Oasis LongCross and Oasis Bank Leaze, the twoprimary academies in the OasisNorth Bristol Hub.

“Levels of attainment at each arerising significantly – in fact, theSATS results for children completingKey Stage 2 at Long Cross have vir-tually doubled to 94 per cent in twoye a r s.

“But the other great achievementthrough our hub is to put Bright-stowe, Long Cross and Bank Leaze atthe centre of community life. It’s notmany weeks since Oasis, working

Our Year 7 is now full,and as a family manmyself I am driven by theambition that every singlechild who walks throughthese doors should standas an equal to childrena n y w h e re . ”

“

William Roberts, Downend School

DOWNEND School is an ex-citing and vibrant learningcommunity where everyyoung person is supportedto achieve their very best.

William Roberts has been the headteacher since 2011. In 2013 he wasjoined by Mark Fuller, who is nowD ow n e n d ’s associate head teacherand oversees the day-to-day runningof the school.

Downend School has seen signi-ficant improvements in GCSE andA-level results over recent years,making the school one of the mostimproved in the area.

The sixth form has achieved thehighest “va l u e - a d d e d ” at A-level of allthe schools in South Gloucestershirefor the last three years running.

Over the last four years, DownendSchool has undergone substantial re-furbishment, with the opening of anew IT hub, inclusion centre andinnovation centre. This summer theschool completely refurbished itsdining hall, library and sixth formc e n t re.

In September 2014, Ofsted recog-nised the strength of DownendSchool, awarding a “good” judg ementin every area inspected. Inspectorsnoted that “teachers have high ex-p e c t at i o n s ” and that “students’ at -titudes to learning are good and theyconduct themselves well around thes ch o o l ”. Inspectors praised “an as-pirational culture throughout thes ch o o l ”.

Downend School’s open evening is

on Thursday, September 17, 5.45-8pm.The school is also holding open morn-ings daily from September 21 to Oc-tober 21 (9-10.30am) when the headteacher and associate head teacherwill personally show parents and stu-dents around the school and answerquestions. Appointments for opendays can be made by contactingSara-Jane Box at Downend School on01454 862300.

The sixth form hasachieved the highest“value-added” at A-levelof all the schools in SouthGloucestershire for thelast three years running.Over the last four years,Downend School hasundergone substantialrefurbishment, with theopening of a new IT hub,inclusion centre andinnovation centre.”

“

� Mark Fuller and William Roberts

David Spence, Mangotsfield School

DAVID Spence started asMangotsfield’s new headteacher this September,joining William Roberts,who has been working at

the school as executive head teachersince April.

Mangotsfield School is committedto ensuring that every studentreaches their full potential. Studentsand staff aspire to excellence in allaspects of school life. The schoolseeks to provide the very best learn-ing experience, so that every studentmakes good progress, regardless oftheir starting point.

Mangotsfield’s curriculum is de-signed to challenge and inspire stu-dents of all interests and abilities.The school aims to provide high qual-ity teaching and learning, exception-al pastoral care and extra-curricularopportunities, which ensure that allyoung people are able to perform attheir very best.

This is an exciting time for Man-gotsfield School. On September 1Mangotsfield become an academy aspart of Castle School Education Trust(CSET). This follows a history ofMangotsfield working closely withCSET and its partner schools, par-ticularly The Castle School andDownend School.

The school community is excitedby the outstanding opportunity thatthis partnership with CSET offers tobuild on past successes and move

ambitiously into the future.Mangotsfield School is holding

open mornings daily from September15 (9am to 10.30am) when the headteacher will personally show parentsand students around the school andanswer questions.

Appointments for open days can bemade by contacting the school on01454 862700.

Mangotsfield’scurriculum is designed tochallenge and inspirestudents of all interestsand abilities. The schoolaims to provide highquality teaching andlearning, exceptionalpastoral care andextra-curricularopportunities.”

“

� David Spence and William Roberts at Mangotsfield

with Ambition Lawrence Weston,successfully revived the LawrenceWeston Carnival.

“The success which we are achiev-ing is down to teaching standards and

a relentless focus both on the basicsand individual needs of each child.

“T hat’s the driving force behind myrole, and I can honestly say that noth-ing I did in business in the past came

anywhere near to the fulfilment andjob satisfaction I now experience asan academy principal.”� For further information, visitw w w. o a s i s a c a d e m y b r i g h t s t o w e . o rg .

Catriona Mangham, Fairfield High School

CATRIONA Mangham hasbeen the head at FairfieldHigh School for six years andhas had the title of Principalsince the school became an

academy earlier this year.Her ambition is for the school to be

rated “outstanding” at its next in-spection – and it is well on theway, having made great strides sinceit was judged by Ofsted to be “good,with outstanding features” in2013.

The school is celebrating recordGCSE results in 2015, with all coresubjects above the national averageon both attainment and achievement,and an amazing value added score of1027.

Fairfield is now oversubscribedand has an extremely diverse intake,with more than 40 flags in the im-pressive atrium representing stu-dents’ n at i o n a l i t i e s.

Ms Mangham is particularlypleased that the inspectors said theschool was the most racially har-monious they had ever visited.

Parents love the community atmo-sphere too, as Mrs Mangham ex-plains: “They say ‘This is not am o n o c u l t u re.

“This is what I want my child toe x p e r i e n c e.

“This is what the outside world isl i ke ’.”

Students of all levels of ability, andthose who arrive speaking little orno English, make exceptional pro-g ress.

Ms Mangham is proud of the broadand balanced curriculum, in whichcreative subjects, languages and hu-manities are very important. “Wehave fantastic staff, who provide theright mix of subjects for our stu-d e n t s, ” she says.

The principal, who came to FHSfrom Wiltshire, believes that the gov-er nors’ decision to join the small butsuccessful Excalibur AcademiesTrust will help the drive towardse xc e l l e n c e.

Excalibur includes the outstandingSt John’s School in Marlborough,which runs the respected Interna-tional Baccalaureate qualificationfor its post-16 students.

Fairfield is aiming to open its ownsixth form, becoming the only schoolin Bristol to offer the new IB careersprogramme, which Ms Manghamfeels will be relevant and beneficialfor her students.

“It is something unique and wehave had great support from localbu s i n e s s e s, ” she said.

Ms Mangham says the link withExcalibur will increase opportunit-ies for staff and students.

She envisages FHS becoming a“think tank school” – and is prac-tising what she preaches, as she hasjust begun a doctorate at BristolUniversity in educational philo-s o p hy.

The FHS open evening is onThursday, September 24, 6pm to 9pm.Visits are welcome, by appointment,at any time.

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Catherine Hughes, St Bede’s Catholic College

Spiritual and moraldevelopment lies at theheart of this vibrant faithcommunity, as we eachgrow in the knowledge oftruth and the pursuit ofjustice. Our community isbuilt on a foundation ofmutual respect andkindness. We hold highexpectations of ourselvesand these translate to thestudents in our care.”

“

Kevin Hamblin, South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

Dr Helen Holman, Orchard School

We have the very besttechnology, modernclassroom facilities andextensive playing fields.”

“

Jane Millicent, Patchway Community College

JANE Millicent has been head-teacher at Patchway Com-munity College for eight years.“The college has changedenormously in my time here,”she said, “but one thing that hasnot changed is the commitment,

innovation and caring ethos ofstaf f.”

A total of 60 per cent of studentsobtained five A* to C grades this year,with 28 per cent gaining at least oneA grade or equivalent and 100 percent with at least one A* to G.

Mrs Millicent commented that: “Iam particularly proud of the des-tinations that students are able tomove on to. University places thisyear ranged from computer scienceat Nottingham to psychology atCardiff and costume design at Birm-ingham, while other students gainedprestigious apprenticeships.”

One innovation this year is the newhouse system, where Year 9, 10 and 11students are now in mixed tutorgroups, giving leadership opportun-ities and peer support to all.

Mrs Millicent said: “When stu-dents are talking to visitors andguests, I am always pleased whenthey refer to Patchway as being like afamily. By moving to our newhouse-based tutor system we willbuild on the positive relationshipsand teamwork that already exist tocontinue to foster our supportiverelationships with all the members of

our community.”Sports day this year was another

innovation, being an inclusive, funevent for all, which saw record num-bers of students participating. Stu-dents took part in a range ofindividual and team sportsthroughout the day, from a penaltyshoot-out, standing long jump, andwelly-wanging to tug-of-war, round-ers and football.

Patchway is also committed to thearts and working with local busi-nesses. Mrs Millicent explained that:“The Great Aeronautical Art Hunt,which took place this summer, was afantastic opportunity that we hope tobuild on for the future.” The schoolworked with local primaries todesign and build globe-like sculp-tures based on the local aerospaceindustry. These have then been partof a Shaun the Sheep-type art hunt inthe Patchway area.

Patchway Community College’sopen evening is on Wednesday,September 23, with talks from thehead teacher at 6.15pm and 7.15pm.

I am always pleasedwhen our students referto Patchway as being likea family.”

“

THE secondary school a childattends will leave a lastingimpression; choosing theright school is therefore oneof the most important de-

cisions parents make.St Bede’s Catholic College is a won-

derful place of learning, with an ex-cellent culture and climate. Studentswork in a calm and industrious man-n e r.

They are stimulated and chal-lenged to develop their talents andencouraged to strive for excellence.

Achievement and effort are valuedand celebrated.

Within and outside the classroomnumerous opportunities exist for stu-dents to unlock their talents and de-velop self-worth, esteem, confidenceand independence.

Students are enthusiastic about lifein college and embrace the manyopportunities to grow in faith, de-veloping religious understandingand a sense of service. Spiritual andmoral development lies at the heart ofthis vibrant faith community, as weeach grow in the knowledge of truthand the pursuit of justice.

Our community is built on a found-ation of mutual respect and kindness.We hold high expectations ofourselves and these translate to thestudents in our care.

They are enabled from the earlystages to be active, enquiring, andcritical open-minded thinkers; to be

ambitious for themselves andbroaden their horizons.

Excellent teaching, stimulating re-sources and high expectations enableall to learn and make outstandingprog ress.

Our teachers strive to promote alove of learning and intellectual curi-o s i t y.

They are reflective practitionersand planning is informed by rigorousmonitoring and assessment. Youngpeople of all backgrounds and abil-ities are set ambitious targets andsupported in achieving these.

The curriculum matches the needs,ambitions and interests of the stu-dents and prepares them well forfurther study.

Within our sixth form, the cur-riculum is evolving and the co-cur-ricular opportunities available,including sport, help in the devel-opment of character and resilience,enriching the college experience.

The wellbeing of each student is atthe heart of our work and pastoralcare is fundamental to our success.We know that young people flourishwhen they are happy, safe and learn-ing.

The college has a long-standing tra-dition of scholarship and academicexcellence. Our examination resultsare hugely impressive and we makeno apologies for saying results mat-t e r.

As important as they are however,

education at St Bede’s is about muchmore than results.

If you are looking for an excellenteducation for your child within aChristian environment you will likewhat you find at St Bede’s CatholicColle ge.

Dean Anderson, Broadlands Academy

For the third yearrunning, record-breakingexamination results wereachieved this summer ina number of subjectsincluding English, mathsand science.”

“IN my role as principal, there isno better feeling than handing astudent their GCSE results en-velope in August and seeing thedelight in their eyes when they

open it. For the last three years, I havehad the privilege of being able to seethe students of Broadlands Academyachieve more highly and make moreprogress than ever before in the his-tory of the school.

For the third year running, re-cord-breaking examination resultswere achieved at the academy thissummer in a number of subjects in-cluding English, maths and science.

As principal, I am incredibly proudof our students and the way in whichthey approached their studies and Iam grateful to my dedicated andhardworking staff, who ensured thatour young people had the support,guidance and opportunities theyneeded to achieve their potential.

A principal’s job is to ensure thatstudents get every opportunity to suc-ceed to the best of their ability andthat they are prepared for life beyondschool. I have had the privilege ofbeing in post at Broadlands sinceJanuary 2013 and I have seen theacademy go from strength to

strength, not just in terms of examresults, but in terms of the devel-opment of the skills and qualities thatare essential for our students to go onand lead successful lives.

I am committed to ensuring thatthe students I am responsible forreceive the best possible educationthat can be provided: it’s what theydeserve. My staff and I work hardevery day in pursuit of this aim andhave high expectations for all of ours t u d e n t s.

Prospective parents can comealong to the open evening on Tuesday,September 22, from 6.30pm to 8.30pmand to hear my presentation at6.30pm or 7.30pm, where I will shareour students’ fantastic achievementsand my vision for the academy.

Broadlands Academy is in Keyn-sham. For further details, call 0117986 4791.

SOUTH Gloucestershire andStroud College (SGS) is thehighest-performing furthereducation college in the Great-er Bristol area.

With campuses in the north of Bris-tol and Stoke Gifford areas, SGS con-sistently delivers a range of academicand recreational courses which areamong the best performing in thec o u n t r y.

Judged by Ofsted in 2014 to provide“outstanding” provision in creativeand performing art, business and ITand sport and leisure, the collegecontinues to grow.

Ofsted also rated the college’s ap-proach to developing employabilityskills for all of its students as “out-standing”.

Leadership and management wasalso judged “outstanding”, with theprincipal, Kevin Hamblin, supportedby five vice and assistant principals,each an expert in their field.

Mr Hamblin, who previouslyworked at Swindon and Hartpurycolleges and joined SGS in 2001, ex-

plained that SGS College is far morethan simply a learning centre. Hesaid: “It is important to us that stu-dents leave with the best possiblechance of gaining employment, notjust with a qualification.

“We want students to view SGS assomewhere to enjoy spending time,and as the place where they have theopportunity to make progress fortheir own economic and social well-being. We want SGS to have a positiveimpact on their lives.

“The college is an important part ofthe community and aims to providelocal people with the best opportun-ity to progress. As such, we share ourexcellent resources for communityuse, and play a key role in improving

education within our catchmentareas. We want our staff to enjoyworking in a supportive environmentwhere expectations are high and ful-filled, and where we provide the mostproductive environment in whichstudents learn, succeed and pro-g ress.

“We also want employers to viewSGS as the first place they turn to forquality employees, who demonstratethe skills of communication, literacy,numeracy, reliability, enthusiasm,working in a team, problem solving,IT, personal presentation and busi-ness awareness.”

With more than 150 full-timecourses covering entry-level pro-grammes, technical qualifications,A-levels and professional courses upto degree level, all applicants willhave a wide choice of study pathwaysand can expect personalised careeradvice and guidance to make surethey are on the course that is right forthem.

For more information, visitw w w. s g s c o l . a c . u k .

WELL-rounded, confid-ent, courteous youngpeople who are a creditto their families, theircommunity and their

school – t h at ’s the profile of the youngpeople I see every day in theclassrooms of our school in Horfield,says head teacher Dr Helen Holman.

Dr Holman continues: At OrchardSchool Bristol, our vision statement –‘Inspire today, empower for life’ – is atthe heart of all that we do. We do notplace limits on our aspirations forstudents. They thrive in an envir-onment where positive, productiverelationships secure the best possibleo u t c o m e s.

“The choice for parents is demon-strated in this supplement, but Iwould like to highlight some aspectsof life at Orchard School which webelieve set us apart.”

� A thriving house system: We havefour houses with all five year groupsin mixed tutor groups. Students enjoyhaving the clear identity that thisof fers.� 2. A personalised curriculum:Personalised learning and exam pre-paration based on detailed and pre-cise knowledge of students.� 3. A wide range of extracurricularactivities which broaden the exper-iences of our students: We offer atailored enrichment programme, in-cluding a designated afternoon, witha huge range of activities� 4. Fantastic facilities: We havethe very best technology, modernclassroom facilities and extensiveplaying fields� 5. Transition: At Orchard Schoolwe work closely with our localprimary schools to support childrenmaking the move from Year 6 to Year

7, with an extensive programmethroughout Year 6 and a summerschool in late August.

The open evening is on October 6,6.30pm or call on 0117 377 2000 toarrange a visit. There are open morn-ings on September 22 and 29, andOctober 6 and also by appointment,all at 9am.

We want SGS to havea positive impact onstudents’ lives.”

“

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Catherine Hughes, St Bede’s Catholic College

Spiritual and moraldevelopment lies at theheart of this vibrant faithcommunity, as we eachgrow in the knowledge oftruth and the pursuit ofjustice. Our community isbuilt on a foundation ofmutual respect andkindness. We hold highexpectations of ourselvesand these translate to thestudents in our care.”

“

Kevin Hamblin, South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

Dr Helen Holman, Orchard School

We have the very besttechnology, modernclassroom facilities andextensive playing fields.”

“

Jane Millicent, Patchway Community College

JANE Millicent has been head-teacher at Patchway Com-munity College for eight years.“The college has changedenormously in my time here,”she said, “but one thing that hasnot changed is the commitment,

innovation and caring ethos ofstaf f.”

A total of 60 per cent of studentsobtained five A* to C grades this year,with 28 per cent gaining at least oneA grade or equivalent and 100 percent with at least one A* to G.

Mrs Millicent commented that: “Iam particularly proud of the des-tinations that students are able tomove on to. University places thisyear ranged from computer scienceat Nottingham to psychology atCardiff and costume design at Birm-ingham, while other students gainedprestigious apprenticeships.”

One innovation this year is the newhouse system, where Year 9, 10 and 11students are now in mixed tutorgroups, giving leadership opportun-ities and peer support to all.

Mrs Millicent said: “When stu-dents are talking to visitors andguests, I am always pleased whenthey refer to Patchway as being like afamily. By moving to our newhouse-based tutor system we willbuild on the positive relationshipsand teamwork that already exist tocontinue to foster our supportiverelationships with all the members of

our community.”Sports day this year was another

innovation, being an inclusive, funevent for all, which saw record num-bers of students participating. Stu-dents took part in a range ofindividual and team sportsthroughout the day, from a penaltyshoot-out, standing long jump, andwelly-wanging to tug-of-war, round-ers and football.

Patchway is also committed to thearts and working with local busi-nesses. Mrs Millicent explained that:“The Great Aeronautical Art Hunt,which took place this summer, was afantastic opportunity that we hope tobuild on for the future.” The schoolworked with local primaries todesign and build globe-like sculp-tures based on the local aerospaceindustry. These have then been partof a Shaun the Sheep-type art hunt inthe Patchway area.

Patchway Community College’sopen evening is on Wednesday,September 23, with talks from thehead teacher at 6.15pm and 7.15pm.

I am always pleasedwhen our students referto Patchway as being likea family.”

“

THE secondary school a childattends will leave a lastingimpression; choosing theright school is therefore oneof the most important de-

cisions parents make.St Bede’s Catholic College is a won-

derful place of learning, with an ex-cellent culture and climate. Studentswork in a calm and industrious man-n e r.

They are stimulated and chal-lenged to develop their talents andencouraged to strive for excellence.

Achievement and effort are valuedand celebrated.

Within and outside the classroomnumerous opportunities exist for stu-dents to unlock their talents and de-velop self-worth, esteem, confidenceand independence.

Students are enthusiastic about lifein college and embrace the manyopportunities to grow in faith, de-veloping religious understandingand a sense of service. Spiritual andmoral development lies at the heart ofthis vibrant faith community, as weeach grow in the knowledge of truthand the pursuit of justice.

Our community is built on a found-ation of mutual respect and kindness.We hold high expectations ofourselves and these translate to thestudents in our care.

They are enabled from the earlystages to be active, enquiring, andcritical open-minded thinkers; to be

ambitious for themselves andbroaden their horizons.

Excellent teaching, stimulating re-sources and high expectations enableall to learn and make outstandingprog ress.

Our teachers strive to promote alove of learning and intellectual curi-o s i t y.

They are reflective practitionersand planning is informed by rigorousmonitoring and assessment. Youngpeople of all backgrounds and abil-ities are set ambitious targets andsupported in achieving these.

The curriculum matches the needs,ambitions and interests of the stu-dents and prepares them well forfurther study.

Within our sixth form, the cur-riculum is evolving and the co-cur-ricular opportunities available,including sport, help in the devel-opment of character and resilience,enriching the college experience.

The wellbeing of each student is atthe heart of our work and pastoralcare is fundamental to our success.We know that young people flourishwhen they are happy, safe and learn-ing.

The college has a long-standing tra-dition of scholarship and academicexcellence. Our examination resultsare hugely impressive and we makeno apologies for saying results mat-t e r.

As important as they are however,

education at St Bede’s is about muchmore than results.

If you are looking for an excellenteducation for your child within aChristian environment you will likewhat you find at St Bede’s CatholicColle ge.

Dean Anderson, Broadlands Academy

For the third yearrunning, record-breakingexamination results wereachieved this summer ina number of subjectsincluding English, mathsand science.”

“IN my role as principal, there isno better feeling than handing astudent their GCSE results en-velope in August and seeing thedelight in their eyes when they

open it. For the last three years, I havehad the privilege of being able to seethe students of Broadlands Academyachieve more highly and make moreprogress than ever before in the his-tory of the school.

For the third year running, re-cord-breaking examination resultswere achieved at the academy thissummer in a number of subjects in-cluding English, maths and science.

As principal, I am incredibly proudof our students and the way in whichthey approached their studies and Iam grateful to my dedicated andhardworking staff, who ensured thatour young people had the support,guidance and opportunities theyneeded to achieve their potential.

A principal’s job is to ensure thatstudents get every opportunity to suc-ceed to the best of their ability andthat they are prepared for life beyondschool. I have had the privilege ofbeing in post at Broadlands sinceJanuary 2013 and I have seen theacademy go from strength to

strength, not just in terms of examresults, but in terms of the devel-opment of the skills and qualities thatare essential for our students to go onand lead successful lives.

I am committed to ensuring thatthe students I am responsible forreceive the best possible educationthat can be provided: it’s what theydeserve. My staff and I work hardevery day in pursuit of this aim andhave high expectations for all of ours t u d e n t s.

Prospective parents can comealong to the open evening on Tuesday,September 22, from 6.30pm to 8.30pmand to hear my presentation at6.30pm or 7.30pm, where I will shareour students’ fantastic achievementsand my vision for the academy.

Broadlands Academy is in Keyn-sham. For further details, call 0117986 4791.

SOUTH Gloucestershire andStroud College (SGS) is thehighest-performing furthereducation college in the Great-er Bristol area.

With campuses in the north of Bris-tol and Stoke Gifford areas, SGS con-sistently delivers a range of academicand recreational courses which areamong the best performing in thec o u n t r y.

Judged by Ofsted in 2014 to provide“outstanding” provision in creativeand performing art, business and ITand sport and leisure, the collegecontinues to grow.

Ofsted also rated the college’s ap-proach to developing employabilityskills for all of its students as “out-standing”.

Leadership and management wasalso judged “outstanding”, with theprincipal, Kevin Hamblin, supportedby five vice and assistant principals,each an expert in their field.

Mr Hamblin, who previouslyworked at Swindon and Hartpurycolleges and joined SGS in 2001, ex-

plained that SGS College is far morethan simply a learning centre. Hesaid: “It is important to us that stu-dents leave with the best possiblechance of gaining employment, notjust with a qualification.

“We want students to view SGS assomewhere to enjoy spending time,and as the place where they have theopportunity to make progress fortheir own economic and social well-being. We want SGS to have a positiveimpact on their lives.

“The college is an important part ofthe community and aims to providelocal people with the best opportun-ity to progress. As such, we share ourexcellent resources for communityuse, and play a key role in improving

education within our catchmentareas. We want our staff to enjoyworking in a supportive environmentwhere expectations are high and ful-filled, and where we provide the mostproductive environment in whichstudents learn, succeed and pro-g ress.

“We also want employers to viewSGS as the first place they turn to forquality employees, who demonstratethe skills of communication, literacy,numeracy, reliability, enthusiasm,working in a team, problem solving,IT, personal presentation and busi-ness awareness.”

With more than 150 full-timecourses covering entry-level pro-grammes, technical qualifications,A-levels and professional courses upto degree level, all applicants willhave a wide choice of study pathwaysand can expect personalised careeradvice and guidance to make surethey are on the course that is right forthem.

For more information, visitw w w. s g s c o l . a c . u k .

WELL-rounded, confid-ent, courteous youngpeople who are a creditto their families, theircommunity and their

school – t h at ’s the profile of the youngpeople I see every day in theclassrooms of our school in Horfield,says head teacher Dr Helen Holman.

Dr Holman continues: At OrchardSchool Bristol, our vision statement –‘Inspire today, empower for life’ – is atthe heart of all that we do. We do notplace limits on our aspirations forstudents. They thrive in an envir-onment where positive, productiverelationships secure the best possibleo u t c o m e s.

“The choice for parents is demon-strated in this supplement, but Iwould like to highlight some aspectsof life at Orchard School which webelieve set us apart.”

� A thriving house system: We havefour houses with all five year groupsin mixed tutor groups. Students enjoyhaving the clear identity that thisof fers.� 2. A personalised curriculum:Personalised learning and exam pre-paration based on detailed and pre-cise knowledge of students.� 3. A wide range of extracurricularactivities which broaden the exper-iences of our students: We offer atailored enrichment programme, in-cluding a designated afternoon, witha huge range of activities� 4. Fantastic facilities: We havethe very best technology, modernclassroom facilities and extensiveplaying fields� 5. Transition: At Orchard Schoolwe work closely with our localprimary schools to support childrenmaking the move from Year 6 to Year

7, with an extensive programmethroughout Year 6 and a summerschool in late August.

The open evening is on October 6,6.30pm or call on 0117 377 2000 toarrange a visit. There are open morn-ings on September 22 and 29, andOctober 6 and also by appointment,all at 9am.

We want SGS to havea positive impact onstudents’ lives.”

“

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28 Tuesday, September 15, 2015 29Tuesday, September 15, 2015 www. .co.ukwww. .co.uk

BadmintonSchool

Girls Full,weeklyandflexi

WholeSchool 450

3–18 Day £2,830–£5,960Boarding£7,100–£11,290

Yes Availablein theJuniorSchool,11+, 13+and 16+.

‘A’level

Junior8.30am–

3.30/4.00pmSenior8.35am–

4.15/6.45pm

Available inthe Juniorand SeniorSchool

Minibus service from Chepstow area available, allfacilities including sports and swimming are on-site.Extended Project Qualification. IGCSE and GCSE.

GSA, IAPS and BSA affiliation.www.badmintonschool.co.uk or 0117 905 5200.

Sixth Form Open Evening:18/9/15

Whole School Open Evening:8/10/15

Whole School OpenMornings:10/10/15, 12/03/16, 02/05/16

BristolGrammarSchool

Co-ed No Infants 108Juniors 220Seniors 640Sixth Form

300

4–18 Infants andJuniors from

£2,440Senior andSixth Form£4,495

Yes 11+, 13+,14+ and16+

‘A’level

8.30am-3.30pm(Infants),3.40pm(Juniors),3.50pm(Senior)

7.45am(Yr 3-U6),8.00am (Rec–Yr2) -5.45pm (Rec–Yr 6) and 6.00pm

(Yr 7–U6)

Extended Project Qualification. IGCSE and GCSE. Extensivesporting facilities including a climbing wall. Fees includelunch for ages 4–16. Personalised curriculum fromYear 9.Small classes. HMCand IAPS affiliation. New Performing

Arts Centre from September 2016.www.bristolgrammarschool.co.uk or 0117 933 9885.

Infant and Junior SchoolOpen Morning: 17/9/15Whole SchoolOpenEvening:

2/10/15Open Morning: 12/11/15

SixthFormOpenEvening:4/11/15

CliftonHigh School

Co-ed Yes WholeSchool 500

3–18 Reception£3,063

Senior School£4,526

Yes From11+

‘A’level

8.45am–3.35pm(N–Y6)

8.40am–4.05pm(Y7–Y13)

8.00am–6.00pm Beautiful grounds, on-site pool. Part owner of theCoombe Dingle Sports Complex. Free direct debitscheme. Extended Project Qualification.Holiday

activities. Offer French and English curriculum. EcoSchools Green Flag award.

www.cliftonhigh.bristol.sch.uk or 0117 973 0201.

Senior Open Evening: 17/9/15School OpenMorning: 10/10/15

Sixth FormOpen Evening:10/11/15

Year 7 Taster Days: 22/10/15,24/11/15

Colston’sSchool

Co-ed No WholeSchool 754

3–18 Lower Schoolfrom£2,310

Upper School£4,245

Yes 8+, 11+,13+ and16+

‘A’level

8.30am– 4.00pm After school clubsand supervisionavailable until

5.30pm

Extensive 30 acre site and extra-curricular provision,alongside a vast array of enrichment activities. CCFand DofE schemes available with over 100 pupilstaking part. Exemplary pastoral care. Taster visits

available throughout the Autumn Term.www.colstons.org or 0117 965 5207

Whole School OpenMorning:26/9/15


QueenElizabeth’sHospital

Boys No Junior 100Senior 570

3*–18 Junior£2,931Senior£4,485

Yes 7+ 11+,13+ and16+

‘A’level

8.40am– 4.00pm 8.00am–6.00pm Offers Bristol’s only all boys’ Junior and Senior Schooleducation. *QEH Infants are accommodated jointly at

the Redland High School site. Excellent sports facilities atFailand shared with Bristol City FC. IGCSE.

HMC and IAPS affiliation.www.qehbristol.co.uk or 0117 930 3040.

Senior OpenMorning:10/10/15

Junior Open Morning:9/10/15

Sixth Form Event:12/10/15

RedlandHigh School

Girls3-18Boys3-7only

No Junior 150Senior 350

3–18 Infants andJunior from

£2,640Senior£4,230

Yes 11+, 13+and 16+

‘A’level

8.35am–3.55pm 7.45am–6.00pm Excellent sports facilities at Golden Hill. EPQ and Giftedand Talented Programme offered. GCSE and IGCSE.Redland High Infants with QEH offers co-educational

provision for pupils aged 3-7. GSA and IAPS affiliated. Busservice available.

www.redlandhigh.com or 0124 4404.

Visiting Mornings:1/10/15, 6/11/15,1/12/15, 11/3/16

Open Morning: 17/10/15Sixth Form Open Evening:

11/11/15

Red Maids’School

Girls No Junior 140Senior 500

7–18 Junior£2,915

Senior andSixth Form£4,290

Yes 11+, 13+and 16+

‘A’leveland IBDiploma

8.40am–4.05pm 7.45am–6.00pm Residential location, public and private bus services.12-acre site with own facilities. Examinations andcurricular trips are included in the school fees. GSA

and IAPS affiliation. GCSE and IGCSEs. EPQ. Gifted andtalented programme.

www.redmaids.co.uk or 0117 962 2641.

Whole School:26/9/15 and 15/10/15Sixth Form: 10/11/15Taster Days: 6/10/15,13/10/15, 20/10/15,10/11/15, 24/11/15

SidcotSchool

Co-ed Full,weeklyandflexi

Nursery 24Junior 110Senior 465

(180boarders)

3–18 Day £2,384–£5,343Boarding£8,015–£9,597

Yes 6+, 7+,8+, 9+,11+, 13+and 16+


8.30am–3.40pm Junior8.00am–6.00pm

Senior to6.30pm

Sixth Form to9.30pm

Quaker ethos encourages student to ‘live adventurously’.Beautiful rural location on the A38 easily accessed

from Bristol – school buses daily. Sporting facilities andEquestrian Centre on-site. CReSTeD, HMC and IAPS

www.sidcot.org.uk or 01934 483 102.

Open Mornings: 25/9/15,29/1/2016 and 2/5/16Year 7 Taster Evening:

17/11/15Junior Taster afternoon

12/3/16These schools offer a wide range of additional opportunities including competitive sport, DofE, Young Enterprise, clubs and societies, holiday activities to name but a few. For detailed information about what makes each schoolunique, please visit the school’s website or attend one of the many open events available.

THE Olympus Academy Trustis a multi-academy trust es-tablished in 2012 andmadeupof primary, secondary andall-through schools working

in partnership in the local area.In charge is head teacher and CEO,

Dave Baker, who outlined the trust’smission: “We aspire to be seen as thebest local option for education andare keen to work with other localschools, colleges and universities tomake this happen. It is likely that wewill grow within the local area in thecoming months and years.“Our vision is to establish our

schools at the heart of the communityand provide an outstanding education-al experience for our learners. In orderto do this, we need to be the employer

and teacher trainer of choice for staffso our learners have access to thehighest standards of teaching, re-sources and opportunities. This willequip our learners to become re-sponsible individuals able to make ameaningful contribution to society.“OAT’s aim is to create consistency

and share best practice between itsschools through a shared leadershipstructure. This has been a year ofconsolidation, with two primaryschools joining the trust and theopening of a primary phase at Brad-ley Stoke Community School. Byworking in a larger partnership ofschools, we can share expertise,provide mutual support and chal-lenge one another to deliver the bestoutcomes for young people.”

Dave Baker, CEO Executive Head Teacher and The Olympus Academy Trust

STEVE MOIR, BRADLEY STOKE COMMUNITY SCHOOL

BRADLEY Stoke Community Schoolis “continually focused on ensuringevery individual student receivesthe education and opportunitiesthey require to achieve their very

best”, said headteacher Steve Moir.“This, combined with our commitment to

continually refine and improve ourapproach to teaching and learn-ing, and a broad and excitingcurriculum, ensures that ourstudents achieve well andare ready for the next chal-lenges in education and ca-reer.”Themost recent Ofsted re-

port commented: “Studentsare motivated by enthusiasticteachers who have strong sub-ject knowledge and use a varietyof teaching methods and resources tohelp the students to learn and achievewell.”Behaviour and safety in school was been

rated byOfsted as “outstanding”, both in andout of the classroom. Inspectors said: “Stu-dents’ behaviour is outstanding and they feelvery safe. They have an excellent under-standing of the school’s high expectations ofbehaviour, and students’ attitudes to othersare first rate.”MrMoir added: “We are proud of how well

our students respond to, and are supportive

of, one another and their development andunderstanding of themselves and their placein the world is a considerable strength of theschool. This is integrated throughout ourcurriculum within our core values of beingresponsible, reflective, resilient and re-sourceful young people.“We offer an enviable range of enrichmentactivities, including sports, cultural andarts activities. Provision for students’spiritual, moral, social and culturaldevelopment is outstanding andensures that students develop intohighly informed and reflectiveyoung people.“Students are encouraged to be-

come pro-active members of theschool community, both in lessonsand on our school council; all this

serves to help them achieve a clearunderstanding of themselves as activemem-bers of their community.“We strive always to make learning en-

gaging and challenging and are dedicated todeveloping students who are the embod-iment of our vision and values; successful,independent, well-rounded, compassionate,tolerant, creative and confident youngpeople.“The addition of a primary phase, which

opened for its first reception class thismonth, is a very exciting development forBradley Stoke Community School.”

DAVID HOWE, ASSOCIATE HEAD TEACHER, ABBEYWOODCOMMUNITY SCHOOL

ASSOCAITE head teacher, DavidHowe, saidAbbeywoodCommunitySchool was thriving under itsmem-bership of the Olympus AcademyTrust.

Describing the school as a “vibrant,exciting and safe learning envir-onment”, he pointed out that“staff, students and governorsare delighted that Ofsted re-inforced this view during theNovember 2014 inspection,rating the school ‘good’ inevery category.“One of their concluding

points was: ‘Teaching is goodbecause teachers know stu-dents extremely well and chal-lenge all abilities to learnsuccessfully’.”Mr Howe continued: “We have raised

the bar with consistently high expectationsabout behaviour, appearance and the de-velopment of successful learners.“Ofsted ratified our progress, comment-

ing, ‘The school’s curriculum is well or-ganised and imaginative’.“This is a school where our mantra of

‘learning without limits’ is lived by all on adaily basis.“We are proud of the school’s strong repu-

tation for enabling every student to thriveand succeed.“Our talented andmotivated staff provide

high-quality learning experiences and awide range of extra-curricular activities.

Ofsted noted that ‘students thrive be-cause the school is a very caring,inclusive communitywith verygood support systems’.”A total of 56 per cent ofstudents achieved at leastfive A* to C GCSE gradesin 2015.Mr Howe said: “Many of

the students from Abbey-wood will be the first intheir families to go to uni-versity and we were ex-

tremely proud that this yearevery single Abbeywood student

made it to their university of firstchoice.“This is a school where ambitions are

forged and dreams are realised.“Outstanding teaching and learning will

take the school to the next level.“In 2015, we are full in both Years 7 and 8,

which is a strong vote of confidence in us byour local community, which we intend tomatch by delivering a world-class educationfor all.”

Our guide to independentschools in the Bristol area

CHARBOROUGH Road is a welcom-ing, happy school, where people arehelpful, considerate and respectfulof each other, said head teacher,Nicola Bailey. She added: “Pupils

are happy and enjoy learning. We have adedicated team of teachers, teach-ing assistants and support staffwho strive to ensure that everychild is successful, confidentand responsible, equippedwith all the skills they need tocontinue on their futurelearning journey. Our pupilsenjoy a programme of stim-ulating, exciting and challen-ging learning experiences.”Ofsted inspectors said: “Pupils

within the school enjoy their learningand achieve well.”But although the school can certainly

provide impressive statistics about academ-ic achievement, this is not what makes itspecial. Nicola continued: “We are special

simply because this is a very happy,fun-filled and exciting school; a wonderfulplace to learn and work. This is a friendlycommunityworking in partnership togetherto give our children the very best, well-roun-ded education.”

Ofsted also recognised that theschool was a strong and cohesiveschool community. Nicola saidstaff worked in partnership withparents and carers and placedgreat value on their support andcontribution to school life.She added: “By working to-

gether,we aim to provide ahappy,caring and effective learning en-vironment, where expectations and

standards are high. We have carefullydesigned our topic-based curriculum on

the principles of independence, creativityand possibilities, to enable children to de-velop essential skills, to be excited aboutlearning and to be challenged to achievetheir very best.”

NICOLA BAILEY, CHARBOROUGH ROAD PRIMARY SCHOOL

HEAD teacher Jon Barr describesMeadowbrook Primary School asa school committed to excellence.He said: “We build skills andknowledge which will be found-

ations for the boys’ and girls’ success.From the classroom to the sportsfield and out into our com-munity, our children are in-spired to achieve.“Our mission is to be a

school which inspires suc-cessful learners.“We are committed to

equipping them with theskills, knowledge and atti-tudes that will support themthrough childhood and intoadulthood.“We believe those foundations are

critical and, for our staff, that meanswe want to help children develop thekey mindsets which will help them suc-ceed.

Ofsted inspectors said: “The wide rangeof subjects and topics taught inspires pupilsto learn well.”Mr Barr said: “From their first day at

school, we start exploring pupils’ passionsand interests.

“In our indoor or outdoorclassrooms, through play andteaching, they will find ex-periences that will build thefoundations of their mas-tery of reading, writingand mathematics.“Following that first

reception year, they willfind themselves inclassrooms and a school

which continues to challengeand support them on their learn-

ing journey.“Theywill explore the interests theyhave

already nurtured and, through planned ex-periences, they will begin to see new am-bitions.”

JON BARR, MEADOWBROOK PRIMARY SCHOOL

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28 Tuesday, September 15, 2015 29Tuesday, September 15, 2015 www. .co.ukwww. .co.uk

BadmintonSchool

Girls Full,weeklyandflexi

WholeSchool 450

3–18 Day £2,830–£5,960Boarding£7,100–£11,290

Yes Availablein theJuniorSchool,11+, 13+and 16+.

‘A’level

Junior8.30am–

3.30/4.00pmSenior8.35am–

4.15/6.45pm

Available inthe Juniorand SeniorSchool

Minibus service from Chepstow area available, allfacilities including sports and swimming are on-site.Extended Project Qualification. IGCSE and GCSE.

GSA, IAPS and BSA affiliation.www.badmintonschool.co.uk or 0117 905 5200.


Whole School Open Evening:8/10/15

Whole School OpenMornings:10/10/15, 12/03/16, 02/05/16

BristolGrammarSchool

Co-ed No Infants 108Juniors 220Seniors 640Sixth Form

300

4–18 Infants andJuniors from

£2,440Senior andSixth Form£4,495

Yes 11+, 13+,14+ and16+

‘A’level

8.30am-3.30pm(Infants),3.40pm(Juniors),3.50pm(Senior)

7.45am(Yr 3-U6),8.00am (Rec–Yr2) -5.45pm (Rec–Yr 6) and 6.00pm

(Yr 7–U6)

Extended Project Qualification. IGCSE and GCSE. Extensivesporting facilities including a climbing wall. Fees includelunch for ages 4–16. Personalised curriculum fromYear 9.Small classes. HMCand IAPS affiliation. New Performing

Arts Centre from September 2016.www.bristolgrammarschool.co.uk or 0117 933 9885.

Infant and Junior SchoolOpen Morning: 17/9/15Whole SchoolOpenEvening:

2/10/15Open Morning: 12/11/15

SixthFormOpenEvening:4/11/15

CliftonHigh School

Co-ed Yes WholeSchool 500

3–18 Reception£3,063

Senior School£4,526

Yes From11+

‘A’level

8.45am–3.35pm(N–Y6)

8.40am–4.05pm(Y7–Y13)

8.00am–6.00pm Beautiful grounds, on-site pool. Part owner of theCoombe Dingle Sports Complex. Free direct debitscheme. Extended Project Qualification.Holiday

activities. Offer French and English curriculum. EcoSchools Green Flag award.

www.cliftonhigh.bristol.sch.uk or 0117 973 0201.

Senior Open Evening: 17/9/15School OpenMorning: 10/10/15

Sixth FormOpen Evening:10/11/15

Year 7 Taster Days: 22/10/15,24/11/15

Colston’sSchool

Co-ed No WholeSchool 754

3–18 Lower Schoolfrom£2,310

Upper School£4,245

Yes 8+, 11+,13+ and16+

‘A’level

8.30am– 4.00pm After school clubsand supervisionavailable until

5.30pm

Extensive 30 acre site and extra-curricular provision,alongside a vast array of enrichment activities. CCFand DofE schemes available with over 100 pupilstaking part. Exemplary pastoral care. Taster visits

available throughout the Autumn Term.www.colstons.org or 0117 965 5207

Whole School OpenMorning:26/9/15


QueenElizabeth’sHospital

Boys No Junior 100Senior 570

3*–18 Junior£2,931Senior£4,485

Yes 7+ 11+,13+ and16+

‘A’level

8.40am– 4.00pm 8.00am–6.00pm Offers Bristol’s only all boys’ Junior and Senior Schooleducation. *QEH Infants are accommodated jointly at

the Redland High School site. Excellent sports facilities atFailand shared with Bristol City FC. IGCSE.

HMC and IAPS affiliation.www.qehbristol.co.uk or 0117 930 3040.

Senior OpenMorning:10/10/15

Junior Open Morning:9/10/15

Sixth Form Event:12/10/15

RedlandHigh School

Girls3-18Boys3-7only

No Junior 150Senior 350

3–18 Infants andJunior from

£2,640Senior£4,230

Yes 11+, 13+and 16+

‘A’level

8.35am–3.55pm 7.45am–6.00pm Excellent sports facilities at Golden Hill. EPQ and Giftedand Talented Programme offered. GCSE and IGCSE.Redland High Infants with QEH offers co-educational

provision for pupils aged 3-7. GSA and IAPS affiliated. Busservice available.

www.redlandhigh.com or 0124 4404.

Visiting Mornings:1/10/15, 6/11/15,1/12/15, 11/3/16

Open Morning: 17/10/15Sixth Form Open Evening:

11/11/15

Red Maids’School

Girls No Junior 140Senior 500

7–18 Junior£2,915

Senior andSixth Form£4,290

Yes 11+, 13+and 16+


8.40am–4.05pm 7.45am–6.00pm Residential location, public and private bus services.12-acre site with own facilities. Examinations andcurricular trips are included in the school fees. GSA

and IAPS affiliation. GCSE and IGCSEs. EPQ. Gifted andtalented programme.

www.redmaids.co.uk or 0117 962 2641.

Whole School:26/9/15 and 15/10/15Sixth Form: 10/11/15Taster Days: 6/10/15,13/10/15, 20/10/15,10/11/15, 24/11/15

SidcotSchool

Co-ed Full,weeklyandflexi

Nursery 24Junior 110Senior 465

(180boarders)

3–18 Day £2,384–£5,343Boarding£8,015–£9,597

Yes 6+, 7+,8+, 9+,11+, 13+and 16+


8.30am–3.40pm Junior8.00am–6.00pm

Senior to6.30pm

Sixth Form to9.30pm

Quaker ethos encourages student to ‘live adventurously’.Beautiful rural location on the A38 easily accessed

from Bristol – school buses daily. Sporting facilities andEquestrian Centre on-site. CReSTeD, HMC and IAPS

www.sidcot.org.uk or 01934 483 102.

Open Mornings: 25/9/15,29/1/2016 and 2/5/16Year 7 Taster Evening:

17/11/15Junior Taster afternoon

12/3/16These schools offer a wide range of additional opportunities including competitive sport, DofE, Young Enterprise, clubs and societies, holiday activities to name but a few. For detailed information about what makes each schoolunique, please visit the school’s website or attend one of the many open events available.

THE Olympus Academy Trustis a multi-academy trust es-tablished in 2012 andmadeupof primary, secondary andall-through schools working

in partnership in the local area.In charge is head teacher and CEO,

Dave Baker, who outlined the trust’smission: “We aspire to be seen as thebest local option for education andare keen to work with other localschools, colleges and universities tomake this happen. It is likely that wewill grow within the local area in thecoming months and years.“Our vision is to establish our

schools at the heart of the communityand provide an outstanding education-al experience for our learners. In orderto do this, we need to be the employer

and teacher trainer of choice for staffso our learners have access to thehighest standards of teaching, re-sources and opportunities. This willequip our learners to become re-sponsible individuals able to make ameaningful contribution to society.“OAT’s aim is to create consistency

and share best practice between itsschools through a shared leadershipstructure. This has been a year ofconsolidation, with two primaryschools joining the trust and theopening of a primary phase at Brad-ley Stoke Community School. Byworking in a larger partnership ofschools, we can share expertise,provide mutual support and chal-lenge one another to deliver the bestoutcomes for young people.”

Dave Baker, CEO Executive Head Teacher and The Olympus Academy Trust

STEVE MOIR, BRADLEY STOKE COMMUNITY SCHOOL

BRADLEY Stoke Community Schoolis “continually focused on ensuringevery individual student receivesthe education and opportunitiesthey require to achieve their very

best”, said headteacher Steve Moir.“This, combined with our commitment to

continually refine and improve ourapproach to teaching and learn-ing, and a broad and excitingcurriculum, ensures that ourstudents achieve well andare ready for the next chal-lenges in education and ca-reer.”Themost recent Ofsted re-

port commented: “Studentsare motivated by enthusiasticteachers who have strong sub-ject knowledge and use a varietyof teaching methods and resources tohelp the students to learn and achievewell.”Behaviour and safety in school was been

rated byOfsted as “outstanding”, both in andout of the classroom. Inspectors said: “Stu-dents’ behaviour is outstanding and they feelvery safe. They have an excellent under-standing of the school’s high expectations ofbehaviour, and students’ attitudes to othersare first rate.”MrMoir added: “We are proud of how well

our students respond to, and are supportive

of, one another and their development andunderstanding of themselves and their placein the world is a considerable strength of theschool. This is integrated throughout ourcurriculum within our core values of beingresponsible, reflective, resilient and re-sourceful young people.“We offer an enviable range of enrichmentactivities, including sports, cultural andarts activities. Provision for students’spiritual, moral, social and culturaldevelopment is outstanding andensures that students develop intohighly informed and reflectiveyoung people.“Students are encouraged to be-

come pro-active members of theschool community, both in lessonsand on our school council; all this

serves to help them achieve a clearunderstanding of themselves as activemem-bers of their community.“We strive always to make learning en-

gaging and challenging and are dedicated todeveloping students who are the embod-iment of our vision and values; successful,independent, well-rounded, compassionate,tolerant, creative and confident youngpeople.“The addition of a primary phase, which

opened for its first reception class thismonth, is a very exciting development forBradley Stoke Community School.”

DAVID HOWE, ASSOCIATE HEAD TEACHER, ABBEYWOODCOMMUNITY SCHOOL

ASSOCAITE head teacher, DavidHowe, saidAbbeywoodCommunitySchool was thriving under itsmem-bership of the Olympus AcademyTrust.

Describing the school as a “vibrant,exciting and safe learning envir-onment”, he pointed out that“staff, students and governorsare delighted that Ofsted re-inforced this view during theNovember 2014 inspection,rating the school ‘good’ inevery category.“One of their concluding

points was: ‘Teaching is goodbecause teachers know stu-dents extremely well and chal-lenge all abilities to learnsuccessfully’.”Mr Howe continued: “We have raised

the bar with consistently high expectationsabout behaviour, appearance and the de-velopment of successful learners.“Ofsted ratified our progress, comment-

ing, ‘The school’s curriculum is well or-ganised and imaginative’.“This is a school where our mantra of

‘learning without limits’ is lived by all on adaily basis.“We are proud of the school’s strong repu-

tation for enabling every student to thriveand succeed.“Our talented andmotivated staff provide

high-quality learning experiences and awide range of extra-curricular activities.

Ofsted noted that ‘students thrive be-cause the school is a very caring,inclusive communitywith verygood support systems’.”A total of 56 per cent ofstudents achieved at leastfive A* to C GCSE gradesin 2015.Mr Howe said: “Many of

the students from Abbey-wood will be the first intheir families to go to uni-versity and we were ex-

tremely proud that this yearevery single Abbeywood student

made it to their university of firstchoice.“This is a school where ambitions are

forged and dreams are realised.“Outstanding teaching and learning will

take the school to the next level.“In 2015, we are full in both Years 7 and 8,

which is a strong vote of confidence in us byour local community, which we intend tomatch by delivering a world-class educationfor all.”

Our guide to independentschools in the Bristol area

CHARBOROUGH Road is a welcom-ing, happy school, where people arehelpful, considerate and respectfulof each other, said head teacher,Nicola Bailey. She added: “Pupils

are happy and enjoy learning. We have adedicated team of teachers, teach-ing assistants and support staffwho strive to ensure that everychild is successful, confidentand responsible, equippedwith all the skills they need tocontinue on their futurelearning journey. Our pupilsenjoy a programme of stim-ulating, exciting and challen-ging learning experiences.”Ofsted inspectors said: “Pupils

within the school enjoy their learningand achieve well.”But although the school can certainly

provide impressive statistics about academ-ic achievement, this is not what makes itspecial. Nicola continued: “We are special

simply because this is a very happy,fun-filled and exciting school; a wonderfulplace to learn and work. This is a friendlycommunityworking in partnership togetherto give our children the very best, well-roun-ded education.”

Ofsted also recognised that theschool was a strong and cohesiveschool community. Nicola saidstaff worked in partnership withparents and carers and placedgreat value on their support andcontribution to school life.She added: “By working to-

gether,we aim to provide ahappy,caring and effective learning en-vironment, where expectations and

standards are high. We have carefullydesigned our topic-based curriculum on

the principles of independence, creativityand possibilities, to enable children to de-velop essential skills, to be excited aboutlearning and to be challenged to achievetheir very best.”

NICOLA BAILEY, CHARBOROUGH ROAD PRIMARY SCHOOL

HEAD teacher Jon Barr describesMeadowbrook Primary School asa school committed to excellence.He said: “We build skills andknowledge which will be found-

ations for the boys’ and girls’ success.From the classroom to the sportsfield and out into our com-munity, our children are in-spired to achieve.“Our mission is to be a

school which inspires suc-cessful learners.“We are committed to

equipping them with theskills, knowledge and atti-tudes that will support themthrough childhood and intoadulthood.“We believe those foundations are

critical and, for our staff, that meanswe want to help children develop thekey mindsets which will help them suc-ceed.

Ofsted inspectors said: “The wide rangeof subjects and topics taught inspires pupilsto learn well.”Mr Barr said: “From their first day at

school, we start exploring pupils’ passionsand interests.

“In our indoor or outdoorclassrooms, through play andteaching, they will find ex-periences that will build thefoundations of their mas-tery of reading, writingand mathematics.“Following that first

reception year, they willfind themselves inclassrooms and a school

which continues to challengeand support them on their learn-

ing journey.“Theywill explore the interests theyhave

already nurtured and, through planned ex-periences, they will begin to see new am-bitions.”

JON BARR, MEADOWBROOK PRIMARY SCHOOL

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INSULATION from Governmentinterference is one of the reasonsfor choosing a private schoolover an academy, according toleaders at Bristol’s independent

s ch o o l s.Heads say that although

academies have morefreedoms than tradi-tional council-runschools have everenjoyed, they arestill hamstrung bypoliticians mak-ing changes to thestate educationsystem.

Redland HighSchool says it used itsfreedoms as an independentschool to shift from the GCSE toIGCSE in some subjects five yearsago, something state schools wouldhave been unable to do.

In common with many other in-dependent schools it felt the IGCSE

offered more rigour.In 2014, when English GCSE results

dropped across the country, theschool said it avoided embroiling pu-pils in the anxiety and “sheer un-fair ness” of changed gradeb o u n d a r i e s.

The school’s head StephanieFerro, pictured inset, said state

schools were “at the mercy ofthe vagaries of political redtape and the use of children toscore political points”.

She said: “At Redland Highwe focus on what is best for

our pupils, and their teachersand tutors work hard to achieve

that with them.”In agreement, Angela Chapman,

deputy head at Badminton School,said: “Schools in the independent sec-tor are not forced to follow govern-ment policy in the same way as theacademies and for that reason theirprovision can be truly independent.

“This therefore raises the question

‘Do academies really have enoughfreedom to ever compete with theindependent sector?’

“They are still very heavily reg-ulated by the government and thismay not always be to the benefit of theground level education provided fort o d ay ’s young people.”

Heads of Bristol private schools saythere are many other reasons tochoose an independent education in-cluding class sizes, exam perform-

ance and access to extra-curriculara c t iv i t i e s.

Guy Cowper, director of operationsat Clifton High School, said: “T henumber of children at independentday schools continues to rise and hasincreased 1.7 per cent this year.

“Coupled with this the number ofinternational pupils seeking an edu-cation at our independent schoolscontinues to grow. This to me demon-strates the desirability of an inde-

HOW DO SCHOOLS HELP COMMUNITIES?

� Earlier this year at a hustings held inBristol ahead of the general election,politicians clashed over the issue ofindependent schools in the city andtheir contribution to helping stateschools and the wider community.Thangam Debbonaire, the thenprospective Labour MP for BristolWest, accused Liberal Democratincumbent Stephen Williams of failingto push for Bristol’s private schools todo more to help state schools during adebate at Bristol University’s GraduateSchool of Education.

Both politicians pledged to scrap thecharitable status independent schoolsenjoy unless they did more to benefitthe community by giving state schoolsaccess to their sports facilities andteaching expertise. But whatexactly are private schools inBristol doing to helpcommunities?

The 2012Independent SchoolsCouncil (ISC) Censusreported that 90 percent of its memberschools were involvedin some form ofpartnership with stateschools or the widercommunity, whetherformalised or on aninformal basis, andindependent schools in Bristolsay their institutions are noexception to this. Clifton High Schooland Redland High School say they bothprovide access to some of theirfacilities free of charge, for exampletheir swimming pool and playing fields,which are made available to localschools in the maintained sector.Redland High School says it works todevelop potential in Bristol’s children.

The school worksclosely with Tomorrow’s

Achievers EducationalTrust, a national charityproviding specialistmaster classes forgifted children, andprovides its facilities,such as laboratories,free of charge and

volunteers theirteachers’ time and

expertise to run thesessions. They also offer

free workshops in subjectssuch as science and art. Badminton

School, pictured, runs an outreachprogramme in science for local primaryschools, where their girls lead sciencesessions for younger pupils helping toencourage them to develop an interestin this field. They also hold an annualYoung Geographers’ Competition andthe Mary Fedden Art Competition forlocal prep and primary schools.

pendent education.” Ms Chapman,deputy head at Badminton School,said the staff to student ratio in in-dependent schools means no studentcan slip under the radar.

She said: “Class sizes tend to besmall, ensuring more frequent pupilinteraction and allowing every singlepupil to be engaged; ensuring there isno scope for pupils to go under theradar. This also allows for more timeto be dedicated to each student with

‘Schools are freefrom politicalp o i n t-sco r i n g ’

Angela Chapman, deputyhead, Badminton School

Class sizes tend to besmall, ensuring morefrequent pupil interactionand allowing every singlepupil to be engaged

“� Above, Guy Cowper, director ofoperations at Clifton High School;Right, Clifton High School; Left,Redland High pupils celebrate theirGCSE results.

Badminton School runsan outreach programmein science for localprimary schools, wheretheir girls lead sciencesessions for youngerpupils helping toencourage them todevelop an interest in thisfield.

“

extra academic support ‘cl i n i c s ’,one-to-ones and the opportunity forregular feedback to parents eitherthrough the school tracking and mon-itoring programme or on a muchmore personal and individualb a s i s. ”

co��c��o��l ��rs�ry school to sixth form

�li�o� �i�h �chool

Senior School Open Evening:Thursday 17th September

Whole School Open Morning:Saturday 10th October

Sixth Form Open Evening:Tuesday 10th November

Clifton High School

realising individual brilliance

0117 933 9087 | www.cliftonhigh.bristol.sch.uk

OPEN DAYSSixth Form Open EveningFriday 18th SeptemberWhole School Open EveningThursday 8th OctoberWhole School Open MorningSaturday 10th OctoberCall us for more informationand to book your place.

badmintonschool.co.uke: [email protected] t: 0117 905 5271

Friendships

Adventure

Learning

Life changing

www.bristolgrammarschool.co.uk

Open EveningWhole School

For further details or torequest a prospectus, pleasecall Hollie Skerritt on0117 933 9885.

Friday 2 October 20154.00pm–8.00pm(until 7.00pm for BGS Infants and Juniors)

Daily Visits and Experience Daysavailable on various dates duringterm-time.

Saturday 26 SeptemberTo register on-line visit our website

or email [email protected]

Open Morning

Junior School, 0117 962 9451Senior School, 0117 989 8252

Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS9 redmaids.co.uk

Collaborative

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INSULATION from Governmentinterference is one of the reasonsfor choosing a private schoolover an academy, according toleaders at Bristol’s independent

s ch o o l s.Heads say that although

academies have morefreedoms than tradi-tional council-runschools have everenjoyed, they arestill hamstrung bypoliticians mak-ing changes to thestate educationsystem.

Redland HighSchool says it used itsfreedoms as an independentschool to shift from the GCSE toIGCSE in some subjects five yearsago, something state schools wouldhave been unable to do.

In common with many other in-dependent schools it felt the IGCSE

offered more rigour.In 2014, when English GCSE results

dropped across the country, theschool said it avoided embroiling pu-pils in the anxiety and “sheer un-fair ness” of changed gradeb o u n d a r i e s.

The school’s head StephanieFerro, pictured inset, said state

schools were “at the mercy ofthe vagaries of political redtape and the use of children toscore political points”.

She said: “At Redland Highwe focus on what is best for

our pupils, and their teachersand tutors work hard to achieve

that with them.”In agreement, Angela Chapman,

deputy head at Badminton School,said: “Schools in the independent sec-tor are not forced to follow govern-ment policy in the same way as theacademies and for that reason theirprovision can be truly independent.

“This therefore raises the question

‘Do academies really have enoughfreedom to ever compete with theindependent sector?’

“They are still very heavily reg-ulated by the government and thismay not always be to the benefit of theground level education provided fort o d ay ’s young people.”

Heads of Bristol private schools saythere are many other reasons tochoose an independent education in-cluding class sizes, exam perform-

ance and access to extra-curriculara c t iv i t i e s.

Guy Cowper, director of operationsat Clifton High School, said: “T henumber of children at independentday schools continues to rise and hasincreased 1.7 per cent this year.

“Coupled with this the number ofinternational pupils seeking an edu-cation at our independent schoolscontinues to grow. This to me demon-strates the desirability of an inde-

HOW DO SCHOOLS HELP COMMUNITIES?

� Earlier this year at a hustings held inBristol ahead of the general election,politicians clashed over the issue ofindependent schools in the city andtheir contribution to helping stateschools and the wider community.Thangam Debbonaire, the thenprospective Labour MP for BristolWest, accused Liberal Democratincumbent Stephen Williams of failingto push for Bristol’s private schools todo more to help state schools during adebate at Bristol University’s GraduateSchool of Education.

Both politicians pledged to scrap thecharitable status independent schoolsenjoy unless they did more to benefitthe community by giving state schoolsaccess to their sports facilities andteaching expertise. But whatexactly are private schools inBristol doing to helpcommunities?

The 2012Independent SchoolsCouncil (ISC) Censusreported that 90 percent of its memberschools were involvedin some form ofpartnership with stateschools or the widercommunity, whetherformalised or on aninformal basis, andindependent schools in Bristolsay their institutions are noexception to this. Clifton High Schooland Redland High School say they bothprovide access to some of theirfacilities free of charge, for exampletheir swimming pool and playing fields,which are made available to localschools in the maintained sector.Redland High School says it works todevelop potential in Bristol’s children.

The school worksclosely with Tomorrow’s

Achievers EducationalTrust, a national charityproviding specialistmaster classes forgifted children, andprovides its facilities,such as laboratories,free of charge and

volunteers theirteachers’ time and

expertise to run thesessions. They also offer

free workshops in subjectssuch as science and art. Badminton

School, pictured, runs an outreachprogramme in science for local primaryschools, where their girls lead sciencesessions for younger pupils helping toencourage them to develop an interestin this field. They also hold an annualYoung Geographers’ Competition andthe Mary Fedden Art Competition forlocal prep and primary schools.

pendent education.” Ms Chapman,deputy head at Badminton School,said the staff to student ratio in in-dependent schools means no studentcan slip under the radar.

She said: “Class sizes tend to besmall, ensuring more frequent pupilinteraction and allowing every singlepupil to be engaged; ensuring there isno scope for pupils to go under theradar. This also allows for more timeto be dedicated to each student with

‘Schools are freefrom politicalp o i n t-sco r i n g ’

Angela Chapman, deputyhead, Badminton School

Class sizes tend to besmall, ensuring morefrequent pupil interactionand allowing every singlepupil to be engaged

“� Above, Guy Cowper, director ofoperations at Clifton High School;Right, Clifton High School; Left,Redland High pupils celebrate theirGCSE results.

Badminton School runsan outreach programmein science for localprimary schools, wheretheir girls lead sciencesessions for youngerpupils helping toencourage them todevelop an interest in thisfield.

“

extra academic support ‘cl i n i c s ’,one-to-ones and the opportunity forregular feedback to parents eitherthrough the school tracking and mon-itoring programme or on a muchmore personal and individualb a s i s. ”

co��c��o��l ��rs�ry school to sixth form

�li�o� �i�h �chool

Senior School Open Evening:Thursday 17th September

Whole School Open Morning:Saturday 10th October

Sixth Form Open Evening:Tuesday 10th November

Clifton High School

realising individual brilliance

0117 933 9087 | www.cliftonhigh.bristol.sch.uk

OPEN DAYSSixth Form Open EveningFriday 18th SeptemberWhole School Open EveningThursday 8th OctoberWhole School Open MorningSaturday 10th OctoberCall us for more informationand to book your place.

badmintonschool.co.uke: [email protected] t: 0117 905 5271

Friendships

Adventure

Learning

Life changing

www.bristolgrammarschool.co.uk

Open EveningWhole School

For further details or torequest a prospectus, pleasecall Hollie Skerritt on0117 933 9885.

Friday 2 October 20154.00pm–8.00pm(until 7.00pm for BGS Infants and Juniors)

Daily Visits and Experience Daysavailable on various dates duringterm-time.

Saturday 26 SeptemberTo register on-line visit our website

or email [email protected]

Open Morning

Junior School, 0117 962 9451Senior School, 0117 989 8252

Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS9 redmaids.co.uk

Collaborative

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The past few years have seen unprecedented changes made to the curriculum and exams in British schools. There has been ashift away from modular courses to assessment by end-of-year exam only, the introduction of fresh subject content with anemphasis on academic rigour and a new numerical grading system brought in for GCSEs. Here, Stuart Dalley, director ofstudies at Badminton School in Bristol, explains why the reforms could spell a tricky few years ahead

“From 2015 through to 2019schools across Britain will befaced with renewed turbu-lence as a wave of reforms ofboth GCSEs and A-levels gets

underway. The complexities of thesereforms are such that pupils, staff,governors and parents will need to befully up to speed with what thechanges mean. In short, the govern-ment is looking to turn the clock backto the pre-Curriculum 2000 dayswhen A-levels were based on a linearsystem with all exams at the end oftwo years of sixth form study.However, such is the difficulty ofreform that these changes will bestaggered over two years so that therewill be some subjects reformed forfirst teaching in a linear fashion fromSeptember 2015, a further tranche inSeptember 2016 and the last in placefor teaching in September 2017. Thiswill mean that for two years schoolsacross Britain will be faced withtough decisions on how they will copewith a ‘mixed currency’ of reformedand non-reformed A-levels.

Pupils, and their parents, will needto appreciate that in reformed sub-jects only the exams sat at the end ofthe A2 year – and none from the lowersixth year if sat – will count towardsthe final A-level grade, but this will bedone alongside unreformed subjectswhere it will still be possible to doexams at the end of the lower sixthyear which could still count to to-wards the final grade! Schools willneed to manage this system for atleast two years as these staggeredreforms take place.

If this was not enough to cope with,new GCSEs will also be factored instarting with maths and English inSeptember 2015, followed by otherGCSE subjects in September 2016. Ithas been argued that GCSEs requireupdating due to the fact that gradeinflation has eroded the value of topgrade GCSEs and that there is a needfor new content, a different structureand better assessment if the countryis to retain its educational standingin the world. Though it is difficult atthis stage for schools to know the

impact of these GCSE reforms, it issuggested that there will be a greaterfocus, where appropriate, on assess-ment mainly through exams and con-tent which is deemed to be moredemanding. At the time of writing,there is no definitive answer aboutthe rigour of content or assessmentwith old vs. new systems but there isa general sense that whilst A-levelcontent will remain at a similar levelof difficulty (albeit with an arguablymore difficult framework), new

GCSE content will be noticeablymore difficult. What has been definedis that a new 9-1 grading system willbe used, with 9 being the new topgrade. Broadly speaking, 8 is con-sidered to be the equivalent of the oldA*, 7 an A grade and so on. In effect, 9will be the new super grade with onlya small minority of pupils able toachieve this. However, some IGCSEsubjects are proposing to stick withthe A*-G system or to offer both anA*-G option and a 9-1 option; so againa mixed system will prevail and willhave to be understood by those uni-versities, courses and employers re-cruiting based on these.

The government has given the mes-sage that it aims to drive to improvestandards in British education; theupdating of the content of coursesand improvements to assessmentmethods are one vehicle being used toachieve this. For those of us in thefront line of these changes, whetheras pupils, staff, parents and govern-ing bodies, it means a tricky fewyears ahead.”

SUMMARY OF THECHANGES BEINGINTRODUCED TO

GCSES THIS MONTH:

� New GCSEs in Englishlanguage, literature and mathscontain new content and arebeing assessed and gradedd i ff e re n t l y.

Most subjects will beassessed by exam only, andstudents will be awarded one ofnine grades, represented by thenumbers 1-9, with 9representing the highest level ofattainment. Those who fail tomeet the minimum standard willbe graded with a U – as before.

Many subjects will no longerhave coursework, unless it'sdecided that it's vital to judgehow a student is doing. This willbe decided on asubject-by-subject basis.Subjects including the sciences,geography, history and modernlanguages will be introduced asnew GCSE qualifications in2016.

Confused? Even more exam changes ahead

at Redland High

Open MorningThursday 1 October

Sixth Form EveningWednesday 11 November

2015OpenEvents

JUNIOR Friday 9October 9.30–11.30amSENIOR Saturday 10 October 10am–12noonSIXTH FORM Monday 12 October 6.30pm

0117 930 3068 www.qehbristol.co.uk

Ou besteveesults

Open Day 3rd October 0117 405 8396 | cliftoncollege.com

Clifton College pupils have achieved their best ever A Level results,with more than 82% of pupils gainingA* to B and 55% of pupilsgaining A* to A grades.

“Congratulations to our pupils.We are extremely proud of you all.”

Mark Moore, Head of Clifton College

Scholarshipsavailable at11+ and 13+

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The past few years have seen unprecedented changes made to the curriculum and exams in British schools. There has been ashift away from modular courses to assessment by end-of-year exam only, the introduction of fresh subject content with anemphasis on academic rigour and a new numerical grading system brought in for GCSEs. Here, Stuart Dalley, director ofstudies at Badminton School in Bristol, explains why the reforms could spell a tricky few years ahead

“From 2015 through to 2019schools across Britain will befaced with renewed turbu-lence as a wave of reforms ofboth GCSEs and A-levels gets

underway. The complexities of thesereforms are such that pupils, staff,governors and parents will need to befully up to speed with what thechanges mean. In short, the govern-ment is looking to turn the clock backto the pre-Curriculum 2000 dayswhen A-levels were based on a linearsystem with all exams at the end oftwo years of sixth form study.However, such is the difficulty ofreform that these changes will bestaggered over two years so that therewill be some subjects reformed forfirst teaching in a linear fashion fromSeptember 2015, a further tranche inSeptember 2016 and the last in placefor teaching in September 2017. Thiswill mean that for two years schoolsacross Britain will be faced withtough decisions on how they will copewith a ‘mixed currency’ of reformedand non-reformed A-levels.

Pupils, and their parents, will needto appreciate that in reformed sub-jects only the exams sat at the end ofthe A2 year – and none from the lowersixth year if sat – will count towardsthe final A-level grade, but this will bedone alongside unreformed subjectswhere it will still be possible to doexams at the end of the lower sixthyear which could still count to to-wards the final grade! Schools willneed to manage this system for atleast two years as these staggeredreforms take place.

If this was not enough to cope with,new GCSEs will also be factored instarting with maths and English inSeptember 2015, followed by otherGCSE subjects in September 2016. Ithas been argued that GCSEs requireupdating due to the fact that gradeinflation has eroded the value of topgrade GCSEs and that there is a needfor new content, a different structureand better assessment if the countryis to retain its educational standingin the world. Though it is difficult atthis stage for schools to know the

impact of these GCSE reforms, it issuggested that there will be a greaterfocus, where appropriate, on assess-ment mainly through exams and con-tent which is deemed to be moredemanding. At the time of writing,there is no definitive answer aboutthe rigour of content or assessmentwith old vs. new systems but there isa general sense that whilst A-levelcontent will remain at a similar levelof difficulty (albeit with an arguablymore difficult framework), new

GCSE content will be noticeablymore difficult. What has been definedis that a new 9-1 grading system willbe used, with 9 being the new topgrade. Broadly speaking, 8 is con-sidered to be the equivalent of the oldA*, 7 an A grade and so on. In effect, 9will be the new super grade with onlya small minority of pupils able toachieve this. However, some IGCSEsubjects are proposing to stick withthe A*-G system or to offer both anA*-G option and a 9-1 option; so againa mixed system will prevail and willhave to be understood by those uni-versities, courses and employers re-cruiting based on these.

The government has given the mes-sage that it aims to drive to improvestandards in British education; theupdating of the content of coursesand improvements to assessmentmethods are one vehicle being used toachieve this. For those of us in thefront line of these changes, whetheras pupils, staff, parents and govern-ing bodies, it means a tricky fewyears ahead.”

SUMMARY OF THECHANGES BEINGINTRODUCED TO

GCSES THIS MONTH:

� New GCSEs in Englishlanguage, literature and mathscontain new content and arebeing assessed and gradedd i ff e re n t l y.

Most subjects will beassessed by exam only, andstudents will be awarded one ofnine grades, represented by thenumbers 1-9, with 9representing the highest level ofattainment. Those who fail tomeet the minimum standard willbe graded with a U – as before.

Many subjects will no longerhave coursework, unless it'sdecided that it's vital to judgehow a student is doing. This willbe decided on asubject-by-subject basis.Subjects including the sciences,geography, history and modernlanguages will be introduced asnew GCSE qualifications in2016.

Confused? Even more exam changes ahead

at Redland High

Open MorningThursday 1 October

Sixth Form EveningWednesday 11 November

2015OpenEvents

JUNIOR Friday 9October 9.30–11.30amSENIOR Saturday 10 October 10am–12noonSIXTH FORM Monday 12 October 6.30pm

0117 930 3068 www.qehbristol.co.uk

Ou besteveesults

Open Day 3rd October 0117 405 8396 | cliftoncollege.com

Clifton College pupils have achieved their best ever A Level results,with more than 82% of pupils gainingA* to B and 55% of pupilsgaining A* to A grades.

“Congratulations to our pupils.We are extremely proud of you all.”

Mark Moore, Head of Clifton College

Scholarshipsavailable at11+ and 13+

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Isabel Tobias, Red Maids’ Senior School

LET me start with a few facts:Firstly, Red Maids’ is the old-est girls’ school in the coun-try, founded in 1634 and stillgoing strong (very much so!).

Secondly, this is the only school inBristol offering the IB diploma orA-levels for sixth form study.

Thirdly, more parents choose tosend their daughters to Red Maids’than any other independent school inBristol. It seems to be paying off forstudents: doors open for them at thebest UK universities – p re d o m i n a n t lyRussell Group – and overseas; othersenjoy gap years before higher edu-cation; and some move straight intoi n d u s t r y.

As a girls-only school, we arequite simply specialists in all thingsgirls. We structure lessons and thetimetable to suit their needs. Weknow what is best for them academ-ically and pastorally.

We help them build strong self-es-teem, empower them to be leadersand to aspire to any profession.

They rise magnificently to the chal-lenge and consistently forge ahead inareas that have historically beenmale strongholds.

This year, almost half of our sixthform leavers took up degrees inSTEM-related subjects includingphysics and astrophysics, civil en-gineering, neuroscience, pharmacyand psychology.

More than 10 per cent of the yeargroup won places at medical school.

Our students also excel in lan-guages and in the humanities. Music,

drama and sport also play a big partin their lives. We provide added“s t re t ch ” through exciting and chal-lenging curricular and extra-cur-ricular trips at home and overseas,such as projects in Nepal and Cam-bodia, and through participation inspecial events, including the Edin-burgh Fringe Festival, the Rotarycompetition for young musicians andusing our own observatory.

We are forward looking in ourteaching, using mobile technology tocreate dynamic learning and ourlinks with many industries and pro-fessions bring practical andup-to-date expertise directly into thecl a s s ro o m .

Whichever way you look at it, RedMaids’ is a highly successful andspecial educational establishmentand I would urge you to visit us.� The open morning is on Saturday,September 26. For moreinformation, contact the admissionsregistrar on 0117 989 8252, oradmissions@r edmaids.bristol.sch.uk.

Almost half of our sixthform leavers took updegrees in STEM-relatedsubjects and more than10 per cent of the yeargroup won places atmedical school.

“

Lisa Brown, Red Maids’ Junior School

It’s a busy, happy andvibrant school, where ourgirls are free to explore,discover and developtheir strengths.

“HIGH standards of academicachievement combinedwith strong pastoral carehave been important hall-marks of Red Maids’ Ju n i o r

School for more than 25 years andremain so today, says head teacherLisa Brown.

She goes on: “I was privileged totake over the headship in January,maintaining the principles on whichthe school has grown: that of allowingpersonalities and friendships to blos-som, and nurturing every girl’s in-terests, energies and talents.

“The junior school is a busy, happyand vibrant school, where our girlsare free to explore, discover and de-velop their strengths without the con-straints of stereotyping. It gives megreat pleasure to watch ballet club ona Tuesday and then the very samegirls throwing themselves whole-heartedly into dramatic judo moveslater in the week.

“Our curriculum and variedextra-curricular activities provide agreat breadth of opportunity for RedMaids to find out what they are goodat and enjoy most, ensuring that theyare equipped with a wide range ofskills and knowledge enabling themto make informed choices.

“For us, communication is a keyaspect of our teaching programme:through writing, speaking and usingthe latest technology. We value highlyand encourage the ability to voiceopinions or share knowledge openlyin discussions.

“Learning is fun here and this isevident in the way that lessons are

taught and the skill of the teachingstaff in their delivery. Everyone isencouraged to join in and the varietyof experiences, both within and bey-ond the classroom, creates a mem-orable pathway of discovery in whicheach girl grows through interactive,engaging teaching and independents t u dy.

“Being a parent myself, I am veryaware of the need to provide flexibleprovision that accommodates themany changing commitments ofmodern family life on a daily basis.School opens from 7.45am for break-fast and after-school care is providedwithin the cost of our fees until 6pm.Many of our families are within walk-ing distance, but for those comingfurther we are well-served by Bris-tol’s transport systems. We also haveour own private bus services fromClifton and the Chew Valley whichare used by a number of our juniorpupils

“I do hope you will make a date tovisit us during the autumn.”

For further details, contact LynnMcCabe on 0117 962 9451, or j u n i o rs @re d m a i d s. b r i s t o l . s ch . u k .

IT is a move which has attractednationwide criticism since itwas first announced in 2014. Andthe introduction of testing forfour-year-old pupils has been no

more warmly received in Bristol,with both the city council and a teach-ing union holding reservations.

The baseline tests in writing, read-ing and maths are being brought in atprimary schools in England from thismonth to monitor reception chil-d re n’s progress through the educa-tion system.

Announcing the tests last year, thethen Education Secretary MichaelGove said children should be as-sessed when they entered primaryschool and again when they left at11.

He said the assessment would en-able the government to see whichschools were making progress withdisadvantaged children.

But early years education expertshave condemned the move, describ-

ing the tests as unreliable, harmful toch i l d re n’s wellbeing and learning,and disruptive. A government con-sultation found 57 per cent of 1,063respondents opposed them.

The literacy and numeracy checksare being implemented as pilots thisyear and will be rolled out formally inSeptember 2016.

Schools are under pressure tocarry out the tests becausethey will be ranked by thegovernment based onthe assessments.

Sally Jaeckle, ser-vice manager forearly years at Bris-tol City Council,said there weresome concerns theassessments would bemore helpful for calcu-lating outcomes forschools than aiding childrenwith their learning.

She said early years practitioners

already conducted informal assess-ments of children in reception class –through observation during play and

discussions with family – to helptailor lessons to pupils’ d eve l -

opment needs.Ms Jaeckle said: “C l e a rly,

a young child who is sub-jected to a ‘test’, howeverwell disguised, is unlikelyto provide a true picture of

their abilities during theirvery first days of school.“This is such an important

transition period and childrenfirst need to adapt to their new en-vironment, build new relationshipsand develop trust and confidence in

their new setting.”But Ms Jaeckle said that of the six

types of baseline assessment pro-grammes available to heads, the ma-jority of schools in Bristol andnationally would use the one testingtools which most closely fits with the“principles” of the Early YearsFoundation Stage.

She said: “Though not perfect, thistool is rooted in observations of chil-dren at play, rather than a screenbased test and hopefully will be usedin the context of assessment for learn-ing, informing each child’s learningjourney, rather than as a barometerfor the school’s effectiveness.

“The jury is out. This year is a pilot

and much could change before thenew assessment is implemented asgovernment policy. There is thereforean important opportunity to makesure that the Department for Edu-cation receives a clear message fromthe early years sector.

“The importance of well-informedassessment is recognised and valued,but this needs to be within the prin-ciples of the Early Years FoundationStage, it must be supportive and em-powering for children and based onreliable evidence gained throughcareful observation and analysis.

“This will enable children to thrive,demonstrate what they can do, notwhat they can’t, and start their schoolcareer feeling confident about them-selves as learners and youngp e o p l e. ”

Earlier this year, members of theNational Union of Teachers backed acampaign to abolish the tests.

Lisa Middle, spokeswoman for theBristol branch of the union, said:“The success of the first term of ach i l d ’s educational career is crucial.Children need time to adjust and beconfident and secure to learn.

“Teachers have always assessedchildren in this time in an effectivebut gentle way. More and more chil-dren are showing signs of stress atschool and at a younger age. Childrenas young as six are saying they areworried about performing well intests. The reason for ‘baseline as-sessments’ are to provide a scoreagainst which to judge a school’sfuture performance. They are purelypart of the accountability agenda.”

The jury’s stillout on tests forfour -year -olds

� Lisa Middle, above, and, inset, Sally Jaeckle

Cleve House School

A Fresh Start!See The Changes For Yourself…

OPEN DAY - EVERY DAY

z Happy and nurturing atmospherez Small classes for individual tuition (pupils 3 -11)z Excellent academic resultsz Flexible hours for nursery childrenz Before and after school supervised carez Nursery vouchers accepted

Come and see us at: 254 Wells Road, Bristol BS4 2PN

Tel: 0117 9777 218 www.clevehouseschool.co.uk ©LW

Independent day and boarding school set in glorious Somersetcountryside, for boys and girls aged 3 to 18. Less than 30 minutesdrive from Bristol’s city centre on the A38 – Winscombe BS25 1PD.

At Sidcot School we develop students’ natural curiosityand creativity. We educate them, rather than simply trainthem to pass tests, so they can go out into the world andlive rewarding and adventurous lives.

Open MorningFriday 25 September9am – noonCall 01934 845236 or visitwww.curiousparents.org.uk to register.

• Scholarships and bursaries available• Daily school buses• A Levels and International Baccalaureate

sidcot.org.uk

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Isabel Tobias, Red Maids’ Senior School

LET me start with a few facts:Firstly, Red Maids’ is the old-est girls’ school in the coun-try, founded in 1634 and stillgoing strong (very much so!).

Secondly, this is the only school inBristol offering the IB diploma orA-levels for sixth form study.

Thirdly, more parents choose tosend their daughters to Red Maids’than any other independent school inBristol. It seems to be paying off forstudents: doors open for them at thebest UK universities – p re d o m i n a n t lyRussell Group – and overseas; othersenjoy gap years before higher edu-cation; and some move straight intoi n d u s t r y.

As a girls-only school, we arequite simply specialists in all thingsgirls. We structure lessons and thetimetable to suit their needs. Weknow what is best for them academ-ically and pastorally.

We help them build strong self-es-teem, empower them to be leadersand to aspire to any profession.

They rise magnificently to the chal-lenge and consistently forge ahead inareas that have historically beenmale strongholds.

This year, almost half of our sixthform leavers took up degrees inSTEM-related subjects includingphysics and astrophysics, civil en-gineering, neuroscience, pharmacyand psychology.

More than 10 per cent of the yeargroup won places at medical school.

Our students also excel in lan-guages and in the humanities. Music,

drama and sport also play a big partin their lives. We provide added“s t re t ch ” through exciting and chal-lenging curricular and extra-cur-ricular trips at home and overseas,such as projects in Nepal and Cam-bodia, and through participation inspecial events, including the Edin-burgh Fringe Festival, the Rotarycompetition for young musicians andusing our own observatory.

We are forward looking in ourteaching, using mobile technology tocreate dynamic learning and ourlinks with many industries and pro-fessions bring practical andup-to-date expertise directly into thecl a s s ro o m .

Whichever way you look at it, RedMaids’ is a highly successful andspecial educational establishmentand I would urge you to visit us.� The open morning is on Saturday,September 26. For moreinformation, contact the admissionsregistrar on 0117 989 8252, oradmissions@r edmaids.bristol.sch.uk.

Almost half of our sixthform leavers took updegrees in STEM-relatedsubjects and more than10 per cent of the yeargroup won places atmedical school.

“

Lisa Brown, Red Maids’ Junior School

It’s a busy, happy andvibrant school, where ourgirls are free to explore,discover and developtheir strengths.

“HIGH standards of academicachievement combinedwith strong pastoral carehave been important hall-marks of Red Maids’ Ju n i o r

School for more than 25 years andremain so today, says head teacherLisa Brown.

She goes on: “I was privileged totake over the headship in January,maintaining the principles on whichthe school has grown: that of allowingpersonalities and friendships to blos-som, and nurturing every girl’s in-terests, energies and talents.

“The junior school is a busy, happyand vibrant school, where our girlsare free to explore, discover and de-velop their strengths without the con-straints of stereotyping. It gives megreat pleasure to watch ballet club ona Tuesday and then the very samegirls throwing themselves whole-heartedly into dramatic judo moveslater in the week.

“Our curriculum and variedextra-curricular activities provide agreat breadth of opportunity for RedMaids to find out what they are goodat and enjoy most, ensuring that theyare equipped with a wide range ofskills and knowledge enabling themto make informed choices.

“For us, communication is a keyaspect of our teaching programme:through writing, speaking and usingthe latest technology. We value highlyand encourage the ability to voiceopinions or share knowledge openlyin discussions.

“Learning is fun here and this isevident in the way that lessons are

taught and the skill of the teachingstaff in their delivery. Everyone isencouraged to join in and the varietyof experiences, both within and bey-ond the classroom, creates a mem-orable pathway of discovery in whicheach girl grows through interactive,engaging teaching and independents t u dy.

“Being a parent myself, I am veryaware of the need to provide flexibleprovision that accommodates themany changing commitments ofmodern family life on a daily basis.School opens from 7.45am for break-fast and after-school care is providedwithin the cost of our fees until 6pm.Many of our families are within walk-ing distance, but for those comingfurther we are well-served by Bris-tol’s transport systems. We also haveour own private bus services fromClifton and the Chew Valley whichare used by a number of our juniorpupils

“I do hope you will make a date tovisit us during the autumn.”

For further details, contact LynnMcCabe on 0117 962 9451, or j u n i o rs @re d m a i d s. b r i s t o l . s ch . u k .

IT is a move which has attractednationwide criticism since itwas first announced in 2014. Andthe introduction of testing forfour-year-old pupils has been no

more warmly received in Bristol,with both the city council and a teach-ing union holding reservations.

The baseline tests in writing, read-ing and maths are being brought in atprimary schools in England from thismonth to monitor reception chil-d re n’s progress through the educa-tion system.

Announcing the tests last year, thethen Education Secretary MichaelGove said children should be as-sessed when they entered primaryschool and again when they left at11.

He said the assessment would en-able the government to see whichschools were making progress withdisadvantaged children.

But early years education expertshave condemned the move, describ-

ing the tests as unreliable, harmful toch i l d re n’s wellbeing and learning,and disruptive. A government con-sultation found 57 per cent of 1,063respondents opposed them.

The literacy and numeracy checksare being implemented as pilots thisyear and will be rolled out formally inSeptember 2016.

Schools are under pressure tocarry out the tests becausethey will be ranked by thegovernment based onthe assessments.

Sally Jaeckle, ser-vice manager forearly years at Bris-tol City Council,said there weresome concerns theassessments would bemore helpful for calcu-lating outcomes forschools than aiding childrenwith their learning.

She said early years practitioners

already conducted informal assess-ments of children in reception class –through observation during play and

discussions with family – to helptailor lessons to pupils’ d eve l -

opment needs.Ms Jaeckle said: “C l e a rly,

a young child who is sub-jected to a ‘test’, howeverwell disguised, is unlikelyto provide a true picture of

their abilities during theirvery first days of school.“This is such an important

transition period and childrenfirst need to adapt to their new en-vironment, build new relationshipsand develop trust and confidence in

their new setting.”But Ms Jaeckle said that of the six

types of baseline assessment pro-grammes available to heads, the ma-jority of schools in Bristol andnationally would use the one testingtools which most closely fits with the“principles” of the Early YearsFoundation Stage.

She said: “Though not perfect, thistool is rooted in observations of chil-dren at play, rather than a screenbased test and hopefully will be usedin the context of assessment for learn-ing, informing each child’s learningjourney, rather than as a barometerfor the school’s effectiveness.

“The jury is out. This year is a pilot

and much could change before thenew assessment is implemented asgovernment policy. There is thereforean important opportunity to makesure that the Department for Edu-cation receives a clear message fromthe early years sector.

“The importance of well-informedassessment is recognised and valued,but this needs to be within the prin-ciples of the Early Years FoundationStage, it must be supportive and em-powering for children and based onreliable evidence gained throughcareful observation and analysis.

“This will enable children to thrive,demonstrate what they can do, notwhat they can’t, and start their schoolcareer feeling confident about them-selves as learners and youngp e o p l e. ”

Earlier this year, members of theNational Union of Teachers backed acampaign to abolish the tests.

Lisa Middle, spokeswoman for theBristol branch of the union, said:“The success of the first term of ach i l d ’s educational career is crucial.Children need time to adjust and beconfident and secure to learn.

“Teachers have always assessedchildren in this time in an effectivebut gentle way. More and more chil-dren are showing signs of stress atschool and at a younger age. Childrenas young as six are saying they areworried about performing well intests. The reason for ‘baseline as-sessments’ are to provide a scoreagainst which to judge a school’sfuture performance. They are purelypart of the accountability agenda.”

The jury’s stillout on tests forfour -year -olds

� Lisa Middle, above, and, inset, Sally Jaeckle

Cleve House School

A Fresh Start!See The Changes For Yourself…

OPEN DAY - EVERY DAY

z Happy and nurturing atmospherez Small classes for individual tuition (pupils 3 -11)z Excellent academic resultsz Flexible hours for nursery childrenz Before and after school supervised carez Nursery vouchers accepted

Come and see us at: 254 Wells Road, Bristol BS4 2PN

Tel: 0117 9777 218 www.clevehouseschool.co.uk ©LW

Independent day and boarding school set in glorious Somersetcountryside, for boys and girls aged 3 to 18. Less than 30 minutesdrive from Bristol’s city centre on the A38 – Winscombe BS25 1PD.

At Sidcot School we develop students’ natural curiosityand creativity. We educate them, rather than simply trainthem to pass tests, so they can go out into the world andlive rewarding and adventurous lives.

Open MorningFriday 25 September9am – noonCall 01934 845236 or visitwww.curiousparents.org.uk to register.

• Scholarships and bursaries available• Daily school buses• A Levels and International Baccalaureate

sidcot.org.uk

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Stephanie Ferro, Redland High Senior School

We are a school on ahill that looks outwardand aspires upward.

“NEWLY appointed headmis-tress Stephanie Ferro saysshe really wanted to lead aschool which purposefullyprioritises giving young

people roots and wings. She believesthat young people can flourish, inspite of facing a rapidly changingfuture, when nurtured in an envir-onment which is secure and suitablych a l l e n g i n g .

Promoting clear thinking, encour-aging effort without fear of failure,and instilling a quiet confidence topursue their interests, gives a senseof belonging and the courage to reachout to those beyond them.

“It was the tangible sense that thesevalues are deeply rooted in the cul-ture of Redland High that convincedme that its distinctive ethos is onewhich I would be proud to promote,”she explains.

“When I addressed the incomingsenior school girls at their inductionmorning, I said how pleased I was tobe looking at the future: the class of2022 – the year of our 140th an-niversary. During the next sevenyears they will make life-long friendsin a school with a trusted reputationfor providing a stimulating educationwhich prepares them well for thef u t u re. ”

Stephanie Ferro, who has morethan 20 years’ experience in some ofthe most prestigious girls’ s ch o o l s,arrives after Redland High has con-tinued to achieve outstanding exam-ination results.

The young women have again wonplaces at their chosen universities to

study for a wide range of competitivedegree courses. Miss Ferro’s extens-ive experience of the UCAS applic-ation process ensures that, amidfierce competition for good uni-versity places, Redland High Schoolcontinues to have the expertise toguide students wisely.

Miss Ferro continues: “We are aschool on a hill that looks outwardand aspires upward. Our houses arenamed after trees that put out deeproots. Our school symbol of the daisyrepresents a flower that opens in thesunlight, just as a child who is nur-tured blossoms and thrives.

“This vision and proven track re-cord mean that Redland High is wellplaced to meet the 2017 demand forsecondary provision in Bristol, aswell as the unchanging needs ofyoung women to be supported so theycan be their best possible selves. I amdelighted to be building on thes ch o o l ’s founding vision and look for-ward to leading Redland High at thenext exciting stage of its develop-ment.”

Joe Eyles, Redland High Junior School

JOE Eyles has an energetic andmotivational approach to lead-ing Redland High Junior School,having taught children acrossthe age range and with specialistknowledge of many different as-pects of junior education includ-

ing pastoral care, numeracy, literacy,IT and physical education.

As an Independent Schools TeamInspector, Mr Eyles also has in-depthexperience of best practice fromother schools. He is also a Governorof QEH.

The junior school caters for girlsaged three to 11. The Early Years andKey Stage 1 provision, Redland HighInfants with QEH, is coeducationaland the school works closely withQEH boys’ school to provide a seam-less transition at age seven.

The size of Redland High JuniorSchool means that each child isknown extremely well and there is astrong sense of community. Mr Eylesexplains: “Some of our girls join atage three and continue at RedlandHigh until they are 18. Others join thejunior school for just one or two yearsin readiness to move into our seniors ch o o l .

“We are committed to our pupils’successful progress, right through toour senior school – understandingtheir individual personalities,stretching them to achieve their verybest, helping them to discover thejoys of learning and instilling goodhabits of self-discipline, integrity,courtesy and honesty. Through hap-piness and security the girls gain

high self-esteem, enabling them tobecome independent learners.”

There is a myriad of extra-cur-ricular activity on offer in the juniorschool and Mr Eyles firmly encour-ages each pupil to try at least one ofthem each term so that they can findtheir strengths and develop theself-esteem so essential for effectivelearning. The school also enjoys agood relationship with QEH, withmany joint activities allowing girls ofall ages to work positively and con-structively with boys.

Means-tested bursaries are avail-able for girls to enter Redland HighJunior School in Years 5 and 6.

Visiting Morning is Thursday, Oc-tober 1, from 9.30am to 11.30am andSaturday, October 17, from 9.15am.See w w w. re d l a n d h i g h . c o m for moredetails. Telephone: 0117 290 2904.

We are committed toour pupils’ successfulprogress, right through toour senior school –understanding theirindividual personalities,stretching them toachieve their very best.

“

CLIFTON College is celebrat-ing after pupils gained theirbest ever A-level and GCSEresults. Head of College MarkMoore said: “We are im-

mensely proud of all our pupils, andthese outstanding results are test-ament to their hard work and ded-i c at i o n . ”

An impressive 83 per cent of A-levelgrades were A* to B, with 55 per centA* to A grades. Girls did particularlywell, achieving 88 per cent A* to Bgrades. This gives Clifton College thehighest achieving results for girls inBristol and, contrary to received wis-dom, shows that girls do not alwaysdo best in single sex schools.

In total, 17 pupils gained places atOxford or Cambridge – again, thehighest number in Bristol. Of these,more than half were recipients offunded places through scholarshipsand bursaries, and nearly two thirdsjoined Clifton College in the prepar-atory school.

A closer look at the A-level resultsreveals more interesting successes.For example, 40 per cent of pupilsstudying mathematics, and 70 percent of those studying classics re-ceived A*s. And 82 per cent of pupilsstudying STEM subjects received A*to Bs and more than half of the hu-manities results were A*s or As.

GCSE results were just as outstand-ing, with a massive 91 per cent A* to Bgrades and 74 per cent A* to A.

The results come at the end of afantastic year for the college, whichsaw pupils achieving not only aca-demic success, but also success on thestage and sporting field.

Two pupils, Florence Wooley andJonty O’Callaghan, were nominated

for the prestigious Rose Bowl Award2015 for their performances in theschool production of Chica go. Theawards recognise exceptional dramatalent across schools and dramagroups in the South West.

Sixth-former Lea Van der Zwalmenbecame the first ever ladies racketsworld champion, while studying forher A-levels, and the upper schoolrugby team stormed to victoryagainst Marlborough College at the150th anniversary of the oldest schoolsporting fixture. They were latervoted team of the month by Rugb yWo rl d mag azine.

Mr Moore said: “We are immenselyproud of all our pupils, and theseoutstanding results are testament totheir hard work and dedication. Wewish them all a fantastic onwardjour ney.

“From September 2016, we’re de-lighted to be offering scholarshipsand bursaries to children from theage of 11. These financial awardsremain with the pupil throughouttheir time at the schoo.l”

Clifton College is holding an openday for ages 2-18 on Saturday, October3. For more information on this andon 11+ and 13+ scholarships, visitwww.cliftoncolle ge.com.

Mark Moore, Clifton College

These outstandingresults are testament tothe pupils’ hard work anddedication

“

QEH School has been provid-ing outstanding educationfor boys in Bristol since1590, but headmasterStephen Holliday also hasa clear vision for its fu-t u re.

“The school is at an exciting timein its development, with our newscience and art building scheduledfor completion by the end of thisacademic year,” he explains.

“This will enable us to continuemeeting the needs of an ever-chan-ging curriculum and provide ourpupils with the outstanding facilitiesfor which we are so well known.”

This summer also saw QEH pupilsachieve record results, placing theschool in the top 10 boys’ schools inthe national league tables and aheadof any other school teaching boys inthe region.

“Although we know that leaguetables are only one kind of meas-urement of performance, it is non-etheless good to get positiverecognition for the hard work andachievement of boys here in Bristol,”says Mr Holliday.

Academic excellence is only partof the QEH story. Boys are en-couraged to be busy and active at alllevels, with a wealth of opportunitiesto try new things and discover wheretheir talents lie. From competing inrugby at international level, to rep-resenting the UK at the FutureProblem-Solving global final, to per-forming at world-class music venues,pupils are flourishing in all aspects

of school life.While QEH remains academically

selective, it is not socially exclusiveand offers means-tested bursaries aswell as academic, sport and musics ch o l a r s h i p s.

To meet the headmaster, talk tosome of the boys and find out whatlife is really like at QEH, visit duringopen morning, on Saturday, October10. The junior school open morningis on Friday, October 9. No ap-pointment is required.

There is also a sixth form openevening on Monday, October 12, byap p o i n t m e n t .

Entry is by assessment, usually atseven, 11, 13 or 16, although oc-casionally vacancies occur in otheryear groups.

For more information, or a pro-spectus, visit w w w. q e h b r i s t o l . c o. u k ,email a d m i s s i o n s @ q e h b r i s t o l . c o. u kor call Carolyn Matthews, admis-sions registrar, on 0117 930 3068.

Stephen Holliday, Queen Elizabeth Hospital School

The school is at anexciting time in itsdevelopment, with ournew science and artbuilding scheduled forcompletion by the end ofthis academic year,

“

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Stephanie Ferro, Redland High Senior School

We are a school on ahill that looks outwardand aspires upward.

“NEWLY appointed headmis-tress Stephanie Ferro saysshe really wanted to lead aschool which purposefullyprioritises giving young

people roots and wings. She believesthat young people can flourish, inspite of facing a rapidly changingfuture, when nurtured in an envir-onment which is secure and suitablych a l l e n g i n g .

Promoting clear thinking, encour-aging effort without fear of failure,and instilling a quiet confidence topursue their interests, gives a senseof belonging and the courage to reachout to those beyond them.

“It was the tangible sense that thesevalues are deeply rooted in the cul-ture of Redland High that convincedme that its distinctive ethos is onewhich I would be proud to promote,”she explains.

“When I addressed the incomingsenior school girls at their inductionmorning, I said how pleased I was tobe looking at the future: the class of2022 – the year of our 140th an-niversary. During the next sevenyears they will make life-long friendsin a school with a trusted reputationfor providing a stimulating educationwhich prepares them well for thef u t u re. ”

Stephanie Ferro, who has morethan 20 years’ experience in some ofthe most prestigious girls’ s ch o o l s,arrives after Redland High has con-tinued to achieve outstanding exam-ination results.

The young women have again wonplaces at their chosen universities to

study for a wide range of competitivedegree courses. Miss Ferro’s extens-ive experience of the UCAS applic-ation process ensures that, amidfierce competition for good uni-versity places, Redland High Schoolcontinues to have the expertise toguide students wisely.

Miss Ferro continues: “We are aschool on a hill that looks outwardand aspires upward. Our houses arenamed after trees that put out deeproots. Our school symbol of the daisyrepresents a flower that opens in thesunlight, just as a child who is nur-tured blossoms and thrives.

“This vision and proven track re-cord mean that Redland High is wellplaced to meet the 2017 demand forsecondary provision in Bristol, aswell as the unchanging needs ofyoung women to be supported so theycan be their best possible selves. I amdelighted to be building on thes ch o o l ’s founding vision and look for-ward to leading Redland High at thenext exciting stage of its develop-ment.”

Joe Eyles, Redland High Junior School

JOE Eyles has an energetic andmotivational approach to lead-ing Redland High Junior School,having taught children acrossthe age range and with specialistknowledge of many different as-pects of junior education includ-

ing pastoral care, numeracy, literacy,IT and physical education.

As an Independent Schools TeamInspector, Mr Eyles also has in-depthexperience of best practice fromother schools. He is also a Governorof QEH.

The junior school caters for girlsaged three to 11. The Early Years andKey Stage 1 provision, Redland HighInfants with QEH, is coeducationaland the school works closely withQEH boys’ school to provide a seam-less transition at age seven.

The size of Redland High JuniorSchool means that each child isknown extremely well and there is astrong sense of community. Mr Eylesexplains: “Some of our girls join atage three and continue at RedlandHigh until they are 18. Others join thejunior school for just one or two yearsin readiness to move into our seniors ch o o l .

“We are committed to our pupils’successful progress, right through toour senior school – understandingtheir individual personalities,stretching them to achieve their verybest, helping them to discover thejoys of learning and instilling goodhabits of self-discipline, integrity,courtesy and honesty. Through hap-piness and security the girls gain

high self-esteem, enabling them tobecome independent learners.”

There is a myriad of extra-cur-ricular activity on offer in the juniorschool and Mr Eyles firmly encour-ages each pupil to try at least one ofthem each term so that they can findtheir strengths and develop theself-esteem so essential for effectivelearning. The school also enjoys agood relationship with QEH, withmany joint activities allowing girls ofall ages to work positively and con-structively with boys.

Means-tested bursaries are avail-able for girls to enter Redland HighJunior School in Years 5 and 6.

Visiting Morning is Thursday, Oc-tober 1, from 9.30am to 11.30am andSaturday, October 17, from 9.15am.See w w w. re d l a n d h i g h . c o m for moredetails. Telephone: 0117 290 2904.

We are committed toour pupils’ successfulprogress, right through toour senior school –understanding theirindividual personalities,stretching them toachieve their very best.

“

CLIFTON College is celebrat-ing after pupils gained theirbest ever A-level and GCSEresults. Head of College MarkMoore said: “We are im-

mensely proud of all our pupils, andthese outstanding results are test-ament to their hard work and ded-i c at i o n . ”

An impressive 83 per cent of A-levelgrades were A* to B, with 55 per centA* to A grades. Girls did particularlywell, achieving 88 per cent A* to Bgrades. This gives Clifton College thehighest achieving results for girls inBristol and, contrary to received wis-dom, shows that girls do not alwaysdo best in single sex schools.

In total, 17 pupils gained places atOxford or Cambridge – again, thehighest number in Bristol. Of these,more than half were recipients offunded places through scholarshipsand bursaries, and nearly two thirdsjoined Clifton College in the prepar-atory school.

A closer look at the A-level resultsreveals more interesting successes.For example, 40 per cent of pupilsstudying mathematics, and 70 percent of those studying classics re-ceived A*s. And 82 per cent of pupilsstudying STEM subjects received A*to Bs and more than half of the hu-manities results were A*s or As.

GCSE results were just as outstand-ing, with a massive 91 per cent A* to Bgrades and 74 per cent A* to A.

The results come at the end of afantastic year for the college, whichsaw pupils achieving not only aca-demic success, but also success on thestage and sporting field.

Two pupils, Florence Wooley andJonty O’Callaghan, were nominated

for the prestigious Rose Bowl Award2015 for their performances in theschool production of Chica go. Theawards recognise exceptional dramatalent across schools and dramagroups in the South West.

Sixth-former Lea Van der Zwalmenbecame the first ever ladies racketsworld champion, while studying forher A-levels, and the upper schoolrugby team stormed to victoryagainst Marlborough College at the150th anniversary of the oldest schoolsporting fixture. They were latervoted team of the month by Rugb yWo rl d mag azine.

Mr Moore said: “We are immenselyproud of all our pupils, and theseoutstanding results are testament totheir hard work and dedication. Wewish them all a fantastic onwardjour ney.

“From September 2016, we’re de-lighted to be offering scholarshipsand bursaries to children from theage of 11. These financial awardsremain with the pupil throughouttheir time at the schoo.l”

Clifton College is holding an openday for ages 2-18 on Saturday, October3. For more information on this andon 11+ and 13+ scholarships, visitwww.cliftoncolle ge.com.

Mark Moore, Clifton College

These outstandingresults are testament tothe pupils’ hard work anddedication

“

QEH School has been provid-ing outstanding educationfor boys in Bristol since1590, but headmasterStephen Holliday also hasa clear vision for its fu-t u re.

“The school is at an exciting timein its development, with our newscience and art building scheduledfor completion by the end of thisacademic year,” he explains.

“This will enable us to continuemeeting the needs of an ever-chan-ging curriculum and provide ourpupils with the outstanding facilitiesfor which we are so well known.”

This summer also saw QEH pupilsachieve record results, placing theschool in the top 10 boys’ schools inthe national league tables and aheadof any other school teaching boys inthe region.

“Although we know that leaguetables are only one kind of meas-urement of performance, it is non-etheless good to get positiverecognition for the hard work andachievement of boys here in Bristol,”says Mr Holliday.

Academic excellence is only partof the QEH story. Boys are en-couraged to be busy and active at alllevels, with a wealth of opportunitiesto try new things and discover wheretheir talents lie. From competing inrugby at international level, to rep-resenting the UK at the FutureProblem-Solving global final, to per-forming at world-class music venues,pupils are flourishing in all aspects

of school life.While QEH remains academically

selective, it is not socially exclusiveand offers means-tested bursaries aswell as academic, sport and musics ch o l a r s h i p s.

To meet the headmaster, talk tosome of the boys and find out whatlife is really like at QEH, visit duringopen morning, on Saturday, October10. The junior school open morningis on Friday, October 9. No ap-pointment is required.

There is also a sixth form openevening on Monday, October 12, byap p o i n t m e n t .

Entry is by assessment, usually atseven, 11, 13 or 16, although oc-casionally vacancies occur in otheryear groups.

For more information, or a pro-spectus, visit w w w. q e h b r i s t o l . c o. u k ,email a d m i s s i o n s @ q e h b r i s t o l . c o. u kor call Carolyn Matthews, admis-sions registrar, on 0117 930 3068.

Stephen Holliday, Queen Elizabeth Hospital School

The school is at anexciting time in itsdevelopment, with ournew science and artbuilding scheduled forcompletion by the end ofthis academic year,

“

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Clifton High School

CLIFTON High School is pos-sibly the only school in thearea where both the headteacher and the deputies allhave academic qualifications

to Ph.D. level.Dr Alison Neill has been Head of

School at Clifton High for the lastseven years and earlier this year theschool appointed two new deputies,Dr Helen Pascoe and Dr MarkC a d dy.

Clifton High has always beenwell-known in Bristol for its out-standing pastoral care, for having anurturing environment and a realfocus on each and every individualch i l d .

A leadership team with such strongacademic credentials signals thes ch o o l ’s commitment to raising thebar academically. In 2014 it an-nounced outstanding A-level andGCSE results, with Clifton High stu-dents achieving more A*s than everbefore and an impressive 80 per centof A-level students securing a place atRussell Group Universities.

In 2015, students achieved anequally impressive set of results, with80 per cent of grades at grade B orabove and 50 per cent of grades at A orA* across a diverse range of sub-j e c t s.

Head of School:Dr Alison NeillAfter training as a biologist, Dr Neillworked with undergraduates andtaught at a further education collegeand then at a large co-educationalsecondary school in the maintainedsector. She has also worked in in-dustry, in particular with scientificc o m p a n i e s.

She joined Clifton High as a teacherof biology more than 20 years agobefore progressing to Head of SixthForm and then took on managementof the senior years before becomingoverall Head of School.

She has responsibility for educa-tional strategy and direction, chil-dren and pupil welfare and staffappointments. Dr Neill is an inde-pendent schools inspector and amember of The Society of Heads forindependent schools, where she sitson its professional development com-mittee. She is also a member of thechild welfare expert group, part of theIndependent School’s Council.

Dr Neill recognises the importanceof developing the softer, transferableskills as well as the academic; she hasinitiated a leadership programme forpupils from Years 7-13 designed todevelop their leadership skills and aprogramme of life skills and com-petencies to run alongside GCSEc o u r s e s.

Her aim is for pupils to leave Clif-ton High as confident yet groundedindividuals, with the transferableskills that top universities and em-ployers are looking for today.

Dr Helen PascoeDr Helen Pascoe has a degree in foodscience and a Ph.D. in chemistry fromthe University of Reading. She is act-ively engaged in educational issuesand holds a PGCE and an MSc ineducational leadership.

Dr Pascoe has progressed rapidly,having worked in education for just11 years. She started her career as a

teacher of chemistry before becom-ing head of chemistry and then headof Key Stage 3 at Royal High School,B at h .

She then moved on to becomedeputy head of Blackheath HighSchool in South East London.

She has previously worked inall-through schools, teaching chil-dren from three to 18 in sujects asdiverse as science, chemistry, foodtechnology, geography, EPQ andPSHE. She has also led overseas tripsto Ghana, China and India and hasbeen actively involved in the Duke ofEdinburgh Award scheme.

Dr Pascoe has experience in de-veloping and coaching middle lead-

ers, raising teaching standards andensuring school policies and proced-ures are compliant with regulations.She also has an excellent track recordin quality assurance, assessment andtracking and has experience in man-aging successful school inspections.Dr Pascoe joined Clifton High inApril 2015 and her responsibilitiesextend right across the school fromthe nursery school to the sixth form.

Dr Mark CaddyDr Mark Caddy has a degree andPh.D. in chemistry from the Uni-versity of Warwick. He joined Clifton

High from Palmers Green HighSchool in London, where he held theposition of deputy head for more thanfour and a half years.

Prior to this, he has been head ofmathematics as well as a teacher ofmathematics, chemistry and physicale d u c at i o n .

Dr Caddy has experience as a scoutleader, a Duke of Edinburgh’s Awardleader and has led educational visitsto Singapore, Australia, USA andGer many.

A keen sportsman, Dr Caddy alsocoaches judo, squash and athleticsand plays volleyball.

He is a board member of an in-ternational children’s charity where

he is also an advisor to the edu-cational department of the NorthBank of The Gambia.

Dr Caddy has previously worked inthree independent schools, includingall-through, single sex, co-education-al and boarding schools.

He has particular experience inpastoral, academic and curricularmatters and has managed successfulschool inspections.

Dr Caddy joined Clifton HighSchool in April 2015 and his respons-ibilities extend right across theschool from the nursery school to thesixth form.

He will also be teaching mathem-atics and physical education.

Peter Huckle, Bristol Grammar School Infants and Juniors

BGS infants and juniors is aplace where we are rightlyproud of our history but, atthe same time, always look-ing to the future; where a

strong sense of continuity and sta-bility combines with an exciting de-sire for new approaches.

The infant school celebrated itsfifth birthday recently and the seniorschool now contains children whostarted their learning journey here.

One of the many benefits of anall-through school such as BGS, ofcourse, is that we keep in touch withthem. Connections with older stu-dents in the senior school are animportant way for our younger stu-dents to develop and we love, forexample, to welcome sixth formers tohelp with reading in the infantsschool or to encourage our Year 5singers to team up with those in Year7 to form a choir. Last year, infantssang and spoke at senior school as-semblies, while our juniors were en-thusiastically involved in the BGSmock election. Similarly, althoughmost of our teaching and learninghappens in the purpose-designed sur-roundings of our own buildings, weare always looking for opportunitiesto make use of the facilities availableacross the school campus – such asthe sports hall and science labs – andto invite teachers from the seniorschool staff to share their expertisewith us in specialist areas such asdance, art, games, languages or food

technology. Thanks to the energy andinitiative of our excellent staff, thereare always new opportunities emer-ging. Whether it be performing onstage at the Tobacco Factory as partof the Shakespeare Schools Festival,competing in the English PrimaryS ch o o l s ’ Chess Association semi fi-nals hosted here at BGS, or joining astudent literary committee to organ-ise readings from visiting authors,life at BGS infants and juniorsprovides every chance to build a firmfoundation for a lifetime of learning.When our students finally leave theBGS sixth form to make their way inthe world, and we sit alongside oneanother at the leavers’ dinner in theGreat Hall, I know it will be ex-periences like this in the infants andjunior school that we recall togetheras being so very formative for thecontinuing story of their learningadventure, wherever it may leadthem.� For further details, visitw w w. b r i s t o l g r a m m a r s c h o o l . c o . u k .

Clifton High has alwaysbeen well-known forhaving a nurturingenvironment and a realfocus on each child. Aleadership team withstrong academiccredentials signals theschool’s commitment toraising the bara c a d e m i c a l l y. ”

“

Thanks to the energyand initiative of ourexcellent staff, there arealways new opportunitiesemerging.

“

� Dr Alison Neill, Helen Pascoe andMarc Caddy

SEPTEMBER at BGS sees thecheerful buzz of new and re-turning students swappingholiday news as they all col-lect this year’s set of textbooks

and iPads. It is a delight to hear fromour children what they are lookingforward to this year and what theyhave been doing over the summer.

In the first few days of this term, Ihave particularly enjoyed hearingfirst-hand accounts of our summerholiday school journeys (St Peters-burg, Mannheim and Turkey) alongwith the adventures of our variousgold Duke of Edinburgh Award ex-pedition teams.

This year, these conversations areall taking place in sight of the con-struction of our school’s new per-forming and creative arts centre.This extensive new suite of facilitiesis now visibly taking shape alongsideElton Road and is due to open inSeptember 2016.

Personal fulfilment in tomorrow’sworld will depend more than ever onan individual’s self-confidence, cre-ativity and collaborative skills; theirability to work independently and aspart of a team in a variety of set-t i n g s.

At Bristol Grammar School, wehelp young people develop the es-sential personal qualities through en-gaging and challenging teaching in arich and varied range of curricularand extra-curricular activities(music, drama, dance, sport, etc.) The

school has long prioritised provisionin the creative and performing arts asthese activities give every studenttheir space and the stage on which togrow in emotional and intellectuals t at u re.

Building capacity, self-belief, em-pathy, integrity and resilience withineach BGS child begins with qualityprofessional relationships with ex-pert and committed staff, who de-terminedly strive to see every studentdevelop their own ambitions anddreams while we equip children topursue their own goals in the years toc o m e.

Children are always the best am-bassadors for Bristol GrammarSchool, I would be delighted to wel-come prospective parents and pupilsto school where they can see how ourengaging and inspiring studentsthrow themselves into all aspects ofschool life.

For further details, visit w w w. b r i s t o lg rammarschool.co.uk.

Rod MacKinnon, Bristol Grammar School, Seniors

Personal fulfilment int o m o r ro w ’s world willdepend more than everon an individual’sself-confidence, creativityand collaborative skills

“

EPB-E01-S5

EPB-

E01-

S5


Clifton High School

CLIFTON High School is pos-sibly the only school in thearea where both the headteacher and the deputies allhave academic qualifications

to Ph.D. level.Dr Alison Neill has been Head of

School at Clifton High for the lastseven years and earlier this year theschool appointed two new deputies,Dr Helen Pascoe and Dr MarkC a d dy.

Clifton High has always beenwell-known in Bristol for its out-standing pastoral care, for having anurturing environment and a realfocus on each and every individualch i l d .

A leadership team with such strongacademic credentials signals thes ch o o l ’s commitment to raising thebar academically. In 2014 it an-nounced outstanding A-level andGCSE results, with Clifton High stu-dents achieving more A*s than everbefore and an impressive 80 per centof A-level students securing a place atRussell Group Universities.

In 2015, students achieved anequally impressive set of results, with80 per cent of grades at grade B orabove and 50 per cent of grades at A orA* across a diverse range of sub-j e c t s.

Head of School:Dr Alison NeillAfter training as a biologist, Dr Neillworked with undergraduates andtaught at a further education collegeand then at a large co-educationalsecondary school in the maintainedsector. She has also worked in in-dustry, in particular with scientificc o m p a n i e s.

She joined Clifton High as a teacherof biology more than 20 years agobefore progressing to Head of SixthForm and then took on managementof the senior years before becomingoverall Head of School.

She has responsibility for educa-tional strategy and direction, chil-dren and pupil welfare and staffappointments. Dr Neill is an inde-pendent schools inspector and amember of The Society of Heads forindependent schools, where she sitson its professional development com-mittee. She is also a member of thechild welfare expert group, part of theIndependent School’s Council.

Dr Neill recognises the importanceof developing the softer, transferableskills as well as the academic; she hasinitiated a leadership programme forpupils from Years 7-13 designed todevelop their leadership skills and aprogramme of life skills and com-petencies to run alongside GCSEc o u r s e s.

Her aim is for pupils to leave Clif-ton High as confident yet groundedindividuals, with the transferableskills that top universities and em-ployers are looking for today.

Dr Helen PascoeDr Helen Pascoe has a degree in foodscience and a Ph.D. in chemistry fromthe University of Reading. She is act-ively engaged in educational issuesand holds a PGCE and an MSc ineducational leadership.

Dr Pascoe has progressed rapidly,having worked in education for just11 years. She started her career as a

teacher of chemistry before becom-ing head of chemistry and then headof Key Stage 3 at Royal High School,B at h .

She then moved on to becomedeputy head of Blackheath HighSchool in South East London.

She has previously worked inall-through schools, teaching chil-dren from three to 18 in sujects asdiverse as science, chemistry, foodtechnology, geography, EPQ andPSHE. She has also led overseas tripsto Ghana, China and India and hasbeen actively involved in the Duke ofEdinburgh Award scheme.

Dr Pascoe has experience in de-veloping and coaching middle lead-

ers, raising teaching standards andensuring school policies and proced-ures are compliant with regulations.She also has an excellent track recordin quality assurance, assessment andtracking and has experience in man-aging successful school inspections.Dr Pascoe joined Clifton High inApril 2015 and her responsibilitiesextend right across the school fromthe nursery school to the sixth form.

Dr Mark CaddyDr Mark Caddy has a degree andPh.D. in chemistry from the Uni-versity of Warwick. He joined Clifton

High from Palmers Green HighSchool in London, where he held theposition of deputy head for more thanfour and a half years.

Prior to this, he has been head ofmathematics as well as a teacher ofmathematics, chemistry and physicale d u c at i o n .

Dr Caddy has experience as a scoutleader, a Duke of Edinburgh’s Awardleader and has led educational visitsto Singapore, Australia, USA andGer many.

A keen sportsman, Dr Caddy alsocoaches judo, squash and athleticsand plays volleyball.

He is a board member of an in-ternational children’s charity where

he is also an advisor to the edu-cational department of the NorthBank of The Gambia.

Dr Caddy has previously worked inthree independent schools, includingall-through, single sex, co-education-al and boarding schools.

He has particular experience inpastoral, academic and curricularmatters and has managed successfulschool inspections.

Dr Caddy joined Clifton HighSchool in April 2015 and his respons-ibilities extend right across theschool from the nursery school to thesixth form.

He will also be teaching mathem-atics and physical education.

Peter Huckle, Bristol Grammar School Infants and Juniors

BGS infants and juniors is aplace where we are rightlyproud of our history but, atthe same time, always look-ing to the future; where a

strong sense of continuity and sta-bility combines with an exciting de-sire for new approaches.

The infant school celebrated itsfifth birthday recently and the seniorschool now contains children whostarted their learning journey here.

One of the many benefits of anall-through school such as BGS, ofcourse, is that we keep in touch withthem. Connections with older stu-dents in the senior school are animportant way for our younger stu-dents to develop and we love, forexample, to welcome sixth formers tohelp with reading in the infantsschool or to encourage our Year 5singers to team up with those in Year7 to form a choir. Last year, infantssang and spoke at senior school as-semblies, while our juniors were en-thusiastically involved in the BGSmock election. Similarly, althoughmost of our teaching and learninghappens in the purpose-designed sur-roundings of our own buildings, weare always looking for opportunitiesto make use of the facilities availableacross the school campus – such asthe sports hall and science labs – andto invite teachers from the seniorschool staff to share their expertisewith us in specialist areas such asdance, art, games, languages or food

technology. Thanks to the energy andinitiative of our excellent staff, thereare always new opportunities emer-ging. Whether it be performing onstage at the Tobacco Factory as partof the Shakespeare Schools Festival,competing in the English PrimaryS ch o o l s ’ Chess Association semi fi-nals hosted here at BGS, or joining astudent literary committee to organ-ise readings from visiting authors,life at BGS infants and juniorsprovides every chance to build a firmfoundation for a lifetime of learning.When our students finally leave theBGS sixth form to make their way inthe world, and we sit alongside oneanother at the leavers’ dinner in theGreat Hall, I know it will be ex-periences like this in the infants andjunior school that we recall togetheras being so very formative for thecontinuing story of their learningadventure, wherever it may leadthem.� For further details, visitw w w. b r i s t o l g r a m m a r s c h o o l . c o . u k .

Clifton High has alwaysbeen well-known forhaving a nurturingenvironment and a realfocus on each child. Aleadership team withstrong academiccredentials signals theschool’s commitment toraising the bara c a d e m i c a l l y. ”

“

Thanks to the energyand initiative of ourexcellent staff, there arealways new opportunitiesemerging.

“

� Dr Alison Neill, Helen Pascoe andMarc Caddy

SEPTEMBER at BGS sees thecheerful buzz of new and re-turning students swappingholiday news as they all col-lect this year’s set of textbooks

and iPads. It is a delight to hear fromour children what they are lookingforward to this year and what theyhave been doing over the summer.

In the first few days of this term, Ihave particularly enjoyed hearingfirst-hand accounts of our summerholiday school journeys (St Peters-burg, Mannheim and Turkey) alongwith the adventures of our variousgold Duke of Edinburgh Award ex-pedition teams.

This year, these conversations areall taking place in sight of the con-struction of our school’s new per-forming and creative arts centre.This extensive new suite of facilitiesis now visibly taking shape alongsideElton Road and is due to open inSeptember 2016.

Personal fulfilment in tomorrow’sworld will depend more than ever onan individual’s self-confidence, cre-ativity and collaborative skills; theirability to work independently and aspart of a team in a variety of set-t i n g s.

At Bristol Grammar School, wehelp young people develop the es-sential personal qualities through en-gaging and challenging teaching in arich and varied range of curricularand extra-curricular activities(music, drama, dance, sport, etc.) The

school has long prioritised provisionin the creative and performing arts asthese activities give every studenttheir space and the stage on which togrow in emotional and intellectuals t at u re.

Building capacity, self-belief, em-pathy, integrity and resilience withineach BGS child begins with qualityprofessional relationships with ex-pert and committed staff, who de-terminedly strive to see every studentdevelop their own ambitions anddreams while we equip children topursue their own goals in the years toc o m e.

Children are always the best am-bassadors for Bristol GrammarSchool, I would be delighted to wel-come prospective parents and pupilsto school where they can see how ourengaging and inspiring studentsthrow themselves into all aspects ofschool life.

For further details, visit w w w. b r i s t o lg rammarschool.co.uk.

Rod MacKinnon, Bristol Grammar School, Seniors

Personal fulfilment int o m o r ro w ’s world willdepend more than everon an individual’sself-confidence, creativityand collaborative skills

“

EPB-

E01-

S5

2

Rebecca Tear, Badminton School

AT BADMINTON, the staff,both academic and pastoral,as well as all those in sup-porting roles, work to inspireideas and develop curiosity

in the pupils, says head teacher Re-becca Tear.

She continues: “The aim, of course,is to facilitate the girls’ access to thenext step of their educational jour-ney, but on the way, we hope that ourholistic approach broadens theirthinking and does not simply “fillthem up” with knowledge.

“There is also plenty of opportun-ity to actually do things rather thanjust think about them; I love the waythe girls actively engage with theirsubject material through researchprojects and community work, ratherthan just gathering paper qualific-ations. In fact, one of the most frus-trating aspects of my day is knowingthe number of amazing things thatare taking place in school at any onetime and not being able to get to all ofthem!

“B a d m i n t o n’s holistic approach, inwhich creative arts and sports areintegral to everyday life, means that,from the moment you walk throughthe gates, the busy, friendly atmo-sphere surrounds you in all that ish ap p e n i n g .

“It is wonderful to be a part of it andto capture the energy that the girlsexude as they throw themselves intoall they do.

“The broad range of activities en-sures that everyone can findsomething that interests or chal-lenges them and helps to develop

them into the person they want to be.Other than being curious, outwardlooking and confident, there is no‘Badminton type’; each girl isu n i q u e.

“I certainly feel privileged to be apart of the community here and amhugely proud of all that the girlsachieve, but the best part of my jobhas to be sharing the laughter andsense of fun that will certainly eruptthrough whatever is going on at somepoint every day.”

� For more information, visitw w w. b a d m i n t o n s c h o o l . c o . u k

I love the way the girlsactively engage with theirsubject material throughresearch projects andcommunity work, ratherthan just gathering paperqualifications.”

“

Martin Morris, Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital School (juniors)

As a relatively smallschool, teachers knowtheir pupils very well andtake their individualneeds into account.”

“

QEH Junior School has gonefrom strength to strengthsince opening its doors in2007. Last year the juniors ch o o l ’s first ISI reportfound the achievements ofpupils to be “e xc e l l e n t ,

both in their academic studies andalso in a wide range of sporting,musical, dramatic and extra-cur-ricular activities”.

Headmaster Martin Morris be-lieves this success is due to thestrong sense of community and ex-cellent relationship between staffand pupils.

“Staff work hard to inspire pupils,encouraging a love of learning andequipping them with the skills tobuild on this important foundation,”said Mr Morris.

“As a relatively small school,teachers know their pupils very welland are therefore able to take theirindividual needs into account.”

Pupils move on from QEH juniorschool confident and well preparedfor life in the senior school.

It is no surprise to Mr Morris thatboys from the junior school are oftenamong the highest performers in thesenior entrance exam.

Strong pastoral care and a variedextra-curricular provision balancehigh academic standards to ensure awell-rounded education for boys.

“Our pupils value this tremend-o u s ly, ” said Mr Morris, “and par-ticipate in activities and clubs,ranging from philosophy to judo,with enthusiasm. Sport, music and

drama all feature strongly in thejunior school and pupils benefitfrom access to the outstanding fa-cilities in the senior school such asthe professional theatre and theextensive sports grounds at Fai-land.”

The enviable reputation of the

junior school has led to increaseddemand for places at infant stageand, last year, QEH joined forceswith Redland High School. Boys arenow able to join “Redland HighInfants with QEH” at age three,transferring seamlessly to QEH ju-nior school at the end of Year 2.

Prospective parents can visit, orcome to the junior school openmorning on Friday, October 9.

For more information, or a pro-spectus, visit w w w. q e h b r i s t o l . c o. u k ,email a d m i s s i o n s @ q e h b r i s t o l . c o. u k ,or call Carolyn Matthews, admis-sions registrar, on 0117 930 3068.

Education Plus 15 September 2015

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