Jan 28, 2016
Highgate Wood School arts college Prospectus 2014-15
Making a positive difference to students’ achievements and experiences, maintaining the highest expectations and inspiring self belief.
CONTENTS
Highgate Wood School arts college
Montenotte Road Hornsey
London N8 8RN
visit us at our website www.hws.uk.com
call us on 020 83427970
Follow us on twitter twitter.com/highgatewood
MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD TEACHER Page 2
OUR AIMS, OUR SCHOOL Page 3
STARTING SECONDARY SCHOOL Page 3
OUR CURRICULUM
HOUSE SYSTEM and YEAR 7 CURRICULUM Page 5
KEY STAGE 3 Page 6
KEY STAGE 4 Page 7
POST 16 Page 8
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Page 9
MUSIC, ART and DRAMA Page 12
SCHOOL UNIFORM and HOME SCHOOL AGREEMENT Page 15
TERM DATES and APPLICATION INFORMATION Page 16
OUR FACILITIES Page 13
COMMUNITY AND INTERNATIONAL LINKS Page 11
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS Page 10
SPORTS AND STUDENT VOICE Page 14
OUR GOVERNING BODY Backpage
Highgate Wood School arts college Prospectus 2014-15
Making a positive difference to students’ achievements and experiences, maintaining the highest expectations and inspiring self belief.
Welcome to Highgate Wood School.
I am very proud to be the Headteacher of Highgate Wood School and to have the privilege of leading this wonderful school community. We have incredible students, guided by my excellent staff. We are well supported by our parents/carers and by a very committed team of governors.
Highgate Wood School is a successful, mixed comprehensive school, catering for nearly 1500 students of all abilities and backgrounds, aged from eleven to eighteen years old. All our students are encouraged to aim for excellence and fulfil their individual potential - academically, socially and personally. We want them to become successful, confident and caring adults who will play an active part in a society where adaptability, enterprise, perseverance and consideration for others are increasingly important.
Our students have high aspirations and their academic progress and examination success are ensured by top quality teaching, first rate facilities and challenging targets. Our school motto is Everyone Matters and we value every student as an individual, with a wide range of curricular and extra-curricular opportunities that enable their talent and creativity to be identified and nurtured. Traditional values of Courtesy, Consideration, Contribution and Cooperation (the 4Cs) underpin the school’s behaviour ethos. Our specialist status as an Arts College is important to us and our students are offered numerous opportunities in the areas of Art, Music and Drama.
We aim to be the local school of choice – a school that serves its local community and has something to offer every local child who wishes to attend. The fact that every year we are consistently and increasingly over-subscribed for places in year seven suggests that we are achieving this.
I am sure your sons and daughters will enjoy being part of the Highgate Wood School community. They will be given every opportunity to gain academic success and personal fulfilment and to develop their talents and social skills in a friendly, supportive environment.
Above all, we will ensure that they enjoy the Highgate Wood experience!
Patrick Cozier Headteacher
MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD TEACHER
2
.
Highgate Wood School arts college Prospectus 2014-15
Making a positive difference to students’ achievements and experiences, maintaining the highest expectations and inspiring self belief.
School Aims
At Highgate Wood School the education of every
young person is held to be of equal value. The school
motto is that Everyone Matters and this is reflected in
our school aims. At the end of seven years at Highgate
Wood School we want our young people to:
have high expectations of themselves and of others
thrive on their passion for learning
demonstrate high quality in whatever they do
take their place in society with a set of principles
underpinned by the importance of contribution,
courtesy, cooperation and consideration
show and display an appreciation of justice and
morality
choose a healthy lifestyle underpinned by good
eating habits and regular exercise
have the skills, abilities and qualifications necessary
to achieve economic well-being.
ABOUT HIGHGATE WOOD SCHOOL
School Profile
Highgate Wood School arts
college is an 11-18 mixed
comprehensive school
providing secondary
education to nearly 1500
students.
We underwent our last
OFSTED inspection in
November 2011 which
highlighted our “positive
and inclusive learning
ethos” and described the
school as a place where
children “enjoy a good
quality of education
because the good teaching
they receive secures
equally effective learning
and progress.”
Ofsted judged us to be outstanding in terms of how safe
our students feel at school.
Highgate Wood serves a multicultural community and
many of our students are bilingual. The school is over-
subscribed.
Just under half our students are drawn from a wide
variety of minority ethnic groups, including Black-
Caribbean, Greek and Turkish Cypriot, as well as from
the Turkish, Kurdish, Black-African, Indian, Bangladeshi,
Pakistani, Chinese and Somali communities.
3
“Students succeed at Highgate
Wood because of the good
quality care, guidance and
support they receive.”
Ofsted Nov 2011
Historically, we have had more boys than girls (with an
all girls school being so close by), but this has changed
in recent years as our girls’ achievements have
encouraged more parents to send their daughters here.
Highgate Wood School arts college Prospectus 2014-15
Making a positive difference to students’ achievements and experiences, maintaining the highest expectations and inspiring self belief.
Starting Secondary School
Starting secondary school or changing schools is a big
step and we do all that we can to aid the process and
make it easy and enjoyable.
We pride ourselves in ensuring that we visit all our
local primary schools to meet our new Year 6 cohort in
the summer term before they start in September.
Students joining other year groups are also
encouraged to visit prior to taking up a place and their
Head of House ensures that they have a structured
start.
For our new Year 7 students, Claire Allaway, one of
our Assistant Headteachers, has the specific
responsibility of ensuring that they settle in well and
immediately benefit from their time here . A carefully
planned induction programme commences in July
when they spend a day at Highgate Wood School. This
helps them get to know the rest of their tutor group and
other members of their House and settle in quickly.
Other well-developed procedures to help students
beginning at the school include:
established links with local primary schools.
teachers from Highgate Wood visit local primary
schools.
meetings are held with our local primary school
heads and teachers to discuss curriculum and
individual students.
peer mentors are available to support new students.
Where possible new Year 7 students are placed in
the same House as their older sibling.
KEY STAGE 2\3 TRANSITION
Ms Allaway has considerable experience in settling in
new students and monitoring their academic and social
progress, as well as retaining links with their primary
schools. She is supported by an enthusiastic team of
Year 7 tutors who see their tutor group every day, as
well as the Heads of House and their teams who have a
specific responsibility to help new students settle into
their House and to the life of the school. We swiftly get
to know the children’s academic and social strengths, as
well as any individual difficulties they may face, and
support and guide them accordingly.
We build our relationships with parents and families from
the start, and this assists in making the children’s
transition from primary to secondary education a
successful and happy one. All Year 7 parents and carers
are invited to an evening meeting in the Summer term
prior to their children starting at school, and meet
members of the Year 7 team and the three Houses to
discuss any concerns and raise any questions.
After school starts, there is an opportunity in the second
half of the autumn term for parents and carers to come
and discuss their child’s progress with his or her form
tutor. This meeting is intended to address any difficulties
which may have arisen and help ensure that all Year 7
students are enjoying school and working hard.
During the course of the year parents receive regular
updates of their child’s progress, including information
about their academic achievements and their attitudes to
learning.
In the summer term all staff are available at an evening
meeting to discuss the progress that Year 7 students
have made during their first year of secondary school.
“The thing I love about
Highgate Wood School is that
you get a welcoming feeling
when you enter the gates”
Kai, Year 8
4
Highgate Wood School arts college Prospectus 2014-15
Making a positive difference to students’ achievements and experiences, maintaining the highest expectations and inspiring self belief.
Our students benefit from Curriculum Enrichment days
that take place across the year in Year 7, providing a
wider experience of education than within the normal
timetable.
Enrichment includes themed days, trips and visits from
outside experts that provide students with planned
curriculum opportunities to extend and broaden their
learning. Our belief is that these enhancements to the
curriculum mean our Year 7 students can engage in
tasks that give them more scope for developing their
skills, e.g. independent learning, research, working in
teams, and problem solving, as well as the chance to
explore areas of the curriculum in more depth.
HOUSE SYSTEM AND YEAR 7 CURRICULUM
* Parents are advised of their right to withdraw their child from RE and Sex Education. Students will be supervised but no alternative curriculum is available.
The Year 7 timetable has 50 one-hour
periods on a two weekly cycle.
No. of
periods
3
2
3
3
7
3
3
6
4
3
4
2
5
Year 7 students are taught both French and Spanish
before making the decision to continue with either a single lor double language in Year 8.
PE at Key Stage 3 is taught in single sex groups.
Formerly known as RE
Subject*
Art
Computing\ICT
Design Technology
Drama
English
Geography
History
Mathematics
French/Spanish
Music
Physical Education
Ethics and Cultural Studies
Science
Enrichment
“Highgate Wood School helps
change people into becoming better,
more caring and more educated”
Horiya, Year 9
5
House System
In the Summer of 2013 Highgate Wood School decided
to reintroduce the House System that had been part of
the school when it first opened in the 1960s, and had
been maintained by the Sports colour teams: Blue,
Green and Yellow through the whole of Highgate Wood
School’s history.
Students immediately adopted the system and have
been extremely enthusiastic about it. It has resulted in a
whole range of new opportunities for student leadership
as well as new possibilities for friendly competitions and
wider co-operation.
It is now easier for younger students to be supported
and helped by the older students in their House, and for
discussions to take place across year groups about what
to prepare for and what to expect.
Every student now benefits from having a whole team of
individuals who are dedicated to supporting their
academic progress and their social and personal well-
being.
Each House has a Head of House,
whose core responsibility is
student progress, a Deputy Head
of House, whose focus is pastoral
well-being, and two Pastoral
Mentors. This team supports the
15 House tutors who work with all
the students in their Tutor Group to
ensure everyone is thriving and
moving forward in their learning.
Highgate Wood School arts college Prospectus 2014-15
Making a positive difference to students’ achievements and experiences, maintaining the highest expectations and inspiring self belief.
The Curriculum - Years 7, 8 & 9 Our aim is to provide a broad and balanced curriculum
that is both challenging and exciting. Throughout Key
Stage 3, we build on each student’s earlier school
experiences to extend the breadth and depth of their
knowledge, develop their understandings and improve
their skills in all areas of the curriculum.
Each year within Key Stage 3 has a different emphasis.
In Year 7, the focus is on ensuring those basic
building blocks of literacy and numeracy are firmly
established while also developing mastery of
collaborative and individual working.
In Year 8, the introduction of Citizenship supports
our focus on the world beyond school, and students
are given a wide range of learning experiences to
equip them for success in the world beyond the
classroom.
In Year 9, the focus is on completing Key Stage 3
and fully preparing students for the demands of
GCSEs. We take particular care to ensure that
informed decisions are made on the choice of
curriculum for Key Stage 4 and
parents are encouraged to
play an active role in this
process.
In all lessons students are
encouraged to develop skills for
learning and for assessing their
own progress. They will always
be expected to explore avenues
for further improvement.
OUR CURRICULUM—KS3
Everyone Matters
Through Key Stage 3, students are taught in groups
designed to provide the best level of challenge and
support so that everyone is able to progress and
achieve. We set by ability in Mathematics at the start of
Year 7, and slightly later in Science and English. In
subjects like Drama, Art, Music and Design Technology
we group differently to help maximise experience and
attainment .
Students with particular learning or language needs are
helped within their lessons by Learning Support
Assistants and occasionally with individual or group
learning by specialist staff outside the classroom.
Subjects
At Key Stage 3. students are offered a wide
range of learning experiences and
opportunities both with the subjects they
study and through collaborative projects
between different subject areas.
Through Key Stage 3. students study English,
Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, Ethics and
Cultural Studies (formerly RE), Computer Science and
ICT, Citizenship, Physical Education, Design
Technology, Music, Art, Drama and Modern Foreign
Languages. We also give our most able linguists the
opportunity to study two languages: French and
Spanish.
Personal, Social
and Health
Education (PSHE)
is delivered across
the curriculum for
all years, but
particularly through
Tutorial time and
Enrichment in Year
7 and Citizenship in
Years 8 and 9.
“The broad and balanced
curriculum provides for the
learning needs of all students.”
Ofsted Nov 2011
“They challenge us, and push us to
be the best that we can be.”
Renee, Year 11
6
Highgate Wood School arts college Prospectus 2014-15
Making a positive difference to students’ achievements and experiences, maintaining the highest expectations and inspiring self belief.
The Curriculum - Years 10 and 11
The ever-evolving demands of the workplace and of
Higher Education has seen our provision at Key Stage
4 develop steadily over recent years. All students
study a core curriculum that includes English,
Mathematics and Science, but also have a wide range
of opportunities within and beyond the timetable to
develop an understanding of a much wider range of
subjects and acquire an extensive range of skills and
experiences.
We encourage all students to continue their study of a
foreign language, and to gain accreditation in their first
language (where applicable). In recent years, students
have successfully been awarded GCSEs in Greek,
Turkish, Bengali, Russian, Portuguese and Dutch.
The school offers opportunities for the EBacc, which is
a pathway that includes Modern Languages, Computer
Science and the Humanities, as well as English,
Mathematics and Science, and an increasing number
of students are opting for this. At the same time we
also provide various vocational pathways for those
students for whom these are more suitable.
All Key Stage 4 students also participate in Work
Related Learning projects, including work experience,
enterprise days and other curriculum-based work.
OUR CURRICULUM—KS4
Academic Success
In recent years Highgate Wood School has consistently
returned excellent examination results, with the vast
majority of our students meeting or exceeding their
target grades. In 2013 82% of our students achieved 5
A* - C grades, with 68% achieving 5 A* - C grades
(including English and Mathematics).
Twenty-nine students in that cohort achieved 10 or more
A* - A grades, which reinforces our previous success in
entering the top 10% of non-selective schools in the
country for students achieving A* and A grades at
GCSE.
Our results at A Level are similarly impressive, with an
overall pass rate of 100%, and 83% of entries attaining
A* - C grades and 55% achieving the top A* - B grades.
Optional Subjects
Students are able to choose four additional courses to
complement their core subjects. The school prides itself
on the range of courses available, which also includes
the opportunity for some students to follow alternative
courses at partner colleges.
The courses Highgate Wood School currently offers to
students at Key Stage 4 include:
Art & Design
Business Studies
Dance
Drama
Economics
Food Technology
French
Geography
History
ICT
Flexible Learning
Media Studies
Music
Music Technology
Philosophy
Physical Education
Product Design
Psychology
Science
Sociology
Spanish
Textiles
“Highgate Wood School is
great. It is fantastic. It’s got a
wonderful atmosphere”
Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP
Following a visit in July 2013
“Your teachers understand your
personality as well as your strengths
and weaknesses in different subjects.
And that really helps”
Nicholas, Year 11
7
Highgate Wood School arts college Prospectus 2014-15
Making a positive difference to students’ achievements and experiences, maintaining the highest expectations and inspiring self belief.
OUR CURRICULUM—Post 16
Transition to University
All our post-16 students have an Academic Mentor who
provides guidance and advice during their time in the
sixth form. This will include help with study skills and
exam technique as well as providing more general
pastoral support.
A particularly important role of the Academic Mentor is to
assist with the UCAS university application process. We
have an excellent record of helping students onto the
next stage of their education, at university and
elsewhere. Highgate Wood School students have been
successful in their applications to a wide range of
institutions from Cambridge to Falmouth, Warwick to
Aberdeen, studying across a wide range of subjects
from Medicine to Fashion, French to Philosophy.
We believe that our sixth form not only prepares
students academically for the step up to university but
also helps them develop socially and emotionally to be
successful in whatever they go on to do in the future.
“The popular sixth form enjoys a
positive reputation locally and,
through good leadership and
management, it complements the
provision provided in Years 7 to 11.”
Ofsted Nov 2011
The Post 16 Offer
Highgate Wood School has over 250 students in the
sixth form which is made up of students who have
joined us from other schools as well as those who
completed their GCSE courses here.
We offer a wide range of subjects at Post 16, mainly A
level courses, but also a small number of vocational
courses.
These include:
Art & Design ICT
Biology Mathematics
Business Studies Media Studies
Chemistry Music
Drama Music Technology
Economics PE
English Language Philosophy
English Literature Photography
French Physics
Further Mathematics Product Design
Geography Psychology
Government & Politics Sociology
History Spanish
Each year a group of our sixth formers visit South Africa to help children in schools supported by the Hillcrest Charity.
Our results at Post 16 have been excellent over the
last five years, consistently placing the school in the
top 20% of schools nationally in terms of “value-
added” performance.
In 2013 our sixth form students achieved the school’s
best ever results: 83% A*- C in examinations that
were taken, and well over half achieving top A*-B
grades. We have also attracted and enrolled a record
number of sixth form students both from within and
beyond Highgate Wood School.
8
Highgate Wood School arts college Prospectus 2014-15
Making a positive difference to students’ achievements and experiences, maintaining the highest expectations and inspiring self belief.
Independent Study
We hope to encourage all our students to develop their
independent learning skills and take responsibility for
many areas of their own development.
Our Learning Resource Centre is kept open every day
after school to allow students to study and access the
computer network. A homework club is also run by the
Learning Support Department every day after school to
help students complete the work they have been set.
Highgate Wood School is one of the leading schools in
Haringey in the use of a Managed Learning Environment
where school departments are now posting an
increasing number of their resources so that they can be
accessed by students from home and elsewhere. We
also make use of a number of other on-line tools to
support learning and independent study.
Homework
Homework is an important part of secondary education.
Its purpose is to develop independent learning, improve
skills, consolidate classroom learning and enhance
knowledge and understanding. It also gives parents and
carers the chance to become involved in their child’s
education.
Through Key Stage 3, students are set regular
homework for all subjects. With some subjects, this
takes the form of regular weekly tasks, but the majority
of Key Stage 3 homework takes the form of extended
projects. The schedule for these projects is published in
the Key Stage 3 handbook at the beginning of each
term.
In Year 7, students should spend no more than about
three quarters of an hour each evening on homework.
As they progress through Key Stage 3, this should
increase to approximately one hour.
Increasingly, our homework resources and information
are available on-line on the school’s Managed Learning
Environment but students should still keep a record of
their work in their Journal which is issued to all students
at the beginning of the school year.
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
“Our successes get recognised
whether they are big or small.” Kourtney Year 10
9
Vivomiles Students are rewarded for their successes beyond the
classroom, as well as their achievements within it.
The school operates a system called Vivomiles.
Vivo points are awarded for good classwork, good
homework and exhibiting any of the 4Cs.
Vivos are given automatically for good attendance. They
are also automatically awarded for time spent with
SAMLearning, the on-line revision site with which all our
students have an account.
Vivos can be accumulated and spent on a range of
rewards in the Vivo shop. They can also be donated to
the House charity.
Students who have reach particular thresholds in Vivo
awards also get other privileges within the school, and
are recognised and rewarded for their achievements.
There is an ongoing competition between the Houses on
which has acquired the highest number of Vivos. A
weekly update of these scores, together with the top
Vivo earning students, appear on our plasma screens
each week.
Highgate Wood School arts college Prospectus 2014-15
Making a positive difference to students’ achievements and experiences, maintaining the highest expectations and inspiring self belief.
Working Together with Parents
We value our partnership with parents/carers and are
grateful for the significant contribution they make in
supporting their children’s progress and our school
community as a whole.
We have a number of ways in which this partnership is
supported and strengthened. These include
Parent/carer’s evenings – an opportunity to meet
with subject teachers – one meeting for each year
group per academic year
Academic review meetings – a chance to discuss
early progress in the autumn term with your child’s
form tutor
Year 9 Options meetings - an opportunity for
parents/carers of Year 9 students to receive
information, advice and guidance about Key Stage
4 courses
We encourage parents to take a regular and active
role in reviewing their child’s learning through the
student Journal and our tutor system.
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS
Parents and Staff Association
All parents and teachers automatically belong to the
Parents and Staff Association (PSA).
Members of the PSA arrange social events when
parents and staff can meet informally. The PSA also
organises fundraising activities through which money is
raised for extra curricular projects.
In the last year, PSA support has enabled the school to
move forward with a whole range of initiatives that would
have been impossible without their help. These include
buying computer software for Science, video equipment
for Enrichment, helping to fund many of the school’s
clubs and afterschool activities, supporting post 16
students to visit universities and colleges and providing
tea and cakes for some very welcome staff appreciation
afternoons.
The PSA group is heavily involved in some of the
school’s most important events, including the annual
Music, Art and Drama festival, the Winter Concert and
the School play.
Highgate Wood School PSA also provides a means of
communication between parents/carers and the school.
There are regular meetings (roughly two per half term).
At some meetings there are presentations from staff
where parents/carers can hear about school initiatives
and the work of specific curriculum areas.
A member of the governing body is linked to the PSA to
ensure that the voice of parents is considered at
Governing Body level. There are also “Governors’
Surgeries” during some PSA meetings to allow easy
dialogue between parents and school governors.
Communication with Parents
It is important that parents know what is happening in
their child’s school. At Highgate Wood School we use a
wide variety of means to help ensure parents are
informed and up-to-date with school news and events.
We produce a regular magazine, Insight, which is
distributed to all students each term and is also available
on-line through the school website. There are also other
publications to provide information for a particular event
or purpose.
Increasingly, the school is making use of digital tools to
improve our communications and contact with families.
These include the school website at www.hws.uk.com,
and the school twitter feed @highgatewood.
“The school engages parents
and carers well in their
children’s education.” Ofsted Nov 2011
10
Highgate Wood School arts college Prospectus 2014-15
Making a positive difference to students’ achievements and experiences, maintaining the highest expectations and inspiring self belief.
We have competed internationally, and have helped
develop a sister programme in Poland through a
Comenius Regio grant.
So popular is the programme with our students that we
have held our own North London conferences at
Highgate Wood School every March involving around 15
other schools and 250 – 300 students. Last year we
successfully extended participation in Model UN to
include Year 9 students as well as those from Year 10,
11 and the sixth form..
For students in Years 7 and 8 we have a
well established DebateMate club, often
supported by our Model UN veterans,
where younger students can develop their
skills in argument, persuasion and debate.
International Schools Award
COMMUNITY AND INTERNATIONAL LINKS
Model United Nations
A key element of our commitment to Global Citizenship
is the Model United Nations programme that we have
participated in since 2005. At Model UN, students take
on the role of ambassadors for a particular country and
then debate in one or two day conferences around an
agreed topic. Their goal is to resolve global problems
using the structures and formal debating procedures of
the UN.
Highgate Wood School has built up an enviable
reputation within Model UN, with our students winning
the ‘Best Delegation’ award in the London Conference at
their first attempt and receiving acclaim for their talents
and abilities in the Model UN forum many times since.
Students at Highgate Wood School benefit enormously
from opportunities to become true global citizens.
Through the curriculum that they follow, and the
development of partnerships with schools across the
world, we recognise our students’ enhanced
enthusiasm for learning and their openness to new
ideas. Our students have a greater awareness of
themselves, as well as a greater respect and
appreciation of others. This is clearly demonstrated by
the ways in which they apply critical thinking to local
and global issues. Working on projects with peers from
many different countries has enabled our students to
become even more confident and articulate.
We are involved in a number of prestigious projects
with many international partners. We have worked with
schools in many European countries as well as schools
in Tunisia, India and South Africa. Our excellent record
of effective and sustainable international work has
been recognised by the British Council on many
occasions.
In September 2011, we received the International
Schools Award for a second three year period,
something we are extremely proud of.
11
“strong global links with faraway
communities offer students valuable
opportunities to share experiences
and learn from others.” Ofsted Nov 2011
Highgate Wood School arts college Prospectus 2014-15
Making a positive difference to students’ achievements and experiences, maintaining the highest expectations and inspiring self belief.
MUSIC, ART and DRAMA
Specialist Schools Status
Highgate Wood School is a centre of excellence for the
arts, sharing resources and developing leading practice
with other schools and communities.
Our strength in music, drama and art is reflected in the
high quality productions and exhibitions staged at the
school, and also in our links with outside organisations.
The school has a professional industry link with the
prestigious Haymarket Theatre, which allows talented
drama students the opportunity to train in acting and
production skills at the theatre.
Our art department has long established links with the
Saatchi Gallery, one of the world’s leading collections of
contemporary art, which has exhibited work produced by
our students.
Student performances at MADFest 2013
12
For our main drama production we stage a musical each alternate year. This allowed us to put a fantastic production of “Return to the Forbidden Planet” in 2013
Performances from our Winter Concert in 2012. This year’s Winter Concert takes place on 17th, 18th and 19th December.
“The specialist subject areas
make a good contribution to
students’ creative skills and to
their development of confidence
and self-esteem.” Ofsted Nov 2011
Highgate Wood School arts college Prospectus 2014-15
Making a positive difference to students’ achievements and experiences, maintaining the highest expectations and inspiring self belief.
An Environment for Learning
OUR FACILITIES
Cashless Catering
Our computer network
extends to the Dining Hall
where it supports the system
of cashless catering which
has removed the need for
students to bring money into
school. Highgate Wood
School works with Wisepay to
allow payments to be made
on line.
Dining Hall
The Dining Hall is a bright and airy space, making it
ideal not only for mealtimes but also as a social space
shared by staff and students.
Our modernisation programme also included the
refurbishment of the Main Hall which is now a functional
and attractive performance space that supports the high
quality of performance and production that has
characterised Highgate Wood School for many years.
Learning Resource Centre Our Learning Resource Centre offers much more than a
traditional library. Here students are able to get support
with homework as well as to access a whole range of
resources to support them in their independent learning
and research during the school day and after school.
The LRC is also used increasingly to host talks by
visiting authors and other similar events.
13
Highgate Wood School
completed a major
modernisation
programme in
September 2010 that
transformed the school
into the attractive and
effective modern
learning environment
that we enjoy today.
The school has a state-
of-the-art computer network contributing to learning and
teaching across the school. Most classrooms are
equipped with an Interactive White Boards, whilst
around the school we have several dedicated ICT areas,
including four ICT suites equipped with PCs, and three
equipped with iMacs for media, music and graphics
work. We have ICT-rich vocational classrooms and DT
workshops and further ICT spaces in the Learning
Resource Centre and the Sixth Form Study Area.
Highgate Wood School arts college Prospectus 2014-15
Making a positive difference to students’ achievements and experiences, maintaining the highest expectations and inspiring self belief.
Young Leaders in Sport in Haringey
Highgate Wood School is one of the leading
schools for sport in Haringey. We host the
School Games Organiser, coordinating
competitive sport for half of the borough.
Highgate Wood School works closely with four
feeder primary schools; Coleridge Primary,
Rokesly Junior School, Weston Park Primary
and St Aidan’s Primary School and provides
ongoing support for these schools to
enable primary students to participate in
a minimum of two hours of high quality PE per
week.
We also coordinate intra-school and inter-
school competition within Haringey, providing
primary students with the opportunity to compete
in a range of different sports and in turn allowing our
Highgate Wood School Young Leaders to gain
qualifications, skills and experience in volunteering,
officiating and leadership.
Our all weather pitch and tennis courts, which form part
of the school’s substantial open spaces where students
socialise as well as engage in activities, are used well
beyond the limits of the school day. There are sport and
training events for students from early in the morning till
long after the end of the school day.
SPORTS AND STUDENT VOICE
SPORTS
14
Student Voice
At Highgate Wood School student
voice plays a very important part in
many of the decisions and plans
that we have.
Every tutor group has a representative on the School
Council which meets regular to discuss issues
connected to the student experience at Highgate Wood
School. Representatives from the school council are
invited to attend meetings of the Governing Body and
also the school’s Senior Leadership Team where they
are able to raise any concerns or issues they feel are
important.
The introduction of the new pastoral system has made
the role of the School Council even more important as
they have been asked to play a key role in how we
develop the House structure and assess what is working
well and what we may need to review or improve.
Together with the opportunities provided by the School
Council students are also encouraged to take on other
leadership roles, including becoming a peer mentor, or
a “buddy” to new students.
Highgate Wood School arts college Prospectus 2014-15
Making a positive difference to students’ achievements and experiences, maintaining the highest expectations and inspiring self belief.
The Student Journal
The Student Journal, issued to all students at the
beginning of the year to help them organise their
homework and their school day, is also used as a means
of communication between parents and teachers. Notes
to a student’s form tutor or teacher or to a parent from a
member of staff are often written in the journal.
Within the Student Journal we have a Home-School
Agreement which students, parents and tutors sign at
the beginning of each year. The agreement has been
devised with input from parents, teachers and students,
and sets out clearly the expectations and obligations we
have of each other that help ensure Highgate Wood
School remains a successful, healthy and enjoyable
learning community.
At the heart of the Home School Agreement, which is
also at the core of Highgate Wood School acceptable
use agreements for our ICT facilities, is our belief in the
4Cs: the need for Consideration, Cooperation, Courtesy
and Contribution to underpin everything that we do.
SCHOOL UNIFORM AND HOME SCHOOL AGREEMENT
School Uniform
Highgate Wood School has a school uniform and dress
code. The design for the uniform was chosen by the
school council in consultation with the wider school
community and is periodically reviewed by them.
The Four Cs
We wish to encourage all our students to adopt the
ethos of the 4Cs before, during and after school.
Courtesy: We expect an automatic sense of courtesy
underpinned by the use of “please,” “thank you” and
“sorry”.
Consideration: We expect our students to always be
considerate of each other and their surroundings —
walking quietly and sensibly, using the bins provided for
litter and holding doors open for each other.
Contribution: We want our students to ensure that they
are always making a positive contribution to the school
community, taking part in as many activities as they can
and taking collective responsibility for making Highgate
Wood School a better place.
Cooperation: We expect all our students to cooperate
with members of staff and each other. Even when
students are unhappy with a decision, we still expect
members of the Highgate Wood School community to
cooperate first and then find a way to deal with the
situation.
All students are expected to wear their uniform properly
and with pride on the journeys to and from school as
well as once they are in school.
The current uniform is as follows:
black blazer (with summer blue lining) with school
logo
black sweater or cardigan (with summer blue trim)
black, blue and white striped tie
black trousers or school skirt (with summer blue trim)
black shoes
Students need to have a school bag for carrying books
and equipment. They are also expected to have a pen, a
pencil, a ruler and a calculator for use in lessons as a
minimum set of equipment.
15
Highgate Wood School arts college Prospectus 2014-15
Making a positive difference to students’ achievements and experiences, maintaining the highest expectations and inspiring self belief.
TERM DATES AND APPLICATION INFORMATION
Term Dates 2014 - 2015
Autumn Term 2014
Autumn 1
Mon 1 September to Fri 24 October
Holiday
Mon 27 October to Fri 31 October
Autumn 2
Mon 3 November to Fri 19 December
Spring Term 2015
Spring 1
Mon 5 January to Fri 13 February
Holiday
Mon 16 February to Fri 20 February
Spring 2
Mon 23 February to Fri 27 March
Summer Term 2015
Summer 1
Mon 13 April to Fri 22 May
Holiday
Tues 25 May to Fri 29 May
Summer 2
Mon 1 June to Mon 20 July
* These dates are still subject to change
Admissions to Highgate Wood School are administered
by the Local Authority.
For an application form please contact:
Admissions Service
Haringey Council
3rd Floor
48 Station Road
N22 7TY
Tel: 020 8489 2504
Fax: 020 8489 3339
Email: [email protected]
16
Highgate Wood School arts college Prospectus 2014-15
Making a positive difference to students’ achievements and experiences, maintaining the highest expectations and inspiring self belief.
Highgate Wood School’s Governing Body work closely
with the Headteacher, Senior Management and school
staff for the benefit of the whole school community.
Chair: Charles Wright (Community Governor)
Vice Chair: Imogen Pennell (Representative Governor)
Clerk: Michael Woods
Representative Governors:
Cllr Eddie Griffith
Oliver Blackaby
Brenda Allen
Parent Governors:
Andrew Boardman
Diana Brown
Philip Cavendish
Caroline Conlon
Elizabeth Hess
Carol Vincent
Rob White
Community Governors:
Phil Cocksedge
Janice Dolan
Violet Hazelwood-Henry
Chris Parr
Headteacher Governor:
Patrick Cozier
Teacher Governors:
Tristan Ashman