Cotswold School Prospectus 2016 complete for web

THE COTSWOLD SCHOOL

Welcome to
The Cotswold School
Our vision is the pursuit
of academic excellence and
the personal development
of each individual within a
caring community
OUR VISION
I am delighted to welcome you to The Cotswold School – an outstanding, caring school where we
pursue and achieve academic excellence, celebrate success and constantly strive to improve.
The school environment is positive, supportive and purposeful and designed with one thing in
mind: that our students fulfil their potential.
Our track record speaks for itself: superb examination results at GCSE and A Level mean The
Cotswold School is consistently ranked as one of the highest performing comprehensive schools
in the country. We are known for highly successful preparation for University education, regularly
producing students who set their sights on and win places at the country’s top universities.
We were immensely proud when, for the fourth consecutive time, Ofsted in their most recent
inspection judged The Cotswold School ‘Outstanding’ - and across all categories.
Our Ofsted ranking, the educational awards we receive and accolades, such as The Sunday Times’
Comprehensive School of the Year, give us all great cause for celebration. They also inspire us
and serve to spur us on to ensure each individual student is prepared to meet and embrace all
the challenges and exciting opportunities that lie ahead.
As an Academy Trust, we enjoy greater administrative independence and as a result, we can
concentrate on providing the very best we can in terms of teaching talent, curriculum enrichment
and facilities to enhance the education of our young people.
If you have not already done so, please visit us to see the school in action. I believe you will find a
school that looks forward: to improving and growing facilities, to even greater achievements from
all our young people, to motivating and inspiring our talented staff. You will find a school that is
focused on what matters: happy pupils and great results.
Mr W Morgan
Principal

Our Reputation. Our Future.
ASPIRE
The Cotswold School is a highly popular, happy and successful 11-18 Academy
school set in beautiful rural surroundings between Cheltenham and Oxford.
The School has earned a superb reputation locally and nationally, consistently
appearing amongst the very top state schools at both GCSE and A Level for many
years. The school is also known for its very successful Sixth Form, curriculum
enrichment programme and flourishing, state-of-the-art facilities.
The Cotswold School is a unique blend of innovation and traditional values.
Situated in an area of outstanding beauty, our pupils breathe fresh air, look out
on green Cotswold hills and enjoy the open spaces of our 30 acre site where
history is literally under their feet.
Our site has been home to Iron Age families, Roman communities and was the
gathering ground for Royalists before the last battle of the Civil War. Since the
1950s it has been where secondary school pupils learn, grow, compete and
make lasting friendships.
Central to The Cotswold School’s ethos is our vision: the pursuit of academic
excellence and the personal development of each individual within a caring
community. This vision applies to all the stakeholders in our school – pupils and
staff alike. It is a vision that is lived daily and the fantastic relationships between
our pupils and staff, the high standards of behaviour, the mutual respect, the
calm, purposeful atmosphere and the superlative academic results are all
testament to our dedication to that vision.
When Mr Morgan came to the role of Principal from his position within the
school’s leadership team, he noted: ‘I will move the school forward but I will
ensure we concentrate on the fundamentals of this job – teaching quality,
pastoral care and upholding the unique ethos of The Cotswold School.’
Several years on, Mr Morgan has stayed true to those aims and adds: ‘Our
continued success as a school comes from hard work, and dedication from
an enormous team – one that is made up of talented staff, enthused, happy
students, supportive parents and a superb Board of Governors. Together we
have a single focus: that each individual student achieves.’
‘Students flourish in this outstanding
and truly exceptional school’ (Ofsted)
2

3

‘Students take their responsibilities
seriously, both as learners and as
partners in helping to determine
school decision-making.’
Student Voice
We aim to develop citizens who are equipped to become thoughtful, articulate, confident and
responsible members of society. What is more, we firmly believe that students can offer valuable
insights into school practice. Students are therefore given as many opportunities as possible
to have their voice heard and to shape decisions made in school and in their local community.
Our School Council leads the way in campaigning successfully in areas such as the House
structure, transport, after-school activities and the enhancement of the school’s facilities. They
also play an important part in the recruitment process and selection of new staff.
Eco-Council, Peer Mentoring, Student Librarians and House Captaincies offer additional
opportunities for our students to become involved and make a difference to the life of the
school. At Sixth Form, students have the chance to occupy important leadership positions
as Head Boy or Head Girl while the Sixth Form Council play an active role not only in the
management of the Sixth Form itself, but sit on wider school committees advising on such
important issues as E-Safety.
Each year students are also actively engaged in fund-raising and charitable work for a number
of causes. From talent shows to sponsored runs, lunches for the elderly in the community and
Fairtrade Fortnight, the commitment of our pupils is always inspiring.
4

‘An excited buzz permeates
the learning’ (Ofsted)
Curriculum
The Cotswold School delivers a comprehensive curriculum – one which we aim
to adapt to suit the needs of each student. We therefore provide an excellent and
varied education which develops learning skills and a broader
understanding of the world around us.
5
INSPIRATION
The Cotswold School was awarded specialist status in both Languages and
Sciences in recognition of the excellent provision of both these subjects at our
school. Although the Department for Education has discontinued specialisms,
we remain committed to these subject areas and our considerable investment
in them.
As well as teaching our main languages of French, Spanish and German,we offer
twilight lessons in Russian, Italian and Mandarin Chinese. Student exchange
opportunities and even work experience abroad are all offered to enhance
language skills and cultural understanding.
The Science department gains superb results at both GCSE and A Level. The
department further enhances the curriculum by providing an array of special
events as well as science and engineering clubs designed to inspire and broaden
the subjects’ appeal and reach.
From traditional academic subjects through the Arts, sport and vocational
learning, Cotswold School students at all levels are given the opportunity to
achieve. Learning support is readily accessible. Programmes for all learning
levels are devised and overseen by specially dedicated Pastoral as well as Gifted
and Talented teams.
Ofsted inspectors judge the quality of education at The Cotswold School to be
‘outstanding’ and note that pupils of all abilities are able to make exceptionally
good progress at each stage of their school life. This is achieved, Ofsted says,
through the purposeful learning, taken seriously by students and the ‘excellent
and often inspiring teaching.’
‘Flexibility and the ability to respond to individual
needs are at the heart of the curriculum and help
promote enjoyment and excellent achievement’
(Ofsted)

‘The resources and support available are fantastic,
the teachers are passionate about their subjects
and are always willing to help… the environment
is positive, supportive and friendly.’
(Adam Ellison, Sixth Form Student)
Sixth Form at The Cotswold School
The Sixth Form flourishes, with over 250 students enjoying exceptional teaching across more
than 30 subject areas in a broad, innovative and high-achieving curriculum. Achievement is
‘Outstanding’ (Ofsted) with A Level results that have ranked consistently in England’s Top State
School Sixth Forms.
The Sixth Form at The Cotswold School is known for its highly successful University preparation.
Year on year our students set their sights and win places at the country’s top universities - such
as Oxford, Cambridge and others in the Russell Group - and on highly competitive Apprenticeship
Programmes.
The Sixth Form shares the positive, enthusiastic, focused atmosphere that is evident
throughout the school and which is often remarked upon. Additionally, the Sixth
Form has its own distinctive character – one that reflects the growing maturity and
independence of the young adults who form it.
Working in this friendly, caring environment with its strong academic ethos, our
Sixth Form students are encouraged to aspire. Their teachers, meanwhile, are readily
accessible – taking an active, mentoring role, sharing in the students’ high expectations
and helping them prepare for the next chapter in their lives.
While the current Sixth Form Centre provides excellent learning facilities for the students including
a fully networked study room and a busy, social Common Room, a new, greatly enhanced
Cotswold School Sixth Form Centre is now under way. The Sixth Form is regarded as the ‘flagship’
of the school – a privileged position from which students can benefit from and also enrich
the life of the school as a whole.
6

OPPORTUNITIES
The Individual
Over four consecutive inspections, Ofsted inspectors judged the quality of the
education at The Cotswold School to be Outstanding – and across all categories.
This is the highest accolade that can be given to any school.
Inspectors concluded that students flourish at The Cotswold School because
they are ‘valued as individuals and staff are driven by a passionate belief that
all can achieve.’
As the inspectors found, at The Cotswold School we do believe that all can
achieve and each pupil is encouraged to do their very best. Endeavour and
resilience are applauded and respect for one another is one of the school’s
abiding tenets.
We also celebrate success – success of the group as a whole but also success
of the individual. Recognising and celebrating individual successes is one of
the many ways in which our pupils are actively encouraged to further personal
interests and take pride in personal bests – both their own and those of their
peers. We recognize all that goes well, from the everyday successes to the
extraordinary. Rewards can be given in a variety of ways: praise, publicity, letters
home, house points and, ultimately, awards at the annual Speech Day.
Our staff are dedicated, not just to excellent, inspiring teaching in the classroom
but to the individuals they teach. Pupils are well known by teachers and this
friendliness of spirit characterises relationships within the school community.
The Cotswold School staff are to be regularly seen at weekend sports events, in
the audience as students take part in concerts and festivals, and cheering pupils
on in competitions. Teachers’ interest is genuine and staff go to extraordinary
lengths to support pupils in achieving their goals, fulfilling their potential and
helping them explore opportunities beyond the classroom.
7
‘Outstanding care, guidance and support are
central to everything the school stands for.’ (Ofsted)

Facilities
RESOURCES
‘Expectations of all are high and activities
are carefully planned to excite,
interest and inspire learning.’ (Ofsted)
The Cotswold School has benefited from almost continuous building work since
it opened its doors in 1988. New classrooms, science labs, music rooms, and
design and technology facilities create an environment designed for excellence
in both teaching and learning.
Access to an on-site swimming pool, our own astro turf pitches, tennis courts
and a magnificent Sports Hall complete a superb suite of sports facilities.
Meanwhile, we maintain a programme of landscaping, maintenance and tree
planting on our extensive property ensuring that our students have well designed
recreation spaces that provide them with plenty of opportunity to socialise,
exercise and breathe fresh air.
Classrooms throughout The Cotswold School are fitted with the latest technology
including interactive whiteboards and digital audio visual equipment. ICT suites
are readily accessible and provide students with a fully networked, well managed
system for research, projects and study during lessons, break times and before
and after school.
The school Library offers an excellent range of texts and resources for pupils of
all ages, interests and abilities. The Sixth Form have their own dedicated area of
the library containing set texts and study aids, and works specially selected for
them by their tutors and teachers. The Library is open before and after school
every day offering help with homework and learning support to the many pupils
who use it.
8

Widening Horizons
While Cotswold School pupils have all the advantages of the open, green spaces
and country pursuits that our rural setting brings, the larger cultural centres
(including Oxford, Stratford upon Avon, Birmingham, Bristol and London) are
regularly and easily accessed for the numerous events and shows our pupils
may wish to attend.
ENRICHMENT
We firmly believe in developing our students’ understanding of and appreciation
for the wider world, preparing them to be global citizens. The school actively
promotes its International Status and has forged links with schools in Zambia,
China, Argentina, France and India.
‘The list of opportunities is impressive’ (Ofsted)
We welcome regular visits from foreign students for cultural exchanges and there
is also an extensive array of local and international trips available: History trips
to Goodrich Castle, the Somme, Berlin and Krakow; sports tours around the UK,
Barbados and France, and skiing in the Alps; Geography excursions in Wales
and to Iceland; cultural tours to France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Russia,
China and the United States; and month long team expeditions to far-flung
destinations such as Zambia, Nicaragua and Borneo.
As diverse as the school’s curriculum, the extensive programme of co-curricular
activities further enriches our pupils’ secondary school experience. Clubs and
after school activities abound. Our pupils can take part in power-kite flying,
cooking, speech and debate, dance and gymnastics; a wide variety of sports,
philosophy, language, science and engineering clubs; BBC School Report,
student book club, annual fashion show, instrument and singing lessons, Duke
of Edinburgh awards, choir, music ensembles, school productions and more.
‘Students are very well prepared
for their futures beyond school’ (Ofsted)
9

FRIENDSHIP - KNOWLEDGE

The Avenue
Bourton-on-the-Water
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL54 2BD
Tel: 01451 820554/01451 820938
Fax: 01451 810658
Email: admin@thecotswoldschool.co.uk
www.cotswold.gloucs.sch.uk