Cotswold School Prospectus 2016 complete for web
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
THE COTSWOLD SCHOOL
Welcome to<br />
The <strong>Cotswold</strong> <strong>School</strong><br />
Our vision is the pursuit<br />
of academic excellence and<br />
the personal development<br />
of each individual within a<br />
caring community<br />
OUR VISION<br />
I am delighted to welcome you to The <strong>Cotswold</strong> <strong>School</strong> – an outstanding, caring school where we<br />
pursue and achieve academic excellence, celebrate success and constantly strive to improve.<br />
The school environment is positive, supportive and purposeful and designed with one thing in<br />
mind: that our students fulfil their potential.<br />
Our track record speaks <strong>for</strong> itself: superb examination results at GCSE and A Level mean The<br />
<strong>Cotswold</strong> <strong>School</strong> is consistently ranked as one of the highest per<strong>for</strong>ming comprehensive schools<br />
in the country. We are known <strong>for</strong> highly successful preparation <strong>for</strong> University education, regularly<br />
producing students who set their sights on and win places at the country’s top universities.<br />
We were immensely proud when, <strong>for</strong> the fourth consecutive time, Ofsted in their most recent<br />
inspection judged The <strong>Cotswold</strong> <strong>School</strong> ‘Outstanding’ - and across all categories.<br />
Our Ofsted ranking, the educational awards we receive and accolades, such as The Sunday Times’<br />
Comprehensive <strong>School</strong> of the Year, give us all great cause <strong>for</strong> celebration. They also inspire us<br />
and serve to spur us on to ensure each individual student is prepared to meet and embrace all<br />
the challenges and exciting opportunities that lie ahead.<br />
As an Academy Trust, we enjoy greater administrative independence and as a result, we can<br />
concentrate on providing the very best we can in terms of teaching talent, curriculum enrichment<br />
and facilities to enhance the education of our young people.<br />
If you have not already done so, please visit us to see the school in action. I believe you will find a<br />
school that looks <strong>for</strong>ward: to improving and growing facilities, to even greater achievements from<br />
all our young people, to motivating and inspiring our talented staff. You will find a school that is<br />
focused on what matters: happy pupils and great results.<br />
Mr W Morgan<br />
Principal
Our Reputation. Our Future.<br />
ASPIRE<br />
The <strong>Cotswold</strong> <strong>School</strong> is a highly popular, happy and successful 11-18 Academy<br />
school set in beautiful rural surroundings between Cheltenham and Ox<strong>for</strong>d.<br />
The <strong>School</strong> has earned a superb reputation locally and nationally, consistently<br />
appearing amongst the very top state schools at both GCSE and A Level <strong>for</strong> many<br />
years. The school is also known <strong>for</strong> its very successful Sixth Form, curriculum<br />
enrichment programme and flourishing, state-of-the-art facilities.<br />
The <strong>Cotswold</strong> <strong>School</strong> is a unique blend of innovation and traditional values.<br />
Situated in an area of outstanding beauty, our pupils breathe fresh air, look out<br />
on green <strong>Cotswold</strong> hills and enjoy the open spaces of our 30 acre site where<br />
history is literally under their feet.<br />
Our site has been home to Iron Age families, Roman communities and was the<br />
gathering ground <strong>for</strong> Royalists be<strong>for</strong>e the last battle of the Civil War. Since the<br />
1950s it has been where secondary school pupils learn, grow, compete and<br />
make lasting friendships.<br />
Central to The <strong>Cotswold</strong> <strong>School</strong>’s ethos is our vision: the pursuit of academic<br />
excellence and the personal development of each individual within a caring<br />
community. This vision applies to all the stakeholders in our school – pupils and<br />
staff alike. It is a vision that is lived daily and the fantastic relationships between<br />
our pupils and staff, the high standards of behaviour, the mutual respect, the<br />
calm, purposeful atmosphere and the superlative academic results are all<br />
testament to our dedication to that vision.<br />
When Mr Morgan came to the role of Principal from his position within the<br />
school’s leadership team, he noted: ‘I will move the school <strong>for</strong>ward but I will<br />
ensure we concentrate on the fundamentals of this job – teaching quality,<br />
pastoral care and upholding the unique ethos of The <strong>Cotswold</strong> <strong>School</strong>.’<br />
Several years on, Mr Morgan has stayed true to those aims and adds: ‘Our<br />
continued success as a school comes from hard work, and dedication from<br />
an enormous team – one that is made up of talented staff, enthused, happy<br />
students, supportive parents and a superb Board of Governors. Together we<br />
have a single focus: that each individual student achieves.’<br />
‘Students flourish in this outstanding<br />
and truly exceptional school’ (Ofsted)<br />
2
3
‘Students take their responsibilities<br />
seriously, both as learners and as<br />
partners in helping to determine<br />
school decision-making.’<br />
Student Voice<br />
We aim to develop citizens who are equipped to become thoughtful, articulate, confident and<br />
responsible members of society. What is more, we firmly believe that students can offer valuable<br />
insights into school practice. Students are there<strong>for</strong>e given as many opportunities as possible<br />
to have their voice heard and to shape decisions made in school and in their local community.<br />
Our <strong>School</strong> Council leads the way in campaigning successfully in areas such as the House<br />
structure, transport, after-school activities and the enhancement of the school’s facilities. They<br />
also play an important part in the recruitment process and selection of new staff.<br />
Eco-Council, Peer Mentoring, Student Librarians and House Captaincies offer additional<br />
opportunities <strong>for</strong> our students to become involved and make a difference to the life of the<br />
school. At Sixth Form, students have the chance to occupy important leadership positions<br />
as Head Boy or Head Girl while the Sixth Form Council play an active role not only in the<br />
management of the Sixth Form itself, but sit on wider school committees advising on such<br />
important issues as E-Safety.<br />
Each year students are also actively engaged in fund-raising and charitable work <strong>for</strong> a number<br />
of causes. From talent shows to sponsored runs, lunches <strong>for</strong> the elderly in the community and<br />
Fairtrade Fortnight, the commitment of our pupils is always inspiring.<br />
4
‘An excited buzz permeates<br />
the learning’ (Ofsted)<br />
Curriculum<br />
The <strong>Cotswold</strong> <strong>School</strong> delivers a comprehensive curriculum – one which we aim<br />
to adapt to suit the needs of each student. We there<strong>for</strong>e provide an excellent and<br />
varied education which develops learning skills and a broader<br />
understanding of the world around us.<br />
5<br />
INSPIRATION<br />
The <strong>Cotswold</strong> <strong>School</strong> was awarded specialist status in both Languages and<br />
Sciences in recognition of the excellent provision of both these subjects at our<br />
school. Although the Department <strong>for</strong> Education has discontinued specialisms,<br />
we remain committed to these subject areas and our considerable investment<br />
in them.<br />
As well as teaching our main languages of French, Spanish and German,we offer<br />
twilight lessons in Russian, Italian and Mandarin Chinese. Student exchange<br />
opportunities and even work experience abroad are all offered to enhance<br />
language skills and cultural understanding.<br />
The Science department gains superb results at both GCSE and A Level. The<br />
department further enhances the curriculum by providing an array of special<br />
events as well as science and engineering clubs designed to inspire and broaden<br />
the subjects’ appeal and reach.<br />
From traditional academic subjects through the Arts, sport and vocational<br />
learning, <strong>Cotswold</strong> <strong>School</strong> students at all levels are given the opportunity to<br />
achieve. Learning support is readily accessible. Programmes <strong>for</strong> all learning<br />
levels are devised and overseen by specially dedicated Pastoral as well as Gifted<br />
and Talented teams.<br />
Ofsted inspectors judge the quality of education at The <strong>Cotswold</strong> <strong>School</strong> to be<br />
‘outstanding’ and note that pupils of all abilities are able to make exceptionally<br />
good progress at each stage of their school life. This is achieved, Ofsted says,<br />
through the purposeful learning, taken seriously by students and the ‘excellent<br />
and often inspiring teaching.’<br />
‘Flexibility and the ability to respond to individual<br />
needs are at the heart of the curriculum and help<br />
promote enjoyment and excellent achievement’<br />
(Ofsted)
‘The resources and support available are fantastic,<br />
the teachers are passionate about their subjects<br />
and are always willing to help… the environment<br />
is positive, supportive and friendly.’<br />
(Adam Ellison, Sixth Form Student)<br />
Sixth Form at The <strong>Cotswold</strong> <strong>School</strong><br />
The Sixth Form flourishes, with over 250 students enjoying exceptional teaching across more<br />
than 30 subject areas in a broad, innovative and high-achieving curriculum. Achievement is<br />
‘Outstanding’ (Ofsted) with A Level results that have ranked consistently in England’s Top State<br />
<strong>School</strong> Sixth Forms.<br />
The Sixth Form at The <strong>Cotswold</strong> <strong>School</strong> is known <strong>for</strong> its highly successful University preparation.<br />
Year on year our students set their sights and win places at the country’s top universities - such<br />
as Ox<strong>for</strong>d, Cambridge and others in the Russell Group - and on highly competitive Apprenticeship<br />
Programmes.<br />
The Sixth Form shares the positive, enthusiastic, focused atmosphere that is evident<br />
throughout the school and which is often remarked upon. Additionally, the Sixth<br />
Form has its own distinctive character – one that reflects the growing maturity and<br />
independence of the young adults who <strong>for</strong>m it.<br />
Working in this friendly, caring environment with its strong academic ethos, our<br />
Sixth Form students are encouraged to aspire. Their teachers, meanwhile, are readily<br />
accessible – taking an active, mentoring role, sharing in the students’ high expectations<br />
and helping them prepare <strong>for</strong> the next chapter in their lives.<br />
While the current Sixth Form Centre provides excellent learning facilities <strong>for</strong> the students including<br />
a fully networked study room and a busy, social Common Room, a new, greatly enhanced<br />
<strong>Cotswold</strong> <strong>School</strong> Sixth Form Centre is now under way. The Sixth Form is regarded as the ‘flagship’<br />
of the school – a privileged position from which students can benefit from and also enrich<br />
the life of the school as a whole.<br />
6
OPPORTUNITIES<br />
The Individual<br />
Over four consecutive inspections, Ofsted inspectors judged the quality of the<br />
education at The <strong>Cotswold</strong> <strong>School</strong> to be Outstanding – and across all categories.<br />
This is the highest accolade that can be given to any school.<br />
Inspectors concluded that students flourish at The <strong>Cotswold</strong> <strong>School</strong> because<br />
they are ‘valued as individuals and staff are driven by a passionate belief that<br />
all can achieve.’<br />
As the inspectors found, at The <strong>Cotswold</strong> <strong>School</strong> we do believe that all can<br />
achieve and each pupil is encouraged to do their very best. Endeavour and<br />
resilience are applauded and respect <strong>for</strong> one another is one of the school’s<br />
abiding tenets.<br />
We also celebrate success – success of the group as a whole but also success<br />
of the individual. Recognising and celebrating individual successes is one of<br />
the many ways in which our pupils are actively encouraged to further personal<br />
interests and take pride in personal bests – both their own and those of their<br />
peers. We recognize all that goes well, from the everyday successes to the<br />
extraordinary. Rewards can be given in a variety of ways: praise, publicity, letters<br />
home, house points and, ultimately, awards at the annual Speech Day.<br />
Our staff are dedicated, not just to excellent, inspiring teaching in the classroom<br />
but to the individuals they teach. Pupils are well known by teachers and this<br />
friendliness of spirit characterises relationships within the school community.<br />
The <strong>Cotswold</strong> <strong>School</strong> staff are to be regularly seen at weekend sports events, in<br />
the audience as students take part in concerts and festivals, and cheering pupils<br />
on in competitions. Teachers’ interest is genuine and staff go to extraordinary<br />
lengths to support pupils in achieving their goals, fulfilling their potential and<br />
helping them explore opportunities beyond the classroom.<br />
7<br />
‘Outstanding care, guidance and support are<br />
central to everything the school stands <strong>for</strong>.’ (Ofsted)
Facilities<br />
RESOURCES<br />
‘Expectations of all are high and activities<br />
are carefully planned to excite,<br />
interest and inspire learning.’ (Ofsted)<br />
The <strong>Cotswold</strong> <strong>School</strong> has benefited from almost continuous building work since<br />
it opened its doors in 1988. New classrooms, science labs, music rooms, and<br />
design and technology facilities create an environment designed <strong>for</strong> excellence<br />
in both teaching and learning.<br />
Access to an on-site swimming pool, our own astro turf pitches, tennis courts<br />
and a magnificent Sports Hall <strong>complete</strong> a superb suite of sports facilities.<br />
Meanwhile, we maintain a programme of landscaping, maintenance and tree<br />
planting on our extensive property ensuring that our students have well designed<br />
recreation spaces that provide them with plenty of opportunity to socialise,<br />
exercise and breathe fresh air.<br />
Classrooms throughout The <strong>Cotswold</strong> <strong>School</strong> are fitted with the latest technology<br />
including interactive whiteboards and digital audio visual equipment. ICT suites<br />
are readily accessible and provide students with a fully networked, well managed<br />
system <strong>for</strong> research, projects and study during lessons, break times and be<strong>for</strong>e<br />
and after school.<br />
The school Library offers an excellent range of texts and resources <strong>for</strong> pupils of<br />
all ages, interests and abilities. The Sixth Form have their own dedicated area of<br />
the library containing set texts and study aids, and works specially selected <strong>for</strong><br />
them by their tutors and teachers. The Library is open be<strong>for</strong>e and after school<br />
every day offering help with homework and learning support to the many pupils<br />
who use it.<br />
8
Widening Horizons<br />
While <strong>Cotswold</strong> <strong>School</strong> pupils have all the advantages of the open, green spaces<br />
and country pursuits that our rural setting brings, the larger cultural centres<br />
(including Ox<strong>for</strong>d, Strat<strong>for</strong>d upon Avon, Birmingham, Bristol and London) are<br />
regularly and easily accessed <strong>for</strong> the numerous events and shows our pupils<br />
may wish to attend.<br />
ENRICHMENT<br />
We firmly believe in developing our students’ understanding of and appreciation<br />
<strong>for</strong> the wider world, preparing them to be global citizens. The school actively<br />
promotes its International Status and has <strong>for</strong>ged links with schools in Zambia,<br />
China, Argentina, France and India.<br />
‘The list of opportunities is impressive’ (Ofsted)<br />
We welcome regular visits from <strong>for</strong>eign students <strong>for</strong> cultural exchanges and there<br />
is also an extensive array of local and international trips available: History trips<br />
to Goodrich Castle, the Somme, Berlin and Krakow; sports tours around the UK,<br />
Barbados and France, and skiing in the Alps; Geography excursions in Wales<br />
and to Iceland; cultural tours to France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Russia,<br />
China and the United States; and month long team expeditions to far-flung<br />
destinations such as Zambia, Nicaragua and Borneo.<br />
As diverse as the school’s curriculum, the extensive programme of co-curricular<br />
activities further enriches our pupils’ secondary school experience. Clubs and<br />
after school activities abound. Our pupils can take part in power-kite flying,<br />
cooking, speech and debate, dance and gymnastics; a wide variety of sports,<br />
philosophy, language, science and engineering clubs; BBC <strong>School</strong> Report,<br />
student book club, annual fashion show, instrument and singing lessons, Duke<br />
of Edinburgh awards, choir, music ensembles, school productions and more.<br />
‘Students are very well prepared<br />
<strong>for</strong> their futures beyond school’ (Ofsted)<br />
9
FRIENDSHIP - KNOWLEDGE
The Avenue<br />
Bourton-on-the-Water<br />
Cheltenham<br />
Gloucestershire<br />
GL54 2BD<br />
Tel: 01451 820554/01451 820938<br />
Fax: 01451 810658<br />
Email: admin@thecotswoldschool.co.uk<br />
www.cotswold.gloucs.sch.uk