education2017

Newbury Weekly News

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Newbury Weekly News

Theale Green School

Queen Mary’s College HAVE you considered Queen Mary’s Sixth Form College? At QMC each individual is With nearly 2,000 entries, the overall pass rate this year was 99 per cent.

college. Bethany Harkess started QMC on a Level 2 media BTEC course while re-taking GCSEs and is now going to Bournemouth University, having achieved triple distinction* for media and A* for graphics A-level. Open evenings give prospective students and their parents the opportunity to discover what makes QMC so special and we will happily discuss students’ options to help them get where they want to go. Open evenings are taking place on October 5 (6pm-9pm) and November 8 (6pm-9pm). A free park and ride service will be in operation and clearly signposted. Come and see Queen Mary’s College for yourself. Our teachers, students and staf look forward to welcoming you.

supported to achieve their full potential, not just in terms of qualifications, but also transferable skills and resilience. Students leave with a bright future ahead, whether progress- ing to university, apprenticeships, sponsored degrees, further train- ing or meaningful employment. With excellent results year on year and a vibrant and engaging atmosphere, students find it impossible to resist participating in the opportunities open to them. There are a wide range of courses on offer, catering for all abilities, and with enthusiastic and committed teachers and superb facilities, the majority of students do far better than they thought possible when they started.

The college has a well-deserved reputation for excellent results and 2017 was no exception with 76 per cent of all grades awarded being A*-C. QMC excels in the STEM subjects of maths and science, and, as a result, many talented students are able to pursue dreams of careers in areas such as medicine, engi- neering and veterinary science. QMC offers outstanding support to students applying to Oxford, Cambridge and Russell Group universities and each year students secure places at these top universities. QMC also has a proven track record of success with students who have been unable to obtain strong results prior to starting

Theale Green School EXCELLENCE THROUGH PARTNERSHI P Open Evening Thursday 28th September 2017 6.00pm - 9.00pm Open Mornings Tuesday 3rd to Friday 6th October 2017 9.15am - 10.45am

Visit us - opportunities start together.

he can, she can...

...together we can

www.thealegreen.w-berks.sch.uk T: 0118 930 8517

Theale Green School

@thealegreen #thealecan

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Newbury Weekly News

Newbury College There’s more than one route to university or employment The courses and opportunities on offer at Newbury College this autumn can provide an alternative route to university or employment. motor vehicle workshops, hair and beauty salons, a fully- equipped training restaurant, sports hall and a brand new engineering solutions laboratory. As well as a Computer Aided Design (CAD) area, the new lab contains CNC milling and

Newbury College works in part- nership with a number of employers across West Berkshire, providing superb apprenticeship opportunities in a range of subjects, including business administration, health care, IT, professional cookery, hairdress- ing, engineering and more. Apprenticeships are available to anyone over the age of 16, whether you are just leaving school, wanting to develop your career or looking for an alterna- tive route to higher education.

Newbury College offers a wide range of vocational and work- related courses that allow students to progress towards higher education – subjects include art and design, health and social care, mechanical engineering, electronic and electrical engineering, graphic design, IT, uniformed public services, sport and many more. Life at college is enriched with guest speakers, visits to places of interest, sports and fitness activities, and work experience relevant to the choice of study. The college has state-of-the-art facilities, including an animal care centre, construction and

turning machines, 3D printers and scanners and a 3D laser etching machine. In a short inspection in May of this year, Newbury College retained its ‘good’ OFSTED rating and was commended for improving the quality of its provision. Apprenticeships are a great way to start or develop your career. They combine paid employment with on-the-job training and the opportunity to gain a nationally recognised qualification. Get in go far with an apprenticeship

For all our apprenticeship vacancies visit the website.

Peter Symonds College

It’s not too late to enrol If you’d like to speak to someone about enrolling on a course or would like to browse the courses on offer, please call (01635) 845000 or visit www.newbury- college.ac.uk.

opportunities and build long- lasting friendships. The college also offers an exciting programme of over 100 enrichment activities. Whether you wish to pursue a current interest, or you are keen to try something new, there is something for everyone. If sport is your thing, Symonds has a well-deserved sporting reputation and regularly wins local, regional and national competitions. Or if you are interested in musical theatre, the college recently staged an outstanding production of Anything Goes at Winchester’ s Theatre Royal, to great critical acclaim. Come and see for yourself. Open evenings for 2018 entry are on Wednesday, October 19, and Thursday, October 20. We look forward to welcoming you.

asm and success of students. Additionally there is excellent support available to every student both in and out of classes. This year, the college’s excellent 99-per-cent pass rate was maintained with over a third of the grades awarded being at A* or A and 83 per cent of grades being A* to C. In fact, 682 A* grades were achieved overall, a truly stellar performance. The campus has a university feel, where buildings both old and new house state-of-the-art studios, science laboratories, a Learning Resource Centre, media suites, classrooms and IT rooms. With several cafés and social areas, fantastic sports facilities including a well-equipped gym, there is plenty of space and opportunity to expand your learning, explore new

FOR many people, choosing which college is right for them is easy: the subjects on ofer, the quality of teaching, the facilities available, or even the proximity to home are all important factors. Recognised by Ofsted time and again as ‘outstanding’ , Peter Symonds regularly features among the top colleges nationally, attracting day and boarding students from across Hampshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire and as far afield as the Falkland Islands, all keen to benefit from the academic excellence, individual care and superb facilities. Our motto is‘Counting in Ones’ and great emphasis is placed on encouraging and guiding each student personally and academically. Our staff are dedicated to and passionate about teaching and that is reflected in the enthusi-

open evenings Peter Symonds College for 2018 entry

Peter Symonds Owens Road

PLACES STILL AVAILABLE...

Winchester SO22 6RX

...on a number of our full and part-time courses as well as many exciting apprenticeship opportunities.

6 p m –9 p m W e d n e s d a y 1 8 th & T h u r sd ay 1 9 th o c t o b e r 20 1 7

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO ENROL FOR SEPTEMBER 2017 newbury college

01962 857555 admissions@psc.ac.uk www.psc.ac.uk

Principal’s presentation

Discover in detail the wide range of courses available

Explore the campus and all the excellent facilities

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Newbury Weekly News

Hurst Community College

THE Hurst Community College is a successful, high- attaining 11-16 comm unity school blessed with a stunning countryside setting and excellent f acilities. As a popular, medium-siz ed school, they ensur e that class sizes are small and lear ning is personalised. They are extremely ambitious and fully committed to ensuring every pupil ex cels in their achievements as par t of a supportive and respectful community. In 2016, a r ecord 45 per cent of pupils attained an A or A* grade and 91 per cent of pupils gained an A*-C g rade in English langua ge, a truly outstanding ac hievement. In 2017 a r ecord 83 per cent of pupils attained a g rade 4 or higher in the ne w mathematics GCSE, despite the ne w GCSE having more challenging content. These represent some of the best results in the ar ea. It is not just in the tw o core subjects tha t pupils ex cel. Superb results in ar t, chemistry, drama, engineering, “ Leaders share high expectations and a

German, media studies , music, physics, philosophy, product design and r esistant ma terials show that students ar e thriving across the colle ge. Of course, examina tion results are not the onl y feature of success a t The Hurst. ‘Students ar e very proud of their school. They feel safe and well cared for, suppor ting each other through their good behaviour and a ttitudes to learning ’ (Ofsted, May 2015). The school’s mixed-age vertical tutoring allows for highly- personalised pastoral car e and helps build fantastic suppor t networks across year groups.

The school’s aim is for all pupils to feel c hallenged and stimulated during their time a t The Hurst, both in and out of lessons. There is a wide rang e of enrichment activities and trips to cater for all tastes . The school is par ticularly renowned for the quality of its creative arts events and its sporting success . Staff and pupils look f orward to welcoming you at the open evening on Thursday, October 5, and open mor nings on Tues- day, October 10, T hursday, Octo- ber 12, and F riday, October 13.

commitment to ensure that every student gains the skills and qualifications they need for life after school (Ofsted, May 2015). THE DOWNS SCHOOL

OPEN EVENING Thursday, 6 October 2016, 6:30pm – 8:45pm Headteacher’s address: 6:45pm and 7:30pm For prospective students and parents. We look forward to welcoming you to our school. Guided tours of all departments. OPEN MORNING Wednesday, 12 October You are welcome to visit the school during a working day. The school will be open between 10 am and 12 noon with student tours. Thursday, 5 October, .30pm - 8.30pm Wednesday, 11 October, 10.00am - 12.00noon

The Downs School is set in the heart of the West Berkshire Downs. It is a special place where the staff are totally committed to the achievement and personal development of all students. Successes are linked to a relentless focus on teaching and learning which is at the heart of everything that is done. This is further enhanced by the extensive range of extra curricular activities and trips that are offered. For each of the past nine years The Downs School has been designated a high performing school. The impressive results at both key stages have not only maintained the tradition of being one of the top performing schools in West Berkshire, it also epitomises what The Downs School stands for, strong partnerships, resilience and desire to achieve at all levels. A continued investment in the environment for learning is key as students at The Downs School deserve the very best. Year on year our reputation for excellence has meant that we are always heavily oversubscribed. This year we have decided to meet to at least some of the demand for places by increasing our intake from 180 to 210. Judged as outstanding in every category in the last Ofsted inspection, the challenge is to move to ‘beyond outstanding’ by constantly striving for excellence in everything that is done so that the very best outcomes for all students is achieved. Students from The Downs School are confident, determined and respectful. A visit to this exciting, vibrant school community while it is in action is highly recommended. Please telephone to make an appointment. We are extremely proud of our exam results, which re-affirm our status as a top performing school in West Berkshire. 60% of our A2 students achieved A*-B, 81% achieved A*-C and 99% of students passed. Over 80% of GCSE students achieved 4-9 (C to above A*) in English and Mathematics, with a similar percentage attaining at least 5 subjects at grade 4/C and above. 24% of students achieved grade 7-9 (A/A* and above) in English and Mathematics.

Compton, Newbury RG20 6AD

Tel: 01635 270000

www.thedownsschool.org

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Newbury Weekly News

St Bartholomew’s School

ST BARTHOLOMEW’S SCHOOL Andover Road, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 6JP

ST BARTHOLOMEW’S School is a highly-successful centre of learning, offering a diverse and stimulating education. In February 2017, the DfE congratulated the school on being in the top 10% of non- selective state schools in England for attainment at GCSE and in the EBacc. The Sutton Trust has listed St Bart’s as one of the most successful comprehensives in the UK for students going on to the top universities. St Bart’s history spans more than 550 years and the school is an exceptional example of how the traditions of the past can be combined with future opportunities, ensuring students gain life-skills and confidence. Every individual student matters at St Bart’s and is valued equally. The school fosters an inclusive ethos, working to ensure each student meets their potential within a caring and supportive learning environment. An Ofsted report in 2015 stated: “The behaviour of students is outstanding. Students’ great desire to learn makes a very strong contribution to their good progress.” Students enjoy learning and the school prides itself on its academic success. This year, once again St Bart’s celebrated outstanding results. The introduction of the new English and mathematics grades of 9-1 saw 85% of students achieve grade 4 or above in English and mathematics.

OPEN EVENING Tuesday 19 September 2017 5.30pm - 8.30pm St Bart’s is in the top 10% of non-selective state schools in England for student attainment, Progress 8 and EBacc (DfE statistics February 2017) This highly successful school offers a diverse and stimulating educational environment.

An amazing 38% of all grades awarded were A* and A and grades 9-7 in the new qualifications.. The outstanding curriculum is geared to meeting the needs of all, with courses that are interesting and intellectually challenging. The school’s extensive extra- curricular activities provide a huge range of exciting opportunities for students to develop initiative, creativity and leadership. Music, dance, drama and sport are supplemented by such activities as debating, equestrian, horticulture and craft clubs, as well as Latin and Chinese classes.

The house system is central to the pastoral care provision. House heads and tutors have an overview of each individual’s achievements and targets; they also encourage participation in Throughout the school there is a strong sense of community and time is taken to celebrate student success. Visitors are welcome to the open evening on Tuesday, September 19, 5.30pm to 8.30pm, with open mornings on October 2 and 3, from 9am to 10.45am. Come and see the outstanding a wealth of house-based competitions and events.

Come to our Open Evening to find out about the excellent education and opportunities available for students entering Year 7 in September 2018. Presentations by the Headteacher at 5.45pm, 6.30pm and 7.15pm Guided Tours to all departments throughout the evening OPEN MORNINGS Monday 2 October and Tuesday 3 October, 9.00am - 10.45am

Tel: 01635 521255 www.stbarts.co.uk

provision offered and the achievements of all of the students.

Personal Excellence and Collective Responsibility

7ULQLW\ 6FKRRO LV D JUHDW SODFH WR EH Our school motto ‘Personal Excellence and Collective Responsibility’, puts students’ academic DFKLHYHPHQW DQG SHUVRQDO ZHOOEHLQJ DW WKH KHDUW RI HYHU\WKLQJ ZH GR 2XU H[FHOOHQW H[DP UHVXOWV VSHDN IRU WKHPVHOYHV ZH DUH LQ WKH WRS RI VFKRROV QDWLRQDOO\ IRU YDOXH DGGHG SURJUHVV :H SURYLGH superb extra-curricular opportunities, in a wide UDQJH RI DUHDV WR FRPSOHPHQW DQG H[WHQG RXU FXUULFXOXP 7KH IDFLOLWLHV RQ RරHU DW 7ULQLW\ 6FKRRO DUH H[FHOOHQW DQG LQFOXGH DQ H[WHQGHG DQG UHIXUELVKHG 6L[WK )RUP EORFN DQ LPSUHVVLYH 'UDPD 6WXGLR 5HFRUGLQJ 6WXGLR DQG 'DQFH 6WXGLR H[WHQVLYH ,7 DQG 0HGLD IDFLOLWLHV D ÁRRGOLW $VWURWXUI SLWFK DQG a modern Sports Centre which includes outdoor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

Love Lane, Newbury RG14 2DU Telephone: 01635 510500 (PDLO R඼FH#WULQLW\ QHZEXU\DFDGHP\WUXVW RUJ ZZZ WULQLW\QHZEXU\ RUJ

“It is our guiding principle that student achievement is at the heart of all we do”

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Newbury Weekly News

The Clere School THE Clere School is a vibrant and high-attaining rural school

ity for their own learning are key. Our core purpose is to inspire enjoyment of learning, where every pupil matters and no child is left behind. There is a strong focus on academic achievement. The Clere School welcomed best- ever GCSE results this year, demonstrating consistency, high achievement and expectations. 78 per cent of pupils achieved at least a grade 4 in mathematics and 72 per cent at least a grade 4 in English. At a time of significant and on- going examination change, this is fantastic. The percentage of students achieving the top grade (9) in English and mathematics is well above the national average and further demonstrates the school’s commitment to excellent attainment and results. The results of those students

entitled to pupil premium funding were equally impressive. Their performance is well above national averages and reflects the school’s drive to ensure no child is left behind. Headteacher Benjamin Bond said. “This is a strong set of results. We are proud of all our students who work so very hard for their success. “These students will have a great start now as they set of towards further and higher education and the world of work. “Congratulations to every student, their parents and our strong staff team. We look forward to even greater successes next year.” With close links to local sixth form colleges and universities, pupils are encouraged continu- ally to raise their aspirations and reach forward towards the future, beyond the world of school.

with high expectations and aspirations for all its pupils. We provide a secure and caring environment; nurture and development of every pupil lies at the heart of everything we do. With relatively small class sizes, we take pride in knowing each pupil as an individual learner. We are extremely proud of our reputation as a school which encourages respect and consideration for others. Pupils understand the importance of high standards of behaviour and learning. Good manners and courtesy are practised at all times. Learning and teaching have the highest priority. Excellence in teaching, high- quality feedback and empowering pupils to take greater responsibil-

Park House School

GCSE results n Performance in 2017 was signifi- cantly above the national average in the new and more challenging GCSE exams at 75.4 per cent. n Park House is consistently in the top 15 per cent of schools in the country for sixth form progress. n Park House is the South’s ‘Centre of Excellence for learning computer science’. Come to one of the open days at Park House and see what opportunities the school offers to inspire, motivate and develop children, both inside and out of the classroom. This year’s open evening is on Thursday, September 21 (6pm- 9pm), and the open morning is on Friday, September 22 (9.15am-11am). Visit www.parkhouseschool.org for more information.

university places of their choice. Did you know: n Park House School was described by Ofsted as a‘ school with values centred ambition ’ reflecting the local, national and international opportunities the school offers. n Park House has a zero NEET (not in education, employment or training) figure for leavers in Year 11. We are therefore one of those schools which combines a focus of values with outstanding academic achievement and progress – two of the key factors that parents look for when choosing a secondary school. Did you know: n Park House is in the top 100 state schools in the country for continuous improvement in top

FINDING the right school for your child is an important decision. You want them to achieve, to be happy, well rounded and to have amazing opportunities, but how can you know which school is right for your child? As recently reported by the BBC, a national survey undertaken by the University of Birmingham indicated that the majority of parents believe that alongside academic success, the development of values is one of the main elements desirable in a secondary school. The report highlights the relationship between values and employability skills. Developing well-rounded individuals is also a key factor in enabling students to secure

Park House School is...

The Clere School Small and vibrant with high aspirations

“an exceptional school” Ofsted the South’s Centre of Excellence for learning Computer Science full of amazing extra-curricular opportunities in the top 15% for Sixth Form progress in the top 100 state schools for continuous improvement at GCSE Nick Gibb, Minister of State for Schools

Open Events Year 6 parents and pupils are invited to our Open Evening Thursday 21st September 6.30-8.30pm Year 4, 5 and 6 parents and pupils are invited to our Open Morning Friday 22nd September 9.15am-12.15pm

Open evening 6pm–9pm Thursday 21 September

www.parkhouseschool.org / ParkHouseSchool @PHSNewbury

“The positive culture and ethos of the school is embedded and pupils are respectful to all. The school is calm and orderly”

Presentations by the Headteacher at 6.15 pm, 7.15 pm and 8.15 pm on Open Evening Open mornings 9.15am–11am

Ofsted, March 2017

Earlstone Common, Burghclere, Newbury, Berkshire RG20 9HP Tel: 01635 278372 Email: admin@clere.hants.sch.uk www.clere.hants.sch.uk We look forward to welcoming you to our school!

Friday 22 September Tuesday 17 October

Headteacher: Mr Derek Peaple. For more information please visit www.parkhouseschool.org or contact us on 01635 573911 Park House School, Andover Road, Newbury RG14 6NQ

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Newbury Weekly News

JOHN O’Gaunt School capped off a wonderful year with another set of outstanding GCSE results. John O’Gaunt is a wonderful school where every pupil is challenged to achieve, and exceed what they thought was possible. Working alongside high-achiev- ing primary and secondary schools in the Excalibur Academies Trust helps the school build on its many successes and provides a world class education for all pupils. Being part of EAT also offers a strong link for John O’Gaunt students wishing to continue their A-Level education at the outstanding St John’s School, Marlborough. While academic success is vitally important for all its pupils, staff also believe that school is about nurturing confident young learners who are resilient, tolerant of others, proud of their own achieve- ments and determined to be the best they possibly can be. Learning at John O’Gaunt is innovative, challenging and lively. Class sizes are small, which ensures that pupils are treated as individuals and their specific needs are addressed more easily. John O’Gaunt School

staffing levels ensure that pupils are seen as individuals and our en et School Able, gifted and talented pupils moving into Y ear 8

The school’s ‘Pathways to the Future’ model for Year 7 and 8 pupils offers a broad and balanced curriculum and hones the ability of each individual, taking into account their aptitude in order to challenge them, maintain enthusiasm and ensure they succeed. The identified ‘pathway’ for each pupil not only maximises their ability to achieve, but also develops them into global citizens. John O’Gaunt is a fully- inclusive school and offers all

pupils bespoke and tailored support through specialist intervention programmes and specially designed courses. Their strong house system and pastoral team support pupils in their learning, whatever their ambitions and challenges, and through a variety of activities. The excellent tutor programme encourages pupils to support their local community, while at the same time becoming more internationally aware and ethically minded. Pupils raise thousands of pounds every year for a variety of local, national and international charities. The team at John O’Gaunt looks forward to welcoming you at their open evening on Wednes- day, October 4 (4.30pm-7pm) and open mornings on Monday and Tuesday, October 9/10 (9am- 1pm) so you can see for yourself. the most able pupils are stretched and challenged

qualified, enthusiastic and independent young citizens. On April 1, 2011, the school led by example, becoming an academy, a school absolutely in charge of its destiny and determined that our pupils will shine even further in the future. We are the lead school in the Kennet School Academies Trust, having been joined by Whitelands Park Primary School in January 2014. In May 2016 the Ofsted Inspec- tors visited Kennet and declared the school to be outstanding. We agree! The 2017 A-level results were exceptional and by far and away the best in our area, and the strength and depth of the 2017 GCSE results echo that brilliance. Kennet School is delighted to support this Newbury Weekly News educational feature. PG Dick Executive Head

KENNET School has been providing outstanding education for Thatcham and the surrounding villages since 1957. Success is a way of life at Kennet School. We have won many acco- lades at local and national level, thereby attracting significant extra resources to invest in the facilities for our pupils. Children at Kennet School enjoy an environment which is second to none. We believe that our pupils deserve the very best and that is what they shall have. Our reward system encourages pupils to give of their best in the classroom and beyond. Visitors to the school are thrilled by the positive and supportive environment where teachers and pupils work together in harmony. Pupils are challenged and intellectual curiosity is fostered. Pupils who need support are easily identified and enabled to give of their very best and the

partnership with parents underpins all that we do.

It is no accident that Kennet School’s motto is Excellence through Endeavour . Perhaps one of our greatest strengths is our house system, designed to foster the intellectual abilities and personal strengths and talents of every pupil. The house system divides the larger school into four House ‘families’, strengthening the bonds and understanding between school and home. Older pupils give a lead to younger pupils for the benefit of all. We offer a range of extra- curricular activities, which is exceptional, and we are delighted with the huge numbers of pupils who respond to these opportunities and challenges. The school prides itself on producing well-rounded, well-

“

I have been blown away by the school ’ s friendly atmosphere; it really feels like a family

Parent

Inspire - Believe - Support - Achieve

Leading the Kennet School Academies Trust KENNET SCHOOL An Outstanding Academy ANNUAL OPEN EVENING

Thursday 21 September 2017 6-9pm (Headmaster’s speech at 7:30pm)

Open Evening Wednesday 4th October 2017, 4.30-7.00pm Principal’s Address: 5pm & 6pm; Tours available from 4.30pm Open Morning

Come and witness the brilliance of Kennet School!

KENNET SCHOOL Celebrating 60 years of excellence 1957 - 2017

Monday 9th October 2017, 9am-1pm Tuesday 10th October 2017, 9am-1pm

Please contact the school office to book a tour for Open Morning.

Tel: 01488 682400 Email: office.jog@johnogauntschool.co.uk

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Newbury Weekly News