HARLINGTON UPPER SCHOOL

2021 PROSPECTUS

VISION AND VALUES• KNOW THYSELF • HIGH EXPECTATIONS

• RESPECT FOR ALL • RESPONSIBILITY

We are caring, friendly and encouraging with the highest expectations about which we are clear, consistent and firm. Teachers are determined that all students will be taught consistently well, be self-disciplined and behave impeccably. Students develop into independent and responsible adults who make a valuable contribution to the local and wider community.

Treating

the students as

young adults is a clear

approach of the school

that I feel is extremely

well implemented.

PARENT

Helen Harris

Dear Parents

Harlington Upper School is a very special place. We are a high attaining, academic school with outcomes at GCSE and A Level that consistently top the Bedfordshire league tables. We embrace an approach to teaching and learning that combines innovation with established best practice, and equip our young people with the skills, knowledge and qualifications they need to progress successfully beyond their school years.

We believe that every child can succeed if challenged and inspired appropriately and alongside our academic curriculum we provide outstanding extra-curricular and personal development to provide a truly rounded education for our young people.

At Harlington we know that excellent conduct and respect for all are crucial attributes for our students to develop. As such, our expectations and values are traditional and clear. We have the highest expectations of every student; they are expected to work hard and behave in an exemplary fashion. Our students represent the very best of the future generation and act as fantastic ambassadors for the school whether, on site or around our local communities.

We have recently joined with our local Middle and Lower Schools to form the Pyramid Schools Trust and we are very excited about the opportunities the Trust brings and the strengthening of our community. Staff from all Trust schools have been working together on curriculum developments to ensure a cohesive, world class, all through education is in place for our students.

At Harlington we are gifted with a highly motivated and talented staff body. Every class is taught by subject specialists who are experts in their field, ensuring students have access to a depth of subject knowledge that inspires as well as educates.

I am extremely proud to be the Head of such a wonderful community. Harlington Upper School makes a difference to young people and I hope you get a flavour of our unique school from our prospectus.

Best wishes

Headteacher

WELCOME

THE TAUGHT CURRICULUM: HIGH EXPECTATIONSThe Harlington curriculum is unashamedly ambitious for all students. We believe that every child is entitled to a broad and balanced curriculum that tells the story of ‘the best that has been thought and said’ around the world. We believe the purpose of education is to broaden horizons and seek to enthuse our students to take their learning beyond the classroom. In practice, this ensures that our students are exposed to traditional academic thought as well as a diverse and creative range of new ideas. Our strong links with local Middle and Lower Schools have been strengthened further by the formation of the Pyramid Schools Multi Academy Trust and so our already effective links are set to strengthen further.

We offer a varied and stimulating range of subjects to meet the needs of students, building on the Year 7 and Year 8 curriculum delivered in our main partner Middle Schools. The core compulsory curriculum of academic subjects is complemented by a number of vocational subjects, allowing students to establish a firm educational footing from which to develop existing talents and discover new ones. Our aim is for students to maximise their potential, leading to the widest range of pathways.

Our curriculum encourages the accumulation of a breadth and depth of knowledge across subjects, not only for its extrinsic reward, but for its intrinsic value.

WORDS AND WORLDSWe believe that literacy is central to the success of all students. For students to be happy, successful, and resilient, they need to be able to understand and navigate the world around them. No child should be excluded from the opportunities, responsibilities, and experiences that the world has to offer because of a weakness in their literacy. Because of this, we seek to embed opportunities to develop literacy in every subject area with a systematic approach to the teaching of vocabulary and regular opportunities to read high quality material in every subject. Reading for progress and pleasure is our priority at Harlington Upper School.

Literacy has a crucial role to play in personal development. Within tutor groups, students are supported to reflect on elements of their individual character and development through sharing fiction and non-fiction texts together in weekly reading slots as well as through discussion and debate of current affairs. We want students to be well-informed and empathetic in their outlook through the experience of exploring and reflecting on the world around them, near and far.

THINKING HARDOur curriculum is designed to develop thinkers: students who can empathise and evaluate, critique and construct to enter adult life able to achieve their potential and make a positive contribution to society. The taught curriculum encourages respect for all: people, places, and the wider environment.

At Harlington, our teachers use metacognitive strategies to develop our students’ capacity to understand how they learn and to support them in developing their independence as learners. Our teams of subject specialists use their considerable expertise to design inclusive, carefully sequenced programmes of learning that challenge all students to think hard.

Staff at Harlington believe all students are capable of excellence, achieved through hard work, self-discipline, and constant curiosity. In the classroom, our teaching and learning approaches are evidence-informed, reflecting on research and using a wide range of learning strategies to enrich students’ learning experience. Teachers undertake regular training to ensure they consistently deliver lessons to the highest standards, making use of technology where appropriate to enhance student learning. Students are taught in both mixed attainment groups and sets, depending on the nature of the subject.

Students are supported with many literacy and numeracy interventions as well as challenged by our Gifted and Talented programme, including programmes such as The Brilliant Club and our very own Harlington Scholars’ Award.

After school clubs have been

great for my daughter, allowing her to

build on her time at school.PARENT

BEYOND THE CLASSROOMEducating students is not confined to our strong academic curriculum. We firmly believe that experiences beyond the classroom form an integral part of an all-round education.

Harlington offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities, trips and visits. Students are strongly encouraged to become involved in one or more of the many opportunities on offer. Clubs, societies and activities take place in the lunch break, after school, at weekends and during the holidays. New groups develop as staff introduce ideas, or students express an interest in a particular pursuit. There are too many activities available to list them all here but they include: Competitive cross school sport as well as sport for fun and exercise; the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme; a Music Tour to Europe; Geography trips to Iceland and Italy; a Science masterclass at Cambridge University; individual instrumental and vocal music lessons; numerous theatre and concert visits; charity events and non-uniform days and much much more.

Music and Drama are very strong at Harlington. Each year the Music department promotes a comprehensive concert programme including recital evenings; concerts; band nights and concert visits. The Drama department provides a diverse programme of extra-curricular productions. Recent highlights have included Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth and The Crucible. The programme usually includes a collaborative project with the Music department in the form of a musical. Recent productions have included Les Miserables, We Will Rock You and Jesus Christ Superstar. Students from all year groups are involved in the projects and are encouraged to develop their skills in directing, design and stage management as well as performance.

CARE FOR STUDENTSWith our clear focus on maximising potential, all staff at Harlington Upper School aim to help young people to enjoy school, achieve their best and remain healthy and safe. We work hard to support students as they become young adults and encourage them to make a positive contribution to our community. Strong Year Teams work with students to ensure they build resilience and learn from the experiences they have.

The Form Tutor is an important daily point of contact for students and is also the principal contact between school and home. Tutors play a vital role in ensuring students are well looked after every day.

We believe in rewarding students wherever possible and have a well-developed system of Commendations which lead to Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum Awards. These are complemented by a range of individual awards, which include Head Teacher Team Certificates of Excellence and Achievement Postcards. These awards are held in high esteem by our students and parents. As a school, we set the highest standards for work, behaviour and dress and students are expected to show consideration for others at all times. The school aims to make discipline fair but firm and emphasis is given to respect for others and responsibility for one’s own conduct.

THE PYRAMID SCHOOLS TRUSTWe have recently joined with our local Middle and Lower Schools to form The Pyramid Schools Trust and we are very excited about the opportunities the Trust brings and the strengthening of our community. Staff from all Trust schools have been working together on curriculum developments to ensure a cohesive, world class, all through education is in place for our students.

At Harlington we are gifted with a highly motivated and talented staff body. Every class is taught by subject specialists who are experts in their field, ensuring students have access to a depth of subject knowledge that inspires as well as educates.

OUR ENVIRONMENTWe are so lucky at Harlington Upper School to have first class facilities both within the building and within the grounds. Our rural location means our fields for sport and recreation stretch as far as the eye can see. The building is still very new, and the design makes it feel spacious and light.

Our corridors are wide and our classrooms are airy with specialist facilities for Food, Design Technology, Science, IT and Music that are first rate. We enjoy state of the art Drama studios and Theatres to enable the Arts to really flourish.

Teachers provide personal

constructive feedback to

allow individual students

to review and make

improvements to their

learning which contributes

to their progress.PARENT

HARLINGTON UPPER SCHOOL Goswell End Road, Harlington, Bedfordshire LU5 6NX.

Tel: 01525 755100 Email: enquiries@harlington.org

www.harlington.org

My

child is happy

at school.

PARENT