CONTENTS PAGE

SECTION

PAGES

The School

2

Values and Ethos

4

Pupil Support and Transition

5

Special Educational Needs; Religious Education; Sex and Relationship Education

6

Curriculum; Assessment and Homework

6

School Day

9

Penketh Code of Conduct

10

Uniform/Appearance

11-12

Extra-Curricular Activities

13-14

Instrumental Tuition

15-16

Examination Results

17

School Buses

19

Communications

20

1

PENKETH HIGH SCHOOL Penketh High School and Sixth Form College is an 11-18 Community school with a specialism in media and visual arts. The school currently has 1366 pupils, including 177 in the Sixth Form College

Admission to Penketh High School for 2012/13 is subject to the admissions criteria set out by Warrington Borough Council. For information and an admissions booklet either:

• Visit www.warrington.gov.uk/admissions • Or contact Children and Young People’s Services, Warrington

Borough Council, New Town House, Buttermarket St. Warrington. WA1 2NJ ( Tel: 01925 443322)

The school has a Pupil Admission Number of 240 places in years 7 to11

KEY PERSONNEL

Principal: Mr Ben Dunne B.Ed (Hons) N.P.Q.H.

The Principal can be contacted via Fiona Agnew (Principal’s P.A.) and the school address/telephone number

Chair of Penketh High School Governing Body: Mr John Holmes

The Chair of Governors can be contacted via Irene Coates, Clerk to the Governing Body and the school address/telephone number

VISITING THE SCHOOL Prospective parents and children are always welcome to visit the school and we would be delighted for you to meet with a senior member of staff and have a tour of the school in order to see our school at work. Please contact the school in advance to arrange a mutually convenient time

01925 722298

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VALUES

Our vision for Penketh High School is that the school will be a vibrant and enterprising hub for our community, providing excellence in learning, cultural and sporting activity. Our school will offer an open and collaborative culture built on a willingness to listen and involve all stakeholders and a desire to develop dynamic partnerships that create and enhance opportunities for our young people.

Our school aim is to see all our young people:

• Inspired to value learning and personal growth • Equipped with the skills for lifelong independent and collaborative learning • Encouraged, through challenge and support, to be the best they can be • Developing high self-esteem, resilience and perseverance • Valuing participation and celebrating individual and collective achievement • Expressing talents in creative, enterprising, sporting and cultural activities • Thriving as active citizens within our local, national and global communities • Achieving success

LEARNING We believe our learners learn best when they are:

Ethos

• Nurtured within a caring and creative culture offering support and challenge • Valued and encouraged to be active partners in the learning process • Not afraid of making mistakes and encouraged to work collaboratively

Staffing

• Enthused by talented, highly trained and committed professionals • Supported by a team willing to reflect and determined to develop best practice • Encouraged to develop aspirations and guided with impartial advice

Learning

• Working in a safe and stimulating learning environment • Able to access state of the art technologies • Offered curriculum choices that provide breadth and clear progression • Using appropriate learning styles and applying learning to real-life contexts • Able to understand where they are going and how to make progress • Able to enjoy participation and celebrate achievement • Encouraged to adopt healthy and active lifestyles

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PUPIL SUPPORT In order that the general welfare of your child is taken care of, we have a strong academic/pastoral system in place. The organisation of the school is based upon 5 Faculties and 5 Houses, with each House linked to a Faculty. Tutor groups from each year group are represented in each House. The groupings are as follows:

Creative Arts Faculty/Mackinnon House Communication Faculty/Simmons House Humanities Faculty/Fazakerley House Maths, Business and ICT Faculty/Owen House Science and Technology Faculty/Jarvis House There is an additional Inclusion Faculty that supports the whole school

Faculty Leaders and Heads of House, supported by Learning Mentors, ensure that the progress and welfare of every pupil is carefully monitored and recorded accurately. Where possible, we try to ensure that a child has the same Form Tutor for the five years of compulsory schooling and this person works within the pupil support team and gain a close knowledge of pupils in their form. Form Tutors follow a clear procedure when dealing with pupils’ problems to make sure that the right help is given.

Close liaison between parents and the pupil support team is vital and Form Tutors need to be informed of any special circumstances that might affect your child’s progress, such as a particular medical condition. In addition to checking your child’s academic progress, members of the Pupil Support Team check attendance and punctuality as well a rewarding and celebrating their achievements.

TRANSITION Penketh High prides itself on ensuring that pupils coming to us in Year 7 have a smooth transition between primary and secondary education. We open our doors to local primary school pupils well before they are ready to move to high school. In this way, they become familiar with the layout of the school, and more importantly, with our staff and current pupils. Links with our primary schools are very strong and we do much to promote sports and arts in our community. We have a Transition Manager, Mr Farrar and a Teaching Assistant Mrs Darwin who co-ordinate our transition activities which include transition learning projects, master classes and ‘taster days’. We also hold an’ Intake Evening’ for prospective parents and an ‘Intake Day’ for Year 6 pupils transferring to our school. This is followed up in October of Year 7 with a ‘Settling In’ Evening for Parents and their children to review the first few weeks of life at secondary school We also hold a termly meeting with Principals/staff from local primary schools to develop our transition work and help us do our best to ensure that pupils can move smoothly from primary to secondary school.

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SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS Penketh High School seeks to provide a learning environment and curriculum that includes all learners and our staff are trained to meet the needs of all, including those with Special Educational Needs.

Within our school community we have an Inclusion Faculty, led by Mr Swain and supported by our Special Needs Coordinator, Mgrs. Hunt. We have a range of teachers, teaching assistants, learning mentors and other support staff to support learners and we have within our Inclusion Faculty a 12 place Designated Provision for learners with Complex Cognitive Learning Needs, led by Mrs Parker.

A full version of our Special Educational Needs policy is available on request

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Religious Education is one of the compulsory core subjects in schools and is taught at all the Key Stages within our Learning for Life Programme. We are not a faith school but we do provide opportunities for our pupils to study a range of faiths and their traditions and this is taught in a non-denominational and non-doctrinal manner in order to develop tolerance and respect for others. At Key Stage 4 pupils follow a GCSE short course in both Religious Education and in Citizenship.

SEX AND RELATIONSHIPS EDUCATION

Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) is taught as part of our Learning for Life curriculum. The SRE programme includes factual knowledge about sex and sexuality whilst encouraging development of responsibility, investigates issues of peer pressure and helps to formulate a moral code for relationships.

Wherever appropriate, we engage the support of other professionals. Parents are kept informed as to the content of the course and are encouraged to view teaching materials used.

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KEY STAGE 3 CURRICULUM

SUBJECTS YEAR 7 YEAR 8 YEAR 9 English 4 3 3 Mathematics 4 3 3 Science 3 3 3 Art 1 2 1 Design Technology 2 1 1 Drama 1 1 French or German 2 3 3 Humanities (Geography + History) 4 3 3 ICT 1 1 2 Learning for Life 1 2 2 Music 1 1 1 P.E. 2 2 2 N.B. Our curriculum is reviewed annually. The above shows the 2013/14 curriculum

Pupils are placed in sets for certain subjects based on their prior attainment and this is kept under constant review. We do make sure that pupils in every class are given opportunities to engage successfully and be challenged to reach the next level/grade.

ASSESSMENT AND 4LP RECORDING We use Key Stage 2 information and data to set our pupils 4LP targets from Year 7 and progress is measured against targets on a termly basis and reported to parents. These clearly indicate the progress made towards targets and the level of pupil effort during the term is also recorded. Pupils have a sticker on each exercise book showing their end of year target and their end of year 11 target grade. We ask that parents discuss termly Progress Reports with their children and address any queries or concerns directly to subject teachers. Parents also receive a more detailed annual report. Form Tutors and Heads of House rigorously monitor progress and effort to celebrate achievement and quickly identify any pupils at risk of underachieving. During the school year all pupils and parents are invited to attend a Consultation Evening with Subject Teachers. This gives pupils the opportunity to reflect on their performance over the whole year and set clear targets for improvement.

HOMEWORK We believe that pupils should be encouraged to become independent and autonomous learners. Homework is set for pupils of all ages and abilities and it is expected that they will complete it and hand it in for marking when required. Homework is essential if your child is to reach his or her potential and to achieve success, particularly in external examinations. We hope that as parents or carers you will be encouraging your child to complete regular week night homework. Regular checking of your child’s planner is essential. Parents/carers can access the homework calendar through the school website. If any pupil forgets what their homework is they can come down to the Homework Wall outside the canteen to refresh their memory. 7

SCHOOL DAY

8.40 a.m. Pupils should be on site

8.45am – 9.05am Form Time / Assembly

9.05am – 10.05am Lesson 1

10.05am - 11.05am Lesson 2

11.05am – 11.30am Break

11.30am – 12.30pm Lesson 3

12.30pm – 1.00pm Lesson 4 (Years 7, 8, 10, 12, 13)

1st Lunch (Years 9 & 11)

1.00pm – 1.30pm Lesson 4 (Years 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)

2nd Lunch (Year 7)

1.30pm – 2.00pm Lesson 4 (Year 7 same lesson as 12.30-1.00)

3rd Lunch (Year 8, 10, 12, 13)

2.00pm – 3.00pm Lesson 5

3.00 pm End of School Day

Lesson 6 for college students

4.00pm End of Lesson 6

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PENKETH CODE OF CONDUCT We want our learning environment to be a positive experience and to help learning flourish we expect the very highest of standards in all aspects of school life and we expect our pupils to be proud to belong to Penketh High School.

We ask our pupils to follow our PENKETH rules. Using the letters of our school name enables pupils to understand that their actions, thoughts and values not only reflect on themselves but on Penketh High School as a whole.

PUNCTUALITY AND ATTENDANCE ARE VITAL

EQUIPMENT; BE PREPARED FOR THE SCHOOL DAY

NEVER STOP ANOTHER PUPIL FROM LEARNING.

KEEP OUR SCHOOL TIDY

ENSURE YOU WEAR YOUR UNIFORM CORRECTLY

TREAT ALL PUPILS AND STAFF WITH RESPECT

HANDS UP BEFORE YOU ASK OR ANSWER A QUESTION

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Owen House – Silver stripes

Fazakerley House – Green stripes

HOUSE TIE COLOURS: Mackinnon House - Red stripes

Jarvis House – Gold stripes

Simmons House – Blue stripes

UNIFORM/APPEARANCE (School ties and badges available from school only)

BOYS GIRLS

Black blazer & badge Black blazer & badge

White shirt White shirt

Black tailored trousers Black knee length skirt or tailored black trousers

Black V necked jumper (optional) Black V necked jumper (optional)

Black leather shoes Dark coloured socks / plain black opaque tights

House Tie House tie

Black leather shoes

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PE/DANCE KIT

BOYS GIRLS

Black T shirt (with embroidered school logo) Red/Black polo shirt (with embroidered school logo)

Rugby jersey (with embroidered school logo) Red Hoody (with embroidered school logo)

Sports shorts (black, satin stripe) Black games skirt (with pleated back and adjustable

waistband)

Sports shorts (black, satin stripe) Shorts (black, satin stripe)

Black rugby socks Black hockey socks

Black jogging bottoms (optional)

TECHNOLOGY AND ARTS AND DESIGN

Simple black apron

EXTREME HAIRSTYLES

Although the school does not want to inhibit students who wish to express their individuality, we do not accept that extreme hairstyles are appropriate in a school environment. This includes extreme colourings and cuts. Vibrant headbands/bows are also not acceptable in school.

PIERCINGS Pupils are not allowed facial piercings in school. Pupils can wear one stud earring in each ear.

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EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Here at Penketh High we have a strong philosophy of developing the whole child, to bring out new talents and to develop existing ones.

Below is the full range of extra-curricular activities that we offer.

SPORT In the academic year 2014/2015 the PE department will offer the following sports at different times of the year. These sports will have competitive teams. BOYS

• Football • Rugby • Basketball • Cricket • Athletics

GIRLS • Football • Rugby • Netball • Volleyball • Athletics

The department also offers various clubs such as trampoline, badminton, dance, volleyball that can be accessed by all skill levels. MUSIC The Music department offers a vast range of groups and individual lessons to suit almost any taste. The groups are run at no cost. The individual lessons have a charge (You can find the exact pricing in this pack) GROUPS

• Wind Band (Brass and Woodwind) • Song Writing • African Band • ‘STOMP’ • Samba • Gospel Choir • Chamber Choir • Boys Choir • Ukulele Orchestra • Guitar Group • String Group

INDIVIDUAL LESSONS

• Drums • Guitar • Bass Guitar • Brass • Woodwind • Strings • Piano • Vocal

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DRAMA/PERFORMING ARTS

From year 7 pupils can come along to Drama Club and/or Performing Arts Club. Drama is purely acting whereas Performing Arts is a mixture of acting, singing and dancing (Think Glee!)

Year 7 pupils will also be able to audition for the 2012 school play from November of this year.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

The Maths department holds a ‘Maths Clinic’ every break time and 4 nights a week after school. Pupils can access these sessions at any time for help with any topics they may be struggling with or any homework they need to do.

There is also a Chess club up in Maths for all years.

The Art department runs an Art club after school for years 7&8.

There is a Science club that runs in D Block – pupils will get more information about this as they start in September.

The ICT department houses a homework club in B14 for all years every break time and after school. This is for all homework that pupils need access to office software and/or internet access.

Our advice to all year 7’s is to go and try at least one of these clubs or groups in the first few weeks. You never know what you can achieve until you try!

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PROVISION FOR INSTRUMENTAL TUITION

Penketh High School recognises the importance and value of learning a musical instrument and the impact it has upon pupil achievement. At present, we offer the following instrumental lessons:

Voice Miss. Claire Pilling Percussion/Drums Mr Simon Ashcroft Keyboard/Piano Mr Ray Kelly Guitar Mr Mark Jackson/Mr Tim Moore Bass Guitar Mr Ray Kelly Brass Mr Richard Jones Woodwind Mgrs. Margaret Wright Strings Mgrs. Anna Baranek

Lessons are in school time and are run on a rota system so that pupils do not miss the same lesson every week. There is a small fee for all instrumental lessons (which is subsidised by the school). For information regarding fees, please see the attached Instrumental Tuition Fees letter. Pupils learning drums, guitar and bass guitar are able to access school instruments in their own time but we do recommend that they have their own. We do have a limited library of other instruments that can be borrowed and this works on a first come first served basis. If you have been studying an instrument for a while and are developing through graded exams it might be more preferable for you to own your own instrument than borrow a school model. Pupils are also very welcome to join any of the extra-curricular groups at no cost and are highly recommended. This will enhance your performance/ensemble and technical skills as well as being great fun. Ensembles include: Gospel Choir, Chamber Choir, African Group, Samba Band, Wind Band, Boys Choir, Ukulele Orchestra, Guitar Group and many more... For further information regarding provision for instrumental provision, please do not hesitate to contact a member of staff in the Music Department.

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INSTRUMENTAL TUITION FEES WHAT ARE THE FEES? A one to one, 20 minutes lesson is £5. Therefore, over a half term (6 weeks), lessons will amount to (6weeks x £5 per lesson) £30. In addition to the above, if your child has lessons on a second instrument or if any siblings take additional lessons, a half price reduction will be made thereafter for any additional instrumental lessons. For example, if you are paying £30 per term for a principle instrument a £15 additional charge will need to be made for the second instrument lessons. The table below explains the full charges:

Pupil charges per half term 1st instrument Additional

instruments Total charge

1st child £30.00 £15.00 £45.00 2nd child £15.00 £7.50 £67.50 3rd child £15.00 £7.50 £90.00 Pupil charges per half term when the child has a shared lesson (mainly vocalists) 1st instrument Additional

instruments Total charge

1st child £25.00 £12.50 £37.50 2nd child £12.50 £6.25 £56.25 3rd child £12.50 £6.25 £75.00 Pupils on Free School Meals or Financial Assistance 1st instrument Additional

instruments Total charge

1st child £15.00 £7.50 £22.50 2nd child £7.50 £3.75 £33.75 3rd child £7.50 £3.75 £45.00

How do I pay? You will receive an invoice at the start of each half term for the lessons of that new half term. Cheques for lessons should be made payable to Penketh High School and handed to Mrs. Hendry in the Finance Office.

Please note, we a system of subsidising lessons and it is vital that lesson payments are prompt to avoid further administration costs on our part. If you have any issues in paying for lessons, it is vital that you contact either the music department or the Finance team.

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PENKETH HIGH SCHOOL EXAMINATION RESULTS 2013

We are delighted with the progress being made at Penketh High in terms of raising aspirations and expectations and to see the impact that this is having on our examination results which have again seen a record year.

GCSE: 2013 has seen our best ever results in term the ‘headline’ figure of 61% of pupils gaining 5 or more A*-C grades including English and Maths. The school has improved performance by 26% over the past 5 years in performance indicator. On an individual note, our highest achiever this year gained an impressive 11 A* grades and just one A. Internal assessments for the new Year 11 indicate that we will improve again this year!

GCSE 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 5 or more A*-C with English &

Maths 35% 45% 51% 56% 55% 61%

5 or more A*-C grades 61% 68% 64% 74% 81% 73% 5 or more A*-G with English &

Maths 87% 95% 92% 96% 96% 95%

3 or more A*or A grades 12% 19% 25% 25% 25% 21%

A/S Level: Encouraging results this year from a relatively small cohort. The ‘value added’ progress figures (based on each student’s GCSE results) are broadly in line with the previous year.

AS Level 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 % A grades 7% 10% 14% 10% 9%

% A-C grades 45% 54% 65% 53% 51% % A- E 84% 87% 89% 80% 85%

A Level: Results at A Level this year maintained our excellent pass rate. There was dip in the proportions achieving the highest grades.

A Level 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 % A*-A grades 18% 11% 19% 23% 13% % A*-C grades 74% 58% 69% 80% 70%

% A*- E 99% 99% 98% 98% 99%

We wish to thank students, parents and staff for making 2013 such a successful year. Success in examinations is critical if we are to maximise the opportunities and choices for students. We hope our 2013 achievements can inspire the whole school community to believe that they too can be successful.

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PENKETH HIGH SCHOOL – BUS ROUTES The following school buses are organised for us by Warrington Borough Council and serve the Old Hall/ Callands and Bewsey/ Dallam areas. The timetables below are up to date but are subject to change. Service 263 Callands – Penketh High School Springfield (01925 210044) Service 264 Callands – Penketh High School Fairbrothers (01925 415200) via Old Hall Schooldays Only SPR FAIR FAIR SPR # # 263 264 264 263

Callands, Callands Rd/St David's Drive

0805 0805 Penketh High School 1515 1515

Westbrook Centre, Asda 0813 0813 St Gregory’s Catholic High School 1525 - Twenty Acre Road, Tasman Close 0815 0815 Whittle Brook, Tankersley Grove - 1525 Old Hall Primary School 0819 0819 Old Hall Primary School 1530 1533 Whittle Brook, Tankersley Grove 0824 - Twenty Acre Road, Tasman Close 1532 1535 St Gregory’s Catholic High School - 0825 Westbrook Centre, Asda 1533 1536 Penketh High School 0834 0835 Callands, Callands Rd/St David's

Drive 1538 1541

JM263/264 Comm 4th September, 2013 Route Description Service 264 From Callands, Callands Road/St David’s Drive via Callands Rd, Westbrook Crescent, Cromwell Ave, Twenty Acre Rd, Old Hall Rd, Cromwell Ave, Sankey Way, Liverpool Rd, St. Mary’s Rd, Heath Rd to Penketh High School. Return via Heath Rd, Penketh Rd, Sankey Way then reverse of above route. Service 263 From Callands, Callands Road/St David’s Drive via Callands Rd, Westbrook Crescent, Cromwell Ave, Twenty Acre Rd, Old Hall Rd, Cromwell Ave, Canons Rd, Hood Lane North, Sycamore Lane, Tankersley Grove, Whittle Ave, Liverpool Rd, St. Mary’s Rd, Heath Rd to Penketh High School. Return via Heath Rd, Penketh Rd, Sankey Way, Whittle Ave then reverse of above route. #: Please note WBC free bus passes are not valid on this service (pass holders should use service 263). Service 265 Dallam – Penketh High School Fairbrothers (01925 415200) via Bewsey Schooldays Only

Dallam, Harrison Square 0815 - Penketh High School 1515 1515

Bewsey, Lovely Lane/Bewsey Road 0818 0818 Lovely Lane, Mad Hatter 1529 1529

Lovely Lane, Mad Hatter 0821 0821 Bewsey, Lodge Lane 1532 1532

Penketh High School 0835 0835 Dallam, Harrison Square 1535 1535

JM101 4th September, 2013

Route Description From Dallam, Harrison Square via Longshaw St, Troutbeck Ave, Lodge La, Lovely La, Thewlis St, Old Liverpool Rd, Liverpool Rd, St Mary's Rd, Heath Rd to Penketh County High School.

Return via Heath Rd, Penketh Rd, Liverpool Rd then reverse of above route.

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art@penketh.warrington.sch.uk business@penketh.warrington.sch.uk

childdevelopment@penketh.warrington.sch.uk dance@penketh.warrington.sch.uk drama@penketh.warrington.sch.uk english@penketh.warrington.sch.uk

geography@penketh.warrington.sch.uk history@penketh.warrington.sch.uk

ICT@penketh.warrington.sch.uk languages@penketh.warrington.sch.uk

learningforlife@penketh.warrington.sch.uk maths@penketh.warrington.sch.uk media@penketh.warrington.sch.uk music@penketh.warrington.sch.uk

pe@penketh.warrington.sch.uk science@penketh.warrington.sch.uk

technology@penketh.warrington.sch.uk

HEADS OF HOUSE Fazakerleyhouse@penketh.warrington.sch.uk

Jarvishouse@penketh.warrington.sch.uk Mackinnonhouse@penketh.warrington.sch.uk

Owenhouse@penketh.warrington.sch.uk Simmonshouse@penketh.warrington.sch.uk

ATTENDANCE

Attendance@penketh.warrington.sch.uk

COMMUNICATION MATTERS

Here at Penketh High we place a huge emphasis on communication between school and home. If you ever have any questions or queries about a particular subject or matter then you can email the department directly using the list below.

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