www.billericayschool.com Email: info@billericayschool.com

Tel: 01277 655191

The Billericay School

A Maths and Computing School

Recruitment Information *Exciting NQT packages available*

Vacancies We are currently keen to recruit staff in the following areas: Maths, English, Boys PE (with the ability to teach either a Humanity or Business Studies). We would also consider applications from Business Studies and Modern Foreign Languages (Chinese with French or German). We welcome prospective applicants to come and see the school in action. Please get in touch by email or phone if you would like to visit prior to application.

Vacancies are advertised via TES and on our website - www.billericayschool.com

For more information, please contact the Headteacher’s PA, Mrs Efreme on: 01277 655191 or email: info@billericayschool.com

Our Ethos ‘Caring About Success’

Our Code of Behaviour

Aims, Values and Underlying Principals Everyone in the school community has 3 Basic Rights:

The right to feel safe

The right to be treated with respect

The right to learn/teach

In order for us all to have these rights, we all have 3 Responsibilities:

The responsibility to behave in a safe way

The responsibility to treat others with respect

The responsibility to allow others to learn and teachers to teach

We believe that good behaviour is a result of having high expectations and is achieved when everyone knows, believes in these rights and responsibilities and applies a common code of conduct.

Our Code of Conduct Our Code of Conduct, known as ‘PROEC’, is based on 5 key words: PRIDE, RESPECT, ORGANISATION, EFFORT and CARE. In our school community we: Pride: Take pride in ourselves, our environment, our work and our achievements. Respect: Show respect and tolerance to each other, our community and ourselves at all times. Organisation: Arrive on time, organised and ready to learn every day. Effort: Give our best efforts in all that we do and celebrate the efforts of others. Care: Behave sensibly and safely, caring about the well-being of everyone in our community. Through our commitment to these values, we will foster a harmonious, responsible and aspirational community, prepared for the challenges of the future.

GCSE Physical Education is a well-established GCSE in Years Ten and Eleven. The students produce strong work in both theoretical and practical areas of the course and gain grades of above the national average in this area. The students receive two sixty minute lessons per week in Year 10 and two sixty minute lessons per week in Year 11. Sports Studies Students also have the opportunity to follow the Sports Studies Course which is the equivalent to 1 GCSE. It comprises of 4 units over the course of 2 years, each worth 25%. One of the units is exam based and the other 3 units are coursework based comprising of both practical and coursework elements. Students currently receive 5 hours over the 2 week timetable. Cambridge Extended Technical Certificate in Sport This course is the equivalent to 1 ‘A’ Level and the students receive 9 hours of curriculum time per fortnight. The course is split into 3 core units, of which 2 are externally marked exam based with the other core unit being a Leadership in sport unit. 2 or 3 optional units are then completed to finish the course which are internally assessed units. Extra-Curricular Activities There is a committed and valued extra-curricular programme offered to all students within the school. The expanse of sports offered is an extension of the school curriculum. Rewards The Department have in operation a “colours system”. This has been running since 1999 and has been well received by both staff and students.

About the School The Billericay School is a heavily oversubscribed comprehensive in Essex with a specialism in Mathematics and Computing. The school has polite and engaged students who want to learn and benefits from good parental support. With direct links to the ‘Outstanding’ Billericay Educational Consortium, The Billericay School is renowned for the high standards of CPD it delivers as well as the collaborative and supportive ethos it promotes amongst staff. Our Governing body is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All posts are subject to satisfactory medical checks, enhanced DBS clearance and references. NQTs For a successful NQT, an Early Start scheme from 2 July 2020 is available. This includes a daily rate for all days worked throughout July (e.g. £130 per day M1) followed by payments across the summer holidays and a well-established induction package. Since 2010 the school has taken 29 teachers through induction and we have 5 going through during the current year (2019/20). Of these 29, there are still 23 involved in school based education which is a retention rate significantly above the national average. In fact 15 of the 29 are still employed at the Billericay school and a number of these staff now hold positions of responsibility including a Head of House, Heads of Department and Key Stage co-ordinators. The Billericay school provides an environment where teachers can develop their craft and find opportunities for promotion. Job Description Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

To teach the subject across the ability range in line with departmental scheme of work and policies

To participate in the development of appropriate syllabuses, materials and schemes of work.

To be Form Tutor of an assigned form and to carry out related duties in accordance with the general job description of Form Tutor.

To carry out a share of supervisory duties in accordance with published rosters.

To participate in appropriate meetings with colleagues and parents relative to the above duties.

Physical Education Philosophy Physical Education is the formal inculcation of knowledge by practical means. It is an important element of a balanced education. Physical Education should ensure that all pupils have an opportunity to participate on equal terms in a range of activities and should help them to develop their self-esteem through participation and achievement.

Staff/Time Allocation Year groups 7, 8 and 9 receive two, 60 minute, periods per week. Years 10 and 11 receive one, 60 minute, lesson per week. It has remained in a stable and very successful state for a number of years. There are regular departmental meetings held in school time. At these meetings, critical analysis of departmental practice, target setting and achievement are considered. Staff Training Opportunities are given to staff to allow for the updating of qualifications and the expansion of their own career development. This is facilitated through departmental Inset days and external courses. Organisation The Department operates a single sex policy in all year groups. Students follow a wide, balanced curriculum which answer all government requirements. The activities followed are: Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Cricket, Dance, Fitness, Gymnastics, Hockey, Netball, Rugby, Rounders, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, and Volleyball.

What makes us exceptional? Community ethos Our school community is special. Students, parents and staff work together in shaping the school vision. ‘Backchat’ are enthusiastically vocal and listened to, and parents, our family of primary schools, engagement with teacher training and the wider MAT all enhance our partnerships. Breadth and Balance Annual review ensures that our curriculum evolves to meet the needs of all our students. We offer all students the opportunity to follow an academic core programme that includes the Ebacc. Uptake is good and varied creative, technical and vocational qualifications help make up a diverse, personalised offer to meet the needs of all. Achievement for All Our School Improvement Strategy is grounded in the principles of excellent teaching and learning which enable all to be stretched and challenged to achieve their best. Analysis of the specific needs of our students leads to their participation in a variety of appropriate extracurricular initiatives. We are proud to be a part of the Achievement for All programme, whose patron is former student, entrepreneur and super model, David Gandy. The programme ensures that all students are able to reach their full potential through mentoring, workshops and partnership with parents. Enrichment for All What goes on in the classroom is enriched by clubs, exchanges, involvement with industry, trips and visits. A highly dedicated staff team ensure that students’ time at school is unforgettable. “The school has provided me with opportunities to expand my learning and provided the chance to have some great experiences both at home and abroad. The trips such as the US exchange and World Challenge have developed my character. Things like the town council and involvement with community have taught many lessons and I would strongly advise younger years to get involved. I would like to thank the school for giving me an outstanding foundation to build from in later life” – student, Kirkland Rowell 2016 STEM Excellence STEM masterclasses, competitions and, industry mentors and stretch and challenge across the key stages and beyond, are part of our More Able Provision for years 7 – 13 and our commitment to providing exciting opportunities for all. Our staff are committed to ensuring that every student can gain valuable experience and the skills they need to succeed in varied careers. Collaborating with the Royal Institute on Saturday Masterclasses in Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics for KS3,4 and 5 students, we opened these opportunities up to students from schools across the county.

Lessons are offered on: flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, voice, piano,

keyboard, guitar, bass guitar, drums. Instrument hire, where available, is free for a year.

Extra-Curricular Clubs

The aim of the Department is to encourage as many students as possible to participate in extra- curricular activities. Students are welcome to attend any club. All clubs have a wide range of performance opportunities. These include Year 7 and 8 carol services, Spring Recital, Summer Expressive Arts show and a variety of additional events throughout the year including;

School Choir

Music Club

Ukulele Club

Keyboard Club

Billericay All Stars Ensemble

String Group

Student led ensembles

Music Department

Music Facilities at the Billericay School are excellent. We are equipped with a new modern recording studio that enables students to record performances and their own compositions in a state-of-the-art environment. We have 2 classrooms with 16 Apple Mac music technology workstations running Logic Studio Professional, Sibelius 8 and GarageBand. In addition, we have 4 practice rooms and a large range of instruments including orchestral instruments, class sets of keyboards, a large stock of tuned and un-tuned percussion and rock band instruments. A live room and both

classrooms are patched directly into the recording studio.

Our focus a KS3 is on developing musicians and fostering a love music. We have recently established a routine of all KS3 students arriving to lessons and completing 10mins piano practice; during this time the teacher works one to one with individual student at the teachers to piano to ensure all student are progressing. As a result, all students from year 7 are reading Treble and Bass clef notation and playing the piano with both hands. Year 7 & 8 complete various projects that feed into the OCR GCSE; these include using GarageBand to create compositions and develop music technology skills.

From year 9 the students are introduced to Logic Pro 9 and GCSE students have the option to create their compositions on Logic Pro, Sibelius or multi-track them in our studio. At KS4, the students study OCR GCSE specification.

All students are welcome to participate in instrumental music lessons. Teachers are mostly contracted from Essex Music Services to provide one to one lessons for either 20 or 30 minutes per week on a rotating time through the day.

What makes us exceptional? Communication Skills We aim for our students to be excellent 21st century communicators. We develop literate and numerate young people through a wide range of initiatives from effective transition from KS2 – ‘Ready for Secondary’ - to ‘Readasaurus’ and author visits. Safe use of ICT and social media feature in our Computer Science and Personal Development programmes as part of ongoing work with students and their parents to ensure digital literacy and safety. Personal Development and Wellbeing Healthy Schools re-designation and recognition of our outstanding EWMH provision has helped ensure student personal development and wellbeing is excellent. Our Pastoral System is a strength and student involvement in evaluating and updated our Personal Development Curriculum has ensured that our RSE and E-Safety lessons are relevant and engaging. “The school is achieving a high standard of moral, social and community values and instilling them in my daughter. Thank you.” – parent, Kirkland Rowell 2016. Innovative Technology We constantly embrace ways in which students’ experiences can be enhanced by technology. Our partnership with Fujitsu has facilitated a bespoke classroom and business placement opportunities and we have been a key partner in Shift’s BfB Labs Wellbeing Videogames which first launched in July 2017. Sharing good practice We have excellent teachers and skills are shared in and across departments as part of our CPD programme. SLEs and other staff develop outstanding teaching both here and in our supportive work in other schools. The Billericay Teaching School Alliance facilitates networking events in a range of subjects, developing practice and sharing ideas across the wider community. With lead subject mentors in 7 different subject areas, we appreciate the importance of succession planning in future-proofing quality teaching and learning and play a leading role in training the teachers of tomorrow. Sixth form We are very proud of our Sixth Form. Inclusive and welcoming, our students are a vital part of the school and wider community. They go on to achieve excellence in Higher Education, apprenticeships and employment and return long after they have left in order to share their experiences, skills and advice with younger years. Our committed and knowledgeable Sixth Form team maintain a sharp focus on academic performance, whilst at the same time providing exceptional advice on University applications, career pathways and student wellbeing. Our programme of external speakers provides our sixth formers with the opportunity to reflect on their own ambitions, the culture and history of the world in which they live and inspires them to be the best people that they can.

Breadth, Balance and Opportunity The school’s curriculum allows students to develop their knowledge, skills and interests in as wide a range of subjects as possible. All students also follow a Personal Development Programme encompassing Careers advice, Citizenship, Enterprise, Relationship Education, Health and Well Being.

Years 7 and 8

In Year 7 students are placed in sets for Mathematics. In all other subjects, students are taught in their teaching or mixed ability groups. Banding (dividing students from the same year into broad groupings) and setting (according to ability) in all subjects takes place in stages throughout years 7 and 8 although most will have happened by the end of Year 7. Students will study French and German in Year 7.

In Year 8, they select to study French or German. Students with exceptional linguistic skills will have the opportunity to continue with both . Students follow a curriculum which provides a solid foundation for success in level 2 study and enables all students to develop a range of academic skills from across the full curriculum, including Expressive Arts and Design and Technology. At the end of Year 8 students will make some choices about the subjects they will study to full course examination. Years 9, 10 and 11

All students follow a core programme of study which comprises English, Mathematics, Science, Religious Education and Physical Education. Students will begin full GCSE study in their Language and Humanity choice, as well beginning to study one other course chosen from areas such as Catering, Chinese, Textiles, Product Design, Art, Drama, Film Studies, Business Studies, Music, Sport Studies, Computer Science, Construction and Engineering. Years 12 and 13

Our large and successful sixth form offers a wide range of A level and vocational courses and our students achieve excellent results. Students are given dedicated support in making applications to university, apprenticeships or employment, and the sixth form enrichment programme offers outstanding development of wider skills and preparation for future citizenship.

Mathematics The Billericay School Mathematics faculty consists of 13 members of staff, most of which are full time Mathematics specialists. Within the Department, there is a diversity of expertise, ranging from well qualified NQTs to experienced teachers. With a Head of Faculty and key stage coordinators, the structure within the Department provides excellent opportunities for teachers to feel supported, progress further and experience leadership roles. The Department is based in a new office with 15 computers and a social space spread over two floors. Mathematics GCSE results are above national averages; last August (2019), 14 students achieved a grade 9, 80% achieved 9-4 and 56% 9-5. At KS5, students study an EDEXCEL course. Mathematics is one of the most popular subjects within our sixth form of 300 students, with approximately 50 students choosing to continue with Mathematics to A Level each year; we have been able to offer a wide range of A Level combinations and deliver modules in Further Pure, Mechanics, Statistics and Decision Mathematics. In recent years we have had as many as 20 students choosing A Level Further Mathematics. Last year, the subject was the best performing A Level in the sixth form, with 10 A*s in A Level Mathematics and Further Mathematics in Summer 2018. Mathematics teachers are increasingly having the opportunity to contribute to other Level 3 courses including Economics, Finance, Engineering and Computer Science. The Department is proud of its success with university applications and regularly helps students progress to universities including Oxbridge, Warwick, Bath and UCL to study Mathematics. The Department has fully resourced schemes of work for all new specifications and a wealth of creative resources to extend learning in Mathematics and incorporate cross-curricular opportunities. The faculty has its own suite of 30 computers, used solely for Mathematics lessons. Classes are timetabled for one computer room lesson per fortnight and extra ICT lessons are available on request. Mathematics classrooms are fitted with interactive boards, many equipped with HD projectors. The faculty is renowned county-wide for its links with the Royal Institution and the

success of the Masterclass programmes running at KS3 and 5, where students from

leading schools across the county travel to Billericay for enriching and engaging

Mathematics programmes.

“Staff care deeply about the pupils, ensuring that they feel safe and know how to keep themselves safe”

Ofsted inspection, 2018

Supporting Academic Progress

The More and Most Able We believe that exceptionally able students benefit from a programme that aims to stimulate their imagination and tax their intellect. All students are able to access as broad a curriculum as would be found in any selective school. Students identified in Year 7 as having exceptional ability are invited to participate in a series of ‘events’ that provide an extra dimension to their studies, and this continues from Year 7 through to Year 11. We also track our most able students to support them to achieve their full potential. Study and Homework We believe that homework and independent study play a vital part in the success of students. It extends their understanding of the subjects studied as well as helping instil the discipline so necessary in coping with the requirements of GCSE and Advanced Level examinations. All students have a homework diary which parents are asked to check and sign each week. Great emphasis is placed on the completion of homework and independent study and we ask for parents’ support on this issue. A homework timetable for years 7 and 8 is published on the school website. Senior staff monitor the quality of homework set and completed. Ofsted

We are proud to report that In May 2018, The Billericay School maintained a Good rating by Ofsted. The full report can be viewed on our website: www.billericayschool.com/admissions/general-information Within this report, inspectors noted: “The headteacher has a clear and focused plan for the school. His relentless drive to achieve “success for all” is leading improvement in the quality of education

Business and Economics

The Billericay School Business and Economics Department currently consists of 3 specialist members of staff. Within the Department there is a wealth of expertise. Business and Economics sit within the Humanities and Social Sciences faculty which in addition to Geography, History and RE includes Leisure & Tourism at KS4 and Government & Politics, Sociology, Psychology, Health & Social Care, and Travel & Tourism post 16. Business Studies GCSE results are above national and Essex averages, and in 2018 64% of were graded A*-C at GCSE in the last year of the unreformed exam. At KS5, students study the AQA course. There are normally two classes of each subject in each of years 12 and 13. The Department is proud of its success with some students continuing their studies to degree level or into higher apprenticeships. The Department has a wealth of creative resources to extend learning in Business and Economics and incorporates cross-curricular opportunities. The Department has three dedicated classrooms with computer provision in all rooms. The Department takes its responsibility to financial literacy and awareness for all seriously.

Beyond Academic Study: Curriculum Enrichment

The school has an excellent tradition in games, gymnastics and athletics, with individuals and teams representing the school at local and national level. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme is well established and a large number of students move onto World Challenge in Years 11, 12, and 13. In the last academic year we ran over 60 student trips, including Skiing, Watersports, University Taster Days and many more. We also run a hugely successful German Exchange programme.

We pride ourselves on our broad range of curriculum which in addition to the core subjects, includes Art, Drama, Product Design, Film Studies and many more.

Our wonderful Expressive Arts Department regularly showcase their talent by way of Drama and Musical productions. Students are offered the use of our modern recording studio, practice rooms with a large range of instruments and Apple Mac workstations. We also offer a wide variety of music tuition.

We also offer vocational courses such as Construction - where students learn trades such as brickwork and Hair and Beauty - where students benefit from our recently furnished and fully equipped Salon.

Our Design and Technology Department offers 4 fully equipped workshops which house; 3D printers, laser cutters, mug and t-shirt presses, CNC machinery, industrial CAD software and over 80 computer stations, with state of the art graphic packages.

A wide range of extra-curricular clubs are also available. Details are published at the start of each academic year and all students are encouraged to join. Clubs include: Chess, Modern Languages, English Games, Dancing, Law and Drama.

Key Stage 5 Science ‘A’ levels have always been a popular choice for our 6th form students. Our alumni include students taking medicine, going to Oxbridge and gaining awards from some of the most prestigious universities in the country. Biology Biology is always a popular choice at The Billericay School, recruiting between 25 and 30 students each year. We currently have two Year 12 classes and one Year 13 class all following the OCR Biology A course. Students are provided with extensive resources, including 24-hour access to the Pearson on-line textbook and topic based exam question packs for each chapter. Our teachers are enthusiastic and imaginative, guiding our students to excellent results year on year. The practical work that we carry out underpins the whole course, as well as contributing to the Practical Endorsement award. A strong technical team supports our teaching. We strive to provide our students with relevant enrichment activities throughout the course, and our year 12 students attend a residential field trip to Flatford Mill each summer. Chemistry Chemistry is becoming an increasingly popular choice at A Level and there is currently one Year 12 class and one Year 13 class following the OCR Salters (B) A Level Chemistry course. Practical work is central to the course and we have a well-equipped A Level Chemistry Department with fume cupboards and ample space for practical work. Every room has a projector, a teacher’s computer and there is access to laptops and a variety of data logging equipment for the students to use in these rooms. We have a tradition of enthusiastic teachers and technicians who support and encourage the students to extend their practical work in extension lessons after school or at lunchtime. The Department involves students in extracurricular activities such as spectroscopy workshops and visits to The Royal Society’s summer science exhibition or A Level Study events with leading Chemistry speakers. Physics Physics at The Billericay School is always well subscribed and we currently have one Year

12 class and one Year 13 class following the Edexcel A level Physics course. Specialist

Physics teachers, who are enthusiastic about their subject, teach and support students.

Students are provided with a textbook for personal use at home, as well as topic specific

student booklets that contain a topic checklist, key word list and past paper questions.

Practical work is undertaken extensively, enriching theory and the students’ subject

knowledge, as well as leading to the Practical Endorsement requirement of the course. The

Department is well equipped and supported by conscientious and skilled technicians.

Enrichment opportunities, such as Physics in Action lectures, are offered and students can

take part in the British Physics Olympiad, both in Y12 and Y13.

Science Department

Aims and Rationale. Our aim is to deliver a broad and balanced science education which prepares all our students for their future lives, either in the world of work or further education. We all strive to present lively, stimulating and exciting lessons which not only develop our student’s investigative skills and generate real interest, but also equip them with a knowledge and understanding of key scientific principles. Strong emphasis is placed on the active involvement of our students in their learning process and they are exposed to a wide range of teaching and learning activities. This variety provides many opportunities for students to enhance many skill areas such as thinking, ICT, problem solving, reasoning, independent learning, performance, information processing, enquiry, creative thinking, evaluation and the ability to work with others.

Department facilities Since extensive improvements in 2012 the Science Department boasts 13 well equipped labs. Alongside this we have 4 exceptionally well equipped prep rooms, facilitated by experienced technicians, and a shared work area.

Curriculum In Year 7 and 8 all students receive three lessons (60 minutes each) of Science a week. Our Wikid UPD8 course ensures that every science lesson, whatever the topic, gets students motivated to learn. Themed units set science in relevant contexts, which ensures that the engagement becomes real understanding. Wikid teaching sequences are built from the ground up on the best learning research. Students begin studying GCSE Science in Year 9 and most will sit AQA GCSE Combined

Science Trilogy in Year 11. Our most able students are invited to study Single Sciences

leading to three separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Year 9 students

receive 6 hours a fortnight of curriculum time with this increasing to 9 hours in Year 10

and 11 with extra time allocated in Year 11 for those students completing Single

Sciences.

Geography

The Billericay School Geography Department consists of 5 specialist members of staff, one of whom is part time. Within the Department there is a wealth of expertise. Geography sits within the Humanities faculty which in addition to History and RE includes Business Studies, Child Development and Leisure & Tourism at KS4 and Business Studies, Economics, Government & Politics, Sociology, Psychology, Health & Social Care, and Travel & Tourism post 16. Geography GCSE results are well above national and Essex averages, and in 2017, 72% of those were graded A*-C at GCSE; from a high of 82% in 2016. At KS5, students study the new EDEXCEL course. There is normally one class in each of years 12 and 13 with a 100% A level pass rate in each of the last three years. The Department is proud of its success, with some students continuing their studies to degree level. The Department has fully resourced schemes of work for all new specifications and a wealth of creative resources to extend learning in Geography and incorporate cross-curricular opportunities. The Department has four dedicated classrooms and computer suites are normally available on request. Fieldwork is highly valued and GCSE and A level students have a range of opportunities to study Geography outside the classroom. The Department takes its responsibility to global citizenship and sustainability very seriously.

Modern Foreign Languages In the Billericay School Modern Languages Department we are passionate about the importance of learning languages. We know how vital language skills are for young people in today’s competitive international job market, but we also believe that the insight into another culture and the deeper understanding of their own language that students achieve is immensely valuable. We aim to teach students not only to communicate confidently, but also to understand the underlying structures of language so that they develop transferable skills. All students at the Billericay School study one or more languages at Key Stage 3 and almost all continue to study at least one language at Key Stage 4. The Modern Languages Department teaches French and German from Year 7 and Mandarin Chinese is offered from Year 9. Where students are able to speak another language already, we also aim to help them achieve the appropriate qualifications, and we support iGCSE English for students for whom English is their second language. We currently have students preparing examinations in Italian, Polish, Hebrew, Urdu and Dutch. Our GCSE results are excellent and we have a healthy take-up for all three languages at A Level and Chinese Pre-U. Our friendly and experienced team of ten staff works in a dedicated suite of modern

classrooms in D Block, all equipped with teacher computers, interactive whiteboards and

sound systems, together with appropriate teaching software. All classrooms have full

sets of textbooks, dictionaries and MWBs. There is a separate office space with a

computer for each member of staff and the support of a part time administrator.

We have an extensive range of shared resources tailor-made to support our courses and our high quality IT provision means that both students and staff can access these from home.

English at KS5 The numbers of students opting to take one of our two A Level courses is testament to their success and appreciation of their experience at GCSE. We follow the OCR syllabus for English Literature and English Language and Literature. Students takes the full A Level with exams and coursework in Year 13. We take a seminar approach to some of our A Level lessons in response to students’ changing needs as scholars and in preparation for their possible transition to higher education. Departmental Priorities are:

Provide an extensive curriculum at Key Stage 4 and 5 so that our students have the best chances to succeed.

To develop our Key stage three programmes of study to ensure that students build rapidly on the work done at Key stage 2 and are fully prepared for the challenge of GCSE English at Key stage four.

Continue with, and refine, our current revision and intervention strategies to support our students to be successful.

Challenge all learners, allowing them to become independent and resilient.

Collaboratively, within the Department, develop our schemes of learning and a range of resources that enthuses and engages all learners.

Provide CPD for all staff within the faculty to allow them to continue to develop as all outstanding practitioners should.

RBLC

Our extensive library (RBLC) offers students access to a wide variety of resources to support personal development and interest. Available before and after school, the area provides a stimulating environment for extra study and research.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Our aim is to encourage all our students to enjoy languages and to have fun while

developing their skills, so the Modern Languages Department offers an extensive range

of extra-curricular activities. There are lunchtime clubs and Sixth form revision and

conversation groups. We also run various competitions and creative projects throughout

the year, such as the German scrapbook project and caption competition, the French

creative writing contest and the hotly contested Year 8 Spelling Bee.

The Year 7 Fête de la Musique in the summer is a highlight of our calendar. Local primary

school pupils attend the Fête to act as judges, while local secondary schools are invited

to our annual French Café quiz.

Our annual German exchange with the town of Reutlingen has now been running for

over 40 years and we also offer regular exchanges and trips to France. We encourage

students to develop confidence by participating in speaking competitions such as the

regional ‘Have Your Say’ Competition and we put on plays in French in collaboration with

the Drama Department. For example, students from Year 7 to Year 13 cooperated to

perform ‘Les Choristes’ in a hugely successful production which toured local primary

schools.

Recently we were also able to host a very successful visit by students and staff from one

of our two partner schools in China, which tied in with our Chinese penfriend

programme and with our Collaborative Classrooms project.

Students on the German Exchange find

their way around Europapark

English

The English Department has a strong ethos of collegiality and has a track record of consistent success in all key stages. With a range of full and part time teachers, we draw on wide-ranging talents and interests to create innovative practices to encourage effective learning. All English classes at The Billericay School are mixed ability. As a reflective Department, we are keen to find ways to build on our good practice and to improve our teaching, sharing resources and strategies to improve outcomes for all students. Our GCSE results have been consistently above national averages and English is a popular subject at Key stage 5.

The Vision Our philosophy is one of flexibility, changing our practices to suit the needs of individual students and various cohorts. We aim to provide the following for each student:

A broad and challenging curriculum

Active learning

Independent learning opportunities

Personalised learning targets

A range of teaching methods and styles

A variety of resources to enhance varied learning styles

Specific intervention strategies for individual students English at KS3 Students cover a range of units of study, with shared resources banks providing teachers with choices of materials to adapt for their specific classes. There is a focus on developing competency skills, including working with others, speaking collaboratively, independent learning, resilience and self-evaluation. With the recent, national changes at GCSE and at KS2, KS3 is being continually developed so that challenge and rigour is embedded within innovative and engaging lessons. English at KS4 We follow the AQA syllabus for both English Language and English Literature. Study of the two courses is integrated, with clearly defined units or study and, again, shared resources. Our success rate for students’ progress at GCSE is excellent and we intend to continue to offer our examination classes’ high quality teaching to allow them to achieve their full potential.

Construction Department Aims of the Department There is great demand for skilled, qualified and well trained construction workers and our aim is to prepare all our students for their future lives in this industry. We strive to present lively, stimulating and exciting lessons which not only develops our student’s investigative skills and generate real interest, but also equip them with a knowledge and understanding of key Construction principles and practical experience.

The Construction Department at The Billericay School is equipped with all the tools to enable basic brickwork builds. Currently we have 3 staff within the Department. We specialise in the delivery of brickwork and offer 2 courses. BTEC Level 2 - Construction and the Built Environment City and Guilds Level 1 - Award in Construction Skills

Personalised Learning Faculty

The school believes that all students should have equal access to the whole curriculum. It recognises that special educational needs form part of an important package of ensuring that this curriculum is delivered to the best of the school’s ability. We are committed to making every reasonable and practicable effort to meet the needs of individual children. The school follows the Essex statutory guidelines for S.E.N.D. The Personalised Learning Faculty is responsible for supporting the learning of all students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. The faculty is led by the SENCO. There are also additional teaching staff as well as a team of Support Tutors. The faculty has a suite of 4 rooms that are centrally located in 2 of the school’s 5 teaching blocks. The location of the faculty rooms is an indication of the central role that Personalised Learning plays in the life of the school; the facilities are available to, and enjoyed by, all students, not just those with SEND. All rooms have ICT facilities for large groups of students, including white boards. There is also a wide range of teaching resources and support materials, including reading schemes and numeracy programmes. Although Support Tutors teach within the support bases, the majority of their day is spent supporting students in lessons; they support across the age ranges and curriculum areas.

The faculty team is hard working and enjoys

excellent relationships both within the faculty

and across the school. New members of staff are

warmly welcomed into this happy and thriving

staff team.