st-gregory's catholic college prospectus

Saint Gregory’sCatholic CollegeA Specialist College of the Performing Arts

In Christ we f lourish

2011–2012

‘St Gregory’s is an outstandingCollege where students thrive.’

- Ofsted Report

2759_ST GREGORYS PROSPECTUS_2011_v5:Layout 1 1/8/11 10:11

Welcome to St Gregory’s

2011-12 Prospectus2

Weare a relatively small co-educational school with explicitlyCatholic Christian values and a strong ‘family’ atmosphere.We have a well deserved reputation for academic excellence,

outstanding pastoral care and an excellent enrichment programme.We want all our students to flourish and develop as rounded individualswho will bear witness to the Gospel in the wider community.

In 2010, 80% of our Year 11 students achieved five or more A* - C passesat GCSE, with 64% achieving five or more A* - C passes at GCSE includingEnglish and Mathematics, which was well above the national and localaverage. In addition, 44% of our students achieved the English Baccalaureate,which was significantly above the national average of 15% and the localaverage of 22%. We believe that a rounded education for young people todayshould include the study of a modern foreign language, Religious Education,History or Geography, as well as the core subjects of English, Mathematicsand triple sciences. We have a vibrant and successful performing arts andsports culture and an excellent enrichment programme, including severalforeign trips every year and the Duke of Edinburgh bronze award.

In our most recent Ofsted inspection in 2008 every aspect of our provisionwas judged Outstanding. As a result we were designated a NationalSupport School and have been invited to share our approach to Christianpersonalisation on the national stage. Our School Improvement Partnerreport from March 2011 concluded that every aspect of our provision wasstill outstanding. The next phase of our journey will be to plan for a jointsixth form with St Mark’s Church of England School with a view to openingin September 2013. On 14 July 2011, the full Council of Bath and NorthEast Somerset supported a capital funding allocation for the joint sixth form.We now look forward to working with them to prepare for this historicnew provision.

This year’s Open Evening, for parents considering a place for September2012, will take place on Thursday 29 September and our Open Morningon Thursday 6 October (please see College Noticeboard on the websitefor more details). You are very welcome to come along and see St. Gregory’sfor yourself. For more information about the College or to receive a copy ofthe Prospectus, please contact the College office on the number below.

Executive Headteacher: Mr R Friel MA (Hons) NPQHHead of School: Mrs A Barrett BEd (Hons) MEdChair of Governors: Mrs M Goodbody BA MA PGCE

Address: Combe Hay Lane, Odd Down, BATH BA2 8PA

t: 01225 832873f: 01225 835848e: [email protected]:www.st-gregorys.bathnes.sch.uk

St Gregory’s is an outstandingCollege where students thrive –

Ofsted Report

Outcomes forindividuals andgroups areoutstanding– School ImprovementPartner Report


2011-12 Prospectus 3

Our Mission, Our Creed

We are the familyof St. Gregory’s.“

”We believethat Godis alwayswith us onour journey.

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”We believe that Jesusholds us together:He is the heart ofour community.

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We believe thateveryone isspecial in theeyes of God.

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We believe that bullying has no place inour school and everyone has the right to besafe and happy.

Everyone should be given a chanceto flourish and grow into the peopleGod wants them to be.

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We believe thatall culturesshould bevalued andwelcomed

Webelieve that every child is made in the image of God and should be valued as a unique and giftedcreation with a divine origin and an eternal destiny. As a Catholic school, our aim is to promote thedignity and well being of every child and ensure that they flourish in the course of their journey with

us in a safe, happy and enriching environment. We aim to provide our students with the personalised ‘deeplearning’ which will help them to gain the skills, knowledge, and understanding of self, others and the worldwhich they will need for a fulfilled and happy adult life. Above all, our aim is to instil in our children Christianvalues and a love of God and his Son Jesus Christ so that they will become principled citizens and witnessesto the Gospel, who will contribute to the common good of society.

We asked our students to write a St. Gregory’s Creed with their tutors. This is what they said:

Written by the students of St. Gregory’sJune 2011

“”

We believe that by working together wecan build a better future - a lovingheart is all you need.

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StGregory’s is a Catholic voluntary aided secondaryschool, which was established by the Diocese ofClifton. It primarily serves designated Catholic

parishes in Bath and North East Somerset, North WestWiltshire and the north of the County of Somerset andadmits children of 11-16 years. A map of the designatedarea is available for inspection at the school office.

The governing body, acting in accordance with arrangementsagreed with the Clifton Diocesan Committee for Schools andColleges and Bath and North East Somerset Local Authorityand within the Code of Practice, is responsible foradmissions. In line with the new Code of Practice forAdmissions, the governing body, as admissions authority forthe school, will operate an equal preference system. In theevent of oversubscription, all applications for the school willbe considered equally against the oversubscription criteriaand ranked in order of how they meet the criteria. This information will be given to the Local Authority (LA) whowill then consider all applications for each applicant and offer the highest preference which is available.

The governors will admit up to the planned admission level of 160 for pupils entering Year 7 in September 2012.Admissions outside the normal age group will be individually considered and the advice of the LA’s specialistadvisers (eg Educational Psychologists) and other relevant professionals, including the child’s presentHeadteacher, will be sought before a decision is made.

For families living within B&NES, application for a place at the college should be made on the B&NES commonapplication form and this should be submitted to the Admissions and Transport Department at Bath andNorth-East Somerset Council, PO Box 25, Riverside, Temple Street, Keynsham BS31 1DN by 31 October2011. For families living outside of B&NES, parents should indicate their preference for a place at St Gregory’s on theapplication form for their own LA e.g. Wiltshire, Somerset, South Gloucestershire. These authorities will then informB&NES about this preference who will in turn inform the Governors of St Gregory’s.

In addition parents/carers should complete an ‘Additional Information Form’ issued by the College in orderthat the governors may apply their admissions policy fairly and consistently. Failure to do so may affect whichcategory of applicant a child is placed into. These forms should be returned to the Admissions Officer atSt Gregory's by 31 October 2011. Governorsmay consider supporting evidence (e.g. baptismal certificate,reference from minister, references and/or certificates regarding performing arts aptitude) sent in up to the dateof the Governors’ Admissions Panel meeting in December 2011.

After the submission deadline of 31 October 2011, any applications received by the Local Authority will betreated as a late application and will not be considered until the first round of offers have been made and thenthe over-subscription criteria will be applied. Any late applicants should complete their home LA’s commonapplication form and return it to their home LA as soon as possible. The College’s additional information formshould, however, be sent to the school direct.

The governing body will consider all applications against its policy criteria and inform the LA of places to beoffered. The LA will offer places on behalf of the governing body on 1st March 2012. A waiting list, includinglate applications from families moving into the area or who were otherwise unable to apply by the specified date,will be maintained until the end of the academic year in line with the Local Authority’s co-ordinated scheme.Applicants will be ranked in the same order as the over-subscription criteria and places offered on that basis, withthe exception of children who are subject of a direction by the Local Authority or who have been allocated to theCollege in accordance with the local Fair Access Protocol, who will take precedence over those on the waiting list.Applications received after the end of Term 1 October 2011 will be considered as in year applications as outlinedin paragraph 8 of this policy.

2011-12 Prospectus4

Admissions for September 2012


In the event of over-subscription, the governors will offer places according to the following criteria applied in sequence:

1 Baptised Catholic children in public care (looked after children).

2 Other Baptised Catholics within the designated area of the college and any baptised Catholics at Our Ladyof Lourdes school in Kingswood

3 Other children in public care (looked after children).

4 Children who live in the designated area whose parents are members of, and adherents to, otherChristian denominations.

5 Those children within the designated area attending the eight Catholic partner primary schools (i.e. St.John’s, Bath; St. Mary’s, Bath; St Benedict’s, Midsomer Norton; SS Joseph and Teresa, Wells; St Paul’s,Yate; St. Patrick’s, Corsham; St Mary’s, Chippenham; and Our Lady of Lourdes, Kingswood) who havebrothers and sisters already at St Gregory’s College at the date of application and who will be inattendance at the time of admission.

6 According to the provisions set out in section 102 of the 1998 Standards and Framework Act (also:paragraphs A. 69 – 72 of the School Admissions Code of Conduct) the governors will offer up to 16(i.e. 10%) places to those pupils who can demonstrate an aptitude in the performing arts ie Music,Dance, Drama and who live in the designated area.

7 Other children within the designated area with brothers or sisters already at the College at the date ofapplication and who will be in attendance at the time of admission.

8 Other pupils at the Catholic partner primary schools (see: 5 for list) within the designated area, andchildren from Our Lady of Lourdes within the designated area.

9 Other children within the designated area.

10 All other children.

For categories 1 and 2, a baptismal certificatemust be submitted with the College’s Additional Information Formfor applicants to be considered within these categories. A map of the designated area is available from the college.

For category 4 a member of other Christian denominations is a person who is baptised or initiated according to therites of that denomination. Adherence means current and regular worship (regular means once a month attendanceat church). According to the advice of Clifton Diocese adherence to that denomination needs to be supported by aminister of that denomination; a letter of reference Proforma, available fromthe College, completed by a minister of religion thereforemust be submittedwith the College’s Additional Information Form for applicants to beconsidered within this category.

TiebreakersCategories are filled in order, beginning with 1. When applications exceedthe number of places available in any category, places for that and allremaining categories will be allocated using the ‘random allocation’technique in front of a witness with no connection to the College.When using random allocation within a category, priority will be giveninitially to sibling applicants who will be drawn first.

NB These are extracts from the College Admissions Policy, with a view toanswering the most frequently asked questions. The full policy is availableon request from the College Admissions Officer.


Admissions cont.


Collective Worship and Liturgy

Asa Catholic College, prayer and worship are central to our dailyroutines. Each morning registration begins with collectiveworship led by the tutor. The whole College will gather together

in two assemblies every Wednesday morning for scripture readings,hymns, prayers, reflections. Students are fully involved in thepreparation and presentation of worship and sometimes pupils leadthe worship themselves.

In addition to daily collective worship, there is weekly voluntary Massin the chapel, Masses at the beginning and end of year and for holydays of obligation. The Religious Education department also organisesreconciliation services during Advent and Lent and special liturgiesthroughout the year. Preparation for the sacraments is done throughlocal parishes but the College is fully supportive and encourages pupilsto take these significant steps in their spiritual development.

ChaplaincyOur College chaplaincy group meets regularly in the chapel and issupported by our chaplaincy assistant. The work of the chaplaincy grouprepresents our Christian values in action. The chaplaincy organises awide range of activities including meditation, morning prayer, expositionof the Blessed Sacrament, rice lunches and other fund-raising activitiesfor CAFOD, sandwich-making for the homeless and weekly creativeworkshops. The Blessed Sacrament is present through the week in theschool chapel. It is a place of great peace and calm. The work of thechaplaincy is supported by our Mission Team, a group of older studentswho were commissioned during Mission Week 2011 to offer a range ofchaplaincy services, including peer counselling and Eucharistic ministry.

RetreatsThe retreat programme has been extended to provide opportunities forevery year group. All pupils in Year 7 can look forward to a day’s retreat atDownside Abbey in the autumn term. Later in the year, Year 8 studentswill have the chance to experience a residential retreat, as will smallergroups in Years 9, 10 and 11. These retreats are very popular with thestudents as they encounter God in new and vital ways in settingsconducive to reflection and prayer.

2011-12 Prospectus6

Spiritual Development

The qualityof collectiveworship andthe provisionfor prayer andthe liturgicallife of the schoolare excellent- Diocese of CliftonInspection Report

St Gregory’s is a trulyoutstanding school withexcellent provision forits Catholic life and forreligious education- Diocese of Clifton Inspection Report



Religious EducationAt Key Stage Three, the curriculum is based largely on the Iconsprogramme, with material drawn from The Way, The Truth and The Life.At Key Stage Four, most students will undertake the Edexcel GCSEcourse, which is ideally suited to a Catholic College. There is a clearfocus on Catholic doctrine, philosophy and ethical issues. At the end ofYear 10 most students are entered for the full GCSE or short course.

Above all, we want all of our students to develop a relationship with theRisen Lord. We are mindful of the fact that they are all at differentstages of their life journeys, and that for some, belief will be moreimportant than others. Wherever they are, we aim to be ‘with’ them,to offer support and guidance and resources for spiritual growth.

Education for Personal RelationshipsThis is an area of vital importance in the spiritual development of ouryoung people. Provision is made, particularly within the ReligiousEducation and Guidance programmes, for all pupils to deepen theirawareness of the need for loving relationships, based firmly on theteaching of the Church. They consider how best to form and live theserelationships in daily life, and examine in the light of the Church’steaching the moral issues involved in human relationships today.

In Year 7, pupils are made aware of the physical changes affecting themand of the purpose of those changes in the pattern of God’s creation.In Year 8, the sacraments are explored and the importance and sanctityof marriage is stressed. In Year 9, human reproduction and its placewithin the family is studied in greater detail and the significance of aresponsible attitude and appropriate respect for oneself and others ishighlighted. In Years 10 and 11, the greater maturity of the studentsrequires a more detailed examination of the family and the issues ofabortion, family planning, parenthood, HIV/AIDS. All these issues arediscussed and explored in the light of Church teaching.

Note: Parents have a right in law to remove their child from all or partof the religious education programme or collective worship. While thegovernors respect this right, and will make individual arrangements ifnecessary, we would strongly discourage parents from considering this optionsince it runs counter to the mission of the College and its Trust Deed.

The moment you step through the entranceyou will be part of the St. Gregory’s family- Rob, Year 7 student

Spiritual Development cont.

The quality of collective worship and theprovision for prayer and the liturgical life ofthe school are excellent - Diocese of Clifton Inspection Report


Personal Development & Well-Being

2011-12 Prospectus8

At St. Gregory’s the personal development and well being ofstudents is at the heart of our work. The five outcomes of EveryChild Matters, which we regard as being very close to our

Christian values, are central to our educational purpose. We will continueto ensure that our students are safe and happy in College, that theirachievements are celebrated, they take part in the community and areprepared for a life of witness when they leave school. The followingfeatures of College life are intended to promote those aims.

Pastoral CareOur pastoral care is based on our long established house system. We havesix houses, named after popes: Peter, Clement, Alexander, Benedict, Leoand John Paul.

Each house has a head of house who leads a team of tutors. This team isresponsible for the academic progress and personal development andwell being of every student in their house throughout their journey atSt. Gregory’s. Where possible, the tutor stays with the same studentsfrom Year 7 to 11.

Students can earn housepoints for good work in lessons and overallcontribution to the life of the College. Running totals will be read out atName and Praise assemblies to encourage good behaviour and participation.An extensive calendar of house competitions, sporting and academic, runsthrough the year, culminating in our annual Sports Day in July.

We also have an experienced Student Support Service, made up ofteaching and support staff. The team provides learning and behavioursupport and a full programme of activities designed to support thosestudents who experience difficulty in their learning or with their behaviour.

House DaysIn the course of the year we have four House Days, when the normaltimetable is suspended. These days provide very important opportunitiesfor us to review the progress of every student through progress reports,to offer individual mentoring for students, to hold house assemblies, andto provide a quality guidance programme, involving visiting speakers andorganisations. The guidance programme is carefully planned to supportand inform students at different stages of their life in the school andcovers settling into secondary school, learning how to learn, careersadvice, health education and all the other areas normally found in a‘PSHEE’ (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) programme.

I am now almost at the end of my firstyear and I am fully confident with myselfand I am thoroughly enjoying my time atSt. Gregory’s – Henry, Year 7


RewardsAs well as the award of housepoints, good behaviour and good witnessto Christian values can also be rewarded with verbal praise, writtenpraise in student journals, certificates at year assemblies, prizes atannual prizegiving, and letters home. We have Bronze, Silver and GoldAwards for the numbers of housepoints acquired by students. Theseawards are then sent home in the post, and are very well received bystudents and parents. With the kind support of our PTFA, we are alsoable to hold Bronze, Silver and Gold draws at Name and Praiseassemblies, with vouchers for the lucky students. Staff draw up lists ofstudents to be praised for effort and achievement. These lists areposted on our website and College noticeboards. The feedback fromstudents and parents about these developments in our rewardssystems has been very positive. It has all helped to strengthen thevery positive culture which has always existed at St. Gregory’s.

Student VoiceThe main forum for the voice of the students is the College Senate.This meets once a month and consists of twelve senators, one boyand one girl from each year, as well as the head boy and head girl.There are members of staff on the Senate, representing teachingstaff and support staff, as well as the head teacher, who attends allmeetings. Last year we launched a new Eco Schools Council with aremit to develop all aspects of sustainability and healthy schools.This council, along with our Green Team, made an immediate impactby introducing recycling, reducing litter, and developing the healthyeating agenda with our caterers Sodexo. We also hold MissionConferences each year at which students speak very impressivelyabout what they see as our mission and beliefs and how we are livingup to them (see: Our Mission, Our Creed). Last year we extendedour student voice opportunities by introducing a sports council, achaplaincy council and a leadership council.

The provision for the encouragementof community cohesion is excellent– Diocese of Clifton report

Personal Development & Well-Being cont.


St Gregory’s Catholic Collegeis an Outstanding Schooloffering very rich provisionto its student body– School Improvement Partner Report


2011-12 Prospectus10


We believe that everyone is special inthe eyes of God – from the St Gregory’s Creed

Environment and facilitiesWe promote student safety and well-being with ongoing investment inbetter facilities for pupils. We have created a safe and attractive ‘piazza’area in the heart of the College, sponsored by the Parents, Teachers andFriends Association. There have been other considerable improvementsto College facilities in recent years. For example, the education andwell-being of students was greatly enhanced with the opening of theKelly Block, a state of the art 12-classroom teaching block. Theprovision for dance and drama was improved with the opening of theGilchrist Studio and our sports and leisure provision was greatlyenhanced with the completion of a new all-weather pitch with facilitiesfor football, tennis and athletics. In addition, all classrooms now haveinteractive whiteboards which have opened up new learningopportunities for the students. We installed a new sound system in themain hall which not only provides top quality audio equipment forperformances and assemblies, but provides music in the reception,hall area and piazza. We have just completed a three-year project toreplace all the windows in the College which has greatly improved notonly the appearance of the College but the comfort and heat efficiencyof the classrooms.

Healthy EatingOur College contract caterers are Sodexo, a company of national standingand reputation. A key part of their work is the need to provide healthyeating options and good value within the guidelines set down bygovernment. As a caterer with considerable experience, Sodexo hasalready made a considerable difference to the quality of our catering.We are well ahead of government targets to introduce healthy eatingand nutritional standards in all schools. Sodexo run a Breakfast Clubbefore College, a ‘snack shack’ and milk bar at break and lunch, as wellas a lunchtime servery which offers an appetising range of hot and coldfood. Students are encouraged to drink plenty of water during the day.They may bring transparent plastic bottles into College which can berefilled from our water coolers. Our Eco Schools Council worksclosely with Sodexo to provide feedback from students and ideas forfurther development.

We believe that bullying has no place inour school and everyone has the right tobe safe and happy – from the St Gregory’s Creed


College TripsSt. Gregory’s has an excellent record of trips at home and abroad.Thanks to the commitment of staff, last year we offered College trips toSpain, France, Germany, and America, as well as science-focused trips toKilve Court, outdoor activities at Morpha Bay and camping at Rock’sEast. In addition, our students benefit from a wide range of PerformingArts trips to galleries and performances in London and other places.Last year we introduced a very popular Duke of Edinburgh option forY10 students. Many of these trips and activities will run this year.Parents should look out for details nearer the time.

Sports and extra-curricular activitiesWe offer a wide range of lunch time and after school activities designedto promote pupil well being and increase participation in the life of thecommunity. Many staff give of their time to put on activities and clubs.Among the clubs we have: basketball, cricket for boys and girls,rounders, tag rugby, craft club, and weight training. There is also showchoir, bravo brass, boys’ choir and girls’ choir, flute salad, composingcoursework, saxophany, swing band, rock school, and string group afterschool; astronomy club, art club, book club, chaplaincy group, chessclub, dance club, debating society (Model United Nations), librarycomputers, homework club, drama clubs. In addition, faculties offer:maths challenge, maths masterclasses, revision classes, science club.St. Gregory’s also has a thriving team culture with teams in athletics,basketball, cricket, cross-country, hockey, rounders, rugby, soccer,netball. For the summer of 2012, we are planning our first adventuretrek to Namibia for around 25 students.

Disability AccessIn consultation with students and parents who are disabled, we havedrawn up a Disability Access Plan to establish practical steps towardsensuring greater access to the site and the materials provided by theCollege. The Plan is available from the College on request.



Cultural and spiritualdevelopment is exceptionallystrong and students put intopractice in their day-to-daywork the values they learnin the College

– Ofsted Report



While we pride ourselves on our academic performance in manysubjects, we are especially committed to developing expressivetalents in our students in the areas of music, dance, drama and

the visual arts. Our specialist strength in languages also allows us to offera range of languages up to GCSE level, as well as evening languagecourses for parents (contact the College for details). We have workedclosely with our partner primary schools to develop languages, especiallySpanish, and have strengthened our international links with visits andreciprocal arrangements with Spanish schools in Cordoba and theCanary Islands, as well as an extended visit from Chinese studentsfrom Suzhou district.

Performing arts have long been a strength at St. Gregory’s. Each year,we offer a full programme of arts activities, productions and workshopsfor students. In recent years we have staged a number of outstandingproductions which have involved hundreds of students, including WestSide Story, Les Miserables, Oliver, Grease and High School Musical.Other highlights of recent years have included our Wellcome Trust-sponsored Stem Cell production at Kingswood Theatre, and anotherWellcome Trust multi-media project on organ donation, A Matter of Lifeand Death and Life, bringing together a wide range of artists and students;our Global Eyes project, our CARA project which involved artists fromethnic minority backgrounds working with our pupils on the theme ofidentity, and our Key Stage Three productions of Beauty and the Beast,Annie, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and The Wizard of Oz. Inthese productions, the performing arts team were able to rehearse threeseparate casts for the leading parts taken from years 7, 8 and 9. We alsoorganised visits to galleries, a house dance competition, a highlysuccessful breakdance group, a poet in residence, choirs and musicensembles, as well as entering teams for the annual Midsomer ArtsFestival. The College year ends with Enrichment Week which providesmany opportunities for students to take part in workshops andperformances with workshop leaders drawn from local and national artscompanies. We offer a range of arts provision for the local community,including Three Ways special school, and have close links with BathFestivals Trust, and Creative Factory.

In the first few months of St. Greg’s theschool put on a production of High SchoolMusical. I managed to get a singing solo andit was great to be able to get the experienceof being in front of a big audience

– Milly, Year 7

Specialist College of Performing Arts



Since 2002 we have enjoyed the benefits of a state of the art danceand drama accommodation, the Gilchrist Studio. In 2005, we receiveda grant to re-furbish our Art rooms and in 2006 we received furtherfunding to re-locate the music room and practice rooms from its crampedaccommodation in the main building to spacious new accommodation.The new suite consists of a music classroom, equipped with the latestmusic technology, a rehearsal room, a recording centre, office and fourspacious practice rooms.

We have further extended curriculum opportunities in music, dance anddrama and offer more opportunities for extra curricular activities afterschool. Since September 2008 we have offered a popular BTEC inPerforming Arts. Over a quarter of our students take peripatetic musictuition. Specialist training in strings, brass, vocal, percussion andwoodwind ensemble skills feature strongly in the College. Severallarge ensembles and small chamber groups provide performanceopportunities. Many students are members of county and nationalmusical groups.

Specialist College cont.

The College status as aPerforming Arts Collegesupports an outstandingrange of activities topromote individualdifference and diversity.– Inclusion Quality Mark Report

Specialist status was adriving force behind thepersonalisation ofopportunities for studentsin the curriculum andenrichment activities– Ofsted Report


TheCollege uniform consists of a dark green blazer with theCollege badge and motto, for the boys a white shirt and Collegetie and grey trousers. The girls have a new uniform of blazer

and blouse with revere collar, with a skirt available only from oursuppliers. The blazer, tie and optional jumper should be purchaseddirectly from our supplier Trutex, or from Scholars in Bath.

For greater convenience and value for money, the College operates acatalogue ordering system with Trutex. Parents can order uniformon-line, by post or by telephone. The uniform is delivered to eithera home or work address usually within a week.

Uniform should always be worn properly. A very high standard ofuniform is a key part of our aim of sustaining excellence. The onlyjewellery permitted is a watch and a single stud earring in each ear.Make-up, extreme hairstyles, including dyed or shaved patches, andnose or other facial studs or piercings are not permitted.


Uniform

Behaviour for Excellence

Avery high standard of behaviour is expected of students atSt. Gregory’s. A calm and orderly atmosphere is importantto ensure the dignity and safety of all members of the

community. In the classroom, it is of the utmost importance thatthe right atmosphere for learning is maintained. Around theCollege, and on the way to and from College, students are expectedto behave with dignity and respect for each other, theirenvironment, and the local community. The College BehaviourPolicy, Behaviour for Excellence (available on request or on thewebsite) sets out a clear and fair system of sanctions to discourageunacceptable behaviour based on our Christian values. There is avery strong emphasis on praise, reward and celebration.

Students feel safe in College, whereexemplary behaviour reflects the highmoral values promoted – Ofsted Report

A very high standard of uniform is a keypart of our aim of sustaining excellence


All of our students follow a broad, balanced, relevant andchallenging curriculum which is designed to meet theirindividual needs as far as possible. We are committed to

developing a culture of ‘personalising learning’ based on excellentteaching and learning, top quality advice and guidance, individualmentoring for those who need additional support, a curriculum whichis constantly being adapted to meet students’ needs, and above all anethos which values each individual as a uniquely gifted child of God.

The College day begins with registration and collective worship intutor time at 8.50 a.m. (with whole school assemblies on aWednesday morning). The teaching day, which begins at 9.00 am,consists of 6 x 50-minute teaching periods, organised over a two-week timetable. This provides a total curriculum time for Key stage 3 and 4 of 25 hours per week. There is amorning break of 20 minutes between lessons 2 and 3. Lunch time runs from 12.40 until 1.25 pm. After a fiveminute registration, there are two more lessons in the afternoon and then a staggered dismissal at the end ofthe day to avoid congestion. The College day finishes at 3.10 p.m. with a provision for supervised study and awide range of extra-curricular activities.

In lower school (Years 7-9) the National Curriculum is delivered according to the revised programmes of studyfor English, Mathematics and Science. Students also study Art & Technology, French, Spanish, German,Geography, History, ICT, Music, Physical Education, Religious Education. The more able linguists study all threelanguages. In addition, as a Performing Arts College, students have weekly lessons in Dance and Drama. In Years8 and 9 students deepen their knowledge and skills in the areas of learning outlined above and are prepared forend of Key Stage Three teacher assessments in English at Easter and Mathematics in December of Y9.

In upper school (Years 10-11) the curriculum is designed on the principles of personalised learning. We haveintroduced a curriculum model which provides distinct ‘pathways’ or routes through Key Stage 4. For moststudents, there is a compulsory core of English (Language and Literature), Mathematics, Science (core andadditional), a modern foreign language, History or Geography, RE (GCSE or Entry Level), PE (non-exam) andPSHE (non-exam). In addition most students will choose two options from: Art, Dance, Food Technology,Digital Creator, History, ICT, Music, triple sciences, additional languages and PE or a BTEC in performing artsor sport. We have been working with our federation partners St. Mark’s and Writhlington schools to offerbusiness courses and a wider range of technology subjects on their sites.

In the course of the coming year, in line with the Government’s policy of reviewing the content of thecurriculum, we will embark on our own review of the programme of study. We have always followed a broadlyacademic curriculum which is evident from our outstanding levels of achievement in the English Baccalaureate,the Government’s new award for students who achieve an A*-C in English, Mathematics, two sciences, amodern foreign language and either History or Geography. In 2010, 15% of students nationally achieved theEnglish Baccalaureate or EBacc, while in B&NES the figure was 22%. For St. Gregory’s that figure was 44%and it is likely to be even higher this year.


Given the high attainment, excellentprogress for all, the overall judgementof Achievement is outstanding– School Improvement Partner Report

Academic Development


Assessment for LearningEach student in Key Stage 3 and 4, is set a Target for the endof the Key Stage. In Key Stage 3, students will be set TargetLevels and in Key Stage 4, Agreed Target Grades. Thesetargets are based on data which is provided by the FischerFamily Trust, the organisation the government is now using toprovide performance data for every school in the country.Progress towards targets is measured three times a year inProgress Reports. Effort, behaviour and homework are alsomonitored very closely. Students in Year 7 are taught in mixedability groups up until the end of term 1 with the exception ofMaths where they will be placed in sets. In Term 2 students arestreamed for most subjects and taught in broad bands for Art,ICT, Technology and PE.

We will continue to develop our assessment of students’work by embedding the principles of assessment for learning.This involves a greater involvement of students in theirlearning, ensuring that they know exactly what they must doto achieve their targets through the use of carefully focusedcomments after major pieces of work.


A very high proportion ofoutstanding teaching occurredduring the inspection, andoverall teaching and learningare of the highest quality– Ofsted Report

Academic Development cont.

Students overall, including those withlearning difficulties and/or disabilities andthose from different minority ethnic groups,are now consistently making outstandingprogress in their studies– Ofsted Report



Special Educational NeedsThe curriculum is designed to recognise and value the gifts and intelligences of all our pupils. We recognisethat not all students will be able to access the National Curriculum in the same way or at the same pace asother students. Some students may need additional support. This will include special tuition in small groups,in-class support from teaching assistants and one-to-one provision as much as the College budget allows.All teaching staff are provided with data and information about pupils to allow them to differentiate theirlessons as far as possible to meet the needs of their students.

Work-related learningCareers education is an integral part of the Guidance programme, becoming progressively more detailed as thestudents move towards the end of Key Stage 4. The emphasis is on enabling the young person to makerealistic choices, of the options as outlined above, and then of the progression routes after St. Gregory’s whichare best suited to his or her abilities and aspirations. The careers programme is led by the tutors and coverskey areas such as self-assessment, decision-making, the implications of subject choice, career information andadvice. From Year 9 upwards, our careers guidance staff will work closely with the Connexions service toensure that the most appropriate advice is given to our pupils as they move closer to further education and achoice of career.

ProgressionAt the end of Year 11 the vast majority of our students stay in education to pursue mostly level 3, or A-Levelcourses. It is our plan, as stated in the Introduction, to develop a joint sixth form for St. Gregory’s and St. Mark’swith support from the Local Authority. It is clear that many of our parents and students would prefer a sixth formprovision here at St. Gregory’s and, in partnership with our federation partners we intend in the next few yearsto be able to provide a range of suitable post-16 courses here at the College. With capital funding approved byB&NES Council in July 2011, we hope to be able to open a sixth form provision on our site in September 2013.

A full breakdown of the most recent public examination results and attendance figures are available as an insertto the prospectus.

Academic Development cont.

Students show a real thirst forlearning and take pride in theirwork and their College– Ofsted Report



Working with Parents

We look to parents as our partners in the education of theirchildren. The more closely we can work together with them,the greater the benefit will be for the student. We ask parents

for their support in helping to maintain the standards required as aCollege which is sustaining excellence. We ask parents to take a closeinterest in the work and behaviour of their children and to sign the pupilplanners each week. The planner is one of the many ways the Collegeand parents can communicate with one another.

There is an excellent weekly newsletter which goes home by studentpost and is posted on our website each Friday. This keeps parentsinformed about events in the College. There is also a Parents’ Forumwhich meets once a term in the College. This is open to all parents andis an excellent opportunity for parents to meet members of the CollegeLeadership Board and discuss and explore issues of general interest.In Year 7 there are several opportunities for parents to come in to meettutors and teachers to discuss the development and progress of theirchild. This is to help parents adjust from their experience of primaryschool where there is generally more regular contact with staff.After Year 7, there is an Annual Parents’ Evening as well as a PathwaysEvening in Year 9, a Target-Setting Evening in Year 10 and two Target-Setting evenings in Y11. An annual survey of parental views is animportant element of our self-evaluation. This is invaluable in ourongoing commitment to provide an outstanding education.

Parents are welcome to come to College at any time to discuss theprogress of their child. We do ask, however, that an appointment ismade in advance. If there is a pressing concern, we will always try andmeet parents without an appointment but this is not always possible.An excellent way for parents to take part in the life of the College andcontribute to the education of their children is to join the PTFA(Parents Teachers and Friends Association). The PTFA organisesmany fundraising events and contributes a great deal to the welfare ofthe pupils. For more details please contact the PTFA c/o College.

Family Support OfficerIn partnership with St. John’s Catholic Primary schools in Bath, wehave embarked on an exciting new development to provide even moresupport for families. Both schools have jointly appointed a FamilySupport Officer (formerly Parent Support Adviser). This post is to helpthose families who need extra support with aspects of the educationalsystem or help in dealing with difficult domestic circumstances.

We believe that all cultures should bevalued and welcomed– from the St Gregory’s Creed


Gift AidWe also ask that all parents make a contribution to the College funds.As a Catholic College, our capital expenditure is not fully funded bycentral government. Each year the governors have to provide 10% ofthe costs of all capital expenditure. In any one year this could mean afigure in the region of £10,000. This is money which the governorshave to raise annually. It is therefore very important that all familiesmake a contribution towards this cost. If donations are Gift Aidedthen the College can benefit further. Parents are contacted annuallyearly in the autumn term with requests for donations.

Attendance and TransportIn law, it is the responsibility of parents to ensure that their children attend school. A young person’s progressand development can be adversely affected by absence or frequent lateness. There has been a growing trendacross the country in recent years for parents to take annual leave during term-time to take advantage ofcheaper holiday rates. The College cannot support this practice. If there are exceptional circumstances,such as on compassionate grounds, then parents may write to the Deputy Head of School (Behaviour andAttendance) and ask him to authorise a student’s leave of absence. In most cases, the College will not supportsuch a request. Please make sure that any holidays are arranged to coincide with the College holidays.

Transport to College is the responsibility of parents. We have been very fortunate at St. Gregory’s over theyears to have had groups of very dedicated parents who organise coaches from the towns and villages acrossour large catchment area. Places on these coaches cannot be guaranteed, although most years most of thepupils who wish a place on the coaches can be accommodated. We will be looking to extend these services inthe next year to ensure that all families have cost effective transport options. For more information ontransport please contact the College directly.

ComplaintsThere may be occasions when parents are unhappy with some aspect of the College’s provision. In the firstinstance parents should try to resolve the issue informally with the appropriate member of staff. This willdepend on the nature of the concern. If the concern is over a pupil and his or her welfare, then the tutor isthe first contact and then the head of house. The majority of concerns are dealt with and resolved in this way.If there is still no resolution, however, parents may wish to pursue a more formal complaint. Full details ofhow to do this are available from the College. It is worth noting that formal complaints are very rare.We have very good relations with parents and sensible and thoughtful dialogue is usually the best way forward.

A much sought-after and dynamic 11-16Catholic comprehensive which combinescreativity with academic success– The Good Schools Guide


Working with Parents cont.


COM

BEH

AYLA

NE

MENDIP GARDENS

BANWELL ROAD

FROME ROAD

RUSH HILL

ST MARTINS

HOSPITAL

UPPER

BLOOM

FIELD

RD

SULIS MANOR ROAD

BURNT HOUSE ROAD

OLD

FOSSE

RD

OLD

FOSS

ERD

WELLS WAY

RIDG

EG

REENCLO

SEKILKENNY LANE

POPLAR RD

A367

A367

A367

ODD DOWNSOUTHDOWN

ENGLISHCOMBE

SOUTHSTOKE

COMBEDOWN

COM

BEH

AYLAN

E

SULIS MANOR ROAD

WELLSW

AYPK

A367

B3115

A3062

B3110

BATH

DA

OREK

OTSHT

UOS

DA

OREK

OTSHT

UOS

BRADFORD ROADPADLEIGH HILL

Executive Headteacher: Mr R Friel MA (Hons) NPQHHead of School: Mrs A Barrett BEd (Hons) MEdChair of Governors: Mrs M Goodbody BA MA PGCEAddress: Combe Hay Lane, Odd Down, BATH BA2 8PAt: 01225 832873 f: 01225 835848 e: [email protected]: www.st-gregorys.bathnes.sch.uk


st-gregory's catholic college prospectus

Documents

st gregorys prospectus

nationalsupport school

small coeducational

f lourish20112012st

ofsted report2759

st gregorys2011

college office

college noticeboard