Valley Park School Main School Prospectus An Open Community Welcome to Valley Park School

Choosing a for your child is one of the Ofsted report May 2010 most important decisions you as a parent will make. You “This is an outstanding school.” “Dialogue between teachers and students is will be looking for a school which will provide the very positive.” opportunity for your child to learn in a safe, secure and “The school has a strong belief that every student supportive environment. Valley Park School holds this can succeed.” “The curriculum is outstanding.” principle to be its core purpose. “Students’ behaviour is excellent.” “Care, guidance and support for students is exemplary.” The learning environment we have created is based on “They are proud of their school and help to ensure the highest expectations of our students. that it is immaculately maintained.” “The school’s specialism has improved many We ensure that their behaviour is exemplary, they treat aspects of school life.” “Students enjoy learning and working together well.” each other with respect and they develop a strong sense of community. In exchange we provide the highest quality “Students say they feel very safe at school.” teaching from an enthusiastic and dedicated staff. “Relationships are very strong in classes because This combination of high expectations and excellent students are engaged with the subject, enjoy learning teaching has resulted in one of the most over subscribed and are keen to achieve.” and successful schools in .Valley Park School is a beacon of excellence with a national reputation for Arts education and is one of the county’s most technologically rich schools.

The outstanding academic results achieved by our students are but a foretaste of our ambitions for future years. This prospectus provides an overview of this remarkable school but nothing can substitute for seeing a school in action and we look forward to meeting you on Open Days.

We are confident that you will be delighted by your visit.

MrV Ashdown Dr P Limbert Headteacher Executive Headteacher

Page 2 | Valley Park School www.valleypark.kent.sch.uk A Supportive Community

Times of School Day Lunchtime

Registration The school canteen provides a wide range of hot (Assembly / Form Time) 8.40 – 9.00 and cold food including daily specials and a popular Lesson 1 9.00 – 10.00 pasta bar. Lesson 2 10.00 – 11.00 During the lunchtime students have the Break 11.00 – 11.20 opportunity to participate in a wide range of extra Lesson 3 11.20 – 12.20 curricular activities. Many of these, especially sport Lesson 4 12.20 – 1.20 and performing arts activities, may also be enjoyed Lunch 1.20 – 2.05 after school and at weekends. Lesson 5 2.05 – 3.05 Extra curricular activities 3.05 – 5.00

“The food is good and there’s such a wide choice.” Year 11 student

“I’ve done African drumming and I do football as well with my mates.” Year 8 student

Page 4 | Valley Park School www.valleypark.kent.sch.uk Independent Learning

Students have access to and are encouraged to use our Open Learning Centre during their break, at lunchtime and after school. The centre is equipped with a wide range of books for loan, reference books and subject journals. There is also a wide range of ICT facilities available for student use and after school we run a homework club.

“I’m a librarian, so I get to help out in the Open Learning Centre. The centre is so much bigger than the old one, so lots more students can use the facilities.” Year 8 student

Help and Support

Each student is allocated to one of four colleges led by an Assistant Headteacher. Each college has a Student Support Manager and a team of Form Tutors. Uniform Each student’s Form Tutor will provide mentoring There is a strict uniform policy inYears 7-11 that all and support. In addition to this, Student Support students are required to adhere to. Details of the “My tutor has helped me a lot. Managers oversee the academic and personal uniform are available from the school. All items of If I have a problem I can go to them or wellbeing of the students in each college. uniform may be purchased from our suppliers or the Student Support Centre and they from the school’s on site uniform shop. will help me.” We have a medical centre on site staffed at all times “The school is really strict on uniform, Year 10 student by a fully qualified First Aider. We also have a school Health Adviser who is available for medical advice but when I see how some kids from other and to promote all round good health. A full time schools look in their uniform, it makes me qualified Careers Adviser is available for individual proud to be at Valley Park.” interviews. Year 8 student

Page 6 | Valley Park School www.valleypark.kent.sch.uk A Vibrant Community “Focus Days are good The school also runs an E-Learning Foundation fun and you get to learn which enables every student to have their own Our Curriculum personal laptop computer. Linked to this is our about a lot of things Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), which students Our Key Stage 3 curriculum is a broad and that we don’t get to do can access via the internet using a secure log-on. balanced range of subjects. All students study the in normal lessons.” TheVLE gives students and parents access to lesson following subjects inYears 7-9: English, Mathematics, Year 9 student and homework resources, study guides as well as Science, ICT, Design Technology, Geography, History, on-line help and guidance from their teachers. Citizenship, Religious Education, French or Spanish, Physical Education, Art & Design, Music, Drama Our PSHE programme is delivered through a series and Dance. of Focus Days providing a wide range of topics including careers guidance and healthy lifestyles. In the February of year 9 a student is able to select These days often involve outside speakers their option subjects to study during Key Stage 4. delivering presentations and activities. Key Stage 4 then begins after the May half term holiday, where a six week probationary period Work related learning and enterprise learning are allows staff and students to ensure that entry levels embedded throughout the curriculum and all and option choices are meeting individual needs. students undertake at least one period of work experience during their school careers.

“I like the fact that there are “Work experience was great and it lots more lessons than we did really helped me when we had to at .” set up a theatre company as part Year 7 student of our Drama coursework.” Year 11 student

“At the options evening I could In Key Stage 4, all students follow the core talk to my teachers about what curriculum of English Language and Literature, subjects I wanted to do and they Mathematics, Science, ICT, Citizenship, Religious were really helpful with Education and Physical Education. Students may then choose from a range of individual GCSE their advice.” subjects,Vocational GCSE subjects (worth two Year 9 student GCSE grades) and BTec First Diplomas (worth four GCSE grades). These subjects include Music, Drama, Dance, Art & Design, Media Studies, Business Studies, Engineering, Hospitality & Catering, Health & Social Care, Public Services, French, Spanish, Sport, Geography and History.

Page 8 | Valley Park School www.valleypark.kent.sch.uk Our Extended Students are actively encouraged to become involved in the wider local community to help Curriculum them develop a better understanding of the town and its people. OurYouth and “I have really enjoyed working In addition to their academic curriculum, Community tutor coordinates this work. in the community, students are offered a wide range of extra- curricular experiences which will help them Some of the activities that students have been it has helped me to learn more to develop self-confidence, independence, involved in have included: about the other people in our area.” initiative and social skills. Year 12 student • Performing music at local sheltered Our activities include: accommodation and nursing homes

• Field study and activity trips at local, • Helping in local primary schools national and international venues (e.g. USA, • Attending the Grove Green Forum France, Belgium) • Visits to theatres, art galleries and museums • Contributing to the women's support • Duke of Edinburgh Award group celebration at the Hazlitt Theatre • Arts Award • Organising summer activities in theVinters • Sports clubs which include participation in Park area county events • Leading and organising youth arts festivals • Young Farmers club and Kent County Show for teenagers. • Archaeology club • Art club • Musical activities • School productions

“There are so many clubs for my child to get involved in.” Parent

Page 10 | Valley Park School www.valleypark.kent.sch.uk A Creative Community

The Arts at Valley Park

The school is the county town’s specialist Arts College. This status has enabled us to develop many new and exciting partnerships and projects within school, our partner schools and our local community groups.

We are recognised as a centre of excellence at local and national level for arts education and training and we are developing out international reputation in these areas. “The professionalism of the The status will enable the school to build upon its Valley Park productions is equal to strengths and to raise standards and achievement anything in the West End.” across the whole curriculum. Students and staff work in partnership with local Regular workshops and masterclasses have taken Parent schools and community groups to deliver a range of place with professional performers from the West End projects in Art & Design, Music and Drama. and Broadway.

A range of visiting specialists will be working in school There is a wide range of musical activities including to develop creativity across all curriculum areas. African drumming, choir, rock school and a full range of instrumental tuition is available to students. Students have the opportunity to develop their creativity through the performing and visual arts both Visual arts are also high profile around the school and within curriculum time and through the wide range of work has been exhibited at local galleries and in “Just walking around the school, extra-curricular activities. competitions. Students can experience a wide variety I was amazed at the quality of of 2-D and 3-D art forms including Fine Art, Graphics, There are many opportunities to perform to the art work on display.” Ceramics, Photography and Textiles. audiences both within school and the community, Parent and the school has developed an enviable reputation Valley Park is a thriving and vibrant creative for the quality of its productions. There are two major environment where all students are actively productions a year, one in February held at the school, encouraged to participate. and the other during the Summer term is usually performed at the Hazlitt theatre in .

For those whose preference is backstage, lighting, sound, set design and construction, costumes and make-up are all areas in which students can be involved.

Page 12 | Valley Park School www.valleypark.kent.sch.uk An Independent Community Joining Our School We aim to make the transition fromYears 6 to 7 Policies as easy as possible. School governors’, DCSF and school planning Admissions documents are available on request from the In the summer term of Year 6 we offer: The Sixth Form at Valley Park Valley Park is a non-selective community school school office; included in these is the • An information evening for you and your parents which admits 180 students into year 7 each year in accessibility plan (required under the Disability Our Sixth Form offers a range of academic and vocational • Two Induction Days - with an opportunity for you accordance with the Local Authority admission Discrimination Act 1995). qualifications as well as opportunities for personal development. procedure. Entry intoYear 12 is on the basis of to purchase uniform Students who meet our entry criteria will study Level 3 courses in GCSE results and an interview. • A visit from a member of Valley Park staff to your Years 12 and 13. If you would like to find out more about our school Primary School. please visit us on our Open Evening, or on one of On entry to the school you will be helped to settle Information on all courses can be found in our Sixth Form several Open Mornings. The dates are available in quickly by your Form Tutor. In your first term prospectus, a copy of which is available on request. Details can also from the Local Education Authority. there will be a consultation evening for you and be found on the school website. your parents to talk to your Form Tutor. Alternatively, you are welcome to visit the school at In addition to their academic studies, students also take part in our other times of the school year. Please telephone enrichment programme which includes artistic residencies in local 01622 679421 for an appointment. primary schools, the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme and Business and Enterprise links.

Careers guidance and information about university applications is provided by our Careers Adviser and team of Sixth Form tutors.

Facilities that are available to Sixth Form students include a dedicated study area for supervised private study and a social area. “I was really nervous about starting but my tutor and my teachers really helped me to settle in.” Year 7 Student

“I chose to come back to Valley Park’s Sixth Form because the staff are so approachable and helpful, and “The students who showed us around were because the results are really good.” very informative, immaculately dressed and Year 12 student a credit to the school. Once we’d met them it was clear that Valley Park was going to be our first choice.” Parent

Page 14 | Valley Park School Valley Park School Huntsman Lane Maidstone ME14 5DT T: 01622 679421 F: 01622 661671 e: [email protected] www.valleypark.kent.sch.uk

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