RODBOROUGH Rake Lane, Milford, Surrey GU8 5BZ. Tel: (01483) 428182, Fax: (01483) 417984 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.rodborough.surrey.sch.uk

Ofsted 2009 – “Outstanding” SSAT’s High Attainment Schools 2011 SSAT’s Outstanding Student Progress 2012 SSAT’s Outstanding Achievement 2012 Ofsted 2013 – “Good”

Rodborough is an 11 – 16 mixed Community Specialist Technology and Humanities School catering for 900 pupils of all abilities. We aspire to excellence for: the individual, the group and in all aspects of school life. The school’s last Ofsted Report (June 2013) says:  Standards are high. The proportion of students achieving 5 or more GCSE A*- C grades including Maths and English is consistently and significantly higher than national averages.  Students have fantastic attitudes to the learning; they are diligent and want to do well.  Behaviour in lessons and around the school is excellent.  Students are extremely polite and show high levels of respect for each other and the adults who work with them.

The school was previously graded as “Outstanding” in 2009. Since that time the school has moved on and improved, achieving three of its best ever exam results. The school has improved but the expectations of Ofsted have increased more quickly.

Academy status The school gained Academy status in August 2011. The school intends to use its Academy status to preserve the current school ethos. The Governors took the decision to become an Academy because they believe this is in the best interest of pupils at the school now and in the future.

Exam Results The school takes great pride in the achievements of its pupils. Our GCSE results have been as follows in the last four years:

Academic year ending 5 + A* - C (including 5 + A* - C Maths and English) 2008 67% 80% 2009 61% 76% 2010 76% 83% 2011 78% 84% 2012 68% 83%

Over 90% of our pupils go on to Further Education or training. We are proud of the extensive range of Vocational courses we offer through the Waverley Federation. This has widened our curriculum offer and has been a key factor in our rate of pupils staying on in education.

Teaching and Learning We are a school that puts pupil learning at the top of our agenda. We spend quality time seeking effective ways of helping pupils learn. We expect our staff to engage fully in that debate and the work that follows it. We are currently embarked on an initiative to develop a new Lower School curriculum, bringing together all the best practice we have worked on in recent years, ensuring entitlement for all. We are also developing a programme of work for Years 7 -9 to develop the learner and independent learning. All our INSET time and meeting time this year is devoted to this.

After our successful Ofsted inspection we intend to work together to increase our understanding of “Outstanding” teaching. Our aim is to increase our number of “Outstanding” lessons and the number of teachers teaching them in order to meet the needs of all our pupils and make them more independent learners.

Pupils Pupils are expected to make a significant contribution to the life of the school through their participation and commitment to the full range of activities on offer. We are a child centred school and pupils are encouraged to take responsibility at all levels. The School Council is active in school improvement and is led by Senior Prefects. The majority of Year 11 are prefects and take their wide range of jobs and responsibilities very seriously. Year 10 and 11 pupils join our Junior Sports Leaders Award and are very active in the school and local community. A large number of pupils take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Over 100 Year 9 pupils have completed and passed their Young Star Navigators Award. Currently we have 107 Year 10 pupils signed up for the Bronze Award and 32 Year 11 pupils have completed the Silver Award practice and qualifying expeditions. The school is always grateful for help in this area.

Extra Curricular Activities and other initiatives Staff offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities, which include several dance, drama and art groups, choirs and jazz band. We maintain a busy schedule of theatre visits, trips abroad, work experience in the UK and Europe as well as school matches in many sports. The school has a very effective Friends of Rodborough Association and significant links with local industry and commerce.

The school began a major initiative on sustainability in the last few years. There has been considerable success with recycling with the School Council taking a lead role in this. We organise an “Eco Week” in the Summer with guest speakers and “green” lessons. We now intend to explore energy conservation and alternative energy supplies. The school has recently been fitted with solar panels.

Our Community We are heavily over subscribed, enjoying a high reputation locally, both for academic success and broad educational opportunities. Parents are very supportive, yet demanding of the school, wanting the best for their children at all times. As a result, we expect staff to act in a professional manner, at all times, to ensure the care and safety of all young people.

Visitors comment that Rodborough is a pleasant and friendly school. It is situated in a delightful part of Surrey two miles south west of Godalming and about ten minutes walk from Milford train station. It is within easy travelling distance of both London and the South Coast. This is a beautiful part of Southern England with large tracts of National Trust land in the vicinity.

A C Smith BEd MA July 2013