Focus School Newry Campus

2018/19

PROSPECTUS

2016-17

For:

PROSPECTUS

Focus School - Newry Campus

Focus School Newry Campus

FOCUS SCHOOL - NEWRY CAMPUS PROSPECTUS

2018/2019

CONTENTS

Contents

Page

3

Introduction School Details Trust Details Vision & Aims Staff

4678

Child Protection/Safeguarding Children Charitable Fundraising

9
10 11 14 15 16 17

Curriculum Special Educational Needs and Learning Support About our School Inspection Report Policies and Rules

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2018/2019

Welcome to our school

An introduction from the Trustees

Dear Parent

We would like to introduce you to our Focus School, Newry Campus. We are pleased to give you a copy of our School Prospectus, which contains information about our School. You are welcome to make an appointment to visit us at any time during the day to see the School in action.

The Trustees and Head Teacher hope that this Prospectus will introduce you to the life and work of the School.

Although we as Trustees have the responsibility for providing the Prospectus, it is the staff of the School, under the guiding hand of Mr McGreevy, our Head Teacher and Miss Smyth our Primary Lead, who do the important work of teaching the students. We know that the School is privileged to have such an excellent blend of experience and ideas in its teaching

staff and some staff have been particularly pointed out as in the ‘leading edge’ category. We

also recognise the commitment and teamwork from all support staff, helpers and also from parents.

This Prospectus should provide you with all the information you need about the School, but if you do have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact the Head Teacher at the school address.

Graham Spencer, Campus Administration Team (L) Clive Taylor, Primary Manager (R)

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2018/2019

SCHOOL DETAILS

Address

Focus School - Newry Primary Campus 22a Rampart Road, Greenbank NEWRY BT34 2QU

Telephone Email Web

028 3026 0777 [email protected] newry.focus-school.com

Head Teacher Primary Lead

Mr M McGreevy Miss A Smyth

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2018/2019

Number of Pupils School Day

48 (2017/18) Registration Lessons start School finishes
08.45 09.00 15.00

Focus ID No

DfE No

112

IS88

71784

Exam Centre No:

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2018/2019

TRUST DETAILS

Proprietor of School

Warrenpoint Education Trust
48 Bridge Road Burren
Registered Office:
WARRENPOINT BT34 2QU

Charity No

XR8254

Chair of Trust

Graham Spencer Correspondence address as above

Campus Administration Team

Mr Graham Spencer Mr Clive Taylor Mr Tim Watson

Current Board of Trustees

Mr Terence Glass

Finance

Mr Graham Spencer CA Team, Safeguarding & Operations Mr Julian Coldrick Mr Simon Dore Mr Clive Taylor Mr Berwyn Dore Mr Tim Watson Mr Rodney Lumb
CAP & Curriculum Health & Safety Primary Manager HR/Curriculum & Safeguard Learning Support Transport & Vehicles

Out of hours/holiday telephone no. Out of hours/holiday address

00353 87 960 2353
Please use the registered school address above

For Chair of Trust correspondence address, please send to registered school address

clearly marked for the attention of the Chair of Trust.

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2018/2019

OUR VISION AND AIMS

The Trustees and Teachers of Focus School Newry Campus are fully committed to providing every pupil with the opportunity to fulfil their educational potential. We want to develop and

strengthen each individual’s set of talents, both academic and non-academic, to help them

realise their self-worth and to ensure they feel highly valued. We want our students to be happy and confident individuals who play an integral part in a dynamic and vibrant centre of excellence, where high quality teaching and learning are at the centre of everything we do. Our students will feel safe and supported regardless of ability.

We will achieve this by:

•

Offering an excellent standard of education to children who are members of the Christian Brethren Church.

•••

Ensuing we are always focused on the child as our priority. The provision of high-quality teaching and learning. Ensuring our students are making progress in skills, knowledge and understanding in every lesson.

Our school is an enjoyable place to learn and to work. As a school community we are tolerant and respectful of each other. Positive behavior, good manners, smart dress and politeness are in evidence as these underpin all our work.

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2018/2019

TEACHERS AND STAFFING

Name

Title Part or

Full
Primary or Secondary
Qualifications Assigned
Responsibilities
Time
Alex Smyth Miss FT

Primary & Secondary Secondary
B.Ed (Hons) BSC PGCE
Year 3 & 4 Teacher KS3 Music Science

Helen

Miss FT

McAteer

KS3-5 Girls PE Digital Mastery Coach

Julie Gregory

Mrs

FT

Secondary

B Ed

Year 9-13 Lead

Post 16 Lead Maths DSL

Karina McCourt Kirsty- Louise

Mrs

PT

Primary &

Secondary Primary & Secondary
Office Manager

Miss FT

CACHE Level 3 Exams Officer,

Diploma

Teaching Assistant &

Sarsfield Louise Dougan Mark McGreevy

Learning Support KS3 & 4 Art Home Economics Head Teacher French A-Level Law & Business Studies Geography
Mrs Mr
PT FT FT
Primary & Secondary Secondary
BA (Hons) PGCE BA (Hons) PGCE, NPQH BA (Hons) PGCE

Orla Hughes Ms

Secondary

Sarah Littlewood- Toal

Miss FT

Primary &

Secondary
BA (Hons)

PGCE

History

School Council Coordinator English

Shireen Banerjeee

Ms

FT

Primary &

Secondary
BA (Hons)

PGCE

Citizenship

French School Newsletter

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2018/2019

CHILD PROTECTION / SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN

Our Safeguarding Children Officer is Mrs J Gregory and her Deputy is Miss A Smyth. Safeguarding Children and pastoral care are regarded as of vital importance.

Childline Helpline Telephone number is: 01392 438540 (This is the Focus Anti-bullying and Safeguarding Children telephone number)

Support Teams

First Aid

The majority of staff are First Aid trained

Learning Support

Miss A Smyth

Mr T Watson Mr C Taylor
LSCO LS Trustee Primary Team Learning Support
Miss K Sarsfield

Health & Safety Advisor

Mr Simon Dore

Primary Team

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2018/2019

CHARITABLE FUNDRAISING

As well as the needs of our own school, we encourage the students to consider for the wide spectrum of human need. We realise that a broad minded approach is needed to recognise other cultures with differing challenges. Our students show strong commitment to fundraising and supporting local and national organisations.

Our fundraising and awareness activities have benefited organisations such as;
✓ Help the Heroes ✓ Tiny Life ✓ Shine ✓ Unicef ✓ Local Hospice – Newry ✓ St. Vincent de Paul

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2018/2019

CURRICULUM

Our curriculum model wholly supports the School’s ethos in promoting Christian values

and provides a balance, ensuring that students develop academically, morally and physically.

Warrenpoint Educational Trust has adopted the Curriculum Policy developed by the Focus Learning Trust, and a timetable for a five day week has been created to implement this Policy. The curriculum is designed to enable every pupil to realise his or her potential. The teaching of each major subject follows the National Curriculum.

In Key Stage 2, pupils study the following subjects:

Art & Design Technology

History

Science Maths Music PE
Citizenship English French

Geography

PSHE

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2018/2019

In Key Stages 3 & 4 students study the following subjects:

Art

Citizenship

Business Studies Food and Nutrition Geography
PHSE French Mathematics

History

PE

English (Language & Literature) LAMDA Public Speaking
Science (Core and Additional) ICT / ECDL

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2018/2019

Key Stage 5

All of our students progress to the sixth form. Students choose three subjects to study to A2 level. The aim is for university entrance standard; ideally three A-level passes balanced by the delivery of breadth of curriculum. As a fully inclusive school we recognise that not all students will be able for A-levels and we place special emphasis on providing a curriculum appropriate for all ability levels. Our students are encourages to become self-motivated leaders, developing as team players in a rich learning environment with high priority to their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

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2018/2019

SPECIAL

SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS & LEARNING SUPPORT

Every child at our School is entitled to have access to a full and broad curriculum whatever their age, gender, ethnic background or physical or learning disability.

Our teachers are fully qualified and able to provide specialist skills to support individual

pupils’ learning needs and to enable them to meet challenging and attainable targets. Where

appropriate, children are taught in ability groups allowing for more individual attention. The School works closely with parents of children who require learning support and draws on the support of specialist advisors through FLT when required and makes appropriate education and welfare provision for pupils with statements. We also have recourse to outside professional support along with our own Learning Support Coordinator (LSC).

We will utilise IT programmes where appropriate according to the needs of the pupil. Monitoring of attainment and progress is carried out regularly with end of term teacher assessments and annual baseline tests.

Realistic personal learning plans (PLP) are revised at least termly. The Annual Review Meeting will, for statemented children, include parents, as well as relevant medical and educational professionals who will evaluate targets met and formulate the way ahead.

Teaching staff are kept informed by the Learning Support Co-ordinator of specific needs. We have adopted the Focus SEND Policy, which is available on request.

The School also recognises that some pupils who are “more able than average” Able, Gifted

and Talented (AGT) also have specific learning needs and we aim to make provision for their needs within available resources.

The School will make special provision for students for whom English is not their first language. Every care will be taken to ensure that such students are not disadvantaged and that they have equal access to the curriculum and all other activities.

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2018/2019

ABOUT THE SCHOOL

Focus School Newry Campus are wholly owned by Warrenpoint Educational Trust. Warrenpoint Educational Trust is a Registered Charity. (No XR8254)

Newry Campus is registered as an Independent School having Special Religious Character. It operates a Christian Ethos and would appeal to those parents who value an education based on Scriptural principles and values, and Christian faith and beliefs.

History of the School

Our school began in September 2003 as Newbridge Study Centre when parents began to work together to share tutors and resources. The School is located on its current site since September 2013 and today it is run as an Independent School providing a broad education for students from Year 3 to Year 13.

Focus Learning Trust was set up as a national educational trust to provide ‘direction, management, programs and support’ for many similar schools around the UK, all of which

were established on the same basis. There are now over 30 schools in the UK all affiliated to Focus Learning Trust. During 2012 our school was rebranded as Focus School Newry Campus.

Newry Campus now occupies a completely refurbished building with many specialist facilities. It is generously staffed with professional teachers who are all fully qualified and experienced in their subjects. There are extremely positive relationships between Staff and Trustees, all of whom work hard for the benefit of the students. The strong links between the Primary and Secondary Departments assist transition for students from Year 6 to Year 7 and fosters whole school activities.

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2018/2019

Inspection Report

The school did very well in the latest ETI Inspection (2012), with comments from the inspector such as:

•

“.the learners engage readily in their learning, ask relevant and well-informed questions and take pride in their work...”

••

“...the children make good progress in English and Maths in line with their ability” “.the quality of the planning, teaching and assessment for learning observed during the inspection was good...”

•

“.the teachers have high expectations, foster very good literacy skills and provide well-planned opportunities for independent learning.”

Website

For more information about Focus schools, please visit: www.focus-school.com This website is being upgraded to include specific information on each campus and will include copies of:

••••

This Prospectus Child Protection Policy The Complaints Policy The SEND Local Offer

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2018/2019

POLICIES AND RULES

The following Policies are available from the School Office for inspection and can be provided upon request to parents of any attending student:

••••••••••••••••••••••

Admissions Policy Affiliation Agreement Anti-Bullying Policy Attendance Policy Behaviour Management Policy Camera and Using Images Policy Career Advantage Program Guide Careers Education & Work Experience Policy Child Protection Policy Complaints Policy CPD Policy Curriculum Policy Data Protection Policy Disability Access Policy (DDA) Discipline Policy (Employers) Enrolment Application Form Equal Opportunities Policy Ethos Values Statement and Guiding Principles Examination Policy

•••••••••••••••••••••

Handwriting Policy Health & Safety Policy and Procedure Healthy Schools Policy ICT Policy and Procedures Handbook Mobile Telephone Policy NQT Policy OneBus Policy Parent and Student Handbook Performance Management (Appraisal) Policy (The) Prevent Duty Guidance Recruitment Policy Safeguarding Policy School Offer (SEND) Social Media Policy SIP Policy SMSC Policy Staff Handbook Staff Health and Site Safety Guide Teaching & Learning Policy

Uniform Policy

Exclusion Policy

Gifted & Talented Policy Grievance & Disclosure in the Public Interest Policy
Visitor Policy

Additionally, the particulars of the arrangement for promoting student health and safety on educational trips and visits are available from the school office of request.

“The quality and effectiveness of leadership and management in implementing a more

innovative approach to teaching and learning and a dynamic curriculum are driving school

improvement”.

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