WOOD GREEN SCHOOL

“One of the best secondary experiences anybody could ever ask for.”

Natasha Firmin, Former Student

WWW.W GSWITNEY .ORG.UK At Wood Green School we A School Based On Values believe that every young person can achieve excellence. Our ‘LEARN Well’ values, Although the spotlight in developed by students, staff, schools is very much on exam parents and governors, show results, for Wood Green what we value in our school. students, ‘excellence’ means achieving their very best in all They underpin everything aspects of their lives as well as we do. in their learning. Our unique ‘Wood Green Baccalaureate’ LEARN Well stands for: approach ensures our students have strong academic and Learning - we value learning personal development. because it is the key to developing ourselves All students have aspirational targets for their subjects and Effort - we value putting our are expected to try their best. best effort into all that we do They will experience excellent teaching to help them achieve Aspiration – we value their goals. We also expect aspiration as we want everyone every student to contribute to to aim high and be their best their community and develop respect for others. I am proud Respect - we value respect, of the number of parents who treating everyone as equal and say how much Wood Green has helped their child develop as a celebrating diversity person and to achieve their goals. I am sure this is why we Nurture - we value caring for have become an oversubscribed each other; we aim to provide school. excellent care and support and expect everyone to care for Your children are the most each other and their important people to you and environment to Wood Green School. Our joint venture over the next Wellbeing - we value learning seven years is to help them to take care of ourselves develop the skills, knowledge, physically and mentally, to be “Wood Green better learners and stronger School continues and character to become people. outstanding young people. to serve its student As you will see from their destinations, Wood Green community well. students go on to all sorts of exciting futures as a result of We are lucky to have their time at school. this school for our I hope that this prospectus and community” our website capture something - Parental feedback to of our philosophy and our ‘LEARN Well’ values. Ofsted, March 2019

Mr R Shadbolt Headteacher WELCOME The Curriculum Learning Beyond the Able, Interested and In Key Stage 3 (Years 7 to 9) the Curriculum – Extra-Curricular Motivated (AIM) Students curriculum is broad allowing Opportunities We are keen to identify every child to discover their Extra-curricular opportunities students with an exceptional “Pupils enjoy talents. All students study are a strong feature of Wood ability or interest in order to English, Maths, Science, History, Green School. We believe that nurture their talent. For AIM learning and feel Geography, RE, French and/ they are a great way for our students, additional challenge or German, Art, Music, Drama, students to learn new skills, is incorporated into lessons that the teachers Design and Technology, PE, IT discover new talents and make and these learners are also help them to do and Personal Development. new friends. We encourage encouraged to take on lead Learning is supported by trips every student to join at least roles in class and in extra- their best” such as the History trip to one club. curricular activities. Special trips the Black Country museum and activities run throughout Ofsted, March and many other enrichment The school is a specialist the year for AIM students 2019. experiences. performing arts school and covering a range of areas, for example: In Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and extensive range of music and 11) all students follow a core drama opportunities. curriculum as well as a range • Latin up to GCSE of option subjects including There is also a huge range of • Youth Speaks Public Speaking academic and vocational sports activities throughout the • Mock Trial – National Competition learning. Students have a range year. • UK Maths Challenge and challenge, as well as • Sports Leaders support, in meeting their Wood Green KS3 • Music Leaders aspirations and needs. Baccalaureate Traditional and newer courses at GCSE are complemented by the School’s commitment to increasing the range of vocational opportunities in partnership with Abingdon and Witney College.

In the Sixth Form students are able to select from a wide range of A-Level subjects. Our Sixth Form partnerships with Henry Box School and Abingdon and Witney College allow us to offer over thirty subjects, giving all 16-18 year olds in Witney even better educational pathways. Many students join the Sixth Form from other schools due to the excellent support, opportunities and facilities on offer.

“As you’re aware, due to health issues my son found 6th Form much harder than any of us could have anticipated. But, due to the dedication of your

came through it, but successfully gained a place at University.” LEARNING - Parent Developing a Growth Aspiration Mindset At Wood Green students At Wood Green students are are encouraged to aim for not compared to each other excellence - to be the very best but compared to their own they can be. best standards. That is why we EFFORT & Students are set Challenge put into their work, whatever Grades that compare with their current ability level, and the top 20% or even 5% of schools nationally. Our Raising every term. We encourage all Achievement system, described students to have a ‘growth as ‘impressive’ by Ofsted, mindset’, that is, to believe that ensures that students, parents, ASPIRATION teachers and tutors are able to monitor progress against these continually improve. We develop Challenge Grades. Support can this mindset throughout the curriculum in addition to success is celebrated regularly. Personal Development lessons. Careers advice begins in Year Students are taught to: 7 and encourages students to think about their choices in • Embrace challenge rather than an informed way. The advice avoid it – you need challenge to continues right through school, improve supporting our students every • Have resilience – persist when step of the way. The school has things go wrong rather than give excellent links with universities, up including Oxford and Oxford Brookes, and top local necessary and rewarding employers support the students • Learn from feedback rather in work experience placements than get upset by it in years 11 and 12. We ensure • Find the success of others that every student, once they inspiring rather than feeling leave Wood Green, embarks threatened by it on an excellent pathway best suited to their needs.

The Wood Green KS4 Baccalaureate

“Pupils feel challenged in their lessons and enjoy participating in the wide range of extra-curricular

Ofsted, March 2019

always refer to them and show them how important they are to you with all the skills that they can use, not just exam results.” - Parent Wood Green students behave well and visitors regularly comment on the calm, purposeful atmosphere for learning. We have clear expectations of behaviour and RESPECT all students are expected to follow our ‘Ready to Learn Well’ code showing respect for the learning of others.

Opportunities to think about others are brought to life through Personal Development days with several outside speakers visiting school. In particular, Wood Green has a unique link with Mr Steven Frank, holocaust survivor, who has visited every year for 20 years to speak with year 9 students about his experience as a child in Theresienstadt Camp. In 2015 Wood Green was asked to host the ‘grandchild’ of the tree that the children of Theresienstadt kept alive - a special honour for the school.

Serving our local community is encouraged through the Duke of Edinburgh award and the Community Award in the

in lessons, run clubs, help at

undertake charity work and support events in our local Primary Schools. They make an excellent contribution to the community.

Wood Green is situated in extensive grounds and enjoys many facilities including award-winning gardens. Students are taught to respect and look after their environment. In 2014 the school was awarded the Eco-School Green Flag and we have one of the largest array of “Pupils are solar panels in Oxfordshire. welcoming and friendly” Ofsted, March 2019

“We feel very lucky that our daughters attend such a wonderful school” - Parent Nurture personal development. Students Helping the tutors and Head of Wellbeing already excellent facilities for Inclusion From the moment a child usually stay with the same tutor Years to ensure that every child As well as helping every sport and exercise. The school We have a dedicated Inclusion obtains a place at Wood group throughout their school is happy and nurtured are student to achieve educational has a sports hall, a gym, and an Team for students in Green School the process of lives and receive regular one- a team of Pastoral Support success Wood Green School is all weather pitch. Students are mainstream classes who need encouraged to join teams and supporting them to achieve to-one mentoring with their Workers, a School Counsellor, committed to improving the additional support. In addition excellence begins. Every new tutors. Issues can be dealt with wellbeing of every student. clubs and Wood Green enjoys considerable sporting success at Wood Green hosts a small unit student is visited in their administrators and the School Students with good wellbeing county and even national level. for students with Moderate primary school and on entering strengths of every student are Health Nurse. will be more successful learners the school all students join a recognised. and it is a vital part of a good house, a year group and a tutor education to learn how to be 3. Nutrition – the school Achievement Centre. Students The pastoral system at Wood group. Our houses, either safe and healthy throughout restaurant is popular and the attend many core lessons in Our pastoral system blends Green is a strength of the Cornbury or Wychwood, are like the best aspects of a nurturing one’s life. small groups but also integrate families within school where environment where each wellbeing of young people into tutor groups and classes for the welfare and development of Because of its commitment to at lunchtimes. Working with older and younger students student mixes with children of every student. some subjects. This adds to the mix. Competitions, sports and the same age and also gets to wellbeing, Wood Green School inclusive feel of our school. activities are organised in the know students in other years. A was chosen in 2015 to be the restaurant ensures that healthy If you feel that your child may house system and students are key adult oversees the welfare pilot school nationally for an eating is promoted to support innovative wellbeing project learning. Our biometric system of every student and in addition, are welcome to visit the ensures that parents can keep they gain points throughout the there is the chance to focus on Achievement Centre. Please year in pursuit of the coveted the key aspects of each stage of partnership focused on three in touch with what their children note that all students in the Sue Sawyers’ Trophy. the school. key areas: are eating. Achievement Centre have an 1. Good mental health – young Education, Health and Care Plan The tutor group is a people face considerable The partnership with Nuffield and are placed there based on strong nurturing environment challenges and stresses. At Health continues: every student assessment of need. and tutors maintain an overview Wood Green we aim to provide in years 7 and 8 receive small of each child’s academic and an environment where students group wellbeing coaching from are taught how to thrive and be a Nuffield Health physiologist. resilient, where any issues are Students experience many other opportunities to promote their wellbeing. The school “Student voice is an important aspect of the schools’ evaluation counsellor and School Health “We are pleased with our children’s progress academically but the most 2. Good physical health – process. Students’ views are important thing is that they are happy, feel safe and are guided by the Nurse offer excellent sought regularly and acted upon equipment has enhanced the additional support. accordingly.” - Parent - Challenge Partners

NURTURE & WELLBEING The Wood Green Baccalaureate A Specialist School for Performing Arts At Wood Green School, ‘excellence’ means At Wood Green we recognise the importance of not only achieving the best outcomes in students’ learning but also achievement student. At a time where creative subjects are through involvement in extra-curricular activity and individual development as a caring and continues to ensure that every student learns responsible citizen. We ensure that each Wood Drama and Music up to Year 9. Students of all Green student receives a rounded education that levels enjoy these subjects and teachers ensure develops both personal skills and those tested that everyone develops the skills of performing, in formal examinations. We wish to recognise giving and taking feedback, working with others, the full range of our students’ achievements as well as improving their artistic ability. and learning experiences, including academic There are extensive extra-curricular a growing group of like-minded schools, we have opportunities. In Music the following ensembles developed a Wood Green Baccalaureate that, if run weekly: completed successfully, demonstrates that a student has achieved their academic potential • Senior Choir • Chamber Choir and personal development goals. • Girls’ Choir • Concert Band • Boys’ Choir • Swing Band Our National Baccalaureate consists of the • Junior Choir • Orchestra following components: Our Sixth Form Music Leaders run other ensembles • regularly. There are many opportunities for • performing either at our own school concerts or requiring research skills, communication skills and the ability to persevere to complete a longer piece of work. Europe. An extensive array of teachers visit school • Completion of a Personal Development programme consisting of: • Community service and citizenship In Drama, students have regular opportunities to • Wellbeing • Cultural awareness extracurricular groups and performances that • Creative development enable all students to shine, whether or not they • Leadership development are taking Drama for GCSE. Recent performances of Bugsy Malone and the RSC Beauty and the Beast The Baccalaureate continues into the 6th Form: demonstrated the high level of Drama. as well as working to high standards in their A Level studies, all students complete the EPQ Award which carries UCAS points and is highly regarded by universities. For all ages the personal project is an opportunity for students to explore a real passion. All students undertake community service and work experience, completing a well-rounded, high-level education.

Area of Excellence in our 2017 Challenge Partner External review.

We encourage students to develop themselves out of school as well and we are happy to accredit all external achievements within the Baccalaureates.

We are excited to be developing this approach at Wood Green and to be working with schools around the country committed to valuing a truly broad education.

Wood Green School 01993 702355 @wgswitney Woodstock Road Witney, OX28 1DX www.wgswitney.org.uk