How do I apply for a place at High School?

Set out below is the timeline for the information gathering and application process if you would like your child to attend Herne Bay High School. If you would like any further advice or support in this, please contact our Admissions Officer, Mrs A Clifton on 01227 361221 or go to our website at www.hernebayhigh.org

2nd October - Open Evening from 6.00pm to 9.00pm

Come along, meet staff and students and find out more about the school. Information is available on the evening on aspects such as transition from to Herne Bay High School, the Grammar set and Herons stream, Colleges, additional educational support and intervention, peer mentoring, the admissions procedure and the comprehensive banding arrangements, as well as information from each of the subject areas.

8th, 9th, 15th, and 18th October - Open Mornings from 9.15am to 10.15am

Students and their parents are welcome to come and tour the school during a normal working day.

18h October (4pm) - Deadline for returning the Comprehensive Banding Assessment Application Form to Herne Bay High School.

31st October - Deadline for returning the Secondary Common Application Form to County Council (KCC).

4th November – Comprehensive Banding Assessments to take place at Herne CofE Junior School

6th November – Comprehensive Banding Assessments to take place at Hampton Primary School & Reculver Primary School

7th November – Comprehensive Banding Assessments to take place at Briary Primary School & Herne Bay Junior School

8th November – Comprehensive Banding Assessments to take place at Swalecliffe Community Primary School

We have arranged for children to take the assessment at their junior school on the days listed above. Your child will automatically sit the assessment on our receipt of their Banding Assessment Application.

12th and 14th November – Comprehensive Banding Assessments

For students who do not attend the above schools, or who are absent on that day, banding assessments will be held at Herne Bay High School on Tuesday 12th and Thursday 14th November at 4.00pm. The Comprehensive Banding Assessment is not an entry test but all students who wish to attend Herne Bay High School are required to sit this assessment.

Following the banding assessment, the appropriate ability band is identified for each child and the oversubscription criteria are then applied to each band.

1st March – KCC notify parents which school has been allocated to their child

16th March – Final deadline for accepting or declining the school place offered by returning the form to the school. A Comprehensive School for the Community of Herne Bay

I believe that Herne Bay High School provides the very best educational experience for local children of all abilities and backgrounds. This is achieved through establish- ing the structure and approach of a fully comprehensive school.

A true comprehensive school caters for students across the academic ability range in a proportion that matches the national profile, hence all students that will be apply- ing to Herne Bay High School sit a Banding Assessment as part of our admissions pro- cess. This will provide us with a more stable ability profile across the school, reducing the year-on-year variation, which will enable us to plan and allocate resources more effectively and provide a wide range of pathways for individual success.

The comprehensive banding assessment is NOT an entry test. However, it is important that all parents and carers understand that students who have submitted the Banding Assessment Application Form and taken the banding assessment will be given priority for a place at the school over those who have not. Additionally, students who have passed the Kent Test will automatically be allocated a place in our Grammar Stream.

At Herne Bay High School we understand that children develop both personally and academically at different stages and at different rates, and it is therefore important to ensure that each and every child is provided with the appropriate challenge, support and guidance throughout their journey through school. We are passionate about enabling every child to achieve their full academic potential, whilst developing their personal skills and attributes to ensure that they grow into responsible, mature and confident young adults who aspire to excellence and make a positive contribution to society, and of whom we can be incredibly proud.

I look forward to meeting you at one of our Open Events.

Mr Jon Boyes Principal A Parents Perspective

What year is your child in? his sister to her gymnastics really concerned that as he club. So we all sat down had only just passed the He is in Year 8, and he is and weighed up the pros Kent test with quite a lot of called Joe (name changed and cons of all the different coaching, that he might find for this article) schools and HBHS came out rather Did you come to the Year 6 on top. tough. We felt that HBHS Open Evening? could provide a Grammar What were the pro’s and style education within either con’s you considered? Yes, I think it was really the Grammar or Herons important to visit all the On the pros’ side: stream, whilst maintaining different schools so we the supportive caring could get a feel for the HBHS’s OFSTED reports were environment that I had schools. really impressive. heard about, and knew What were your first We reviewed their GCSE would be right for my son. impressions of HBHS? and Sixth Form results which This had been the case with showed us that the very top It felt welcoming and a myself, as I had just examination grades can be happy place. The staff were squeaked into a grammar achieved at HBH. approachable and the school, and as a result I students were polite and We really liked the idea of really didn’t enjoy school at answered all our questions. the Grammar Stream and all and didn’t really do very The school felt huge and Herons groups. It is unusual well, as I always felt second more like my old university for a school to have a co- best and a little behind campus than a school! educational grammar set everyone else. which we feel is a real Why did you choose HBHS? We spoke to lots of our advantage for my son as it friends who sent their My son took the Kent Test will help him develop children to HBHS, and they and with quite a lot of socially as well as were all incredibly positive coaching he just passed. academically. We were about HBHS, they spoke very However he always wanted also impressed with the highly of the quality of to go to HBHS, as all his Herons stream that allows lessons their children friends were going there the most motivated and received and the excellent and he knew the school well aspirational students to be care that was taken of their from playing football up grouped together in a children. there, from roller skating and manner reflective of their going to their Summer needs and higher levels of Camps and accompanying academic ability. We were Many of our friends had really liked the idea of this College. On the few oc- children in the Heron sets continuing. casions that I needed to and they were really im- contact school about The school was by far the pressed with the progress some things, Joe’s College cleanest, most looked after that their children were Manager was immediately and best resourced one making. A number of our contactable on the phone we visited. friends had children who and sorted things out with- had joined HBHS in Year 7 On the cons’ side: in the day and phoned me and left after sixth form later on in the day to up- We were concerned that and are now at university date me on how things studying for degrees. the naughty children from had been dealt with. We discussed the location Joe’s junior school would Any advice on getting the of the school and how Joe be going to HBHS, and he best out of Y6 Open Eve- could leave home at 8 had had to put up with nings? o’clock and walk to school them for the previous four with his friends. We consid- years and we just felt that You won’t see everything, ered the fact that some enough was enough. but I would say: see the children we knew, who Pleasingly, for the first time Principal speak, ask your went to school in Canter- since Year 3, Joe is not in child what they want to bury, were having to get any of these children’s see, then check out the up a little after 6 o’clock in classes. He has actually areas of the school you are the morning and having to said that he doesn’t even most interested in first and be out the house by 7:10 to if there is time visit other catch the bus and we real- see them any more. areas. I preferred not hav- ly didn’t like this idea espe- We were anxious about ing a guide as we wanted cially with the dark wintry the size of the school. Joe’s to wander where we want- mornings. primary school was so ed to, at our own pace. We discussed him getting much smaller and we were home after school and the Remember every school concerned that he would fact that he could be will be trying to look their home in less than 20 be completely overawed best, so talk to friends and minutes after the end of by HBHS and feel lost. How other children and weigh the school day if he want- wrong we were, he loves up the pro’s and con’s. ed, and how he would be the school and other than arriving home much later if the first few days, he has he went to school in Can- never mentioned anything terbury. about the size of the school again. Pretty much all of Joe’s classmates were coming to We were anxious that he HBHS and he had built up would not have any indi- some fantastic friendships vidual attention. Again this over his time at infants and worry was misplaced – he juniors, and we had made has built a really good rela- lots of friends with Joe’s tionship with his Mentor friends’ parents and we and enjoys being part of a A school for all abilities

Herne Bay High School is the comprehensive school for the community of Herne Bay. As such we provide a range of curriculum pathways and opportunities to suit students of all abilities, nurturing their talents and interests.

A traditional academic curriculum provides the cornerstone for all pathways, with students being provided with the opportunity, if they wish, to study vocational aspects alongside their academic subjects as they move into the upper part of the school.

As a school that embraces sport and well being, we provide all of our students with the opportunity to participate in a wide range of sports within an exceptional purpose built environment. This not only nurtures individual talent and interest, but also encour- ages students to adopt healthy lifestyle patterns and develop leadership and team- working skills which are transferrable to all areas of their lives.

In addition, as a school we are renowned across Kent and beyond for the outstand- ing levels of performance achieved within the visual, creative and performing arts. These subject areas play a pivotal role in supporting students to develop their self-confidence and self-awareness and provide opportunities to showcase and cele- brate their work. This could be through exhibiting their work in a local art exhibition, participating in one of our school productions or developing their talents further within one of our dance or vocal companies.

Great importance is placed upon the students achieving at the highest level in all aspects of their work, but particularly within the key areas of English, Mathematics and Science. Individual student progress is carefully tracked and monitored to ensure that students remain on course to achieve or exceed their minimum expected grades, with a wide range of support and intervention strategies being used where appropriate.

Key to academic success is student enjoyment and engagement, and this is achieved through ensuring that each child is provided with the appropriate levels of pace, challenge and support within each aspect of their school life. To facilitate this, as well as our mainstream teaching groups, our Heron sets provide a highly aspirational and challenging cur- riculum for all students with the desire to learn. We are also run a Grammar stream for those that pass the Kent Test or are the most able on entry. For students joining us with weaker literacy skills or who find aspects of learning more challenging, a range of specialist support and interventions are provided by our highly skilled and extensive Inclusion and SEND team. A busy and very successful school HBHS is a busy, hugely successful, large and extremely popular school with around 270 students in Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 and a Sixth Form of nearly 300 students.

On the subject of the size of the school, Mr Boyes, the school’s Principal, is keen to allay any misgivings children or their parents may have. Mr Boyes explained, “We are significantly larger than other schools in the local area, having grown in response to the popularity of the school and the real desire for local families to send their children here. Our size offers us huge opportunities to develop purpose built facilities and have specialist teachers in all subject areas. Furthermore we are able to offer an innovative and personalised learning pathway to every one of our students through- out Key Stage 3 and 4 and also through the Sixth Form, something we simply would not be able to do if we were smaller.” On the subject of the care and individual attention each child benefits from at Herne Bay High School, Mr Boyes added, “we are a large school divided up into five smaller schools. Each of these schools is called a College and has its own Head and College Manager and its own identity.”

Each student is allocated to a mixed age mentor group. In Year 7 they will mix with Year 7 and 8 students who act as older brothers and sisters helping the new students to settle in. Students meet with their mentor at the start and the end of every day and all mentor groups from a College are co-located within the the school, enabling superb pastoral care and academic support. I meet with students all the time and I don’t recall any student saying that they feel lost or overawed by the size and busy nature of our school, quite the contrary! Frequently asked questions

If you have any further questions, please come along to the Open Evening where we will be pleased to answer them, alternatively please look on our website : www.hernebayhigh.org

What are the over-subscription criteria? My child isn’t sporty, should s/he still join HBHS?

Preference is given to those children who have HBHS’s Sports College status helped it to secure completed the Banding Assessment Application significant investment in its sports’ facilities and Form and taken the banding assessment, since staffing, and has resulted in the school becoming the oversubscription criteria are then applied to a national leader in the areas of PE and school each of the seven ability bands. In each band and community sport. However being a Sports College did not deflect the school from its core preference is then given to: purpose of meeting the needs and aspirations of Children in Local Authority Care all its students, and as such prospective students and their parents should not presume that they Siblings of students already at the school should be sporty to prove successful and enjoy Distance from the school within the CT6 post- HBHS – far from it. HBHS has numerous students for whom sport is not their main interest, rather they code prefer the arts or to focus on their academic sub- Distance from the school outside the CT6 post- jects. code

My child has passed the Kent Test, does s/he still My child has a sibling already at the school, will need to sit the banding assessment? s/he automatically be offered a place?

You will need to complete the Banding Provided that the child sits the Banding Assess- Assessment Application Form to let the school ment, they will be offered a place at Herne Bay know that your child has taken the Kent Test. High School in accordance with the school’s Once the school receives confirmation that your oversubscription criteria. However, any child who child has passed the Kent Test, the over sub- doesn’t take the Banding Assessment is unlikely to scription criteria for the band will be applied get into Herne Bay High School regardless of and will place your child in Band 7. whether they have a brother or sister at the school or live very close to the school.

I would like my child to enter the Heron Stream, What happens if my child is allocated to a band how does this work? which is oversubscribed?

If your child is allocated a place at HBHS, you KCC treats each of the seven Bands separately, will be asked if s/he wishes to be considered for and as such they will follow the over-subscription a place in the Heron Stream and your child’s criteria in allocating places in each Band. If an- commitment to their learning will be discussed. other Band is under-subscribed then a process is Places in the Heron Stream are then allocated used to fill that Band from adjacent Bands, and following the induction interview and through there is therefore a possibility that your child may recommendation from the primary school. be allocated a place through this process.