Greenhill School School Prospectus 2020/2021 At Greenhill we believe that education should recognise individuality and enable everyone to realise their potential within a caring and inclusive community. Contents Page Welcome 3 Admissions / Points System 4 The Curriculum 4-12 The School Day 13 Extra Support 13 Nurture Group School based counselling Provision for Specific Learning Difficulties [known as SPLD or Dyslexia] ELSA social and emotional skills group Catch Up Maths The Greenhill Alternative Curriculum Homework / After School Clubs and Residential Trips 14-15 Exams and Qualifications 15-16 14-19 Curriculum Options / Work Experience / 16-17 Assessment Recording Reporting / Annual Reviews 17 Parent/Carer/Family Involvement / Safeguarding / Accessibility 17-18 Data Protection / Behaviour and School Rules 18-19 Quiet Room / Facilities / Attendance/ Exclusion 19-20 School Uniform / Transport 20 Staff and Professionals 21-23 Complaints / Charging Policy / Governors 23-24 Frequently Asked Questions 24-27 2 Greenhill – a great place to be. ‘At Greenhill we believe that education should recognise individuality and enable everyone to realise their potential within a caring and inclusive community.’ Welcome Greenhill is a Cardiff Council day special school for 64 students ages 11-18. Our school is situated in lovely grounds close to the village of Rhiwbina in the north of Cardiff. All students who attend Greenhill have Statements of Special Needs in relation to complex Behavioural, Emotional and Social Difficulties. We want every student who comes to Greenhill to do well and benefit from what we offer. We work closely with parents, carers and external agencies to provide as many opportunities as possible for each student to achieve his potential. Greenhill school has 31 staff who are skilled in supporting students to improve their learning and behaviour. Students attend from all over Cardiff and very occasionally from neighbouring authorities. Each year about half of the new students join us in Year 7 arriving from either the local primary BESD special school or primary schools across the city. We also admit new students in years 8, 9 and 10 from secondary schools or from Pupil Referral Units. It would be very unusual for a pupil to join us in year 11 but each case is considered individually. Some of our students stay with us to complete year 12 and 13 before progressing to colleges or places of employment. Thank you for requesting a copy of our school brochure. I hope that you will find the information useful. If you would like further information about our school please have a look at our website www.greenhillschool.co.uk or telephone us on 029 2069 3786 to arrange a convenient time to visit. Shane Mock Headteacher At Greenhill we believe that education should recognise individuality and enable everyone to realise their potential within a caring and inclusive community. 3 Admissions to Greenhill Students who come to Greenhill will have experienced considerable difficulties with their behaviour in a mainstream school and many will have struggled with the acquisition of literacy, language and numeracy skills. As a result of these complex difficulties each student will have a Statement of Special Educational Needs. Greenhill also admits students with ADHD and other special needs including dyspraxia, mental health or medical needs. Currently all the students on roll are boys. The process of gaining a place here is one which involves all stakeholders. The Local Authority consults with the student, parents and the school before awarding a place. Students can start at Greenhill at any time of the year depending on whether there is a vacancy, however the majority start at the beginning of the school year in September. Starting at a new school can be a big step and we have a well-established transition programme to help students to start at Greenhill. Students starting in year 7 have at least three transition visits in the summer term prior to starting and Greenhill staff will also visit students in their current primary school. An open day is held for parents and carers in July each year to share information about Greenhill and to complete all of the necessary admissions forms. For students starting during the school year we run a similar process but on an individual basis. School Points System (Class Dojo) All students who come to Greenhill need help with their behaviour. Students’ behaviour is monitored each lesson through the school points system operated via Class Dojo. Each pupil starts with a 100 points and their aim is to keep as many points as possible each day. Students lose points in lessons for failing to meet any of our five expectations: completing tasks, behaving responsibly, keeping hands and feet to themselves, being on time for lessons staying in class. The system calculates students’ contributions to lessons by awarding points for positive work and attitudes, which result in certificates at Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum levels. These are awarded on a weekly basis in our Friday Achievement assembly. The points are calculated weekly and over every term. Students are then chosen for trips and activities based on their behaviour points. Class Dojo is also a positive feedback platform that connects teachers, parents and students, helping our young people improve character and behaviours in school, as well as at home. It helps teachers to monitor the learning and engagement in lessons and to share that with parents. It also gives parents and teachers a private message facility which enables them to keep in touch on a daily basis. 4 Greenhill – a great place to be. The Curriculum The curriculum at Greenhill is skills based and designed to help your child become a healthy confident individual who can make a positive contribution to the community. Staff here are skilled in delivering lessons and support to meet the individual and group needs of the students on roll. Classes are small, usually five or six students, with two members of staff. Staff try to make the curriculum as practical, flexible and interactive as possible to give each pupil the best chance of success. Many lessons take place in countryside settings as part of our creative outdoor education. English The English and Literacy team strive to support our children’s learning in order that they become literate adults. We aim to promote the love of reading and writing and hope to inspire our young people to embark on a journey of lifelong learning. Our lessons include speaking and listening, reading and writing elements and aim to cater for kinesthetic, visual and aural learners. We regularly use multimedia and ‘hands-on’, creative and practical activities to inspire and engage. We offer Entry level and Entry Pathways courses for English and Media, and a number of our students successfully follow the GCSE English Language course each year. For both examination routes, a number of controlled assessments have to be completed in school, followed by examinations in the spring or summer. The students’ reading, comprehension and spelling skills are assessed twice a year with the WRAT (Wide Range Achievement Test). This allows us to monitor the progress of our students to ensure that everyone reaches their potential. Our ultimate aim is to ensure that all of our young people leave Greenhill with a level of functional literacy that will set them up for life and for their future world of work. Mathematics The mathematics department endeavours to provide the students with an engaging and practically rich curriculum, where key skills are imbedded through practical activities using topics such as money, time, measurements and data handling. The use of ICT is encouraged and all students have a login for the SUM dog App to be used in school or at home, Maths Spy on hwb is also available to students to log in. The Entry Level course consists of a portfolio where the students are asked to complete three math’s papers, three oral tests and three investigations. Students also sit an examination in March. Students can achieve Entry Level grades from 1-3. At KS4 students also follow the National Curriculum. The GCSE course consists of following the GCSE Foundation text book and students sit two examination papers in June. Students can achieve a grade from C-G. Students are tested on a termly basis using Malt Assessments. These assessments allow us to track pupil progress and identify areas within the math’s curriculum where students may need additional support. The extra support will be given by dedicated teachers following the Numeracy Catch Up Programme. At Greenhill we believe that education should recognise individuality and enable everyone to realise their potential within a caring and inclusive community. 5 Science Key Stage 3: Years 7, 8 and 9 A thematic and practical based curriculum is offered at Key Stage 3, that covers aspects of Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Key skills in a non-linear structure ie ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ examines aspects of science within the context of the film, adapted from the book by Roald Dahl. Key Stage 4: Years 10 and 11 Two accreditation pathways at Key Stage 4 are available: WJEC Entry level Science single award consists of a portfolio where students have the opportunity to complete four short science module exams and a minimum of two investigations. Students also sit an end of course examination. Students can achieve Entry Level grades from 1-3. Alternatively, at GCSE level, students follow the WJEC Applied Science single award qualification. ICT Key Stage 3: All KS3 students will study the use of computers for at least one hour a week. This is a statutory requirement. Students in years 7, 8 and 9 will follow the traditional ICT course which covers the full Microsoft package (Word, Excel, Publisher, and Access).