School Information Booklet 2020 - 2021 Contents Welcome to Swavesey Village College .......................................................................................................... 1 Vision ............................................................................................................................................................. 2 Letter to parents after Ofsted Inspection 2020............................................................................................. 3 Cambridge Meridian Academies Trust .......................................................................................................... 4 The Academy Council .................................................................................................................................... 5 Admissions ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 Transition ....................................................................................................................................................... 7 Achievement .................................................................................................................................................. 8 Performance Measure ................................................................................................................................... 9 2020 Results ................................................................................................................................................... 9 Reports ......................................................................................................................................................... 10 The House System ....................................................................................................................................... 11 The Swavesey Experience ............................................................................................................................ 12 Extra-Curricular Activities ............................................................................................................................ 13 Careers Guidance and Work Related Learning ............................................................................................ 16 Our Learning Policy ...................................................................................................................................... 18 Equality, Access and Inclusion ..................................................................................................................... 20 English Curriculum ....................................................................................................................................... 21 Mathematics Curriculum ............................................................................................................................. 22 Science Curriculum ...................................................................................................................................... 23 Modern Foreign Languages ......................................................................................................................... 25 Computing & ICT .......................................................................................................................................... 26 Design and Enterprise .................................................................................................................................. 27 Vocational Courses (Key Stage 4): ............................................................................................................... 27 Ethics and Religious Studies ........................................................................................................................ 28 Geography ................................................................................................................................................... 29 History .......................................................................................................................................................... 30 Art and Design ............................................................................................................................................. 31 Performing Arts Department ....................................................................................................................... 32 Dance ........................................................................................................................................................... 32 Music ............................................................................................................................................................ 32 Drama .......................................................................................................................................................... 33 Physical Education ....................................................................................................................................... 34 Resource Centre .......................................................................................................................................... 36 Welcome to Swavesey Village College Dear Parents and Guardians, I would like to begin by formally welcoming you and your child to Swavesey Village College. This is an exciting time for our students moving schools and we want to ensure that the transfer into the College is both a smooth and stimulating experience for every individual. Obviously this year, it is going to be different. Where we normally delight to open our doors on Open Evening, this year we have to try to sum up all we do via our website: https://www.swaveseyvc.co.uk/transition-for-year-6-students/ This booklet is written in the hope that all will be back to normal by September 2021. Together, the College and parents share a common commitment and responsibility to support each child’s individual progress through the College, providing them with opportunities and support for their personal development and academic achievement. The most important part of this transition process is developing the relationship between the tutor, student and parent, as well as integrating new students into their new tutor group and teaching group. For Year 6, this is the focus of the transition plan during year 6. This booklet should provide you with important summary information of what your child can look forward to experiencing at the College. However, it cannot cover everything so if you have any burning questions, do not hesitate to ask at any time by contacting reception or your House office when places are allocated later in the school year (March 2021). Separate student information will be handed out to students during the Year 6 Induction Days in July 2020; which covers information on day to day routines and expectations. I encourage you to have a look at the College website www.swaveseyvc.co.uk and the school facebook page. The site is regularly updated and includes news that highlights recent or forthcoming events. Yours faithfully, Jim Stavrou Headteacher 1 Vision Our Vision is that ‘Swavesey Village College is an inspirational place to work and learn at the heart of our local community.’ We maintain our commitment to this Vision by focusing on: 1. What we are deeply passionate about as educators 2. What we believe we can be the best in the world at as a School 3. Assessing our progress and success against some very measurable outcomes. At the heart of all of this is an unwavering commitment to fostering strong, positive, honest and respectful relationships throughout our community. 2 Letter to parents after Ofsted Inspection 2020 13th March 2020 Dear Parents and Carers, I am very proud to share with you that Swavesey Village College remains an ‘Outstanding’ school. I strongly believe this judgment is an accurate reflection of all the hard work and dedication that our school community puts into the college on a daily basis. I am very privileged to lead a team of excellent staff and students and would like to highlight my favourite comments from the report. The lead inspector believes that the curriculum provides ‘for pupils’ academic and personal development exceptionally well’, and that ‘teachers are enthusiastic, knowledgeable and highly skilled practitioners’. Moreover, they feel we ‘successfully encourage and enthuse pupils to aim high and fulfil their potential’. I am very proud that the inspection team saw that all ‘leaders promote pupils’ personal development exceptionally well’ and ‘there are a wealth of sporting, cultural and artistic opportunities available for pupils’. Across the two days, I was pleased that inspectors gained a real insight into the workings of the school and I strongly encourage all parents to read the report in full. Inspectors spent a considerable amount of time in lessons in a variety of subjects and spoke with many students, teachers, academy council members and trustees. As a result, the letter is a really exciting reflection of the vision and quality of education which we provide for our students. I am delighted that inspectors praised not only our curriculum and quality of education, but have described in some detail our effective safeguarding processes, the support we offer to our students with special educational needs and the highly positive outcomes which our students