Prospectus 2019/2020 Welcome to Blatch It changes how we view others, and “School is a it changes how we interact with the world. It reveals our potential place to find and helps us discover our passions. yourself – to Learning is beautiful and often messy. We don’t learn in straight learn at the very lines, it’s a complex process and limits of your that’s what makes our school such a dynamic and vibrant place to be. potential In order to learn well, we must and in doing so all feel safe and secure. As such, discover who we have unapologetically high Welcome to the prospectus you really are.” for Blatchington Mill School. standards for behaviour and I hope that this brief conduct and no tolerance for bullying or discrimination. Our Ashley Harrold snapshot of the school helps students support this. We are Head teacher to showcase the school’s graded by Ofsted as ‘Outstanding’ key features. There is no for behaviour and safety. 01 substitute for seeing the school in full flow, however, At Blatchington Mill School, we are so please visit us on our open committed to exceptional success evening or open days to get for every student. With the right the true flavour of who we are support and challenge we ensure that all students achieve their and what we do. You may also incredible potential. We focus on contact the school directly to the very best teaching, and create arrange a visit. a love of learning that will inspire At Blatchington Mill School, we further study and success. believe, above all else, that education We judge ourselves, as we must, on is a transformative force for good. the results that our students achieve Learning prepares students for later but also on their wellbeing and life, including employment, and happiness, their tolerance and equips them to thrive in an ever- respect for one another and the changing world - but it is also much world, and the future they go onto more important than that. when their journey at Blatch is Learning changes who we are and complete. On all of these measures, what we can become. we do extremely well and we will continue to strive to do better. High aspirations, Nurturing a high expectations learning culture We know that every parent/ In 2019 at GCSE... Our core business is learning. trial new approaches or techniques We work collaboratively with all within their lessons, based on Brighton & Hove secondary schools carer has high hopes for Best of the best: The highest grade The majority of our effort and what educational research suggests to share best practice and play their children; for them to possible is a grade 9 - equivalent endeavour is spent on • The new GCSEs in English and makes the most impact upon our part in raising standards for all be successful, happy and to an A** - and our students ensuring that lessons are Maths set a ‘pass’ grade at grade student learning. Teachers work learners across the city. fulfilled. At Blatch, we share achieved an incredible 111 of vibrant and engaging; and that 4, equivalent to a grade C on collaboratively within teams to those hopes for all students. these grades. The next grade - an learning is secure and All staff contribute to this culture the previous system. Under plan learning utilising and adapting 8 - equivalent to an A* on the embedded. of learning and development, and 02 We expect every student to make this measure 87% of students current pedagogical research to 03 previous grading - was achieved every member of staff, from the exceptional progress in their achieved this benchmark in Teachers support and guide inform and develop our practice. 211 times by students. facilities manager to the IT support learning, and believe that to do so English, and 82% achieved this students’ learning with the highest Blatch is also a founding member team, know that their primary role is requires industry, application, and Cross-curricular success: As in in Maths. expectations for behaviour, of the Pavilion & Downs Teaching to maximise student learning. This support. We expect students to previous years, there were very progress and enjoyment. • Overall 40% of students School Alliance - delivering ethos, above all else, is at the heart excel and they respond to our high strong performances from a wide Students understand what they are achieved the EBACC measure teacher training and professional of our school. expectations brilliantly. We are very range of subject areas, with Art, learning and why it is important. (English, Maths, Science, a development to other schools proud of the examination results Biology, Chemistry, English, Food, Students learn to work Modern Foreign Language and through our Specialist Leaders in for 2018 and of the wonderful French, Geography, History, Maths, collaboratively and cooperatively, a Humanities subject all above Education (SLEs). Music, Physics, Sociology, Textiles individual student stories that a grade 4) - well above the working alongside others and Further Maths all doing Blatchington Mill has also been are behind these grades. Whilst national average. effectively in teams. we rightly celebrate these results, exceptionally well. Students develop their skills in order selected as one of only nine • High quality teaching ensured schools nationwide to be awarded we are already planning how Above national performance: to reflect on their own learning and that students made fantastic MFL Lead Hub status. As part of to improve – we continue to be Students made better progress from progress, become resilient, and progress – meaning students the scheme we are recorgnised as relentless in our pursuit of the their relative starting points than commit to their own independent made more progress at Blatch experts in language teaching and very best outcomes for all. similar students nationally. learning and enquiry. These same than others did nationally; principles underpin our staff we support schools around the city some by up to 3 grades more. development. to develop teaching and learning of Modern Foreign Languages. We Teachers identify themselves as will share best practice in order learners too, with an unswerving to further develop the excellent commitment to reflecting upon, opportunities available for students refining and enhancing their studying languages in Brighton and classroom craft. Teachers work Hove. collaboratively to plan, assess and Expression & performance We focus on developing the Our music department has for professional football teams, whole child at Blatch. professional standard music as well as having students in the equipment for every student. Harlequins Rugby Academy, Ealing We value the educational benefits Trailfinders Rugby Academy and of the Arts as a source of This proficiency in the Performing 04 the Sussex Netball and Cricket 05 individuality, expression and Arts has led our staff and students teams. creativity, and have a legacy of to take their expertise into the specialisation in Performing Arts. wider school community, working Students’ confidence in their own alongside local primary-school articulation and expression, and children in a number of exciting “Blatch is a great the subsequent development of Arts projects. school because their sense of identity through Students have numerous it has amazing performance, is a major reason opportunities to experience drama lessons for their success in other aspects Performing Arts, both within the and brilliant of school life. Our reputation for classroom and in our range of opportunities delivering jaw-dropping student extra-curricular activities. Our productions in our professional highly successful PE department to per form at standard Windmill Theatre, as well aims to promote lifelong the Windmill as our extensive involvement in participation in physical activity theatre.” local community projects, is a alongside leading healthy, source of great pride. active lifestyles and develop Year 8 We have a thriving music student confidence, teamwork department – our bands and and leadership in and outside orchestras frequently perform of lessons. We have students beyond school. competing at international level in football and dance, with students currently in the England U15 set up, and students at Brighton & Hove Albion’s Football Academy. We also have a number of former students who have gone on to play Building blocks Student academic success is It fits our ethos that learning is “ The teachers balanced across a range of carried out for its own reward subjects – we value holistic and its own beauty. Students really care learning and offer a broad learn fewer topics, in greater about how curriculum. depth. We spend a long time deepening understanding, rather much you are Within this, we have a set of than accelerating through topics. learning.” subjects that are the foundation of 06 Problem solving is both how and 07 students’ knowledge and skill base. why we learn mathematics. This Year 11 Known as core subjects, these approach improves enjoyment include English, Maths, of maths and builds deep Science and Computing. Students understanding. focus on these subjects with We work to ensure that students significant curriculum time, in order experience a wide range of subjects to support the development of at both Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4. Extra-curricular their literacy, numeracy, enquiry and digital fluency. In these Full details of our curriculum can be and skiing, and organised foreign more disadvantaged young people areas, we strive to innovate and found on our website. At Blatchington Mill School, exchanges. We’ve studied European who want to undertake their Blatch specialises in curriculum we run a whole variety of art, visited galleries and music award. development to ensure students are study trips. We’ve recently workshops locally, nationally and equipped for lifelong learning. visited America, Belgium, We have an extra-curricular offer across the world. As an example, we follow a Zanzibar, France, Andorra, that spans every year and every Blatchington Mill is also a provider programme of Maths Mastery in Key Austria and Spain.