Hillview Prospectus 2020-21

Welcome from the headteacher It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to through engagement in clubs, trips, Hillview School for Girls; a highly successful competitions and fundraising for local, non-selective girls’ school with a thriving national and international charities. mixed Sixth Form in the heart of Tonbridge. Our high-flying visual and performing arts At Hillview we believe in the Pure Potential of specialisms achieve exceptional standards every child to be the very best that they can across the full breadth of the Arts. be. As an educational provider we offer With direct links into industry and higher quality teaching, a focussed learning education, our students are able to access environment and strong pastoral support unique experiences and secure their future to enable every child in being successful in progression within these challenging fields. their studies and in their lives. Our role is not All students benefit from the confidence, just to ensure that our students achieve good creativity and resilience that the arts instil grades but on the well-being of the child and and use these essential transferable skills to ensuring that our students are able to move secure success across their studies, onto their desired careers pathways. within their interests and in preparation for We believe very passionately about the care the world of work. that we offer our students and are widely Hillview School for Girls is recognised as one recognised for this support and care; with of the top performing non-selective schools our PDL lessons offering a unique and in Kent and is the highest achieving specialist programme of study, in preparation non-selective girls’ school in Kent. for growing up and moving out into the world Students learn within a focussed, engaging beyond education. environment, which combines the right mix “Hillview helps us to lead safe lives” of knowledge, skills and techniques, A Hillview student is confident, aspirational, enabling our students to flourish as resilient and determined. Our dedicated, independent learners. We do place high passionate staffing body supports each expectations on our students in their individuals’ personal development, from their learning and attitudes to work and each first steps through the school gates, to when other. Our behaviour system actively they leave at the end of their Sixth Form supports the students to develop the key studies. skills that employers desire and enable them Students develop life-long skills throughout to achieve highly within their exam courses. their time at Hillview, whether this be Each child’s needs are addressed through through the specialised mentor system, the personalised approach our within their education or through the school takes to support the extensive opportunities available to every individual,resulting in happy, child. All students benefit from the successful students. confidence, creativity and resilience that the I look forward to welcoming creative arts instil and use these essential you to our vibrant, exciting transferable skills to secure success across school and developing our their studies, within their interests or future working partnership through the extensive opportunities to support your child in available to every child. the next stage of A school experience is more than just the their education. classroom and learning, therefore we encourage our students to take an active Hilary Burkett part in the wider school life, Headteacher 1

“Hillview offers the complete package; excellent academic and teaching facilities combined with brilliant pastoral care.” J Harma, Parent 2

Inspiration As one of the top-performing non-selective schools in Kent, we have high expectations of all our students. Progress and attainment are consistently high and we have a long-standing track record of success. Our dedicated, passionate teachers inspire students through creative, fun and well-crafted lessons that contain the right levels of challenge and support. This ensures that students can develop a rich portfolio of skills, knowledge and confidence to help them achieve their personal best. We believe in the Pure Potential of every child and actively develop the skills of the individuals to unlock their potential for the future. Our students’ futures are limitless and we encourage them to reach for the stars. We support the development of independent young women who are curious about the world around them, confident to take risks and push boundaries in a way that will equip them for the challenges of the modern world within and beyond education. The vast majority of our students stay at Hillview for their post-16 education where they study and are successful in a broad range of courses suited to their varied interests. A high level of academic success ensure that many go on to study at Russell Group universities. “This is a caring, supportive school. Students enjoy coming to school. The respectful and harmonious ethos 3 permeates the school community.” OFSTED 2013

Nurturing a passion for achievement Pure Potential The Pure Potential ethos of Hillview is to develop, mature, thrive and leave the school ready for the world of employment. Students who embody the ethos engage fully in school life, with self-belief and resilience, taking on opportunities, broadening personal skills, always striving for positive results and going above and beyond in all they do. 4

Independence Developing Happy and Confident Students Hillview is a happy, purposeful environment where students can feel confident and secure. At the heart of our success is the care we offer our students. “I have been very impressed with the time and attention give to the transition process, which has been extremely helpful in enabling my daughter to settle quickly.” Year 7 Parent We understand that the transition to Personal Development Learning (PDL) lessons secondary school can seem daunting, are an important part of the curriculum and so we have a structured transition help build decision-making skills, programme and work closely with self-assurance and self-discipline. Taught by our local primary schools and parents specialist teachers, these lessons include to ensure that students who join us personal, social, health and economic studies. in Year 7 feel at home and settle into the school quickly. We are proud of our pastoral support and student welfare provision at Hillview. Achievements are recognised and praised Students’ mentors are usually the first point of regularly and we have a strong rewards contact, but our wider pastoral team and highly culture, which enhances experienced teachers, dedicated SENDCO and learning and performance throughout the support staff are all on hand to ensure that they school. Behaviour is excellent and we have are supported, both academically and very high expectations with regard to psychologically. discipline and respect for others. 5

“There’s a good balance of care for students, discipline and an ethos of nurtured academia.” Year 7 Parent 6

Innovation With specialist Performing and Visual Dance excites and challenges students as well Arts status, Hillview School for Girls as enabling them to develop essential skills for is a recognised leader in Performing the workplace and beyond. Dance can awaken a and Visual Arts provision and holds zest for learning which often translates through the prestigious Artsmark Platinum to many other subjects and strongly contributes Award from Arts Council England. to mental and physical well-being. Our subject experts have a proven Drama allows students the freedom to explore track record of delivering imaginative, issues and themes in a safe environment, while engaging lessons, as well as harnessing performance skills which are producing a wide range of annual transferable, assisting students with shows, musicals, concerts and presentations, speaking, listening, and social exhibitions, to professional standards. interaction. Drama is the platform from which students can raise their self-esteem and At Hillview, we actively look for confidence, while empathising with characters’ opportunities to engage with a range of situations and predicaments. practitioners within the Performing and Visual Arts industry, offering students Music develops self-expression teamwork unique experiences and qualifications skills and a capacity to understand and to expand their knowledge, confidence express ideas and feelings. It also enables and passion. Our extensive range of students to develop an awareness of other extra-curricular activities and clubs, cultures and traditions. The teaching of supports working across the full age the key areas of musicianship such as range in the school and develops composing, performing, listening students’ skills and nurtures their and appraising supports the talent. A focus on the Performing and development of the whole Visual Arts allows young people to student. become secure, thoughtful and compassionate and to adapt and thrive in any environment. © Sarah Clark Photography 7

Igniting imagination and creativity through our Performing and Visual Arts Specialism Fine Art enhances our visual and tactile engagement with the world. It enables students to develop both a personal creative dialogue and conceptual thinking through the senses; to experience, respond to, question and challenge our perceptions and ideas. Textile Design allows students to explore the disciplines of textiles for interiors, fashion and fine art in a multi-disciplinary way. Through the teaching, students will learn how to experiment by creating, selecting, manipulating and  exploring with a wide range of textile media, materials, techniques and  processes. Photography enables students to fully immerse themselves in the contemporary visual world. Through Graphic Communcation working with both dark room and digital  allows us to not only understand and engage conceptually in semiotics but it also enables technologies, students will be able to expand students to participate in the production of signs, symbols through the disciplines of advertising, their creative strengths and explore the full illustration, branding and information design. potential of the medium to document ideas, generate visual narratives and express conceptual thinking. 8

Innovation Our diverse curriculum allows students of all abilities to develop their competencies in accordance with their interests and emerging ambitions. As well as studying the core We appreciate that every We value the breadth that the subjects of English, Mathematics student is unique, so we allow EBACC offers. However, we and Science, students joining our students to personalise also value the student’s right Hillview at KS3 will learn French, their curriculum in Year 9 to study courses that are Spanish, as well as History, through our accelerated appropriate for them, their Geography, P.E., Dance, Drama, curriculum, which supports skills and their career Art, Textiles, breadth but encourages aspirations. We, therefore, Personal Development Learning personalisation, preparing offer our students one of the and Food Technology. students for choosing their broadest choices of GCSE Careers provision is also GCSE options. options seen in schools integrated into the curriculum Personalised support and locally. With a detailed and students are given the guidance is given when knowledge of our students, opportunities to explore varying students are choosing from our teachers monitor careers and access unique the broad range of GCSE attainment regularly and opportunities to engage with options we offer. provide individual feedback and learn from different and guidance to ensure that speakers and specialists from no one is left behind. across the breadth of the working world. Students receive one-to-one advice from our specialist Careers Advisor. 9

Diverse and stimulating curriculum “It’s good to be part Extra-curricular We ensure that all students of a forward-thinking With over 80 extra-curricular receive the right level of support school that is focused clubs, there is something to and challenge for their needs. on producing confident, spark every interest. Our aim is to create curious and Our cheerleading team is active learners who will go on to well-educated girls particularly popular and become well-rounded citizens, able ready to face an recently won in all categories to flourish in today’s increasingly in the School National knowledge-based, interconnected ever-changing future.” Championships. Another trip world. We achieve this through our was to Disneyland, Paris where approaches to teaching, learning Caroline Ross, our ‘Hillstars’ took second and and behaviour, but also through Year 7 parent third place in their categories extra-curricular activities and trips, competing against professional our attitude to pastoral cheer teams. care, student leadership and our whole-school ethos. Celebrating our We also have a wide range of sports individuality clubs – from gymnastics to handball, netball and hockey. Other clubs range from Langauges to Fashion, to Film, Duke of Edinburgh, Art and Philosophy and, of course, these are complemented by a range of trips and visits each term; including recent trips skiing, Naples and Venice. A range of outside speakers and workshops are organised each term too. Hillview have continued to work internationally with the Erasmus Plus, which enables six European schools to collaborate and become involved in cultural exchanges and the sharing of best practice. 10

Inclusivity Building a Supportive Environment We are an inclusive school. a Leader of Community and We have developed a very Every individual counts at meets weekly for assembly. successful peer mentoring Hillview, so it is important Within our key stage vertical system, so that there is real that everyone feels integral to mentoring system there is a trust between students and also the wider Hillview community: sense of mutual respect and between students and staff. a part of something big. care. Our key stage vertical We work in partnership with Our four communities; system supports: parents and encourage them to Austen, Franklin, Hepburn KS3: The development of the be involved with the school. and Westwood form the basis of independent successful and Regular communications our key stage mentor happy learner. include parent consultation groupings and also lend a KS4: The balance of support evenings, a weekly newsletter, competitive edge to the and challenge in preparing for reports, contact with your sporting and rewards the challenge of GCSEs. daughter’s mentor and other activities that we participate KS5: The growth into information events. Our active, in throughout the year. adulthood, independence, work friendly Parent Teacher Each of these groups is led by ethic and employability. Association holds regular meetings, which all parents are invited to join. “It is always a great pleasure to visit the school and I always come away feeling invigorated after seeing so much enthusiasm and drive within your young charges.” Former Year 11 Parent 11

Community work We also have a Through learning long-standing communities, students connection with the are responsible for village of Kabubbu in organising a variety of Uganda and have raised fundraising initiatives funds for the Quicken throughout the year. Trust charity to These range from enable Hillview bring-and-buy sales to students and staff to donations and enterprise visit and support the projects that involve the cause several times local community. over the past five years. Leadership and responsibility Students are actively involved in helping to shape the school. Through the Student Council, students are able to represent their peers on the key issues that affect them, whilst others might apply to become school ambassadors or subject ambassadors. In the Sixth Form, we also offer the opportunity for students to stand for Head Boy and Head Girl, to become a Prefect or a member of the Student Leadership Team. 12

Innovation Most of our students continue their Looking to the academic journey in Hillview Sixth Form, future where we also welcome students from a range of local schools. Our sixth formers Our students value the school experience are supported by a consistency of approach they have had and recognise their and high expectations as they stretch responsibility in modelling behaviours we beyond the boundaries of school, looking value, such as self-belief, resilience and towards an exciting future. care for others. The Sixth Form curriculum has breadth and depth, offering an impressive range of Sixth formers are an active part of our academic and vocational qualifications community, enthusiastically engaging with which ensure that the unique talents and school events and the wider world. They abilities of each student are engaged. lead events for younger students and take Our continuous investment in careers seriously their role as senior members of supports our students in choosing the best the school.They are the bridge between the next steps for them and our individualised security and stability of school and the approach sends students on to a wide range exciting opportunities of the world beyond. of future pathways including Russell Group universities, apprenticeships and industry placements. 13

“The sense of community, mutual support and nurture within the school is obvious and a real credit to the staff.” Year 11 Parent

Hillview School for Girls Brionne Gardens Tonbridge Kent TN9 2HE SAT NAV Postcode: TN9 2DQ T: 01732352793 E: [email protected] @HillviewSchool @HillviewSchool @hillviewschoolforgirls