Hillview Prospectus 2023

Specialist in Performing and Visual Arts

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 specialisms achieve exceptional standards of every child to be the very best that they across the full breadth of the arts. can be. As an educational provider we offer With direct links into industry and higher quality teaching, a focused 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 progression within these challenging fields. in their studies and in their lives. All students benefit from the confidence, Our role is not just to ensure that our creativity and resilience that the arts instil students achieve good grades, but on the and use these essential transferable skills to well-being of the child and ensuring that our secure success across their studies, within students are able to move onto their desired their interests and in preparation for the careers pathways. world of work. We believe very passionately about the care Hillview School for Girls is recognised as one that we offer our students and are widely of the top performing non-selective schools recognised for this support and care; with in Kent and is the highest achieving our PDL (personal development) lessons non-selective girls’ school in Kent. offering a unique and specialist programme Students learn within a focused, engaging of study, in preparation for growing up and environment, which combines the right moving out into the world beyond education. mix of knowledge, skills and techniques, A Hillview student is confident, aspirational, enabling our students to flourish as resilient and determined. independent learners. We do place high Our dedicated, passionate staffing body expectations on our students in their supports each individual’s personal learning and attitudes to work and each development, from their first steps through other. Our behaviour system actively the school gates, to when they leave at the supports the students to develop the key end of their Sixth Form 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 individual, resulting in happy, every 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 Harman, 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. “This is a caring, supportive school. Students enjoy coming to school. The respectful and harmonious ethos permeates the school community.” OFSTED 2013 3

The Pure Potential belief is at the heart of Curiosity Hillview and is the basis of everything that we do. Unity Creativity This belief recognises the individuality of every Empathy Respect child and the development required to enable Self-belief Aspiration students to unlock their pure potential, to drive Courage Communication their future and thrive in society. We, as a school, Commitment Resilience seek to: support each person in recognising and Excellence Employability harnessing their strengths, interests and passions; Reflection Responsibility provide each child with the opportunities to develop, explore and build their independence IINNNSPOIRVAATTIIOONN and self-belief; ensure that they are able to succeed and step out from education into their IINNDCELPUENSDIVENITCYE future with confidence and the greatest chance of success and achievement. Pure Potential starts with the curriculum, but extends into the pastoral care, curriculum support, extra-curricular enrichment and throughout the Hillview community. It also supports each individual to recognise their place in society and how, by working with others and helping others, they can become a better person and grow. Students embrace their pure potential by taking ownership for their learning, embracing the opportunities available to them, engaging positively with Hillview, their education and others, being the best version of themselves that they can be. Nurturing a passion for achievement 4

Independence Developing happy and confident students 5

We understand that the transition to secondary school can seem daunting, so we have a structured transition programme and work closely with our local primary schools and parents to ensure that students who join us in Year 7 feel at home and settle into the school quickly. Achievements are recognised and praised regularly and we have a strong rewards culture, which enhances learning and performance throughout the school. Behaviour is excellent and we have very high expectations with regard to discipline and respect for others. Personal Development Learning (PDL) lessons are an important part of the curriculum and help build decision-making skills, self-assurance and self-discipline. Taught by specialist teachers, these lessons include personal, social, health and economic studies. We are proud of our pastoral support and student welfare provision at Hillview. Students’ mentors are usually the first point of contact, but our wider pastoral team and highly experienced teachers, dedicated SENDCO and support staff are all on hand to ensure that they are supported, both academically and psychologically. 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 Student, to become a Prefect or a member of the Student Leadership Team. “I have been very impressed with the time and attention given to the transition process, which has been extremely helpful in enabling my daughter to settle quickly.” Year 7 Parent “There’s a good balance of care for students, discipline and an ethos of nurtured academia.” Year 7 Parent 6

Independence “It’s good to be part of a forward-thinking school that is focused on producing confident, well-educated students ready to face an ever-changing future.” Caroline Ross, Year 7 parent 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 encourages personalisation, regularly and provide individual subjects of English, Mathematics preparing students for feedback and guidance to ensure and Science, students joining choosing their GCSE options. that no one is left behind. Hillview at KS3 will learn French, Personalised support and We ensure that all students Spanish, as well as History, guidance is given when students receive the right level of support Geography, Computing, R.E, P.E, are choosing from the broad and challenge for their needs. Dance, Drama, Music, Art, range of GCSE options we offer. Our aim is to create curious and Textiles, Personal Development We value the breadth that the active learners who will go on to Learning and Food Technology. EBACC offers. However, we also become well-rounded citizens, Careers provision is also value the student’s right to study able to flourish in today’s integrated into the curriculum courses that are appropriate for increasingly knowledge-based, and students are given the them, their skills and their career interconnected world. We achieve opportunities to explore varying aspirations. We, therefore, offer this through our approaches to careers and access unique our students one of the broadest teaching, learning and behaviour, opportunities to engage with choices of GCSE options seen in but also through extra-curricular and learn from different schools locally. With a detailed activities and trips, our attitude to speakers and specialists from knowledge of our students, our pastoral care, student leadership across the breadth of the teachers monitor attainment and our whole-school ethos. working world. Students receive one-to-one advice from our specialist Careers Advisor. We appreciate that every student is unique, so we allow our students to personalise their curriculum in Year 9 through our accelerated curriculum, which supports breadth but 7

Diverse and stimulating curriculum Extra-curricular Declaration of 1948 by writing Naples and Venice. A range of With over 80 extra-curricular letters, creating assemblies and outside speakers and workshops clubs, there is something to spark running charity events. are organised each term too. every interest. Our cheerleading The group is regularly invited team is particularly popular and to Amnesty International’s head Hillview have continued to recently won in all categories in office and The Houses of collaborate with five partner the School National Parliament to meet with key schools across Europe through Championships. We also have a figures including the British the EU Erasmus+ programme, wide range of sports clubs – from United Nations’ Ambassador. which focuses on small group gymnastics to handball, netball student exchanges and and hockey. Other clubs range from pedagogical research and are now Languages to Fashion, to Film, part of the new Turing Scheme, The long-established Amnesty Duke of Edinburgh, Art and working with students International Society at Hillview Philosophy and, of course, these internationally to promote is a cross key-stage group where are complemented by a range of cultural awareness, broaden students from across the school trips and visits each term; aspirational horizons and develop campaign to uphold the United including recent trips skiing, learning skills. Nations’ Human Rights 8

Inclusivity Building a supportive environment 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. We are an inclusive school. KS4: The balance of support and challenge in Every individual counts at Hillview, so it is preparing for the challenge of GCSEs. important that everyone feels integral to the KS5: The growth into adulthood, independence, wider Hillview community: a part of something work ethic and employability. big. Our four communities: Austen, Franklin, Hepburn and Westwood form the basis We have developed a very successful peer of our key stage mentor groupings and also mentoring system, so that there is real trust lend a competitive edge to the sporting and between students and also between students rewards activities that we participate and staff. in throughout the year. Each of these groups We work in partnership with parents and is led by a Leader of Community supported by encourage them to be involved with the school. their Sixth Form Community Leaders and Regular communications include parent meets weekly for assembly. consultation evenings, a weekly newsletter, Within our key stage vertical mentoring system reports, contact with your child’s mentor and there is a sense of mutual respect and care. other information events. Our key stage vertical system supports: Our active, friendly Parent Teacher Association KS3: The development of the independent, holds regular meetings, which all parents are successful and happy learner. invited to join. 9

Emotional Health and Well-being We support and champion students’ overall well-being and happiness through a whole school approach. This is embedded in all walks of school life, educating our young people to respect each other and themselves, to hold caring and supportive relationships, make the best choices and overcome any challenges they face. Our designated mental health lead, safeguarding and pastoral teams work closely to deliver bespoke support, meeting students one-to-one so they have someone to talk to, signposting and referring where needed. Within the curriculum and mentor time we teach students social and emotional understanding and promote resilience and self-efficacy. We empower students and give them a voice in school council meetings and through offering training to students to become anti-bullying ambassadors and student well-being ambassadors. We support all our staff with their own well-being, so they are able and equipped to be part of this supportive community. Community work We also have a long-standing Through learning connection with the communities, students village of Kabubbu in are responsible for Uganda and have organising a variety of raised funds for the fundraising initiatives Quicken Trust charity throughout the year. to enable Hillview These range from students and staff to bring-and-buy sales visit and support the to donations and cause several times enterprise projects. over recent years. “Thank you and your pupils for allowing us to watch our daughter thrive again, both inside and outside of the school gates.” Year 9 parent We can honestly not have wished for any more... within such a short space of time it’s like having a new child, well the child we know back again.” Year 9 parent 10

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 producing harnessing performance skills which are a wide range of annual shows, transferable, assisting students with musicals, concerts and exhibitions, presentations, speaking, listening, and social 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 opportunities to engage with a range of characters’ 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. 11

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. Graphic Communcation Photography enables students to allows us to not only understand and engage fully immerse themselves in the conceptually in semiotics but it also enables contemporary visual world. Through students to participate in the production of signs working with both dark room and digital  and symbols through the disciplines of advertising, technologies, students will be able to expand illustration, branding and information design. their creative strengths and explore the full potential of the medium to document ideas, generate visual narratives and express conceptual thinking. 12

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

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