New Prospectus 2018-19

01Welcome from the HeadteacherIt is a great pleasure to introduce you secure success across theirto Hillview School for Girls, a highly studies, within theirsuccessful non-selective school interests and inwith a mixed Sixth Form in the heart preparation for the “Hillview offers theof Tonbridge. world of work. complete package; Hillview is proud of its friendly, Hillview Schoolsupportive ethos where students have for Girls is excellent academic andthe confidence to explore and develop recognised as one teaching facilitiestheir passions across a wide field of of the topstudy and experience. performing combined with brilliant A Hillview student is confident, non-selective pastoral care.” schools in Kent andaspirational, resilient and determined.Our dedicated, passionate staffing is the highest J Harman, Parentbody supports each individual’s achieving non-personal development, from their first selective girls’ school insteps through the school gates to Kent. Students learn withinwhen they leave at the end of their a focused, engagingSixth Form studies. Students develop environment, which combines thelife-long skills throughout their time at right mix of knowledge, skills andHillview, whether this be through the techniques, enabling them to flourishsupportive, caring pastoral system, as independent learners.within their education or through the Each child’s needs are addressedextensive opportunities available to through the personalised approach ourevery child. school takes to support the individual,Our high-flying performing arts resulting in happy, successful students. Hilary Burkettspecialism achieves exceptional I look forward to welcoming you tostandards within both the performance our vibrant, exciting school andand production arts. With direct links developing our future working Headteacherinto industry and higher education, our partnership to support your child instudents are able to access unique the next stage of education. Do visitexperiences and secure their future our website for more information, visitprogression within this challenging the school on the open days or, evenfield. All students benefit from the better, see the school in action on oneconfidence, creativity and resilience of our many day tours which arethat the performing arts instil and use available throughout the year.these essential transferable skills to www.hillview.kent.sch.uk

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03Inspiring a passion for achievementAs one of the top-performing non-selective schools inKent, we have high expectations of all our students.Progress and attainment are consistently high and wehave a long-standing track record of success.Our dedicated, passionate teachers We support the development ofinspire students through creative, independent young women who arefun and well-crafted lessons that curious about the world around them,contain the right levels of challenge confident to take risks and pushand support. boundaries in a way that will equip them for the challenges of the modern This ensures that students can world within and beyond education.develop a rich portfolio of skills,knowledge and confidence to help The vast majority of our students staythem achieve their personal best. at Hillview for their post-16 education where they study and are successful in We believe in the Pure Potential of a broad range of courses suited to theirevery child and actively develop the varied interests.skills of the individuals to unlock theirpotential for the future. A high level of academic success ensure that many go on to study at Our students’ futures are limitless Russell Group universities.and we encourage them to reach forthe stars. www.hillview.kent.sch.uk

04 There’s a good balance of care for students, discipline and an ethos of nurtured academia. Year 7 Parentwww.hillview.kent.sch.uk

05Hillview is a happy, purposeful environment wherestudents can feel confident and secure. At the heartof our success is the care we offer our students.We understand that the transition tosecondary school can seem daunting,so we have a structured transitionprogramme and work closely withour local primary schools and parentsto ensure that students who join usin Year 7 feel at home and settle intothe school quickly. Achievements are recognised andpraised regularly and we have a strongrewards culture, which enhanceslearning and performance throughoutthe school. Behaviour is excellent andwe have very high expectations withregard to discipline and respect forothers. Personal Development Learning(PDL) lessons are an important part ofthe curriculum and help build decision-making skills, self-assurance andself-discipline. Taught by specialistteachers, these lessons includepersonal, social, health and economicstudies. We are proud of our pastoral supportand student welfare provision atHillview. Students’ mentors are usuallythe first point of contact, but our widerpastoral team and highly experiencedteachers, dedicated SENDCO andsupport staff are all on hand to ensurethat they are supported, bothacademically and psychologically. www.hillview.kent.sch.uk

06 This is a caring, supportive school. Students enjoy comingto school. The respectful and harmonious ethos permeates the school community. OFSTED 2013 ‘I have been very impressed with the time and attention givento the transition process,which has been extremely helpful in enabling my daughter to settle quickly’.Year 7 Parent www.hillview.kent.sch.uk

07Nurturing imagination and innovationWith specialist Performing Artsstatus, Hillview School for Girls is arecognised leader in Performing Artsprovision and holds the prestigiousArtsmark Platinum Award from ArtsCouncil England. Our subject experts have a proventrack record of delivering imaginative,engaging lessons, as well as producinga wide range of annual shows,musicals, concerts and exhibitions, toprofessional standards. At Hillview, we actively look foropportunities to engage with a rangeof practitioners within the PerformingArts industry, offering students uniqueexperiences and qualifications toexpand their knowledge, confidenceand passion. Our extensive range ofextra-curricular activities and clubs,allows students to develop their skillsand nurture their talent.DramaDrama allows students the freedom toexplore issues and themes in a safeenvironment, while harnessingperformance skills which aretransferable, assisting students withpresentations, speaking, listening, andsocial interaction. Drama is theplatform from which students can raisetheir self-esteem and confidence,while empathising with characters’situations and predicaments. It allowsyoung people to become secure,thoughtful and compassionate and toadapt and thrive in any environment. www.hillview.kent.sch.uk

Dance 08Students at Hillview thrive and flourish Musicacademically and socially because ofthe well-rounded education we offer in Music develops self-expression,which Dance plays a vital role. Dance teamwork skills and a capacity tolessons excite and challenge students understand and express ideas andas well as enabling them to develop feelings. It also enables students toessential skills for the workplace and develop an awareness of otherbeyond. Dance can awaken a zest for cultures and traditions. The teachinglearning which often translates of the key areas of musicianship suchthrough to many other subjects and as composing, performing, listeningstrongly contributes to mental and and appraising supports thephysical well-being. development of the whole student. www.hillview.kent.sch.uk

09Wide-ranging and stimulating curriculum Every student at Hillview has the opportunity to gain a high-quality education through the provision of a rich and exciting range of subjects. www.hillview.kent.sch.uk

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

I1n1 dividualityCelebrating ourunique qualitiesLeadership andresponsibilityStudents are actively involved inhelping to shape the school. Throughthe Student Council, students are ableto represent their peers on the keyissues that affect them, whilst othersmight apply to become schoolambassadors or subject ambassadors. In the Sixth Form, we also offer theopportunity for students to stand forHead Boy and Head Girl, to become aPrefect or a member of the StudentLeadership Team.Community workThrough learning communities,students are responsible for organisinga variety of fundraising initiativesthroughout the year. These rangefrom bring-and-buy sales to Leadershipdonations and enterprise projects & Responsibilitythat involve the local community.We also have a long-standingconnection with the villageof Kabubbu in Ugandaand have raised funds Extra- Communityfor the Quicken Trustcharity to enable Curricular WorkHillview students andstaff to visit and supportthe cause several timesover the past five years. www.hillview.kent.sch.uk

12 It is always a great pleasure to visit the school and Ialways come away feeling invigorated after seeingso much enthusiasm and drive within your young charges. Former Year 11 ParentExtra-curricular We also have a wide range of sports workshops are organised each term clubs – from gymnastics to handball, too.With over 80 extra-curricular clubs, netball and hockey.there is something to spark every Our successful Modern Languagesinterest. Our cheerleading team is Other clubs range from Langauges to department is part of the Erasmus Plusparticularly popular and recently won Fashion, to Film, Duke of Edinburgh, programme, which enables sixin all categories in the School National Art and Philosophy and, of course, European schools to collaborate andChampionships. these are complemented by a range of become involved in cultural exchanges trips and visits each term; including and the sharing of best practice. Another trip was to Disneyland, Paris recent trips to Spain and New York.where our ‘Hillstars’ took second and A range of outside speakers andthird place in their categories competingagainst professional cheer teams. www.hillview.kent.sch.uk

13Building a supportiveenvironment independence, work ethic and We are an inclusive school. Every Leader of Community and meets employability.individual counts at Hillview, so it is weekly for assembly.important that everyone feels integral We have developed a veryto the wider Hillview community: a Within our key stage vertical successful peer mentoring system, sopart of something big. mentoring system there is a sense of that there is real trust between mutual respect and care. Our key students and also between students Our three communities; Austen, stage vertical system supports: and staff.Hepburn and Westwood form thebasis of our key stage mentor KS3: The development of the We work in partnership with parentsgroupings and also lend a competitive independent successful and happy and encourage them to be involvededge to the sporting and rewards learner. with the school.activities that we participate inthroughout the year. KS4: The balance of support and Regular communications include challenge in preparing for the parent consultation evenings, a weekly Each of these groups is led by a challenge of GCSEs. newsletter, reports, contact with your daughter’s mentor and other KS5: The growth into adulthood, information events. Our active, friendly Parent Teacher Association holds regular meetings, which all parents are invited to join. www.hillview.kent.sch.uk

14 The sense ofcommunity, mutualsupport and nurture within the school is obvious and a real credit to the staff. Year 11 Parent

Hillview School for GirlsBrionne GardensTonbridgeKentTN9 2HESAT NAV Postcode: TN9 2DQT: 01732 352793E: [email protected] @HillviewSchool @HillviewSchool