Hillview School for Girls Prospectus 2017/2018

01Welcome from the HeadteacherIt is a great pleasure to introduce you secure success across their studies,to Hillview School for Girls, a highly within their interests and insuccessful non-selective school preparation for the world of work.with a mixed Sixth Form in the heart Hillview School for Girls isof Tonbridge. recognised as one of the topHillview is proud of its friendly, performing non-selective schoolssupportive ethos where students have in Kent and is the highestthe confidence to explore and develop achieving non-selectivetheir passions across a wide field of girls’ school in Kent. “Hillview offers thestudy and experience. Students learn within complete package; a focused, engaging A Hillview student is confident,aspirational, resilient and determined. environment, excellent academic andOur dedicated, passionate staffing which combines teaching facilitiesbody supports each individual’s the right mix ofpersonal development, from their first knowledge, skills combined with brilliantsteps through the school gates to and techniques, pastoral care.”when they leave at the end of their enabling them toSixth Form studies. Students develop flourish aslife-long skills throughout their time at independent learners. J Harman, ParentHillview, whether this be through the Each child’s needs aresupportive, caring pastoral system, addressed through thewithin their education or through the personalised approach ourextensive opportunities available to school takes to support theevery child. individual, resulting in happy,Our high-flying performing arts successful students.specialism 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 workinginto 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 one Hilaryconfidence, creativity and resilience of our many day tours which are Burkettthat the performing arts instil and use available throughout the year.these essential transferable skills to Headteacher www.hillview.kent.sch.uk

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03Inspiring a passion for achievementAs one of the top-performing non-selective schools in Kent,we have high expectations of all our students. Progress andattainment are consistently high and we have a long-standingtrack record of success.Our dedicated, passionate teachersinspire students through creative,fun and well-crafted lessons thatcontain the right levels of challengeand support. This ensures that students candevelop a rich portfolio of skills,knowledge and confidence to helpthem achieve their personal best. At Hillview, we raise students’aspirations and reward their hard work. We support the development ofindependent young women who arecurious about the world around them,confident to take risks and pushboundaries in a way that will equipthem for the challenges of the modernworld within and beyond education. The vast majority of our students stayat Hillview for their post-16 educationwhere they are offered a broad range ofcourses suited to their varied interests.High level of academic success ensurethat many of them go on to study atRussell Group universities. 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 take with 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 part of a forward-thinkingschool that is focused on producing confident, well-educated girls ready to face an ever- changing future.Caroline Ross, This diverse curriculum allows and interests. Personalised support andYear 7 Parent students of all abilities to guidance is given when students are develop their competencies in choosing from the broad range of GCSE accordance with their interests and options we offer. With a detailed emerging ambitions. knowledge of our students, our As well as studying the core subjects teachers monitor attainment regularly of English, Mathematics and Science, and provide individual feedback and students joining Hillview in Students at guidance to ensure that no one is left KS3 will learn French, Spanish, as well behind. We ensure that every student as History, Geography, P.E., Dance, receives the right level of support and Drama, Art, Textiles, Personal challenge for their needs. Development Learning and Food Technology. Our aim is to create curious and Careers provision is also integrated active learners who will go on to into the curriculum and students are become well-rounded citizens, able to given one-to-one advice from our flourish in today’s increasingly qualified Careers Advisor during their knowledge-based, interconnected time here. world. We achieve this through our We appreciate that every student is approaches to teaching, learning and unique, so from Year 9 onwards, a behaviour, but also through extra- variety of progression routes are on curricular activities and trips, our offer to suit different learning styles attitude to pastoral care, student 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 or to becomea prefect.Community workThrough learning communities,students are responsible for organisinga variety of fundraising initiativesthroughout the year. These range frombring-and-buy sales to donations andenterprise projects that involve the Leadershiplocal community. & Responsibility We also have a long-standingconnection with the village ofKabubbu in Uganda andhave raised funds for theQuicken Trust charity Extra- Communityto enable Hillviewstudents and staff to Curricular Workvisit and support thecause several timesover the past five years. www.hillview.kent.sch.uk

12 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 ParentExtra-curricular from Langauges to Fashion, to Film, Duke of Edinburgh, Art and PhilosophyWith over 80 extra-curricular clubs, and of course these are complementedthere is something to spark every by a range of trips and visits each term;interest. Our cheerleading team is including recent trips to Spain andparticularly popular and has won New York. A range of outside speakersseveral national competitions, and workshops are organised eachincluding on a recent visit to Disney term too.Land Paris where our Hillstars tooksecond and third place in their Our successful Modern Languagescategories competing against department is part of the Erasmus Plusprofessional cheer teams. programme, which enables six European schools to collaborate and We also have a wide range of sports become involved in cultural exchangesclubs – from gymnastics to handball, and the sharing of best practice.netball and hockey. Other clubs range www.hillview.kent.sch.uk

13Building a supportiveenvironmentWe are an inclusive school. Every Each learning community is also We work in partnership with parents and encourage them to be involvedindividual counts at Hillview, so it is linked to a charity and everyone is with the school.important that everyone feels integral encouraged to work together on Regular communications include parent consultation evenings, a weeklyto the wider Hillview community, a fundraising and other community newsletter, reports, contact with your daughter’s mentor and otherpart of something big. activities. information events.The learning communities form the Within our vertical mentoring Our active, friendly Parent Teacher Association holds regular meetings,basis of our mentor groupings and also system there is a sense of mutual which all parents are invited to join.lend a competitive edge to the respect and care.sporting and rewards activities that we We have developed a veryparticipate in throughout the year. successful peer mentoring system, soEach of these groups is led by a Leader that there is real trust betweenof Community and meets weekly for students and also between studentsassembly. and staff. 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