Christ's College Prospectus September 2020

‘ Christ’s College Guildford ‘The college is characterised by a caring and inclusive ethos. Ofsted

‘‘ We set the highest expectation of appearance and behaviour.

Principal’s Welcome A very warm welcome to Christ’s College, a proud Mrs S Hatch provider of Christian education in Guildford that serves Principal a large urban and rural community. We believe a great values driven education has the power to transform futures. Every student who joins us will receive the very best education and will be prepared to take their place in the world with confidence, purpose, enthusiasm and strength of character. Our shared Christian values of Love, Co-operation, Stewardship, Respect and Service permeate all the work undertaken in college. Students are encouraged to recognise the importance of education in their own fulfilment as individuals. They do this through developing a love of learning; discovering, developing and sharing their talents, gifts and skills; and by living the Christian values. A young person’s happiness and well-being are recognised as foundations to their success. The level of pastoral care we provide at Christ’s College is second to none. As a faith college we nurture every student in developing resilience and self-worth, supporting them through any setbacks and celebrating their successes. We strive for the very best for every student, whatever their academic ability or personal circumstances and have created a learning environment to deliver a curriculum that provides the essential intellectual capital for the young people in our care. To achieve this, we have a talented and hardworking staff, together with a dedicated and experienced Governing Body, who put in challenge at every opportunity. There are many misconceptions about who can apply to Christ’s College. We welcome applications from Christians and also non-Christians who believe in our values. Please see our admissions criteria for further details. Students, staff and governors are very proud of our college and we look forward to working with you in partnership as we set out on the journey together as part of the Christ’s College family. If you would like to visit us during the day and have a tour, please contact the college. Reception: 01483 537373 Admissions: 01483 484511 Email: transition@christscollege.surrey.sch.uk Mrs S Hatch Principal ‘ ’Pupils are safe in school and say they feel safe - Ofsted 2019 Senior Leadership Team Mr P Grundy Miss J Mark Mr S Kennedy Mr S Field Mrs L Sandiford Vice Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal transition@christscollege.surrey.sch.uk Telephone: 01483 537373 www.christscollege.surrey.sch.uk 3

College Values As a Christian college, we want to provide an outstanding education for all who are part of our college learning community. We want all of our students to make excellent progress and achieve qualifications of which they can be proud. We understand the importance of academic study, but also want our students to have an education that is relevant and inspiring. We want students to have experiences and opportunities that will equip them for life and develop them culturally, morally and spiritually within a strong Christian ethos. At Christ’s College we support all students in their development of our core values: Love for future generations. We look after what has We show we love God and our neighbour by been entrusted to us. ‘treating others as we ourselves would like to be treated’. Respect Co-operation We welcome and show respect for the dignity We co-operate with God and each other and uniqueness of every person. to build community and a sense of pride in belonging. We co-operate by ‘living simply, Service sustainably, and in solidarity’. We show honourable purpose Stewardship in all we do when serving other We believe it is our duty to support everyone as well as ourselves. We take to reach their full potential in sustainable responsibility for our actions communities and a world which is protected by being reliable, honest, respectful and trustworthy. A Day in the Life at Christ’s College The timetable covers two weeks, A and B. Time of the College day 8.20am Prayer and Staff briefing 8.30am Tutor time 9.00am Period 1 10.20am Break 10.40am Period 2 12.00pm Period 3 1.20pm Lunch Students can spend time outside and be with their friends. 1.55pm Period 4 3.15pm End of lessons and start of extra-curricular activities (optional) 4.15pm End of extra-curricular activities ‘ ’School rules and routines are embedded - Ofsted 2019 4 transition@christscollege.surrey.sch.uk Telephone: 01483 537373 www.christscollege.surrey.sch.uk

Education for the Whole Person The college is keen not to teach subjects in isolation but to embed and enhance the skills of teamwork, independent enquiry, creative thinking, participation, reflection and self-management. Christ’s College has a proud heritage of the arts and our Duke of Edinburgh Theatre excellence in Performing Arts. There are is at the heart of our school site. dance, drama and music festivals together with student led collective acts of worship At Christ’s College we are providing an and whole college productions for the wider education for the whole person, for the community. In recent years the college formation of their character through productions have included We Will Rock knowledge, skill, values and virtues for You, Sister Act, Billy Elliot, and The Phantom life in all its fullness. of the Opera. We have extensive facilities for ‘ Your teacher knows you well and ‘ is there to support you.

The Curriculum At Christ’s College, we aim to ensure that all our students develop a life-long love for learning through a broad and balanced curriculum. As such, our key focus is to provide a curriculum which is innovative, exciting, challenging and flexible. It is relevant to all, and most importantly, provides a preparation for life in the 21st century. Through this we nurture inquisitive young minds and encourage all students to fulfil their potential. The curriculum is designed so that every student can develop their knowledge and understanding of the world alongside building upon their own God given talents. Our curriculum is set within a Christian context, Throughout their time in college, students based upon mutual respect, self-discipline and receive a range of expert advice on careers, high moral standards. All students follow a citizenship, health and well-being (including Religious Education programme which seeks mental health), the environment and to communicate Christian values in a lively, sustainability, internet safety, and global enjoyable and relevant way that helps give political and economic awareness. The college the students real life context for applying is mindful of the challenges facing teenagers those values. and their parents in today’s society. ...positive, professional working relationships are evident within the ‘ ’classroom - Ofsted 2019

The Curriculum Plan in More Detail The curriculum operates on 4 periods a day of 80 minutes over a ten day cycle. The cycle is divided into Week A and Week B. Key Stage 3 A broad and balanced curriculum covering the following subjects: English, Maths, Science, Art, Design & Technology, Food & Nutrition, French or Spanish, Geography, History, Information & Communication Technology, Music, Performing Arts (Drama and Dance), Physical Education/Sports and Religious Education. At least 12% of the time available is spent on each of the core elements of English, Maths and Science. Students make their option choices for Key Stage 4 at the end of Year 9. Key Stage 4 PSHCE Across the College Students follow a core curriculum of English Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Language, English Literature, Maths, Science, Education (PSHCE), is delivered through Religious Studies and Physical Education. our bespoke Well-being and Citizenship programme. This is a rolling programme of In addition, they choose from a number of lessons, linked closely with literacy, delivered in option blocks which cover such subjects as: tutor groups and tailored to the needs of each Art, Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Dance, year group as they move through the college. Design & Technology, Drama, Food and Nutrition, French, Geography, History, Music, Physical Education, Physics and Spanish. There are a number of vocational pathways which may also be pursued including: Business Studies, Travel and Tourism and ICT. RSE Relationship and Sex Education is part of our curriculum. It has been designed in keeping with our Christian ethos and emphasises our core values. Teachers have high expectations of what pupils can achieve ‘ ’- Ofsted 2019 transition@christscollege.surrey.sch.uk Telephone: 01483 537373 www.christscollege.surrey.sch.uk 7

Assessment & Homework On entry into the college, every student receives an individualised flight path for each subject they study based upon their Key Stage 2 scores. These flight paths help the student, parent and teacher to identify if they are on, above or below the expected path. Students are regularly assessed and parents receive reports on progress at regular intervals throughout the academic year. Homework is an essential part of the learning 20 and 30 minutes each and may supplement process. Educational research shows a strong or review the learning from class. At Key Stage correlation between schools that put an 4 these assignments should take between 30 emphasis on homework and those in which and 40 minutes each. In addition to homework students perform well in exams. Every student tasks, students in Key Stage 4 are encouraged will be set homework, in every subject, from to read around their subjects to deepen their Year 7 onwards, via Google Classroom. At Key understanding. Stage 3 these assignments should last between Pastoral Care Pastoral care is a priority at Christ’s College. The pastoral system operates on a discrete year group basis for all years, with a Progress Leader and a Senior Leader attached to each year group. Each student has a tutor who will see them every day. We want all students at the college to feel confident there is someone who they can talk to, and who will listen. The Chaplaincy team has a significant impact A counselling service is provided for any on the Christian ethos and pastoral care of student who may need this, alongside a the school community. Our students have variety of external providers. an opportunity to engage with the Christian faith in our acts of worship, in tutor times, in our Christian Union, in our prayer weeks and through our partnership with our Church of England parish, St Peter’s. The team provide support through offering the students a safe space and a listening ear. We oversee a team of youth workers from our local churches who are available throughout lunchtimes. Each year group is specifically assigned a youth worker who will get to know them through assemblies and other activities, ensuring they know who to go to if they need any kind of support. Pupils know who to speak to if they have any concerns, ‘ ’and know that they will be listened to. - Ofsted 2019 8 transition@christscollege.surrey.sch.uk Telephone: 01483 537373 www.christscollege.surrey.sch.uk

Primary to Secondary Transition The transition from primary to secondary school is an important time for our families and students. A senior leader leads a transition team who work with all our feeder primary schools throughout the school year. We know the curriculum our students have studied at primary school alongside their pastoral and individual needs. Year 7 have the majority of their classes in the Larch Building, with some subjects such as design and technology, science and food and nutrition lessons taking place in the main building. Students are initially placed into one mixed ability tutor group and then into streamed classes for their learning. With less movement around the whole campus, our Year 7 cohort quickly forms strong bonds within their year group community. This enables a more gradual transition into secondary school. Our Partnership with Parents We are very proud of our college. We value you as a key partner in helping your children to acknowledge that they too should feel proud of their role within our happy and successful learning community. We encourage your children to remember that they are ambassadors for their college whether they are travelling to and from the college site, participating in offsite activities, or working within the college environment. This means upholding the college’s expectations of behaviour and wearing their uniforms with pride. We rely on the commitment and support of all parents to make this partnership work and welcome you into college at any point in the year. Throughout the year you will find a variety with our whole college community around of events to support your children. These areas including lessons and learning, homework could include option evenings, music dance and uniform. and drama performances, exam preparation, internet safety, work experience and There is an active Parent Prayer Group which preparation for educational visits overseas. supports the school community. In addition, for those parents who want to be involved in We regularly ask for parental feedback through fundraising there is a very active PTA called the parental surveys, parent panel and individual Friends of Christ’s College, where you will be meetings. This enables us to have a dialogue most welcome. The large majority of…parents feel that their children are happy, ‘ ’safe and well looked after in school. - Ofsted 2019 transition@christscollege.surrey.sch.uk Telephone: 01483 537373 www.christscollege.surrey.sch.uk 9

Student Leadership Students play an active role in helping us to ensure that their educational experience is as wide, enjoyable and interesting as possible. Our senior prefect team is led by our Head Boy and Head Girl. We have a strong ‘House Identity’ with every student a member of either Austen, Redgrave, Turner or Sibley House. Students can earn house points every day by living our Core Values in their work in class and around college as well as participating in a diverse range of inter-house activities such as inter-house sport, dance and drama competitions. The Head Boy and Girl lead our College Council. With representatives elected from each tutor group, the College Council meets every half-term with a member of the Leadership Team. Students are encouraged to share their views on a wide variety of issues in college, from the quality of food at break and lunch to curriculum changes. Stewardship is important to our community. The College Council and senior prefect team give all our students the opportunity to make a positive contribution to our school. Teaching and Learning The commitment of the teaching and support staff at Christ’s College is exceptional. Teachers are reflective and eager to share their professional practice; they work hard to make lessons inspirational and relevant to students’ interests and experiences. Our unique model for teaching and learning expresses our values and ensures effective teaching which fully engages learners. The Teacher Effectiveness Enhancement Programme model draws on significant educational research that has identified what is required of teachers and of learners in order for them to gain the best learning outcomes possible. The model, represented in the graphic, is made up of three significant components, each with important elements that are connected but need to be recognised individually for their contribution to the teaching and learning process. The model includes a six-part lesson planning cycle (in the centre), which is built on what we know about effective learning. The stages of learning are shared with students so they can reflect on how to improve their own learning. 10 transition@christscollege.surrey.sch.uk Telephone: 01483 537373 www.christscollege.surrey.sch.uk

Curriculum Enrichment As well as being a place for learning and achieving, a secondary school should be enjoyable, welcoming and filled with memorable experiences. At Christ’s College we place a great emphasis on our after-school activities. Many staff contribute to or lead at least one curriculum enrichment activity and all students are encouraged to join at least one club at the start of the year. Students at Christ’s College participate in a at professional venues such as GLive. Many of wide range of charity events, including non- our students are inspired by our performing uniform days and fundraising activities. Our arts department to enter the profession. Most school council selects one charity each year in recently, our alumni have graduated from the order to make a difference. Guildford School of Acting, Trinity Laban, RADA and the Royal Central School of Speech The college is conscious of its role in the and Drama. local community with regard to the world of work. Every year there is the opportunity for There are regular opportunities for engaging all students in Years 10 to participate in work with the wider world. In recent years we have experience both in Surrey and further afield. visited France, Belgium, Italy and New York. We have a partnership link with a school in Sporting excellence has always been a feature Japan. This form of cultural education is a vital at Christ’s College. In the past, students from part of the learning experience and adds a rich the college have represented their county and dimension to the curriculum at Christ’s College. even country in a wide range of sports. The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme is open to all students from Year 10 upwards. Musical theatre, dance and choral singing are greatly valued by our community. Our students perform regularly both internally and ‘ ’Pupils are rightly proud of their successes nationally. - Ofsted 2019 11

Christ’s College Guildford Christ’s College, Larch Avenue, Guildford, Surrey GU1 1JY. Telephone: 01483 537373 transition@christscollege.surrey.sch.uk www.christscollege.surrey.sch.uk 12 transition@christscollege.surrey.sch.uk Telephone: 01483 537373 www.christscollege.surrey.sch.uk