Wyvern College Prospectus 2015/16

WYVERN COLLEGEPROSPECTUS2015/16www.wyvern.hants.sch.uk 1 Contact us on 023 8069 2679 or visit www.wyvern.hants.sch.uk

2 Contact us on 023 8069 2679 or visit www.wyvern.hants.sch.uk

WELCOME TOWYVERN COLLEGEOur vision is to inspire all students to have the highestaspirations; to encourage them to be independent,resourceful and resilient with a passion for lifelonglearning in the 21st century.We want our students to have the ambition to aim highand to aspire to make the most of the many opportunitiesavailable to them. We give them the confidence to try newthings and to be proud of each success. We encourage ourstudents to share experiences which inspire them and tohave the resilience to persist when faced with challenges.We highlight the importance of supporting each other andsupporting our community. When students leave us, theyare ready for the world beyond our College.As you read our prospectus and visit the College, I wouldalso like you to view our recent Ofsted report whichjudged the college to be ‘good’ in all categories. Thisrecognition from Ofsted demonstrates that your sons anddaughters would be joining a highly successful educationalestablishment. We are very proud of our College and wouldlike you to feel inspired to join us here at Wyvern. Alan Newton HeadteacherContact us on 023 8069 2679 or visit www.wyvern.hants.sch.uk 3

TRANSITIONAT WYVERNOur aim is to make the transitionfrom primary to secondary school avery happy one, ensuring that eachstudent feels welcome and secure. Weare proud of our partnership with ourlocal feeder schools and believe thatby sharing information, expertise andresources, the College can provide thesmoothest transition for all children inthe Wyvern Pyramid.Moving from Year 6 to Year 7Before Year 7During Year 6, a member of Wyvern staffvisits pupils in their primary school. In theSummer term, pupils have a taster day atWyvern, touring the College, and meetingteachers. The Year 7 Pastoral Leaderworks with dedication to ensure that tutorgroups are integrated with old friends andnew faces so that the first term at Wyvernis one of both familiarity and discovery.Making FriendsIn their first term, students enjoy ateambuilding day off-site at FairthorneManor. This is a fun and challengingoccasion that consolidates friendshipsand generates an ethos of team spirit.Students also have opportunities to makenew friends by joining one of the manyextra-curricular clubs and activities thatare on offer.4 Contact us on 023 8069 2679 or visit www.wyvern.hants.sch.uk

Year 6 Parent Year 7 StudentMy daughter came from out of area to I was scared at first but thenWyvern and I was delighted at the way a student from another yearthe College went the extra mile in making group helped me find myher feel welcome. A special effort was way around.made to integrate her from the verybeginning and I can sincerely say that Year 6 ParentI cannot imagine any school where shecould have been happier. The Year 6 taster day in the summer term was a wonderful Ofsted introduction to Wyvern for my son: the sessions were great fun and Students speak confidently and the commitment of the staff was say they enjoy College. They second to none. At the beginning behave consistently well and of his first term he could not wait to interact easily with one another. start school. I couldn’t have wished for a better start to his secondaryYear 7 Parent education.The teacher has been asuperb year tutor and isheld in very high regard bythe class. From day onehe made all students feelwelcome and my child isproud to be a member of histutor group.Contact us on 023 8069 2679 or visit www.wyvern.hants.sch.uk 5

6 Contact us on 023 8069 2679 or visit www.wyvern.hants.sch.uk

PASTORALSUPPORTOur recent Ofsted report identified that our pastoralsystem is highly appreciated by students and parents,and also recognised that our students feel safe, secureand happy in college. Both Pastoral Leaders andAssistants are highly skilled at supporting studentsacademically, emotionally and socially, while at theheart of the support structure is the student’s tutor. Thistutor supports students from Years 7 to 11, establishinginvaluable links with each family over an extended periodof time and meeting parents on Academic Review Daysto report on progress and targets.Individual SupportThe personal development of students is at the heart ofour pastoral structure. Our experienced staff support thelearning needs of students of all abilities and work hardto ensure that they cater for each student in the mostappropriate way. Students find staff very approachable andknow who to turn to if they need support. In addition, theCollege trains senior students to act as peer mentors toyounger students.A team of Teaching Assistants ensure that the educationstudents receive is consistent, challenging and fullysupported, and help students to integrate with mainstreamclasses. Our Special Educational Needs Coordinator is alsoavailable to offer additional advice, guidance and expertise.Gifted and Talented StudentsGifted and talented students are identified early on in theircareer at Wyvern. An experienced teacher is responsible forthese students, ensuring that motivation and achievementremain high, and that the curriculum is enriched, both withinCollege and through a programme of external visits, tosupport their development and aspirations.Contact us on 023 8069 2679 or visit www.wyvern.hants.sch.uk 7

COMMUNICATINGWITH PARENTSWe believe that home-school communication is vital to student success at Wyvern. We keepparents in touch with life at the College in a variety of different ways and arrange a numberof formal and informal opportunities for parents to come into College during each academicyear.Log BooksEvery student is provided with a log book to record homework, credits and comments by teachersand it is also available for parents to communicate with the College.Electronic MessagingThe College communicates with parents through ParentMail, an e-mail system for notes andmessages. In addition, parents can use designated departmental and pastoral email addressesto communicate with members of staff in relation to their child.NewslettersNewsletters once a term highlight recent achievements and successes, while the WyvernAdvisory Group for parents meets termly to discuss a host of topics relating to the Collegeand provides an excellent opportunity for parents to share their views and ideas.Data and SupportInformative progress reports are sent out to parents electronically on a regular basis. There area number of opportunities for parents to come into College during the year including Parents’Evenings and Academic Review Days. Additional events are arranged to support specific yeargroups such as the Meet the Tutor event for Year 7 parents, information evenings relating to Years8 and 9 options choices, and advice and guidance sessions on supporting Year 11 studentsthrough revision and final exams.Parents’ ClinicsThese are run every half-term and offer parents the opportunity to book a one-to-one appointmentwith a member of the Senior Leadership Team to discuss a particular concern or issue.8 Contact us on 023 8069 2679 or visit www.wyvern.hants.sch.uk

Year 7 ParentMy son’s log book shows just how much Wyvernteachers believe in the importance of homework.Students are expected to keep an accurate recordof work to be done at home, and also make a noteof when it is due to be handed in. The log bookis also a perfect way of communicating with myson’s tutor.Year 8 Parent Year 8 StudentAt the recent WAG There are tips in the log book to help you withmeeting we discussed a languages, there are maths facts, the periodicdiverse range of issues table, and maps of the world. I often use theand as always, I felt multiplication tables, the science fact sheetvalued, listened to, and and key words for spellings. It’s also a wayit felt a pleasure to be of my parents keeping in touch with what ispart of your team. going on in College every week.Year 10 Parent Year 9 ParentThe tutor was well prepared for Academic Review The AcademicDay and had clearly talked to other staff about our Review Day is anson and was ready to discuss various topics. It was ideal opportunitywell worth coming into Wyvern for the meeting and we to meet tutors.look forward to future meetings to support our son’s The detail of thedevelopment. feedback we have received has been very thorough, and allowed us to encourage both our sons in reaching their potential, particularly in Maths and Science.Contact us on 023 8069 2679 or visit www.wyvern.hants.sch.uk 9

10 Contact us on 023 8069 2679 or visit www.wyvern.hants.sch.uk

FIRST CLASSEDUCATIONWyvern encourages all students to work towards theirindividual academic targets, and our staff strive forexcellence in all fields of education. This commitmentproves itself in the awards we have earnt: the GoldArtsmark Award, the International Schools Award and theInvestors in People Award. In addition, the College hasbeen accredited as a Thinking School which encouragesreflection, creativity and critical thinking across thecommunity. We are also a Gifted and Talented lead schooland are part of the Leading Edge Partnership programme.Teaching and LearningTeaching staff aim to engage and challenge students acrossall ability ranges, using their knowledge of students to planinteractive lessons which interest and motivate students.The College has reduced Key Stage 3 from three years to two,so that GCSE subjects may be studied over three years.On a practical level, modern apprenticeships are availableoff-site through our partner further education colleges, whileothers with practical skills put their talents to good use in theWyvern garden.Literacy FocusA main focus for the College in the last year has been thedevelopment of literacy skills, with a particular emphasis onreading, as we believe this will benefit students in all subjectsacross the curriculum. There are regular opportunities forstudents to read for pleasure and our Reading Ambassadorsprogramme involves higher-ability students supporting otherstudents with development of reading skills. Our Library has anextensive selection of books, magazines and newspapers andstudents are supported by two qualified Librarians.Contact us on 023 8069 2679 or visit www.wyvern.hants.sch.uk 11

12 Contact us on 023 8069 2679 or visit www.wyvern.hants.sch.uk

INVESTMENT INTECHNOLOGYInvestment in technology is a key priority for the College.We want students to be able to experience using a rangeof current hardware and software so that they are fullyprepared for life in the 21st century workplace. We enter anumber of technology-related competitions which enablestudents to put into practice the skills that they havelearnt in the classroom and apply them to real design anddevelopment projects.ICTComputer suites, laptops and ipads allow students to use ICTin order to enhance learning. Through these resources,we believe that students will learn how to use ICT thoughtfullyand effectively, recognising both its strengths and limitations.WorkshopsTechnology workshops are equipped to a high standard, withinvestment in some of the most up-to-date specialist ComputerAided Design and Manufacturing equipment.Interactive TechnologyAll subjects have access to computers or laptops, dataprojectors and interactive whiteboards.Social MediaWe encourage responsible use of social media such asFacebook and Twitter, and have used these in a number ofsubject areas to provide live, interactive homework and revisionsessions outside of the normal school day.Contact us on 023 8069 2679 or visit www.wyvern.hants.sch.uk 13

ENHANCINGEDUCATIONStudents are offered an impressive range of after-school, lunchtime and holiday activitiesand we encourage them to develop interests beyond the normal curriculum. External tripsand visits also enhance learning and in recent years, students have had the opportunity totravel to France, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Poland, the USA and we also run a challengeexpedition to Morocco.DramaOur annual production is open to all students who wish to audition. Recent productions haveincluded Oliver, West Side Story, the Sound of Music and Our House. These productions arealways unforgettable events, and performances are a sell out!MusicThe music department is considered one of Wyvern’s greatest strengths. Apart from traditionalmusic lessons, choirs and music groups, Wyvern has an extremely popular after-college RockAcademy, thriving Soul and Jazz bands, and an innovative Steel Band. We have reached thefinals of the National Festival for Music in Birmingham on a number of occasions.PEThe PE department coaches football, rugby, tennis, netball, basketball, badminton and, in thesummer, athletics in the impressive sports halls and outdoor areas. The yearly Rock Challengecompetition is enormously popular and successful.Curriculum ClubsMany subjects support and extend learning opportunities by offering after-school activities suchas Writers’ Club, Science Club, History Club, and Let’s Get Cooking, while the Maths departmentannually enters a national Maths Challenge competition.Revision CampsIn the Easter holidays, Year 11 students are invited to attend a revision camp run by teachers.These are enormously popular and receive positive feedback from students as they are helped toprepare for GCSE exams.14 Contact us on 023 8069 2679 or visit www.wyvern.hants.sch.uk

Contact us on 023 8069 2679 or visit www.wyvern.hants.sch.uk 15

STUDENT Wyvern has given me so manyVOICE opportunities to become involved in the school over the last fourStudents are encouraged to play a full part years. The teachers have alsoin the life of the College and have a number been fantastically supportiveof opportunities to represent their fellow and I encourage you to make thestudents. In addition, in Year 10 students can most of your time here.apply to become a prefect and can also beconsidered for the positions of Head Boy and Reuben Inganni – Head BoyHead Girl.College CouncilThe active student-run College Council allowsstudents to voice their opinions on Collegematters. Students are elected by their fellowstudents, discuss a wide range of topics andtake the responsibility of the role very seriously.Student GovernorsSeveral students a year are elected to representthe student body at governors’ meetings.These students might research one or two keyitems during the year and then report back tothe governing body.Learning LeadersA number of students can apply to undertakethis role which involves providing tours toprospective new staff and taking part ininterview lesson observations.Charity FundraisingEach year group selects a year group charity tosupport and then students devise a wide rangeof fundraising activities during the year to raisemoney for their chosen charity.16 Contact us on 023 8069 2679 or visit www.wyvern.hants.sch.uk

Wyvern provides so many life-changingexperiences and you will be encouragedby our inspirational teachers to createthe best version of yourself. I urgeyou to grab with both hands theopportunities Wyvern offers you.Cerys-Morgann Beavis – Head GirlContact us on 023 8069 2679 or visit www.wyvern.hants.sch.uk 17

VISITS ANDCONTACTSWe provide a number of different opportunities for prospective parents to visit the College andlook forward to welcoming you at some point in the future. Further information and dates areavailable on our website.Open EveningThe College arranges an annual Open Evening in September for Year 6 pupils and their parents.There is an opportunity to see a presentation about the College given by the headteacher.Afterwards, you are invited to visit departments across the College and can see current studentsand staff showcasing their work and demonstrating our extensive facilities and resources.Escorted ToursA number of escorted tours are scheduled during the school day in September and October sothat parents and pupils can see the College in action. Places on tours can be booked via theCollege reception.If you are not able to attend one of these events, you are welcome to contact us to arrange a tourwith one of our senior staff at another convenient time.In addition, the College has a thriving Community Enterprise team which includes a Nursery andChildcare, a Sport and Fitness Suite, Facility Hire and a range of adult and children’s courses.Please phone 023 8069 2678 to find out more.18 Contact us on 023 8069 2679 or visit www.wyvern.hants.sch.uk

Year 11 Parent Year 11 StudentAs our daughter leaves I believe Wyvern is a unique schoolWyvern, we want to because each student is encouragedthank staff for their hard to be an individual and to develop theirwork, commitment and own strengths. I would like to say thankdedication over the last you for the support that I was given tofive years. She has been pursue my chosen career.encouraged to do the verybest she can and has Year 11 Parentgained an inner confidencethat will help her cope with We are sad that the wonderfulall that life will bring. times enjoyed by all our children at Wyvern have comeYear 11 Parent to an end, but very satisfied indeed with the truly excellentMay we take this opportunity to thank education that they have allyou and your staff for supporting such received there.wonderful enrichment activities. Our sonloved the recent trip he attended andit provided a great lesson in life for anyyoungster.Year 11 Parent Year 11 ParentWyvern teachers have given my son Thank you for giving mysuch a good start to whatever career he daughter five fantastic years atmay follow. He leaves Wyvern with a real Wyvern. She has been happycuriosity and enthusiasm for the world throughout the whole time andaround him. He worked very hard for the I strongly believe that a happyexams but I am sure the excellent teaching child is a learning child.had a lot to do with it too!Contact us on 023 8069 2679 or visit www.wyvern.hants.sch.uk 19