ABOUT THE SCHOOL

A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD

THE PROSPECTUS

SCHOOL DATES

SCHOOL LOCATION

LANGUAGE COLLEGE STATUS

ACKNOWLEGMENTS

E-MAIL THE SCHOOL

THE SCHOOL PROSPECTUS

Aims and objectives

1. To serve the individual needs of every pupil (in so far as this is possible, or resources allow) and to help all pupils to realise their potential to the fullest possible extent in relation to their aptitude and ability.

2. To help pupils to use language and number effectively; to develop physical and practical skills; and throughout all their studies to develop lively and enquiring minds.

3. To help pupils to acquire the knowledge to use and apply skills in adult life.

4. To instil respect for religious and moral values, within the framework of the Christian tradition and the history of the school, and tolerance of other races, religions and ways of life.

5. To develop pupils’ awareness of cultural, traditional and aesthetic values.

6. To develop self-awareness, emotional, physical and social maturity, and an appreciation of human achievements and aspirations.

7. To develop a caring attitude to the community and to encourage self-discipline, respect for others and an understanding of the interdependence of individuals, groups or nations.

8. To prepare pupils for adult life in a fast-changing world so that they may become responsible and active members of society, capable of clear thinking, logical expression and balanced judgement.

9. To encourage the pursuit of knowledge and learning in post-school life and to facilitate this by teaching pupils how to learn and how to organise time and resources.

The Curriculum

a. Years 7 - 9: The National Curriculum guidelines are followed in all subjects. Pupils follow a broad common course on a subject by subject basis, including German or French in Year 7 and German, French or Spanish additionally in Years 8 and 9. The Religious Education course follows the Hertfordshire Agreed Syllabus and Science is taught on an integrated basis for the first two years. Separate Sciences are introduced in Year 9. Design and Technology at Key Stage 3 includes Food, Textiles, Product Design and Systems Control.

b. Years 10 - 11: All pupils prepare for the General Certificate of Secondary Education in the three core subjects: English, Mathematics and Co-ordinated Science*. They also take four other subjects, which must include a Modern Foreign Language and a Design and Technology subject. Those taking English Literature increase the total of examination subjects to nine. Non-examination courses continue in Personal and Social Education and Physical Education, which is also offered as an additional GCSE subject.

* Pupils may study Biology, Chemistry and Physics as separate subjects if appropriate.

Guidance is available for Year 9 pupils and their parents as follows:

• subject advice from Heads of Departments and careers advice to pupils during Year 9;
• parents’ meetings where courses are outlined and questions answered, followed by a parents’ consultation evening;
• a detailed booklet outlining subject choice;
• individual interviews, as necessary, with the Head of Lower School and Deputy Head (Curriculum).

c. Sixth Form: In the Sixth Form, a wide range of GCE "A" Level subjects is available. In addition, there is a two-year GNVQ Advanced Business Course which is the equivalent of two "A" level passes. All Sixth Form pupils are offered a full Extension Studies programme, including spirituality, aerobics, photography and new foreign languages such as Italian, Japanese Russian and Spanish, and have the opportunity of continuing their Physical Education in school. Information about opportunities in the Sixth Form is given during Year 11. On entering the Sixth Form, each pupil has a personal interview with a senior member of staff.

d. Health and Sex Education: In Year 7, there is a broadly based course entitled Personal and Social Education, which includes Relationships, Hygiene, Diet, Safety and Leisure. The Science Department runs a Social Biology Course in Year 8, which includes Sex Education, Diet, Smoking and Drugs. Parents of pupils in Year 8 are invited to a Health Education Evening in the Autumn Term. Health education, personal relationships, sex education and moral issues are also part of the PSE programme which continues into the Sixth Form. Parents have the right to withdraw their children from Sex Education lessons other than those elements which are required to be taught under the National Curriculum Science orders. Parents should make this request in writing to the Head.

e. Subjects available in the Curriculum: The figures in brackets indicate the range of years within which each is available:

Art (Years 7-13) Integrated Science (Years 7-8)

Biology (Years 9-13) Italian (Years 10-13)

Business Studies (Years 10-13) Japanese (Years 12-13)

Chemistry (Years 9-13) Mathematics (Years 7-13)

Co-ordinated Science (Years 10-11) Music (Years 7-13)

Design and Technology (Years 7-13) Personal & Social Education

Drama (Years 7, 10-13) (Years 7,10-11)

Economics (Years 12-13) Physical Education & Games

English (Years 7-13) (Years 7-13)

French (Years 7-13) Physics (Years 9-13)

Geography (Years 7-13) Psychology (Years 12-13)

German (Years 7-13) Religious Education (Years 7-13)

Government & Politics (Years 12-13) Russian (Years 12-13)

History (Years 7-13) Spanish (Years 8-13)

Information Technology (Years 7, 12-13) Theatre Studies (Years 12-13)

f Sport: We seek to offer experience of and to promote excellence in a wide range of sport. There is a long and successful sporting tradition within the school and a full fixture list is undertaken against other schools. Games include athletics, badminton, basketball, cricket, hockey, netball, rounders, rugby, soccer, squash, tennis and volleyball. Members of the school also join golf and swimming clubs. There are excellent on-site facilities including a sports hall, gymnasium, all-weather pitch, tennis courts and extensive playing fields.

g. Careers: In Year 9, general information is given concerning specific qualifications for certain careers and pupils are helped to begin to assess their own interests and aptitudes. During Years 10 and 11, careers talks are arranged and Careers Education forms part of the Personal and Social Education course in Year 11. During Year 11, staff from Hertfordshire Careers Service visit the school and offer individual interviews and guidance. Parents are invited to attend these interviews. Careers guidance continues in the Sixth Form, together with detailed advice on Higher Education.

h. Work Experience: Year 11 pupils participate in a full week’s work experience scheme. Work experience is available for all GNVQ students and "A" Level German students who participate in a programme abroad.

i. The School Day: School starts at 8.45 a.m. and finishes at 3.45 p.m.

The Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator assesses children individually, and their needs are met either through extra help within the classroom or through withdrawal from some lessons for specialised individual tuition. The aim is to ensure that all children have access to a wide general curriculum and are able to benefit from it as fully as possible.

Further details and the Governing Body SEN Policy are available from the school.

The results for 1998 are included in this booklet. The pass rate at Advanced Level in 1998 was 97.4% (1997 - 95.3%). In GCSE, 85.6% of candidates achieved grades A-C, in 1997 (1996 - 88.4%).

Eighty per cent of Year 11 pupils pursue courses in the Sixth Form. Many Sixth Formers go on to higher education and professional training (see Awards and Entrance to Universities).

General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level)

Art Government and Politics

Biology History

Business Studies Home Economics

Chemistry Mathematics

Design & Technology Music

Economics Physical Education

English Physics

French Psychology

Further Mathematics Religious Studies

Geography Theatre Studies

German Vocational German

Art & Design English

Biology English Literature

Business and Economics French

Chemistry Geography

Co-ordinated Science German

Design & Technology: Food History

Electronics Mathematics

Graphics Music

Product Design Information Studies

Systems & Control Physical Education

Textiles Physics

Drama Religious Studies

English History

French Mathematics

German Music

Religious Studies

General National Vocational Qualification (GNVQ)

Business - Advanced

French and German - Level 2

Practical, Theory

Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish

Any concerns on curriculum matters should be addressed in the first instance to the Head. Full details of the procedures are available at the school.

Total number of pupils on roll of compulsory school age 1001

Percentage of pupil sessions missed through authorised absence 4.8%

Percentage of pupil sessions missed through unauthorised absence 0.0%

Length of taught week (lesson time) 25.0 hours

Length of taught week for 1998/99 will be 25.0 hours

Year 11 Returned to Sixth Form 177

Further Education 3

Employed 6

Upper Sixth Degree Courses 106

Foundation Courses (Art & Music) 5

Re-applying to University/re-taking A Levels 25

Employment 8

Chairman M.G. Delahooke

Vice Chairman C. Eyles

Mrs. A.T. Williamson, M.A.

Mrs. M. Bevis, M.A.

A.D. Booth, B.Sc.

G.H. Brown, M.A.

R. Byng

Mrs. A. Cobb

Mrs. J. Constantine

Mrs. A. Dawson

J. Everton, M.A., J.P.

A.K. Gray

T. Imber

G.F. Jones, B.Sc.

S. Kershen, J.P., D.L., F.C.A.

Mrs. B. Miller, B.Sc. (Econ)

J.H. Morgan, F.C.A.

R. Prior

R. Pryor

Miss E.M. Rutson, B.Lit., M.A. (Oxon)

R.I. Turner, F.C.A.

Dr. M.J. Wyatt, C.Eng., M.I.Struct.E., M.B.C.S.

Clerk C.W. Dallmeyer

Assistant Clerk Mrs. J. Freedman

Head: Mrs. A.T. Williamson, MA Aberdeen

Deputy Head (Finance): J. Harber, Bsc Manchester

Deputy Head (Curriculum): Mrs. S.E. Futcher, BA York

Director of Personnel: Rev. G.J. Randall, BA Southampton, ACP

Director of Studies and Music: R.C. Pepper, BMus London

Head of Sixth Form: G.H. Brown, BEd, Bristol, MA, CNAA

Head of Upper School: P. Hutchinson, BA Hull, MA London

Head of Lower School: Mrs. B.K. Finlayson, BA Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, MA, CNAA

Mrs. M.O. Achillea, BSc London

Dr. A.J. Asher, BSc, PhD Kent

Miss N.J. Barrett, BSc Manchester Metropolitan

G.I.A. Bicker, BSc Exeter

S. Boatwright, BA Brunel

A.D. Booth, BSc London

Miss P. Bradbury, BMus Edinburgh

A. Breed, BA Warwick

I.L.J. Breeze, BEd, Loughborough, Dip.Applied Educ. Studies, CNAA

N.P. Cheal, Cert Ed, FTC, CNAA

Miss N. Clifford, BA Sheffield

S. Conquest, Cert Ed Hatfield

P. Cookson, BA Swansea, MA, CNAA

Miss E. Copeland, BEd Plymouth

A. Cotton, BA Leeds Metropolitan

Mrs. C.A. Cowley, Cert Ed Cambridge, Adv Dip (Pre-Voc Ed)

Miss J. Crippin, BA Durham

Miss Z.A. Curnow, BA Leeds

C. Dackus, Cert Ed London

Miss A. Delaney, BA Leeds

Miss C. Dennehy, BSc Manchester

Mrs. M. Di Franco, BSc London

G.S. Dove, BA Open Univ, Dip IM, Dip Marketing, Cert Ed Hatfield

Mrs. S.N. Fletcher, BSc Newcastle

Miss A.M. Froom, BA Durham

Miss J. Gallacher, BA Cambridge

K. Gallagher, BA Dublin

Miss S. Garlant, BA De Montford

D.T. Gazard, Dip AD, Cert Ed, ATD Leicester

N. Grassick, BA Liverpool

W.J. Hamilton-Hinds, Teacher’s Certificate London

C. Harber-Stuart, BA Reading

Miss S. Harris, BSc Manchester

Miss S. Herlock,BA Reading

Mrs. S. Howell, Cert Ed, Leicester

Dr. A.J. Hubbard, BSc Leicester, PhD Birmingham

Mrs. S. Hughes, BA London

Mrs. F. Hutchinson, BEd Sussex

M. Jays, BSc, Leeds

C. Jeffcoate, BEd Winchester

J.M. Johnstone, BD Aberystwyth

Miss S. Karp, MSc London

Miss S. Kelly, BA Southampton

J. Kendall, BA Oxford

Miss A. Kuroiwa,

Miss C.V. Lamb, BA Sheffield

Mrs. K.A. Leach, BA Reading

Miss A. Lord, BEd, CNAA

C. Lumsden, MA Cambridge

Mrs. C. Luxford, Cert Ed Bristol

E. Mann, BA Oxford

Miss A.C. Margetts, BA Manchester Polytechnic

Mrs. A. Marston, BSc Plymouth, MSc Birmingham

Mrs. M.J. Mathew, BSc Surrey

Dr. J.L. Mercer, BSc Imperial College, PhD Institute of Cancer Research

Mrs. B. Miller, BSc (Econ) London

Mrs. A.M.G. O’Brien, BEd London

Mrs. R. Okamoto, BA Doshisha

Mrs. J. Pan, BSc London

Mrs. J. Pearson, BA Reading

Miss A. Philo, BA West Surrey

D. Rhodes, BSc London

Miss K. Rhymer, B Eng Loughborough

G. Rodbard, BA Loughborough

Mrs. M. Rossi, BEd, CNAA

J.D. Searle, BA Manchester

N. Shackleton, BSc Leeds

C. Somes, BEng Hatfield

Miss S. Spyropoulos, BA Durham

J. Squire, BA Oxford

Miss J.E. Stagg, BA, Central England

Mrs. C.S. Strong, BA Leeds

Miss H. Sutherland, BSc Edinburgh

Miss A. Tanaka,

D.E. Tanner, BA Reading

Mrs. V.E. Tanner, Teachers’ Cert London, MA Louisiana

Miss D. Wadd, BSc Bradford

K. Whelan, BEd Exeter

Mrs. M.E. Whitewright, MA Edinburgh

K. Wild, BA Bristol

Mrs. J. Williamson, BSc London

Mrs. A.V. Woolmington, Cert Ed Ilkley College

Ms. C.A. Yeoman, BA London

Bursar: Mrs. G. Keating, BSc Manchester Polytechnic

Head’s PA/Admissions Officer/

Office Manager: Mrs. S. Morris

Nursing Officer: Mrs. D. Dingle, RGN

Accounts Assistants: Mrs. C. Pollard

Mrs. M. King

Secretarial Assistants: Mrs. S. Duffy

Mrs. V. McCarthy

Mrs. J. Nichols

Mrs. C. Presswell

Mrs. J. Robbins

Careers Co-ordinator: Mrs. E. Osman, BSc Wales, Diploma in Careers Guidance

Librarian: Mrs. E. Thornton, BA Open Univ, Cert Ed London, ALA

Assistant Librarian: Mrs. P. Wallace

Network Manager: Mrs. P. Stewwart

School Keeper: L. Tigue

Assistant: R. Torry

Groundsman: J. Gulley

Assistant: A. Montague

Technical Assistants: Mrs. S. Cousins

Mrs. C. George

Mrs. V. Jones

Mrs. A. Jowett

Mrs. L. Loton

Mrs. B. White

K. Webb