Steyning Grammar School Day and Boarding Every Person The Best They Can Be! www.sgs.uk.net 2018-2019
Welcome to Steyning Grammar School This is a vibrant and exciting school, focused on supporting the learning and development of each of our students. We are committed to offering the highest quality education to young people from Steyning, and its surrounding areas. First rate learning has taken place at our school for centuries; we have a proud history, built on integrity, excellence and achievement. Having celebrated the 400 th anniversary of the foundation of Steyning Grammar School in 2014, our core values of kindness, care and acceptance are as valid today as ever, and we remain forward looking, to prepare students for their futures, as 21st century lifelong learners. As Headteacher I am proud to lead a school that has established outstanding relationships between teachers, students, parents and carers and our wider community; we work together as a family to ensure that the highest expectations we have of each student can be met. Choosing the right school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will have to make. As Headteacher my determination is that your child should achieve their full potential; I believe passionately that every student should be the best they can be and can achieve their highest ambitions if they believe in themselves, put in purposeful hard work and get the best teaching and support possible. My goal is that students should be meaningfully happy and secure in their school environment, should achieve the best they possibly can in academic progress and exams, and they should develop as widely as possible both as confident, independent learners and as responsible and caring young adults. At Steyning Grammar we aim to embed the Learning Characteristics of grit, growth mindset, curiosity and zest that are proven to lead to happy and successful futures. We are a unique school combining all the benefits of an 11-18 comprehensive school with our Boarding provision (rated Outstanding by Ofsted) and guiding Church of England ethos (also rated Outstanding). The most recent inspection of the main school took place in March 2017 and we were rated as a good school with outstanding features ; the fact they continued to judge our behaviour and safety as outstanding will especially reassure prospective parents and carers. But please judge us for yourselves we are proud of the achievements of our students and the dedication of our staff, and invite you to come and see these at our Open Days, or on a personal visit. Nick Wergan - Headteacher
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The school vision Every person the best they can be creates an aspirational culture. Steyning Grammar is rapidly improving Ofsted 2017
Every Person The Best They Can Be Steyning Grammar School is a thriving comprehensive school situated on the edge of the South Downs National Park. We offer a high quality education to students aged 11-19 providing a seamless Key Stage 3, through Key Stage 4, to Sixth Form College education experience. Our aim is that Every person is the best they can be. We want to help every child find their talent. We are proud of the fact that our examination results identify us as a very successful school. Good results will open doors that would otherwise remain closed for our students. We have a comprehensive and successful programme in place that ensures all of our students are well prepared for their examinations. However, we also recognise that for children to grow up and be happy and successful adults we need learning to be wider than just about the academic. Steyning Grammar is a leading school in the delivery of Character Education - the development of positive character strengths in children that will help them to flourish at school and beyond into adulthood. In school we particularly emphasise development of the learning characteristics of: For more information about our information programme please visit our website. www.sgs.uk.net
A Supportive, Safe and Caring Environment Notwithstanding our size, our ethos is underpinned by the Steyning Family, where everyone matters and is given the same chance of success. Our students are polite, well behaved and keen to learn. Whilst we encourage students to become independent learners, we also provide support and guidance to ensure each student is encouraged to reach their full potential. Starting a new school can be daunting for any child. To overcome any fears, we work closely with our feeder schools providing a comprehensive transition programme including Taster Days for Year 5s and Induction Days for Year 6 students. Additionally, we work with the primary schools, providing Masterclasses in Maths and Science for a number of gifted and talented students. Every student has a Form Tutor and they are encouraged to participate in the life of the Tutor Group and in the school as a whole. Heads of Year liaise closely with the Form Tutors, monitoring academic progress of students, whilst pastoral support is provided by non-teaching staff. This ensures that every student is encouraged to achieve with challenge and support. Steyning Grammar School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Staff, pupils and parents report that pupils feel safe and well looked after at Steyning Grammar School Ofsted 2017
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Teachers have high expectations and make good use of their subject and assessment knowledge to design stimulating lessons Ofsted 2017
A Broad and Balanced Curriculum At Steyning Grammar School our key school development priority is effective learning in every classroom. Through the delivery of a broad and balanced curriculum, students have the opportunity to pursue a variety of qualifications that will enable them to succeed in life. We believe that students should enjoy their time at school we want your child to be confident, comfortable and challenged both during lessons and during co-curricular activities. In the first two years at Steyning Grammar, students study a broad and balanced range of subjects which cover the key areas of the National Curriculum. We liaise closely with, and then build on, the primary experience, continuing to foster a desire to learn, whilst developing the core skills of numeracy, literacy and ICT. As our students come to the end of Key Stage 3, there is a guided programme leading to option choices for students. We aim to give every student an individual and well balanced course of subjects during the vital years of Key Stage 4. This choice of subjects are studied over a three year period and should leave open as many doors as possible as far as future careers are concerned. As students move from compulsory education into the Sixth Form College, we offer a broad range of academic and vocational courses that are designed to equip each student for their ongoing study at university and for the world of work. We offer traditional A Level and BTEC National Diploma Courses so that we can ensure that each student is following a route that best meets their needs. Please see our website for more details on our curriculum. www.sgs.uk.net
The Learning School It has been an exciting new era at Steyning Grammar School with all staff focussing on teaching and learning in the classroom, undertaking action research and embedding this into our practice. Research highlights four key requirements for successful talent development - opportunity, growth mindset, great teaching and intrinsic motivation. As we travel on our journey to excellence we believe growth mindset is an achievable ambition for us all with students, staff and home all believing in the uncapped potential for every student. Highest expectations and aspirations underpin all that we do, with every student expected to take responsibility for their own learning. At Key Stage 3 positive learning characteristics are being further developed through our REMAP lessons which will help students develop and reflect upon the characteristics which will help them to flourish in school and beyond. Students complete challenges in teams, work on projects, learn how to develop their resilience and maintain their well-being. This dynamic approach to preparing students for a happy and successful life in an ever changing world sets us apart from other schools and emphasises our core values of developing the whole child. Parents recognise and value the well-rounded education that the school provides Ofsted 2017
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Parents, pupils and sixth formers are rightly proud of Steyning Grammar School and all that it achieves Ofsted 2017
Creativity We want to offer all students at Steyning Grammar opportunities to develop interests and skills which will continue to enrich their lives long after they leave school. The Creative and Performing Arts build independence, problem solving and creativity as well as grit and a growth mindset. We celebrate the creative progress and development of young artists and performers. Arts events allow us to celebrate student progress and achievement including the annual summer exhibition, the KS3 MAD (Music, Art, Drama) evening, SGS involvement in The Big Draw, as well as music performances and concerts at Christmas and across the year. Drama exam performances are also showcased at Shooting Field. These bring parents, carers, friends and others in the local community together to see this creativity. Each year, gallery, theatre and concert trips give opportunities to see the arts in the wider world and gain inspiration. There are many co-curricular opportunities in the performing and visual arts with peripatetic music teachers and regular weekend sessions. We also offer lunchtime and after school clubs to provide regular opportunities for students to extend their experiences; these are well attended and have really developed skills. Creativity at the school was highlighted in the recent Church of England inspection, a further recognition of the high standard achieved here. A wide range of creative responses around the school demonstrate the students spirituality through creativity. A module of work in Design Technology in Year 10 is to develop a candle holder. This work is supported by the vicar in a local parish. The outcomes of this work are stunning and are displayed in the church. They demonstrate how a church related stimulus engages all students in purposeful learning. www.sgs.uk.net
Co-Curricular Activities We believe that school life is about developing the individual. Therefore, in order to develop social learning, we have a broad range of very popular co-curricular activities. For example, we have: Sports teams that are recognised as some of the best in West Sussex; A very successful Music department; An outstanding Art programme; High quality school productions; Duke of Edinburgh (Bronze). Sport and physical activity is an important aspect to life at Steyning Grammar School. We are fortunate to have outstanding facilities on site including extensive fields, astro-turf, hard courts, Sports Hall, Gymnasium, Dance Studio, Swimming Pool, Fitness Suite and a dedicated PE classroom for theory teaching. Every year, Steyning Grammar School competes in numerous local, regional and national competitions with considerable success. There is an extensive programme of co-curricular sports and physical activity clubs. Beyond the classroom, many departments organise visits and residential trips which provide experiences that the students can draw on throughout their lives. In addition to foreign exchange visits there are other residential trips to destinations such as The Ardèche, Orlando, CERN and the Norfolk Broads. There is a wide range of sporting activities and lots of extra curricular opportunities on offer
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Boarding judged to be outstanding in September 2015 with no areas for improvement Ofsted 2015
Full or Weekly Boarding For boys & girls aged 13-18 at a competitive price A high level of personal and pastoral care is provided for each and every individual boarder. There are four houses, (two for boys, one for girls and one mixed Sixth Form house) all offering exceptional facilities for study and recreation. Our newest boarding facility, Bolton House, complements the existing houses, steeped in their own colourful tradition and history. With a large and vibrant community there is always something interesting to become involved in; whether representing a winning sports team, working in the organic vegetable garden, driving environmental, charity and community projects or simply taking full advantage of the recreation facilities, every experience is unique and memorable. The atmosphere amongst the boarders is happy and collaborative, and relationships between the different ages, backgrounds, nationalities and genders is excellent, creating a sense of community that enables students to flourish. Living in a boarding house fosters a sense of compassion, tolerance, mutual respect and an appreciation of others talents. Older students have a vital role to play in welcoming and caring for the younger students. For further information on our Boarding facilities or to arrange a tour, please contact our Boarding Registrar on 01903 817601 or email sgsboarding@sgs.uk.net. www.sgs.uk.net
400 Years of Excellence at Steyning As a school we celebrated our 400th anniversary milestone throughout 2014 involving not only our current students but our much valued former students and our local community. During these 400 years, the achievements of the school and its students have been impressive and we enjoyed celebrating all that is good in the school through a series of projects and events that were held throughout the celebratory year. The Heritage Quilt Project provides a lasting memory of the celebrations bringing together the whole community to complete five quilted panels celebrating the 400th anniversary. These are permanently displayed in the Learning Resource Centre at Shooting Field. Steyning Grammar School has a long and successful history and is much loved and respected within its community. It has given a high standard of education and much happiness to the many thousands of students who have passed through it and we look forward to welcoming you into the Steyning Family. At Steyning Grammar, our aim is to treat everyone with respect and consideration, and we therefore consider applications from all members of the community regardless of ethnic/national origin, religion and belief, culture, learning difficulty and/or disability, gender, transgender, or socio-economic background. A copy of our Equalities Policy can be found on our website. www.sgs.uk.net
Equality and Diversity In line with the schools Equality Policy, this prospectus is available in a number of formats, for example disk, internet and large print. For more details, please contact the School Office. Church of England Voluntary Controlled Every Person The Best They Can Be!
Design & Photography - www.tompacker.co.uk Shooting Field Campus Church Street Campus Rock Road Campus SGS Boarding Shooting Field, Steyning, West Sussex. BN44 3RX Church Street, Steyning, West Sussex. BN44 3LB Rock Road, Storrington, West Sussex. RH20 3AA Church Street, Steyning, West Sussex. BN44 3LB Scan Me Tel: 01903 814555 Email: sgs@sgs.uk.net Tel: 01903 814786 Tel: 01903 744884 Tel: 01903 817601 Email: sgsboarding@sgs.uk.net www.sgs.uk.net