Transcript Welcome to Ridgeway Information on secondary status Purpose of this evening… Tonight is an opportunity for you to find out more by: A) Brief.

Welcome to Ridgeway
Information on secondary status
Purpose of this evening…
Tonight is an opportunity for you to find out
more by:
A) Brief presentation now
B) Display at the back of the hall
C) A number of staff are available to discuss
anything with you
We hope that the informal setting with tea,
coffee and biscuits will allow discussion for all
Why secondary? How did we get here?
• May 2014 TGAR submitted application for age
change to 11-18
• In discussion with ABFS, FCofEFS & WHFS we
suggested that we would also propose to
convert to a Secondary (11-16) whilst the First
Schools looked into Primary Schools
How the schools in the pyramid
responded
• TGAR consulted on age change and submitted
a business case to the EFA in September 2014
• RMS consulted on age change and submitted
a business case to the EFA in October 2014
• ABFS & WHFS have consulted on age change
• RMS, ABFS, WHFS & FCofEFS have been
working on a Multi Academy Trust
arrangement
In April 2015 The Regional School
Commissioner on behalf of the
Secretary of State for Education
• confirmed in writing that the RMS business
case for an 11-16 school has been accepted.
• we have offered and the RSC accepted our
offer to continue taking Yr5 & 6 until at least
2018/19
This means that Ridgeway will…
• convert to a small (NoR circa 500-600) 11-16
Secondary school
• have a rolling conversion plan, We would
envisage being a full 11-16 Secondary by
2019.
• continue to take Yr5 for as long as there is a
need locally.
What will Ridgeway Secondary look
like?
Ridgeway was originally built as a small secondary
school. Therefore, we have the room and resources
necessary.
The conversion is a rolling programme, so we will
not be a school of 600 pupils overnight. We will
continue to work with our partner schools (ABFS,
WFSA, FCofEFS) as they prepare to convert. We can
fit 600 pupils in the school currently as it stands,
however we are continually improving the facilities.
Please see displays at the back of the hall.
What GCSEs will be offered?
English Mathematics Co
mputing Dual Award
Science Triple Science
History
Geography Modern
Languages (French &
German) RE
PE
Citizenship (PSHE) Art DT
(Textiles, food, graphics &
resistance
materials) Music Drama
Further
Maths Environment &
Land Based
Studies Childcare Busines
s Studies
Recent government changes to exams
in England…
1. Judgment measures such as progress 8
2. Grades at GCSE 0-9 rather than G-A*
3. Ridgeway will follow government policy of
offering the E-Bacc which means all pupils
must take the following subjects: English,
maths, history OR geography, the sciences
(including computing) and a language.
More GCSE changes to come….
There has already been significant changes to
education at all stages recently. The GCSE
specifications are changing again in 2017.
Ridgeway will not have to phase an old scheme out
with the ‘old Yr11’ and then phase in changes with
the ‘new Yr10’, thus running two GCSE specs.
We will just run the new exams relevant to your
children
How can we deliver GCSEs?
• Since 2012 we have been a registered
examination centre with the JCQ (body run by the
public examination boards such as AQA/Edexcel
and OCR that awards school the ability to deliver
public examinations). We have delivered
Functional Skills (half GCSEs in English, Math's
and ICT since that date). This year we have
delivered Maths GCSE to a yr 8 pupil
• We have been inspected by the JCQ this year
GSCEs and a small secondary?
As a small secondary we will be able to offer your
child:
• A personal curriculum – we will be able to design
the timetable around the pupils’ options
• A personal approach – as now, all our staff know
the pupils and all the pupils know the staff. This is
so important for progress
• Conscious of offering a broad and balanced
curriculum
• Options for GCSE chosen in Yr8 and delivered in
Yr9
What experience do your staff have?
• 81% of our teachers are KS4 trained and
experienced
• One colleague is a team leader for Edexcel on
a Public Examination qualification
• At least four colleagues have marked for the
Exam boards previously
• So the school already has a wealth of
experience, knowledge and more importantly
enthusiasm to deliver GCSEs
How can we judge your previous
results, as you don’t have any?
Our recent history:
• 2014 our SATs results of 82% were the best in
Redditch
• Our Functional Skills results are outstanding (90100% pass rates)
In general
• Every school starts afresh with each cohort of KS4
pupils. The results per year really do depend on
the cohort of pupils each year. We are focussing
on a personal approach where we know the
pupils and they know us. This is one of the bigger
drivers for progress.
Working with other schools
We have links with the following Yr7 – Yr11 schools:
• Shipston on Stour High School (430 pupils)
• Winchcombe High School (470 pupils)
• Alcester High School (500 pupils).
We will be working with these schools to share best
practice and learn from each other.
• We are working with a Teaching School Alliance in
Coventry