SCHOOL INFORMATION
Cirencester Kingshill School, opened in 1976, is a purpose built 11-16 co-educational comprehensive. It is situated on the south east side of Cirencester approximately one mile from the centre, on a spacious site bordering open countryside. The school originally admitted 120 pupils each year. This number was then raised to 135 and in 1996 to 159. Our current admission number is 165 which is split into forms of entry of approximately 27/28 pupils. Our current number on roll is 810.
The school has a full range of abilities and compares favourably with other areas in terms of the co-operation of parents and the genial nature of the children. We have been included in several "good school guides" and our GCSE and SATs results are very good. Our "value added" is particularly impressive, partly due to the detailed monitoring and assessment of pupils.
From September 1999 we have been a Foundation School. In 2000 we were named as an "outstanding school" in the HMCI annual report. We also became a Beacon School and the first school in Gloucestershire to gain the Eco-Award. We have gained the Sportsmark Gold Award and became a Sports College in September 2002.
In September 2007 we became a specialist school in 3 areas; Sport with English, Science with Mathematics and Raising Achievement Transforming Learning.
Kingshill School's OFSTED report in 2003 described us as "a very good school with an excellent ethos"
Our most recent OFSTED (November 2007) described us as "an outstanding school" in every category.
Kingshill's staff have earned a deserved reputation for the professional standards they set themselves and their pupils. The school currently employs 54.4 f.t.e. teachers. Of these, besides the Headteacher, there is a Deputy Head, 3 Assistant Headteachers, 11 Heads of Faculty/Department and 5 Year Heads.
Kingshill is fortunate in the provision of support staff. The school offices comprise of a Bursar, Secretary, Receptionist, Clerical Assistants, Finance Clerk and Data Administrator. There is an IT Systems Manager and a part-time IT Technician, one full time and one part-time Science Technicians, and two part time D & T Technicians. The Library/Resource area is serviced by a part-time Reprographics Technician and a Librarian. The Sports College has its own Secretary and Sports Assistant. We also have a Resource Assistant (part time) to provide support the Heads of Faculty. We have a Site Manager and Assistant Caretaker.
The governors play an active and supportive role in the school. Besides meeting as a full body twice each term, four sub groups have been established to oversee different aspects of the school. These are: Buildings and Health and Safety; Finance; Curriculum and Pastoral and Staffing. In addition, Governors are attached to a particular curriculum area of the school. Over half of the Governing body have close associations with Kingshill, either as teachers, or as parents of pupils who currently attend the school or have previously attended it.
We pride ourselves in the level of pastoral care and support given to each child at the school. Our pastoral system is based on year groups and on entry to Kingshill; every pupil is placed into one of six tutor groups of approximately 27/28 pupils. The team of tutors is led by a Head of Year and the team meet regularly to ensure good practice is shared and concerns raised. The Heads of KS3 and KS4 are members of the SLT and meet with the Year Heads to formulate pastoral guidance and policies. There is also a regular meeting for both Heads of Year and Heads of Faculty.
The tutor plays a central role in the personal development and academic progress of his/her tutees. Wherever possible the tutor remains with the tutor group from year 7 through to year 11. The majority of teachers are form tutors and are expected not only to provide a high standard of care for their pupils, but also to encourage their integration and participation in various activities beyond the classroom. This might include competitions in sport, music, performance, visits, raising money for charities, leading assemblies and other social events.
The form tutor is also expected to forge good working relationships with parents. This may well involve informal communication via the pupils' planner, but also telephone calls and meetings with parents. There are two parents evenings for each year group each year.
The school works in partnership with other professionals. This includes a school counsellor, a Connexions adviser, the Education Welfare Service, the Community Police and Educational Psychologist.
The high standard of pastoral care is a major contributor to the school’s success. All teachers are expected to work hard for the care and progress of our pupils and anyone wishing to join Kingshill’s staff would have to be prepared to make such a commitment.
The school's curriculum has always aimed to create a balanced and fulfilling education for all of its pupils. Kingshill has always been receptive to new ideas whilst maintaining high standards.
All pupils are taught as mixed ability form groups except in Mathematics and Modern Languages. Every effort is made to ensure that a pupil's form teacher teaches the class for some part of the timetable. All pupils study Mathematics, Science, English, History and Geography, Design and Technology, French, R.E., P.E., Art, Drama, Music, ICT and PSHE. Pupils with special educational needs are sometimes withdrawn for individual help and are given extra help within lessons. Library study skills are also taught.
Pupils continue to study the above subjects in years 8 and 9. Setting continues in Mathematics and Languages. In year 8 able linguists can begin to study a second modern language (German). Those with a particular aptitude for sport are taught as Fast Track PE groups from Year 9.
Whilst maintaining the breadth of curriculum experience, pupils have some choice of study through "options". All pupils study Science (double certification or three separate Sciences at GCSE level), Mathematics, English Language and Literature, Modern Foreign Language, PE, ICT, RE (short course) and Citizenship. Four option choices are made from subjects in Expressive Arts, Design & Technology, Humanities, ICT and PE. In addition pupils may choose to follow vocational courses such as Catering (in school), or a wider range through the South Cotswold Challenge including construction and motor vehicle engineering. These vocational courses are taught by day release to study locally in a link with other secondary schools and Cirencester College. A BTEC diploma in Sport was introduced in September 2005. A small number of pupils study Key Skills, in years 10 and 11. Further changes are expected in line with the 14-19 curriculum review.
The school places great emphasis on encouraging all pupils to attempt public examinations. Every year results have been well above the national average and reflect the high expectations of teachers, pupils and parents. In 2008 68% of year 11 pupils obtained 5 high A* - C grades at GCSE. In Key stage 3 National Tests the number of pupils achieving level 5 or above in 2008 was 86% in English, 82% in Mathematics and 80% in Science.
Kingshill encourages and supports a range of extra curricular activities including several sports teams, a flourishing choir, orchestra and wind band. A Christmas Carol concert is held annually and the school's productions are highly successful.
The school has earned an excellent reputation as a Sports College. We have gained the Sports Mark Gold Award in recognition of the excellence of our PE and sports provision.
Several foreign excursions take place during the year including a German exchange to Itzehoe, and a French exchange to Montpellier. We have also taken part in an exchange with an Indian School in Delhi. Year 8 pupils can visit France or Germany. A ski trip is organised for Years 9 and 10 to Italy. All year 7 pupils have the opportunity of a residential visit. Several tutors arrange social activities for their groups e.g. ice skating, and visits to theatres are also organised.
Many pupils study for the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award and the school has taken part in World Challenge expeditions to Poland and Iceland.
Kingshill is fortunate in having a very active Parents Association - The Friends of Kingshill School - who support the school in a number of ways and have raised considerable sums of money.
The school has its own Reprographics Room where high quality materials can be duplicated or produced. There are word processing facilities for staff use, or staff can leave typing with the school office. In addition there are several laptop computers and the school is on the Internet. Most rooms have interactive whiteboards. There is a good supply of video, tape and other audiovisual material. The school has its own video conferencing facilities. There are more than 200 PCs and 3 dedicated ICT rooms which can be booked. There are many mobile and static video/TV's and a separate video for recording programmes for use in school.
Kingshill was designed and constructed as a comprehensive school. Emphasis is placed on care and respect for the building and on encouraging displays of pupil's work. The compact nature of the school places most classrooms in easy reach of each other and enhances the friendly atmosphere of Kingshill.
The school’s eleven Faculties each have specialist rooms for their subject, a multi-purpose sports hall and Expressive Arts suite.
The school is set in extensive grounds with considerable playing fields that permit a variety of sports to be played. It has been involved in a landscaping project that further improved the school environment.
Details of our latest OFSTED report (November 2007) can be found on:
Details of the latest performance tables (KS3 and KS4) can be found on:
www.dcsf.gov.uk/performancetables
Christine S. Oates
Headteacher
October 2008