BEAUFORT CO-OPERATIVE ACADEMY Additional Information Booklet Introduction Beaufort Co-operative Academy is an 11 - 18 mixed comprehensive Academy sponsored by The Schools Cooperative Society. The number of students on roll is 1135 and the Principal is Mr David Bishop. The information in this prospectus is to support students transferring to secondary education in September 2014. The County Council deals with admissions into Year 7 of Beaufort Co-operative Academy. The Planned Admission Limit for Year 7 in September 2014 is 203 students, including any students admitted to the Centre for Hearing Impaired. Prospective students and their parents will be able to visit the Academy on an OPEN EVENING on Wednesday 25th September 2013 between 6.30pm and 8.30pm. There is an opportunity to see the Academy at work during a normal session on our OPEN DAYS on Thursday 26th September and Friday 27th September 2013 at 9.15am. The transfer from Primary School to Secondary School can be an anxious time for students and parents. We operate an Open Door Policy for parents - any parent will be received at any time and shown around the Academy. A telephone call before such a visit is helpful so that the Principal or another senior member of staff can be available and an appointment can be made. Students who are due to come in September will be able to spend a day with us in July and will have lessons in their new Teaching Groups. There will be a meeting for new parents the previous evening to meet staff and buy Academy uniform. Guidance on admissions procedures is contained in the booklet published by, and available from, Gloucestershire County Council, Shire Hall, Gloucester. Advice on the admissions procedure is available from the Children and Young Peoples Directorate, telephone number 01452 425000. If you require any further information or would like to visit the Academy, please contact the Principal, David Bishop, at the Academy. Our telephone number is 01452 301381.
ACHIEVEMENT FOR ALL The Academy’s aims place an emphasis on achievement and success for all regardless of ability. Students are encouraged to aspire for excellence in all areas of Academy life and to develop enquiring minds in preparation for life and work in the community. All students follow a programme of study in line with the National Curriculum leading to GCSE and BTEC qualifications in Year 11 and beyond in the sixth form. This is supported by many out of Academy visits in subjects such as History, Geography, Art and Photography. Students are assessed at regular intervals during the year and we share this information with students and parents to ensure that academic potential is met. A programme of consultation evenings and interim reports are used to keep parents fully informed.
Key Stage Three (Years 7 to 9) When students are admitted to the Academy they are placed in broad, equal ability teaching groups. The placement of students is decided after consultation with primary schools, taking into account such factors as ability and friendship groups. In the first year most subjects will be taught in these groups. Thereafter, as students advance through the Academy, they will be placed in sets according to ability so that students are matched to the pace of the work. Students will be set for Mathematics and English within the first year. The subjects followed are in line with the National Curriculum. These are - Maths, English, Science, Design & Technology, French, History, Geography, RE, Art, Performing Arts (Music and Drama), Information Technology, PE and Citizenship.
Key Stage Four (Year 10 and 11) All students continue to study Maths, English and Science to GCSE level. Design and Technology, PE, Citizenship and RE are also core subjects taught to the majority of students. The subjects which students can elect to take include Geography, History, French, ICT, Art, Photography, Health and Social Care, Drama, Music, Media Studies and Business Studies. All of these subjects are either full GCSE courses or BTEC qualifications. The subject choices are made in consultation with parents following a Parents’ Information Evening with the Principal and subject teachers. It is the Academy’s policy to enter students for GCSE and similar examinations in as many subjects as possible. A small number of students follow an alternative curriculum which may include work placements and time at a further education college.
Sixth Form Beaufort Cooperative Academy operates a comprehensive post-16 provision which includes a wide range of Advanced Level and Vocational Courses. Many of the Advanced Level sixth form students progress to university to continue their education with other students moving to apprenticeships and other areas of employment. A separate Sixth Form Prospectus is available on request.
Religious Education All students in Years 7, 8 and 9 follow Religious Education as a compulsory part of the curriculum, based upon the County’s agreed syllabus. In Years 10 and 11 Religious Education is taught to all students and can be taken as a full or half credit GCSE. Any parent has a right to ask for their child to be excused from Religious Education and Collective Worship. Before doing so we would ask the parent to examine the syllabus and discuss with us the full implication of withdrawal from this part of the curriculum, and what alternative provision might be appropriate.
Careers Education Careers Guidance is introduced into the curriculum in Year 9 as part of Citizenship lessons and students receive individual interviews from the Academy’s Independent Careers Advisers. All students gain experience of the world of work through Enterprise Education in the upper school, and undertake a work experience placement . Some vocational courses may be linked to regular work experience
HOMEWORK AND INDEPENDENT STUDY The Academy is committed to ensuring that learning continues beyond the classroom and views homework as an important part of a students’ education. One hour spent on additional work each night for five years has the effect of adding an extra year’s education for a child between the ages of 11 and 16. The type of tasks set could include reading, written activities, online learning, research or revision. We ask parents and carers to support in the completion of homework by checking and signing student planners and the homework timetable on a regular basis. Online materials are available through the Academy VLE and revision guides are widely used to ensure materials and work is accessible to all students. Homework clubs run in the Academy library and computer rooms at lunchtimes and before and after the Academy day.
SEX EDUCATION As part of Citizenship lessons students will have some lessons relating to the Academy’s programme of sex and relationships education. Parents who wish to know more about the content of the course and their right to withdraw should contact the Academy's office.
BEHAVIOUR We expect the highest standards of behaviour from students towards each other, towards staff and towards the fabric of the Academy. We ask of students that they respect other people and their property, that they remember an Academy is a place of work and students must come to Beaufort Co-operative Academy prepared and equipped to work and must not prevent other students from working. In addition, behaviour which is unacceptable or illegal out of the Academy is regarded equally seriously in the Academy and students must expect to face the consequences of such actions. In the most extreme cases this may result in exclusion from Beaufort Co-operative Academy.
REWARDS We hope to encourage positive attitudes towards work and behaviour in our students by a rewards system open to all. Every student can earn house points for either work or service to the Academy. Reward letters and postcards are sent home to reward students’ good work while excellent effort or performance is rewarded by a Principal’s commendation. Many students go on to receive their ‘colours’ for outstanding contribution to the Academy and are allowed to wear the ‘colours tie’.
SANCTIONS When a student breaks one of the rules, they are issued with a consequence in order of seriousness: C1 C2 C3 C4 C5
Verbal warning Second verbal warning and/or held back for up to 10 minutes Detention set by teacher After school detention of 1 hour on a Tuesday or Thursday Principal’s detention of 1½ hours on a Friday
For more serious offences or repeated poor behaviour a student may be placed in the On-Site Provision to work for one or more days, or receive a fixed term exclusion of up to five days to be served in On- Site Provision based on Academy Site. Students may be placed on a Pastoral Support Plan to support them in improving their behaviour. In very serious cases students may face a fixed term exclusion or a permanent exclusion from Beaufort Co-operative Academy.
UNIFORM AND APPEARANCE At Beaufort Co-operative Academy it is the policy of the governors that school uniform will be worn in Years 7 to 11 and that students in the sixth form adhere to a dress code. We believe that a smart uniform helps to instil pride and a sense of loyalty to the Academy. In Years 7 to 9 the uniform consists of a Beaufort Co-operative Academy blazer, House tie, plain blue shirt, black skirt or trousers and black shoes. In Years 10 and 11 pupils wear a blue Beaufort Co-operative Academy jumper, House tie, plain blue shirt and black skirt or trousers, with black shoes. Students are not allowed to wear facial jewellery such as nose studs. We expect students to look appropriate for a learning environment and we expect parents to support the Academy in our rules about appearance.
THE ACADEMY DAY The current timing of the school day is as follows: 8.30 - 8.55 8.55 - 9.55 9.55 - 10.55 10.55 - 11.20 11.20 - 12.20 12.20 - 1.20 1.20 - 2.05 2.05 - 3.10 3.10
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Registration Period 1 Period 2 Break Period 3 Period 4 LUNCH Period 5 End of School Day
LEARNING COMMUNITY (HOUSE) SYSTEM All students are allocated to one of four Learning Communities - Eastgate, Westgate, Northgate or Southgate. Within each Learning Community students are allocated to mixed age tutor groups. Students from the same family will normally be in the same Learning Community but not in the same tutor group.
CHARGING POLICY Parents are not charged for education but are expected to provide the correct uniform, PE kit and writing equipment. There are some circumstances under which charges may be made for voluntary activities such as extra-curricular visits and residential trips. The governors have adopted the County Council’s guidelines on charging as policy.
ATTENDANCE STATISTICS The statistics of student absence and length of taught week are as follows: Total number of students on roll of compulsory school age (2012-2013)
970
Percentage of student sessions (half days) missed through absence
8%
Length of taught week (lesson time):
25 hour
TERM DATES FOR 2013-2014 2013 Term1 2nd September 2013 3rd September 2013 11th October 2013 25th October 2013
Inservice Day (Staff only) Academy starts for students Inservice Day (Staff only) Academy closes for half term
Term 2 4th November 2013 5th November 2013 20th December 2013
Inservice Day (Staff only) Academy starts for students Academy closes for Christmas break
2014 Term 3 6th January 2014 14th February 2014
Academy starts for students Academy closes for half term
Term 4 24th February 2014 4th April 2014
Academy starts for students Academy closes for Easter break
Term 5 22nd April 2014 5th May 2014 23rd May 2014
Academy starts for students May Day Academy closes for half term
Term 6 2nd June 2014 18th July 2014
Academy starts for students Academy closes for Summer break
The term dates for 2014/2015 will be published later in the Academy year.
BUS SERVICES TO BEAUFORT CO-OPERATIVE ACADEMY STAGECOACH ROUTE 10 From Brockworth/Hucclecote via Barnwood, City Centre, Stroud Road, Seymour Road, Tuffley Avenue, Podsmead Road and Windsor Drive to Beaufort Co-operative Academy. This route serves the catchment areas of Barnwood, Elmbridge, Kingsholm, St. Paul’s, Linden, Calton, Grange and Harewood Primary Schools CATHEDRAL COACHES From Coney Hill Road, Abbeymead Avenue, Abbeydale, Painswick Road, Matson Lane, Reservoir Road, Tredworth Road, King Edwards Avenue, The Oval, Stroud Road. This route serves the catchment areas of Coney Hill, Abbeymead, Robinswood, Heron, Moat, Finlay, St. James, Tredworth, Linden and Calton Primary Schools Timetables for each route are available from the Academy Office or from the bus operators: Stagecoach Cathedral Coaches
Telephone: Telephone:
01452 527516 01452 524591
2013 Key Stage 4 results. % of students getting 5 A*- C at GCSE 5 A*-C including English and Maths GCSE 5 A*-G at GCSE A* - C in English at GCSE 3+ Levels of progress in English A* - C in Maths at GCSE 3+ Levels of progress in Maths A* - C in Science at GCSE and BTEC English Baccalaureate
Key stage 4 results 2011 Result 2012 Result
2010 Result 59% 41%
2013 Result
74% 42%
80% 43%
88% 42%
94% 60%
92% 52%
98% 48%
99% 48%
66%
59%
47%
42%
52%
54%
62%
60%
51%
53%
63%
60%
52%
59%
71%
77%
4%
15%
Key Stage 5 Results A2
AS
% of students getting
2011 Result
2012 Result
2013 Result
A*-A grades
1%
4%
9%
A*-B grades
12%
25%
A*-E grades
97%
98%
% of students getting A*-A grades
2011
2012
Result 2013
5%
5%
5%
32%
A*-B grades
14%
20%
18%
98%
A*-E grades
74%
82%
89%
BTEC
BTEC
D*-D grades
28%
D*-D grades
24%
D*-M grades
47%
D*-M grades
40%
D*-P grades
100%
D*-P grades
100%
