RHS at a Glance
A guide for parents
Welcome
Welcome to Rugby High School. We are really pleased that you are thinking about sending your daughter here for her secondary education. This booklet is designed to give you a quick overview of key areas. You can find out more about us from our website: www.rugbyhighschool.co.uk. We know that school open evenings can be very busy. You are very welcome to visit us during the school day, to see what normal school life is like for students at RHS. Why not give us a ring? - Tel: 01788 810518.
Making the right choice
Although all secondary schools prepare students for public examinations and for life as independent adults, the way in which they set about doing this, their facilities, their ethos and culture can differ enormously. A good match between the values, aspirations and outlook of parents, students and school makes for a happy and successful partnership. We think that there are some key things that you should know about Rugby High School.
We recognise that for a student to be able to learn effectively she needs to feel safe and happy at school. Being one of the smaller secondary schools in Rugby is an advantage when it comes to knowing our students. Our pastoral team are there to help smooth the transition to secondary school and to support students and their families through the ups and downs of their life. The school feels like a large family. If this is something that appeals to you, then RHS might be the right school for your daughter.
We love learning and we want our students to love learning too. We specialise in providing an academic education for girls. One of the advantages of being an all girls’ school is that there are no subliminal messages about subjects or careers. Your daughter is free to explore the whole curriculum and decide for herself. Our students get great results because they are focused and they want to learn. If this is how your daughter feels, then RHS might be the right school for her. Our school motto, Ascensiones in corde suo disposuit (She has set heights in her heart) is about ambition but we believe that ambition by itself is not enough. We believe that we should be ambitious not just for ourselves but for what we can do for others. It is important to us that students learn to work collaboratively, that they respect each other and care for each other. If these are your values too, then RHS might be the right school for your daughter.
The nature of our offer: Curriculum
Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9) Students Study: Art
Art Textiles
Computing
Drama
English
Food
French
Geography
History
Latin
Mathematics
Music
Personal Health & Social Education
Philosophy & Religious Studies
Physical Education
Science
Spanish
Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11) Students take the core curriculum plus three other subjects (unless they choose separate sciences in which case they have two option choices). An extension curriculum provides an additional choice for the most able. CORE English Language
English Literature
Mathematics
A Language
Philosophy & Religious Studies*
Personal Health & Social Education
Physical Education*
Combined Science or Separate Sciences
*Students are not required to sit GCSEs in these subjects although they may choose to do so.
Art
Art Textiles
Business Studies
Geography
OPTION CHOICES Computing
History
Drama
Latin
Food Music
French
German
Spanish
Key Stage 5 (Years 12-13) Most students study three A level subjects. Those with at least 5A*s at GCSE may choose to study four. The Extended Project Qualification is offered to all post 16 students. POST 16 A LEVEL OPTION CHOICES
Art
Art Textiles
Biology
Business Studies
Chemistry
Classical Civilisation
Computing
Drama
Economics
English Language
English Literature
French
Further Mathematics
Geography
German (LSS)
History
Latin
Mathematics
Music (LSS) Studies
Music Technology (LSS)
Philosophy & Religious Studies
Physical Education
Physics
Politics
Psychology
Sociology
Spanish
Extra-curricular activities, trips and visits
The learning that happens outside the classroom is for life. It’s what shapes students’ characters and it’s what they remember long after they have left school. RHS is the school where students don fancy dress and bake cakes for good causes at the drop of a hat. It’s the school where your daughter could be the hero in the school play; help design a new school building or learn to run her own company. It’s the school at which she might debate, learn to read a map, or to play a musical instrument.
We run an extensive programme of lunchtime activities: sports clubs, musical ensembles, orchestra, choirs, board games, drama club, writing clubs, book groups, forensic club, language clubs, clubs associated with competitions e.g. magistrates’ court, bar trials and clubs that teach new skills e.g. knitting. Many clubs and lunchtime activities are run by older students for younger students. There’s something for everyone. The only problem is finding enough time to fit everything in.
Trips and visits make learning come alive. In Year 7 most of our trips are local day trips e.g. to the theatre, to Warwick Castle. As your daughter moves up the school there are opportunities to learn new skills in a different setting e.g. a week of adventure activities for Year 9 at Marle Hall, North Wales. Curriculum related trips become more ambitious too e.g. a visit to Iceland for GCSE and A level geographers to see glaciers, volcanoes and geysers. Students need opportunities to learn about themselves. Programmes like the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, World Challenge Expeditions and Young Enterprise enable older students to lead and to learn to work with others, to problem solve, and to become responsible and independent. Students were unanimous in saying that the range of trips and extra-curricular activities, particularly sport and trips abroad, were second to none ‘Incyte International Whole School Review 2014’.
The quality of our outcomes
In 2015 Rugby High School was 45th in The Sunday Times Parent Power Table. GCSE Results 2015 Percentage of Entries (Cumulative) GCSE GRADE
A*
A
B
C
D
National
8%
24.7%
48.2%
73.1%
88.1%
RHS
37%
74%
Other Measures
94.5%
99.6%
100%
Measure
Rugby High School
National State Schools
Expected Progress Maths
95%
66.9%
Expected Progress English
99%
5A*-C inc English and Maths
71%
99%
Measure
57.1%
83%
A Level Percentage of Entries (Cumulative)
24.3%
Grade
A*
A
B
C
D
E
National
7.8%
26.1%
54.5%
79.6%
93.4%
98.5%
RHS
17%
Other Measures
47.3%
77.4%
92.3%
98%
99.5%
Measure
Rugby High School
National State Schools
Average points per entry
243.3
211.9
Average points per student
924.2
763.9
The Quality of Outcomes (Leavers’ Destinations) 2015
129 students from Year 13 applied for a place at university during the academic year 2014-2015. 96.4% of applications were successful i.e. the students obtained the A level grades that they needed to meet their offer. 90% of students chose to go straight to university rather than to take a gap year. Students applied for 86 different courses including Aeronautical Engineering, Conductive Education and Three D Animation and Modelling. The most popular courses were Psychology and Geography (14 applicants each) and Law (9 applicants). 5 students accepted places to read medicine and 4 students accepted places to read veterinary medicine/science.
Students accepted places at 56 different universities including: Brighton, Cambridge, Exeter, Oxford and Warwick. Sheffield (8 students) and Bristol (7 students) were the most popular choices closely followed by Leeds, Liverpool, Nottingham and Nottingham Trent. 43.8% of those applying accepted a place at a Russell Group university. Of course, this only tells you a part of the story . . .
120
students went directly to university.
universities including: Aston Cambridge Oxford Southampton London Warwick
88
different courses including: Biochemistry Forensic Science Journalism Medicine Modern Languages Music Nursing
The most popular courses were: Psychology (14 students) Geography (12 students) Law (9 students) English (6 students)
18
59
students took a gap year before applying to university. 4 took Further Education Courses. 2 student went into employment.
The most popular universities were: Sheffield (8 students) Bristol (7 students) Leeds (6 students) Liverpool (6 students) Nottingham (6 students)
And Year 11? 88 stayed on into Year 12. 6 chose to continue their education elsewhere.
Student support
Care and respect for others are the values that lie at the heart of our school. The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and it expects all staff to share this commitment.
Staffing Structure All school staff share in the pastoral responsibilities for our students. There is a structured system which enables students with questions or difficulties to receive guidance quickly and effectively.
The Form Tutor Students are allocated to form groups, under the guidance of their Form Tutor. These groups are together for registration and form time, when they work together on fund raising for charity, interform debates, assembly themes and social events. In Years 7, 8 and 9 they also have most of their lessons together.
The Pastoral Team The Assistant Headteacher, Mrs Grogan, has overall responsibility for the welfare, student support and discipline of each student in KS3 and KS4 and leads the Pastoral team. The Pastoral Manager, Ms Bell, is responsible for Years 7 – 9 and the Assistant Pastoral Manager, Ms Steptoe, for Years 10 and 11. Parents are encouraged to consult the Form Tutor or relevant senior member of staff if they have any worry about their daughter's welfare.
House System Our house system helps to form links amongst students throughout the school. Whole tutor groups and staff are assigned to one of the four Houses: Ryder, Hepworth, Sharman and Glennie. The houses compete for house points and a trophy is presented to the winning house.
Admissions
Key Dates Action
Date
11+ Test
10th September 2016
Register for the 11+ Test Deadline 11+ Test Results Issueds
Secondary School Application Deadline Proof of Residency Deadline National Offer Day
4pm 8th July 2016
14th October 2016 31st October 2016
31st December 2016 1st March 2017
Warwickshire County Council administers the Year 7 Admissions process on behalf of the school’s governors. Further details about the admissions process can be found on our website and on Warwickshire County Council’s website. If you need help completing the forms online or have a query to which you can’t find the answer, please don’t hesitate to call us.
Longrood Road, Rugby. CV22 7RE Tel: 01788 810518 www.rugbyhighschool.co.uk
