Prospectus

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We are a high achieving mixed

comprehensive school of over

1500 students aged 11 to 19 and

over 180 very able and dedicated

staff. Located in the heart of

the city, we serve all Christian

communities in the area of

Greater Bristol and beyond. We

are supported and enriched

by our close association with

St Mary Redcliffe Church.

Our children are given the best academic opportunities and are guided with love.

Parent

Hope

Empowered Learning

Safe Boundaries

Good Relationships

Every member of our School community is created by God and our aim is to achieve our full potential.

We want every student to be able to say:

• I feel safe

• I belong here and have good relationships

• I enjoy my learning and achieve well

• This School helps me to make my hopes for

the future come true

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Dear parents and carers,

Welcome to St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School; a school with over 430 years of distinguished history. We are the only Church of England Voluntary Aided Secondary School in the city and diocese. Students are admitted following the application of the Governors’ policy on admissions, details of which are included with this prospectus.

More than 80% of our students regularly attain five or more A* - C grades at GCSE (more than 70% including English and Maths). Our success is recognised in Ofsted inspections. An inspector wrote, “The School’s strong Christian ethos and core values have a tangible beneficial impact

Empowered Learning,Good Relationships and Safe Boundaries.

Empowered Learning is active, reflects our values, beliefs

and aspirations. It leads to high achievement. We have

high expectations and give students clear guidance on

how to improve.

Good Relationships include a sense of belonging to God

and each other, positive feedback and ways back when

things go wrong.

Safe Boundaries include good order, security, accountability

and consistency.

We became one of the first Humanities Schools in the country in 2004 and in March 2009 were awarded Training School Status and designated a school of excellence for Gifted and Talented as a result of our position as a High Performing Specialist School. We share our good practice, especially in Values and in learning and teaching, with a range of primary and secondary schools in Bristol and beyond.

Do visit our website or come and see the School in action.

We look forward to meeting you.

Mrs E A Gilpin - Headteacher

and, coupled with excellent care, support and guidance for all students, ensure that their personal development and well-being are outstanding”. Also, “The School seems to find a way to make each child feel valued what ever their talents. Personal development and well-being are outstanding.” Another inspection described us as “A Christian community, which joyously lives out its faith”. Our past, present and future success is rooted firmly in our Christian ethos. Each member of our School community is created by God and our aim is to achieve our full potential. The factors that help young people be fully themselves are:

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HopeThe glory of God is a human being fully alive (St Irenaeus)

We want to glorify God by our worship and by what we are as individuals and as a community of students, staff,

governors and parents/carers.

We intend that every student will reach their full potential in body, mind, heart, and soul.

We want to help our students to value faith, trust and truth, themselves and others, justice and respect, and forgiveness.

We seek to help them develop the skills to communicate, review, research, plan, and revise.

We desire each student to be resilient, questioning, organised, independent, and creative.

The School, through its distinctive Christian character, is outstanding at meeting the needs of all learners. Ofsted

WorshipWorship is one of our most distinctive features. Members of the School community come from many churches so we provide a wide range of acts of worship, reflecting the best of Christianity. Beginning and end of term services take place at the beautiful St Mary Redcliffe Church. Every day sees various acts of worship, ranging from small group activities in tutor groups through to larger assemblies, usually in Houses. We welcome a large number of visitors, both clergy and lay, to lead some of these. There are regular House and voluntary Eucharists, Christian Unions and prayer groups including a thriving parental Prayer Support Group. We see charity work as an expression of our worship and we make a special effort at

Harvest, Christmas and Lent. We are also linked to a school in Uganda.

By law, parents/carers are allowed to request the withdrawal of their child from Worship and from Religious Education. As these activities are so central to the life of our School we are pleased that no such request has been received.

For children of other faiths, we support and respect their worship and beliefs.

Students’ outstanding personal development and well-being are firmly

underpinned by the School’s emphasis on Christian values and are

reflected in their outstanding spiritual, moral, social and cultural

development. Students of all ages enjoy School immensely and are

proud to belong to the School’s diverse community. Ofsted

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CurriculumWe provide each student with a broad, balanced and relevant set of subjects, aiming to enrich his/her spiritual, intellectual, moral, physical, social and cultural development.

We fulfil all the requirements of the National Curriculum with additional emphasis on Religious Education. There are over 24 teaching hours each week, with assemblies and tutor-time in addition.

At Key Stage 3 all students study: English, Mathematics, Science, Religious Education, Geography, Design Technology, History, French and/or German, Art, Information Technology, Music, Physical Education and Values Education, including: Citizenship and PSE. We take careful note of Key Stage 2 results and other information from primary schools. There is some setting in year 7 in Maths and, additionally, in year 8 in Science, English, and Modern Foreign Languages.

Empowered Learning

At Key Stage 4 the majority of students follow courses that generally lead to ten GCSE’s. Most take: English (Language and Literature), Mathematics, Double Science, Religious Education, and ICT. There are also lessons in Physical Education, Careers, Values and Citizenship. Additional choices are made from Triple Science, Design Technology, French or German, Art, Photography, Music, Business Studies, Physical Education, History, Geography, Health and Social Care, Childcare, Drama, Media Studies, Life Skills Courses and various vocational BTEC courses.

Post 16We offer around 40 AS and A Level courses in the Redcliffe Sixth Form Centre. Most students go on to Higher and Further Education at establishments all over the country. We take pride in our regular Oxbridge successes and aim to bring out the best in all our students.

We have an experienced team of tutors and learning mentors who offer support and guidance. There are also plenty of additional enrichment, social and sporting activities to extend student skills and experience. We value the leadership roles that many of the Sixth-formers exercise by supporting children in year 7 and in leading debate, Christian Unions and worship events, and Senior Students play a valuable role in the main School Council.

Details for entry to the Sixth Form may be obtained from the Director of the Sixth Form and at the special Open Evenings for prospective Sixth formers (in November each year).

HomeworkWe believe that all students should do regular homework in order to learn to study independently, to reinforce what is learnt in the classroom and to extend subject tasks. There is a homework timetable for all year groups and parents/carers are encouraged to participate in monitoring and commenting on homework via the student planner.

Careers EducationWe have a comprehensive Careers Education programme, starting with support for GCSE decision-making in year 9 and continuing with regular lessons in years 10 and 11. We provide a programme of advice in years 12 and 13, particularly allied to Higher Education decision-making. There are opportunities for work experience, individual careers interviews and support from learning mentors to help students achieve their best.

The curriculum in years 7-11 is broad and balanced: it matches the needs and interests of students and contributes

to their good progress. Ofsted

Extra CurricularWe aim to encourage as many students as possible to participate in a wide range of additional activities, occurring at lunchtime, after-school, weekends and holidays. Activities include homework/coursework club, House competitions, tennis coaching, young enterprise, orchestras, School productions (drama and musicals), Christian Union, theatre visits, year 8 France and Germany visits, School matches, indoor games club, activities week, public speaking, gospel and chamber choirs, voluntary community service and ski trips. Recent trips abroad have included destinations such as Iceland, Belgium, Austria and Uganda.

Music is a particular strength of the School. Individual and/or group instrumental tuition is provided in School in a wide range of instruments, including Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Trumpet, Cornet, Horn, Euphonium, Tuba, Trombone, Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, Saxophone, Drums, Spanish Guitar and Piano. Lessons in singing are also offered. More detailed information is available from the Head of Music.

Learning SupportWe follow the national Code of Practice with regard to students with Special Educational Needs. A member of staff is designated as Coordinator of SEN (SENCo) and all members of staff take responsibility for the academic and social progress of students with Special Educational Needs. We work in close liaison with the Local Authority Support Services. We also make access arrangements for students for GCSE exams and assessment if necessary. Parents/carers of students with Special Educational Needs should make a point of talking to our SENCo before applying to the School.

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Gifted and TalentedOur School is well known for outstanding practice in helping gifted and talented students do their best. Our excellent practice was recognised at a national level being designated a ‘Gifted and Talented’ specialist school.

The Gifted and Talented programme enhances the opportunities of the most academically able and talented children in the School. The School has a commitment towards excellence for all and strongly believes that true inclusion can only be achieved through stretching the most able as well as supporting the least able. The Gifted and Talented programme allows all students to achieve their full potential.

Much of the enrichment provided by the Gifted and Talented programme has been targeted toward the official cohort of 10% of the School, but around 50% of the students in the School have a direct involvement with the programme. The St Mary Redcliffe and Temple Gifted and Talented programme was the subject of an academic study by the University of Bath. Here are a few direct quotes from the paper:

“There is an excellent

provision at the School for

Gifted and Talented pupils

and a range of opportunities

are available to pupils.”

“Gifted and Talented provision

helps create many extra

opportunities for pupils.”

“Challenging the most able

increases standards across

the whole School.”

Pastoral SystemThe pastoral system is one of our real strengths. Our students come from a wide variety of schools in different parts of Bristol and the surrounding area, so we make them feel part of the School as soon as possible. Year 7 students have their own House, in the Temple Colston Building, led by the Head of James House and a Deputy. Friendships are quickly formed, as the students are taught in their tutor groups for most of their timetables and there are many inter-tutor group competitions and activities to help students foster a strong sense of team spirit and develop an identity within the School.

There are four more School Houses - Canynges, Cartwright, Colston and Francombe - which students join in year 8 when students move on to the special family atmosphere of our mixed-age tutor groups. There are approximately 28 students aged 12 to 16 in each group and this enables students to share experiences of school life, helping younger students to prepare for additional responsibilities and decision making as they move on through the School. An experienced Head of House and a Deputy lead each of the four Houses. They also oversee the work of the tutors.

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Good Relationships

The Tutor is the first point of reference for parents/carers who wish to contact the School and is responsible for the students’ support and guidance. The Tutor is able to give the appropriate support to meet each student’s individual needs, through individual conversations and target setting. The Tutor is able to draw on a large in-school network of support programmes, designed to help each child fulfil his or her potential.

The School has close links with a number of outside agencies to complement the work done within School. We enjoy close working relationships with parents/carers in resolving any difficulties. The student planner, which incorporates a homework diary and sections for ‘Alive’ points and academic targets, enables parents/carers to take an active part in monitoring their child’s life at School.

The School has an enviable reputation in a variety of sports and this is fostered within the House system through a number of inter-House matches during the year. Students are always encouraged to take on

responsibility and there is a House and School Council made up of representatives from each tutor group. Each House also appoints a number of prefects from year 11 who work closely with staff in seeing that the building is used properly and that the students are encouraged to observe good behaviour.

The House system is also the focal point for the daily act of worship. Assemblies are held as a whole House and also in individual tutor groups. Each House also holds Eucharists. Students are encouraged to take an active part in the planning and presentation of the services.

We are justifiably proud of the pastoral system that plays an important part in helping each student to make the most of what the School has to offer and achieve success.

The School respects our complete child - strengths and imperfections!

Parent

ReportingWe issue a Student Planner including a homework diary which parents or carers are asked to sign weekly and to make any comments for the tutor’s attention.

There are regular tests in most subjects and each year brings at least two opportunities for parents to be involved in the progress of their child. There is at least one Parents’/Carers’ Evening with subject teachers each year, and a full written report. We also provide grade sheets which give a quick

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update on progress and behaviour. In addition parents/carers are welcome to contact the School with any concerns at any time, and subject and House staff will contact parents/carers directly as the need arises.

All students are involved with annual Reports which means that they are involved in dialogue, both written and verbal, with their teachers in reviewing and assessing their progress and in setting targets for the future.

CommunityCommunity links are very important. There is a real ‘Redcliffe’ identity in Bristol and we want to build on that. Each year, there are special services at the beginning of the year, at Christmas and on Schools’ Sunday to which all friends of the School are invited. The thriving Friends of SMRT Association organises events for the whole community, and the Governing Body has representatives from former members of the School, from church and from local commerce and industry.

Parents/carers are encouraged to contribute to the Friends of SMRT Gift Aid Fund, which supports the Governors’ building programme and the Enabling Fund. This exists to enable all students to take advantage of the many educational opportunities offered and to enhance the facilities of the School to the benefit of students.

Safe

All staff show high levels of commitment to students care, guidance and support. Ofsted

FacilitiesWe have a brand new sports hall and a new building which includes state of the art Science, Art, Music, PE, Design Technology, Library, Maths and English facilities. We have a separate small building in which year 7 students register and a small quiet playground area reserved for year 7 use. A separate sixth form centre provides a mature base for sixth form students. We also have a swimming pool and gymnasium and additional sports facilities at Stockwood Lane, Brislington. Our ICT facilities are good and well managed and enable us to use ICT to support effective learning.

The School has high standards of behaviour. It is partly through making each student feel an important part of our community that the standard of behaviour is so good. All students are expected to wear the School uniform, which helps to give students a sense of belonging to the School. We grade students on their behaviour from A* to E. More than 95% of students gain A*- B grades and we expect their behaviour to support the learning of others.

We have a number of policies, e.g. Racial Equality, to ensure that students respect and value the contributions made by their peers. The Governors review these regularly to make sure they are relevant and working properly.

In our School, we pride ourselves on the relationships that exist between students of all ages and between staff and students. A disciplined atmosphere is important to create a good learning environment and we do not tolerate bullying or behaviour that stops others learning. We value the cooperation of parents/carers in establishing acceptable standards of behaviour and, if necessary, parents/carers are invited into School to discuss any problems that might arise. We operate a detention system and expect parents/carers to support the use of this sanction.

Safe Boundaries

There is a high expectation of behaviour, both in the classroom and around the School generally. Good behaviour and positive attitudes to learning are encouraged through extensive use of praise and reward systems. Students are given ‘Alive’ points for good performance and in year 7 different certificates are awarded according to the number of Alive points gained. At the end of each term, a shield is presented to the House holding the most Alive points.

We are proud of our ethnically diverse intake as we believe all students are equal in the eyes of God and strive to ensure equality in all we do.

Ofsted inspectors found that students “are emphatic about how safe they feel in School”.

Leadership, management and self evaluation are outstanding. There is a strong vision for the School. There is a common sense of purpose among all staff which is moving the School swiftly towards excellence. Ofsted

TravelThe School is at a convenient central site within easy access of Temple Meads Station and on many bus routes.

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St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School, Somerset Square, Bristol BS1 6RT

Telephone 0117 377 2100 Email enquiries@smrt.bristol.sch.uk

www.smrt.bristol.sch.uk v1

BRISTOL

How to find us

St Mary Redcliffe and Temple SchoolThe Redcliffe Sixth

Form Centre

Redcliff Hill

Coronation Road

BEDMINSTER

Park Street

Queens Square

Temple Way

Bond Street

M32M4/M5Gloucester Road

BusStation

CITY CENTRE

CARPARK

Please note that St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School does not have on-site parking facilities for students and parents/carers. Visitors are advised to use public car parking spaces.

Any visitors who have mobility problems are advised to contact the School before visiting so that appropriate parking arrangements can be made.

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Temple Meads Station