SCHOOL LEADERSHIP

THE BARCLAY SCHOOL ORGANISATION:

Our Mission Statement:

“To provide a high quality technological education through a combination of challenge, support and guidance.”

In order to deliver this we have developed teams of staff, led by members of SLT.

The core Leadership Team consists of Headteacher, two Deputy Headteachers and four Assistant Headteachers.  In addition, there are four associate Assistant Headteachers, including the SENCO, who form the extended leadership team.

Our Student Support Team (SST) and Additional Educational Needs Team (AEN) work with students who require intervention in order to learn more effectively. They deal with issues such as bullying, behavioural problems, low attendance and specific learning needs. Form tutors work with students to develop their awareness of the world and to formulate their future career plans. We also have specialist staff who, alongside Youth Connexions, ensure smooth transition and progression at key points from Year 6 to Year 13 and beyond.

All students have regular meetings with their form tutors in order to set challenging targets, develop strategies for meeting these targets and monitoring progress towards them.   Tutors keep in touch with parents/carers and subject teachers. They seek appropriate interviews if they become aware of any barriers to learning.

Subject Delivery Teams:
There are six subject delivery teams – Design; Humanities; Languages; Maths, ICT and Business; Performing Arts and Science. Each team comprises a Subject Leader, 2 or 3 Assistant Subject Leaders, Teachers, Teaching Assistants and at least one technician.

House Teams:
There are four House Leaders.  Each is accountable for the work of the 12 form tutors whose tutor groups are in his/her House.  Their focus is on improving learning.  Primarily they seek to remove barriers to learning by accessing appropriate resources for students who are experiencing difficulty.

Academic Organisation:
Key Stage 3: In Year 7 students are currently organised into 7 or 8 teaching groups. In some subjects these groups are mixed ability in others they are set. Year 8 and 9 are organised into 7 or 8 teaching groups in 2 mixed ability bands within which there is setting in some subjects. Design and Technology and ICT are taught in smaller groups throughout Key Stage 3.

Key Stage 4: All students study English, English Literature, Maths, PSHE (which includes Careers and RS) and Science. We are a Technology College, so the majority also study Design Technology, Engineering or Construction. All students are able to choose a vocational option, which may be an NVQ course at North Herts College or a Diploma. There is also a very wide choice of GCSE subjects. We introduced Diplomas in September 2008 and all students have a choice of level 1 or 2 in several lines of learning, delivered here or in partnership with other institutions in the North Hertfordshire Strategic Area Partnership Group.  We are reviewing this curriculum in light of the White Paper.  From September 2011, the more academically able students are advised to study a language and a humanity subject.  We are introducing new elements of Foundation Learning and we shall have fewer, if any, students studying Diplomas.

Post 16:  At Barclay we teach a wide range of ‘A’ level subjects, a very successful BTEC Sports programme, Sports Leadership, the Duke of Edinburgh Award and a Level 2 programme which is varied each year to meet the needs of our students. Our students have also had access to a range of Diplomas.

We are an active member of the Stevenage 14-19 Partnership. This comprises the five community secondary schools in the town, together with the local Education Support Centre (ESC), North Hertfordshire College, local special schools, a local training provider and the University of Hertfordshire. The Partnership brings together a range of initiatives, which seek to transform the educational culture in the town and, through collaboration at 14+, broaden and enhance opportunities and pathways for all learners.

The Partnership puts the learner at the heart of our collaboration. It is committed to shared curriculum planning and delivery that is designed to facilitate learning rather than organise teaching. At Post 16 this process is now well developed. Students are currently offered 45 Level 3 subjects across the town and 3500 possible combinations.

Tutor Groups:
Each tutor group belongs to one of four houses. There are 12 tutor groups in each house. Each tutor group is vertical in nature and consists of 20 students.

We believe that students benefit from the family atmosphere of vertical tutor groups, that they foster productive cross-year relationships and enable tutors to focus on small groups of students at key times during the year. There are Year assemblies and social areas in the school as well so that students also have opportunities to develop peer relationships.

Once a week tutors have mentoring meetings with students from one year group, setting targets and monitoring progress.

The Student Support and Wellbeing Team are responsible for monitoring punctuality and attendance both to school and lessons. The team undertakes many of the roles once performed by Heads of Year. However, we believe that the role of Form Tutor is crucial in fostering positive relationships between staff, students and parents.