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Dear
Reader,
Though
many people representing a range of different audiences will
read the information contained on the web site the main audience
are the parents and carers of our students. The partnership
that we have with our parents and carers is central to our
school’s purpose for without it we will achieve little.
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We are committed
to excellence and to securing for all our students a broad and balanced
range of educational experiences and activities that enhance their
growth as young people. Our success is measured by the gains they
make in academic, social and personal achievement year by year.
It is our belief that we are better able to achieve our objectives
if we are committed to the development of productive partnerships
with all the communities that we serve, locally, regionally, nationally
and within Europe.
OFSTED inspected
Abbey Hill in March 2000 and reported that:
“Abbey
Hill is very effective in providing high quality education for
its
pupils and students who have a wide range of special educational
needs. Leadership and management are very good, and the head
teacher and knowledgeable governing body give very good strategic
direction
to the work of the school. Overall the school has a low unit cost
and provides very good value for money.” You can see the 2005
Ofsted Report here
On 1st
September 1999 we gained specialist school status as a Technology
College in a unique partnership with Beaumont Hill School in Darlington.
We became the first all special school Technology College in England
adding to the many awards that the school has gained in the last
few years and exemplifying the way that we express our commitment
to excellence.
We are proud
of what our school achieves for the young people it serves.
Mike Vening
Mission statements
The
School:
Abbey
Hill School is a community, which exists to meet the needs and foster
the talents of everyone in a safe and happy environment.
The
Technology College:
Abbey Hill’s
mission is to secure for all our students
their highest achievement. Through community partnership and
the harnessing of new technologies we will prepare young people
for the challenges
of the 21st century, challenges which will include rapid
scientific, social and vocational change. We will be twin centres
of excellence, contributing to and supporting the development
of
new ideas, which will generate a spirit of innovation and enterprise,
and therefore raising expectations and achievement.
In our drive
to achieve excellence we have the following aims:
- To provide
a curriculum, which is broad, balanced, appropriately differentiated
and relevant to the needs of each student.
- To prepare
each student for adult life in a multi-cultural society and provide
equal opportunities for all regardless of ability, race, religion,
culture or gender.
- To promote
the spiritual, social, moral and cultural development of our students.
- To ensure
that each student reaches their full potential while being sensitive
to the needs of others.
- To create
an atmosphere of mutual support and respect.
- To provide
pastoral support and disciplinary structures which judge behaviour
and not the individual.
- To create
a system of planning and recording where all contributions are
valued irrespective of the status of the individual.
- To ensure
that the principles and practices which we describe in our policy
documents will be observed in our day-to-day activities.
Achieving
excellence
The
school curriculum
When
we use the term curriculum at Abbey Hill we intend it to mean any
school activity, which has a bearing on a student’s learning. This
means that the term curriculum covers:
- All the subjects
that we teach
- All our educational
visits and residential experiences including those to our partner
schools in Europe.
- Our structures
of rewards and sanctions.
- Our tutor
group system and all the other aspects of school life including
breakfast club; homework club; recreational clubs; language clubs;
all our sports activities and speech and language therapy; physiotherapy
and occupational therapy.
In 1999 we were
one of the first special schools nationally to gain specialist school
status as a Technology College. We are a partner in this exciting
venture with Beaumont Hill School in Darlington. Jointly we provide
a specialist focus to our curriculum in Maths, Science, Design &
Technology (D&T) and Information and Communication Technology
(ICT). As a consequence our whole curriculum has benefited from
the development of the new technologies as they ensure access to
a broad balanced and relevant curriculum for all our students from
the most dependent to the most independent.
We differentiate
the curriculum content and the teaching methods so that they are
relevant and accessible to all our students. We also differentiate
the broader aspects of the curriculum such as educational visits
to ensure that they meaningful and supportive.
For students
who are developmentally young or who have need of a sensory curriculum
our newly extended facilities on our Ketton Road site make “state
of the art” provision.
As part of our
commitment to inclusive education we, at times, place students in
mixed ability groupings, we thus ensure that there is an opportunity
for our young people to develop a broader understanding of each
other. We also group according to curriculum needs in order to
give maximum focus on progress and achievement. For example we
will group all students who have need of a sensory curriculum together
just as we do with those students who are following particular NVQ,
GNVQ or GCSE courses.
All our students
have the right to continue their education at Abbey Hill until they
are 19 years of age if they, and their parents, wish this to happen.
We make provision in such a way that the best match between student
needs and provision is realised.
In our Sheraton
building we provide a range of learning programmes that secure
continuity
and progression for all students wishing to transfer from Ketton
Road and who do not require a sensory curriculum. Here a college
atmosphere is encouraged and nationally accredited courses
followed,
some in partnership with local Further Education Colleges and training
providers. The transfer from the Ketton Road site of Abbey
Hill to our tertiary site at the Sheraton building usually
take
place at the end of Key
Stage 4 when students are 16 years of age. The Sheraton provides
an ideal stepping-stone between the school ethos of the main Ketton
Road building and
the take
up of further education courses in very much larger institutions.
In addition to nationally accredited courses such as NVQ and GCSE
the Sheraton building also offers careers advice, work experience
and extended
pastoral care services.
The Sheraton provides
a secure, supportive yet challenging educational environment
to
all students transferring from our Ketton Road building and to
students who join us from other schools to re-engage in learning
after
a
time of anxiety in their lives.
In 1999 governors
agreed to the LEA proposal that Abbey Hill take over the management
of the former Hardwick Youth Club. After a major refurbishment
programme, the new Abbey Hill Community Resource Centre opened with
the aim of placing it at the disposal of both the local and broader
community. Our excellent facilities include:
- Large meeting/recreational
room
- Extensive
playing fields and gymnasium
Users include:
Adult Education, Stockton Youth Service; businesses, conference
organisers and of course the students, their parents and friends
of Abbey Hill.
We are committed
to ensuring that there is an active community dimension that enlivens
and extends our curriculum and therefore the opportunities that
we can offer to our students.
General
information
Abbey
Hill School Technology College
Ketton
Road
Stockton
on Tees
TS19
8BU
Head Teacher:
Mike Vening
Tel:
01642 677113
Fax:
01642 679198
e-mail:
abbeyhill@stockton.gov.uk
www.abbeyhill.stockton.sch.uk
Abbey Hill
School & Technology College (Sheraton Building)
Ketton Road
Stockton-on-Tees
TS19 8BU
Tel: 01642 358750
Fax:01642 358765
Head
of Sheraton building: Peter Metcalfe
Abbey
Hill Community Resource Centre
Ketton
Road
Stockton
on Tees
TS19
8BU
Coordinator:
Bill Whyte
Tel: 01642
677113
Fax:
01642 679198
e-mail:
abbeyhill@stockton.gov.uk
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