The Cooper School Specialist Science College Open Evening 5 October 2006

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The Cooper School Specialist Science College
Open Evening 5 October 2006Where Learning
Matters
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Background Information

• 19 years in teaching
• Taught in four secondary schools in Northants,
  Leicester City, Buckinghamshire
• Commitment to Comprehensive Education
• Learning Matters
• Personal Philosophy.

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High Expectations Learning Matters

• Attitudes to learning/achievement
• Conduct and respect for others
• Parental partnership
• Self image
• Sense of community.

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Specialist Science College
Status

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Becoming a Science College What difference has
it made/will it make?

• A major part of the Governments vision for
  schools of the future
• Innovative ideas and developments not just in
  Science
• Improved Facilities
• Learning across the curriculum
• Improved ICT facilities
• Improved links with clubs and
• organisations outside of school.

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STANDARDSGCSE Results 2006
TARGET AREA 2004 2005 2006
5 A-C 43 41 47 (47)
5 A-C inc. En. Ma. N/A 33 40 (34)
5 A-G 89 89 91 (89)
1 A-G 95 93 99 (97)
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KS3 Results Summer 2006
TARGET AREA 2004 2005 2006
English Level 5 57 74 82 (71)
English Level 6 9 22 41 (30)
Maths Level 5 74 78 79 (73)
Maths Level 6 52 53 53 (52)
Science Level 5 70 77 74 (72)
Science Level 6 29 39 44 (28)
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Transition and Induction how it helps your child

• Year 6/7
• Gill Merritt, Assistant Headteacher

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Transition experiences and information

• Open Evening Autumn term (Y5/6)
• Parental Preferences to LEA (Nov Y6)
• Primaries prepare data (spring Y6)
• Cooper receives data (summer Y6)
• Cooper interview (summer Y6)
• Head of Year/ welfare manager visits (summer Y6)
• Cooper Transfer Day (18th July Y6)

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The Taster Day how it helps

• Meet Headteacher, Assistant Head and Head of Year
  7
• Introduced to Form Tutors meet tutor group
  (working partners!)
• Lessons in Core Subjects (English, Maths and
  Science)
• PE activity Canteen
• Support of Befrienders

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Induction a new academic career

• September Induction day with Year 10 only
• Tutor Groups/ Form Teachers
• Befrienders/ Student Welfare Manager
• Timetables/ Planners
• Year 7 settling in evening based on learning
  objectives

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Pastoral organisation

• Tutor groups
• 7.1
• 7.2
• 7.3
• 7.4
• 7.5
• 7.6
• 7.7

• Head of Year 7

• Student Welfare Manager
• Mrs Sharon Williams

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OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO YEAR 7s
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BEFRIENDERS how they support YR7

• In Year 7 2/3 Befrienders are assigned to each
  form.
• Their job is to get to know your son/daughter and
  talk to them if they have any problems.
• Befrienders can be found wearing a yellow smiley
  face badge.
• There is a Little Room above the Library where
  your son/daughter can discuss problems/issues
  with privacy and total confidentiality.
• The Little Room is open to them every lunchtime
  and is also there if your child just wants to
  talk to someone.
• Befrienders also organise events such as Discos
  to get to know your child better.

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SCHOOL COUNSELLOR listening to your child

• The School Counsellor is Molly Warburton.
• She is available to listen and talk privately
  with your child about any problems that may be
  causing them anxiety or stress.
• Appointments can be made at Reception and you can
  also contact Molly if you want your child to see
  her.

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LIBRARY your child and independent learning

• The library is open at 8am-830am, break time,
  lunch time and after school until 430pm for your
  childs use.
• It can be used for reading, research, playing
  board/card games and can also be used for your
  child to talk quietly with friends.
• There are also computers in the library to aid
  research and for homework purposes.

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STUDY CENTRE supporting your child

• The study centre is open Monday, Tuesday,
  Thursday and Friday Lunchtimes.
• There are learning support staff to help your
  son/daughter with any homework problems they may
  have.

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SCHOOL TRIPS, SPORT CLUBS AND DRAMA PRODUCTIONS

• During their time at Cooper your child will have
  many opportunities to go abroad.
• This year the trips that were available to Lower
  School were to Holland, Disneyland Paris and
  Normandy.
• If your child goes abroad they go sight-seeing
  and to a theme park if there is one within the
  trip. They also have chances to go shopping and
  swimming.
• There is also an opportunity for your child to go
  skiing in places such as Austria.

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SCHOOL TRIPS, SPORT CLUBS AND DRAMA PRODUCTIONS
the fun stuff!

• Your son/daughter can also join sports clubs at
  lunchtimes such as a trampoline club or
  gymnastics.
• There are also school teams that they can be
  involved in. We have teams in Rugby, Football,
  Tennis, Athletics, Golf and Cross-Country.
• Your child could also get involved in the success
  of the Cooper School Drama department. Past and
  Present productions include Turning a Blind
  Eye by Lower School, The Crucible and Romeo
  and Juliet by the Upper School. There was also
  a performance of Bugsy Malone that was produced
  by the whole school.

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AN INSIGHT INTO OUR FEELINGS ABOUT LEAVING COOPER
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THE COOPER SCHOOL CURRICULUM

• A broad and balanced curriculum-
• ............recognising the talents, gifts
  and needs of individual students
• Year 7 students appreciate-
• Variety .. Specialist staff
  .. Depth
• .and
  settings
• The quality of the curriculum is good with good
  opportunities for enrichment. The curriculum is
  well organised and managed and is reviewed
  regularly an appropriate broad curriculum is
  offered throughout the school. Ofsted December
  2003

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LESSONS IN YEAR 7TWO WEEK TIMETABLEONE HOUR
LESSONS 4/5 IN MORNINGS

• Art 2
• Drama 2 4
• English 6 10
• Geography 3 13
• History 3 16
• ICT 2 18
• Mathematics 6 24
• Modern Foreign Languages 5 29
• Music 2 31
• Physical Education 4 35
• PSHCE 1 36
• Religious Education 2 38
• Science 6 44
• Technology 4 48
• Homework

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Teaching and Learning

• Fully staffed with specialist subject teachers
  Teachers know their subjects well. They have
  been carefully selected and are well qualified
  and able to teach around the immediate topic
  adding realism and awareness.
• Variety of Teaching and Learning Methods
• Teachers try hard to make lessons as varied and
  interesting as possible. Students enjoy their
  efforts and productivity is high.
• Visitors impressed by on task students
• Students respond well to the care, dedication
  and commitment to high achievement of their
  teachers.
• Ofsted December 2003

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Meeting the Needs of all students

• Grouping Policy
• Acceleration and Intervention
• Extra Curricular Enrichment
• Special Needs Learning Support and Gifted and
  Talented

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The Learning Environment

• Attractive setting and classrooms
• The provision of the performance hall, the new
  music accommodation and the refurbished science
  laboratories have made a significant impact on
  the ethos of the school Ofsted December 2003
• Science College Status
• 3 more laboratories
• ICT provision
• Improvements to school grounds

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Continuing Curriculum Review and Improvement

• More Flexibility and Individual Pathways
• The end of the KS 3\4 divide
• Separate Sciences and ..
• Other New Courses GCSEs and Vocational Courses
• Wider Choice ............reflecting the
  talents, gifts and needs of individual students

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The Cooper School Specialist
Science College

• The Aim!
• To give every student the opportunity and skills
  to
• Achieve
• and
• Be Successful!