Bridgewater is a popular and successful 11 to 18 comprehensive school, situated on two attractive sites to the south of Warrington. Pupils at Lower School (Years 7-9) enjoy all the facilities and opportunities of a large school, within a smaller, caring environment, before transferring, at the end of Key Stage 3 of the National Curriculum, to Upper School. There they begin a broad range of courses leading to public examination.

Our Main Purpose

Our main priority is standards of learning and achievement across the curriculum as a whole for all our students. To achieve this we work in partnership with other local schools and the wider community to share resources and develop good practice. As a Specialist School for the Arts, we aim to promote an educational climate which is creative and expressive, inclusive, technological, vocational and relevant to the needs of all our students across the ability range.

We encourage, and are committed to, equality of opportunity for all, and value diversity.

Our Aims

¨ Opportunity – To provide all members of the school community with opportunities to develop their individual potential during and beyond their school years.

¨ Enthusiasm and Success – To stimulate enthusiasm for learning and for all pupils to experience success.

¨ Curriculum – To provide each pupil with a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum.

¨ Environment – To create an environment which encourages and recognises hard work, self-discipline and a sense of personal responsibility.

¨ Care and Support – To provide a caring school community which supports both pupils and staff.

¨ Values – To help children to develop their moral and spiritual values.

¨ Respect – To encourage respect for people of all backgrounds and traditions.

¨ Lifestyle – To stress the value, benefit and importance of a healthy lifestyle.

¨ Relationships – To build strong relationships between all members of the school and the larger community we serve.

We are proud that Bridgewater High School was designated as a Performing Arts College under the Government’s Specialist Schools Initiative from September 1998, and redesignated for a second term from September 2001. This has meant that both school and community benefit from additional government funding to promote and develop opportunities in the Arts and across the school as a whole.

The benefits of Arts College Status

§ extra staffing across a number of subject areas

§ increased curricular provision; support for minority subjects

§ enhanced facilities – editing facilities, recording studio, music technology equipment, computer suites, dance studio

§ school open seven days a week, including evenings, for school and community use

§ promotion of opportunities for adults and young people to learn together

§ varied extra-curricular activity programme including

extension activities for

talented performers

§ development of creativity and confidence in all our pupils

§ work with professional artists

§ contact with the entertainment industry

§ use of the performing arts to enrich the learning experience within all subjects of the curriculum

§ opportunity for pupils to work in the wider community

The targets and performance indicators against which success is judged are set out in the Arts College Development Plan.

This also describes the aims of the Specialist Schools Programme, which are:

§ to extend the range of opportunities available to pupils with an increased uptake of this provision

§ to raise standards of teaching and learning in the specialist subjects

§ to raise standards of achievement for all pupils of all abilities

§ to develop an identity and ethos which reflects the school’s aims

§ to benefit other schools and the wider community

How to join us

* Study our School Prospectus

* Attend our Information Evening and Lower School Open Day in October.

* Apply to the Local Education Authority for a place after receiving their Admissions Booklet.

* As a prospective Year7 pupil, experience two full days at Bridgewater during the Summer Term as part of our Induction Programme.

*If joining beyond Year 7, contact us for further details about places and procedures.

Admissions Policy

The Local Education Authority manages admissions to all Warrington schools. Details are published in a separate booklet entitled:

Secondary Education: A Guide to Parents on Education Services and School Admission Arrangements.

This is sent directly to parents of Year 6 pupils and is also available from:

Education and Lifelong Learning Department,

Warrington Borough Council,

New Town House,

Buttermarket Street,

Warrington. WA1 2NJ

Tel: 01925 444400

Bridgewater High School’s designated partner primary schools are:

Appleton Thorn Primary

Broomfields Junior

Grappenhall Heys Community Primary

Stretton St. Matthew's C E Primary

St. Thomas' C E Primary

Stockton Heath Primary

Daresbury C E Primary

Moore Primary

In recent years admission to Year 7 has been over subscribed. Where the school reaches its Planned Admission Limit a formal Appeals Procedure operates and is managed by the Local Education Authority.

Last academic year, September 2003:

Proposed admission limit - 300

First preference applications - 312

Admitted Sept 2003 - 300

Siblings - 130

Partner Primary School – 159

Proximity to School - 11

Admitted on appeal – 0

Subjects Pupils Study

Bridgewater teaches the full National Curriculum. At Key Stage Three (KS3) pupils study English, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), one or two Modern Foreign Languages, Mathematics, Science, Religious Studies, Design Technology, PE, History, Geography, Art, Dance, Drama Music and Citizenship. Our aim throughout is to develop a wide variety of knowledge, skills and understanding as a sound foundation for the future.

At Key Stage Four (KS4) pupils continue to study Science, English, Mathematics, Religious Studies, PE and Citizenship. They choose from a variety of further subjects designed to reflect their own interests and abilities. These include German, Art, French, Textiles, Technology (Product Design), Food Technology, Drama, Music, Geography, History, Business Studies, Physical Education, Dance, Information Technology, Leisure and Tourism, Performing Arts, and Child Development. Most of these courses lead to GCSE or GNVQ qualifications.

At Key Stage 5 (KS5) many students choose to remain at Bridgewater, joining the school's sixth form 'college' provision, where a range of academic and vocational courses are on offer. Further detail about the sixth form is available in a separately published Prospectus, available from the School.

Detailed information about all subject areas will soon become available on the school web site at www.bridgewaterhigh.com and through additional publications (see page 4).

School policies

Careers advice is provided for all students in Years 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 via the Connexions Partnership. This includes work experience for Y10 pupils, work shadowing in Y12 and Higher Education advice for Y12 and 13 students. Religious Education is taught as a foundation subject to all pupils, in all years, unless withdrawn by parental request. School Assemblies are held for all year groups, which incorporate collective worship, unless pupils are withdrawn by parental request. Alternative arrangements are made for these pupils. Sex Education is taught within a moral framework and aims to develop knowledge and understanding. The subject is treated with sensitivity and care as part of our Health Education Policy, approved by the governing body. Citizenship is also taught to all pupils in all year groups.

Homework plays an important part in all pupils’ development. Regular assignments are set and entered into the Pupil Planner for monitoring by staff and parents. Educational Visits are also arranged for pupils both

during and outside of the school day. Costs are regulated by the Governors’ Charging and Remission policy.

The Special Educational Needs of pupils are given careful consideration and include pupils with learning difficulties as well as those who may be gifted or talented. We also have a Learning Support Centre, to help those pupils experiencing difficulties adjusting to school life. Particular provision is also made for the full integration of pupils with physical disabilities, in line with The Special Educational Needs and Disability Discrimination Act 2001. Full access is available in all areas of the school. Our Equal Opportunities and Social Inclusion Policies support our commitment to constantly review our provision and equality of treatment of all pupils with any Special Needs.

Assessment and Reporting of Pupils' Progress

Pupils' progress is carefully monitored and assessed. Parents receive regular reports and the opportunity to meet with staff at a parents’ evening once a year. Reports highlight pupil progress in relation to their individual ability and previous achievement in the context of the National Curriculum.

Recording Achievement

Pupils are encouraged to take an active part in assessing their own achievements. This eventually leads to the nationally recognised Progress File, completed by the end of Year 11, which pupils then retain.

6^th Form (Appleton College)

Our sixth form provision offers a broad range of academic, and some vocational, courses. It enjoys an established level of success in public examinations and the majority of students take up places in Higher Education. College students enjoy all the facilities of a large comprehensive specialist school along with their own social and private study facilities. A major building programme, in 2004, has enhanced substantially the sixth form study and seminar facilities. A separate Sixth Form Prospectus is available from the school. Student destinations at the end of year 13 are published annually for all parents and separately published in the annexe to this prospectus.

Teacher Training

Bridgewater is fully committed to involvement in the training of the next generation of teachers, and has established training partnerships with three local University Education Institutes: Manchester Metropolitan University, Liverpool John Moores University and University College, Chester. Trainee Teachers observe and teach lessons while on placement at Bridgewater. They are always closely monitored by class teachers, who retain responsibility for the quality of teaching and learning within the classroom. Overall the training is supervised by a number of trained and experienced school ‘mentors’.

Parental Involvement

We believe strongly in home-school partnership which is clearly expressed in our Home-School Agreement, published in Pupil Planners. The door is always open and parental opinions and concerns will always be given our full attention. Our Parent Teacher Association contributes to the success of the school through parental events and the provision of additional resources.

Other Publications

· Home-School Agreement

· Year 7 Handbook

· 14+ Curriculum Booklet (relating to courses on offer in Y10)

· Sixth Form Prospectus

· Public Examinations Entry

· Public Examinations Results

· The Bridge and Reachout

Newsletters

· Latest OFSTED report

All publications are available from the school.

Pastoral Organisation

Our pastoral system provides pupils with a happy, secure environment where they can flourish academically and socially. Tutor groups normally consist of 30 pupils, each child having a tutor who gets to know them individually

and is responsible for day to day concerns. Heads of Year, and their assistants, make up the leadership of year teams and are

the first point of contact for parents. In years 12 and 13 a personal tutor system is

in place which ensures that students have regular one-to-one meetings with their tutors, to monitor progress and deal with concerns.

Other educational support services available to the school include the Psychology, Welfare and Careers/Connexions services.

Lunch and Break Times

At break and lunchtimes we provide designated rooms and areas for students who wish to remain indoors. A cafeteria system operates on both sites and pupils

may also bring their own packed lunches. Enquiries regarding free school meals may be made to the Education Department, New Town House, Buttermarket Street, Warrington WA1 2NJ

Tel: 01925 443117

Parents whose children are entitled to free school meals are assured that applications are dealt with sensitively and confidentially and are strongly encouraged to take up their entitlement.

Transport to and from School

Buses for pupils travelling a distance from school are provided and managed by both Warrington and Halton Borough Transport. Contact details are available from the school and Transport Depts.

Medical Matters

Pupils who are ill during the school day are sent to the school office and, after consultation with their Head of Year, may either be returned to lessons or sent home, following contact with parents.

Attendance

The school has a statutory responsibility to record and monitor the attendance of all pupils. All absences, therefore, require a written note from a parent/guardian on return to school. If pupils need to attend appointments outside school for medical or other reasons, they bring a note to their form tutor and sign out of school at the appropriate time. Absence from school without permission is recorded as unauthorised on a pupil’s record.

In cases of prolonged or frequent absence, a medical certificate may be required and reference made to

the Education Welfare Officer.

The school very strongly discourages absence due to holidays taken during term time, for which written permission from the Headteacher must always be sought.

Absence Statistics 2003/4

Number on roll 1673

Authorised Absence 5%

Unauthorised Absence 0.5%

Holidays 2005/2006	Closure Date	Staff Training Days	Re-opening Date
Training Day		Mon 5^th Sept
Training Day		Tue 6^th Sept	Wed 7^th Sept
Autumn Half Term	Fri 21^st Oct		Mon 31^st Oct
Training Day		Fri 11^th Nov
Christmas 2004	Wed 21^st Dec		Wed 4^th Jan
Spring Half Term 2005	Fri 17^th Feb		Mon 27^th Feb
Easter 2005	Fri 7^th April		Tue 25^th April
Training Day		Mon 24^th April
Spring Bank Holiday	Fri 28^th April		Tue 2^nd May
Summer Half Term	Fri 26^th May		Mon 5^th June
Training Day		Fri 30^th June
Summer 2005	Friday 21^st July

School Uniform

School Uniform is an important statement of our school standards and must be worn to school everyday.

Boys	Girls
Plain white shirt	Plain white blouse/shirt (fitted, short style not allowed)
Plain mid-grey trousers	Plain, mid-grey skirt, approximately knee-length (Y7,8,9 pleated) Uniform mid-grey trousers
Navy blazer with school badge	Navy blazer with school badge
Navy V-neck jumper with badge	Navy V-neck jumper with badge
	Navy cardigan
Plain navy/grey/black or white socks	Plain navy/grey/black or white socks Plain navy/black/opaque tights
School tie	School tie
Black shoes (no boots or trainers)	Black flat shoes (no high heels, boots or trainers)

A number of items are available from the PTA shop (Upper School) – open Thursday 4.00- 4.45pm during term time.

To maintain standards of uniform we also insist that:

· Trainers should not be worn to and from school.

· Denim jackets, track suit tops or sweatshirts are not worn as top coats.

· Jewellery is limited to one plain ring and one pair of plain stud earrings.

· Facial piercing such as nose, eyebrow, lip and tongue is strictly prohibited.

· Make-up should not be worn.

· Hair styles should be neat and tidy, with no beaded plaits (unless tied back), and no extreme colours or styles.

It is important that all clothing is clearly marked with the owner's name.

Fuller uniform details and regulations are available for parents in the school

handbook. The school also confirms information about school uniform with all parents each year by letter during the Summer Term.

Specialist items of uniform are necessary for Physical Education and Dance and are follows:

Physical Education
Boys	Girls
Royal blue rugby jersey – badged (reversible red hooped)	Royal blue wrap-over skirt - badged
Royal blue rugby shorts - badged
Royal blue shorts - badged	Royal blue shorts - badged
White short sleeved polo shirt - badged	White short sleeved polo shirt - badged
Royal blue sweat shirt - badged	Royal blue sweat shirt - badged
Royal blue (red turnover) football socks	Royal blue hockey socks White short socks
Football boots
Trainers	Trainers
Blue/black swimming trunks (not shorts)	Swimming costume
Royal blue jogging pants (optional)	Royal blue jogging pants (optional)

Dance (boys and girls)

Black tee shirt (Arts College logo)

Black trousers\leggings

We offer a range of Extra-Curricular opportunities. This includes an exchange visit to West Tisbury School on Martha’s Vineyard (USA), residential visits to The Conway Centre on Anglesey, Language courses in France and Germany, ski trips abroad and Arts trips to Europe and America.

Extra-curricular Clubs are organised at various times and include Art, Dance, Drama, Reading, Performing Arts, Speech and Drama, Computers, Sound Composition, Stage Lighting, Song Writing, Singing, Sailing, Arts Homework, Band, Rugby, Soccer, Hockey, Cross-country, Basketball, Badminton, Athletics and Cricket. Professional coaches are also used to extend and enhance sports provision. At Lower School we host a Cricket Centre of Excellence and at Upper School, fully utilise our astroturf floodlit tennis courts.

Peripatetic music lessons are available for all pupils in a range of instruments including drums, piano,

keyboard, flute, brass, guitar, voice, strings, saxophone and clarinet.

Arts College

As an Arts College there are numerous opportunities for

performance, such as the School

Play, Christmas and Summer Celebrations, Concerts, Dance and Drama Festivals, Choreography Competition, Pop Stars, Pop Idol and Young Musician of the Year. Various masterclasses are also held for talented artists and performers plus the chance to gain extra qualifications via Trinity College graded speech and drama examinations.

There are regular trips organised to the theatre, dance and musical shows. We also organise a number of Summer Schools, during the holiday period.

Both visual and performing artists are employed on occasions during the year to give pupils the experience of working with talented professionals.

Post-16 College students also enjoy additional opportunities through the Young Enterprise Scheme, Service in the Community, field trips, exchanges and various cultural/educational visits.

Membership of the Governing Body 2003/04

LEA Representatives Parent Governors

Mr A Day Mrs S Dennis

Mr J Melville Dr R Hayward

Cllr Mrs C Jordan (chair) * Mr Y Shaikh

Mrs S Watts Mr S Whatmore

Dr F Arshad Mr J Whittaker

Mrs. S Kennedy

Co-opted Governors

Teacher Governors

Mrs M Heaton

Ms J Akers Mr P Bailey

Mr K Greenwood Mrs P Ford

Mrs A Gittins (Vice Chair)

Mr J Hampton

Clerk to Governors Support Staff Governors

Mr I Davies* Vacancy

*The Clerk to the Governors and Head Teacher

Chair may be contacted at

Upper School, Mr.C.Marks

Broomfields Road, Appleton,

Warrington WA4 3AE

01925 263919

Full Governing Body

Over the year governors have discussed and made decisions in relation to the following main issues:

· Examination Results

· Developments in ICT facilities

· Remodelling the School Workforce

· Policies for Community, Initial Teacher Training, Educational Visits, Anti-Bullying and Social Inclusion

· Changes to pupil assessment reporting arrangements

· Arts College developments

· Changes to staffing arrangements

· The School Budget

· New sixth form facilities

· School Travel Plan

· Pupil Exclusions

· Development of the School Council

In addition, the Governors receive and discuss at each meeting a detailed written report from the Headteacher regarding the overall management and day today running of the school.

Celia Jordan

Finance and General Purposes Committee

Items discussed included:

· The School Budget

· Arts College Budget

· Catering arrangements and investment

· New arrangements for the constitution of the Governing Body

· ICT Investment Plan

· New School Telecom system

· Music fees

· Freedom of Information Act

Celia Jordan

Curriculum Committee

The curriculum committee consists of nine governors and has met on four occasions during the academic year 2003-2004. High quality presentations, lively debate and considerable discussion typify the style of the meetings taking place.

Issues discussed include:

· Analysis of Examination Results

2003

· Target Setting 2005 – Key Stage 3 & 4

· 14-19 Curriculum

· KS3 Strategy Update

· Interim Assessments

· Target Setting for Y10 Students

· Provisional Curriculum Plan for 2004/5

· Panda/League Tables

· 6^th Form Panda (Performance and data analysis)

· ICT – Citizenship

· Curriculum & Timetable updates

· Y9/10 Options

Presentations to Committee

· Julie Burns: 14-19 Curriculum

· Tim Long: 14-19 Curriculum

K Greenwood

Personnel Committee

Items discussed included:

· Whole School Pay Policy

· School’s Management Structure

· Teacher and Support Staff Structure

· Performance Management and arrangements for Post Threshold Pay Progression

· Staffing plans and forecasts

Alistair Day

Buildings and Community Committee

The Committee has met three times and considered the following:

· The Site and Fabric Plan was reviewed via inspection of both sites. Regular maintenance and improvement work included painting, new flooring and doors, modification to windows, improvements to the pond / garden areas, installation of fencing around the tennis courts and foyer refurbishment at Lower School.

Also Approval was given for the

appointment of an in-house

painter and decorator and the

refurbishment of toilets at

Lower School.

The new site and fabric plan for

the next academic year was

formulated and approved.

· Appleton College building extension work is anticipated to be completed in September 2004 and although several problems have arisen during construction both staff and students coped well with the disruption. This work has also included the refurbishment of science laboratories.

· Health and Safety remains a priority within the school. A Health and Safety survey carried out by the LEA led to the adoption of the model policy from Warrington Borough Council and the School’s H & S Handbook being updated.

Progress was made on risk

assessment and an H & S

Committee established to

review management of H & S in

school.

Electrical and Gas appliance

testing was carried out and five

year testing of mains electrical

sockets arranged.

· The School Prospectus format was reviewed and minor amendments approved. It was agreed that the written Governors’ Annual Report to Parents should continue to appear in the prospectus.

· School Security remains a priority with measures being taken to minimize security incidents. The extension and improvement of current CCTVs to maximize coverage was considered.

· Links with the Community continue to be monitored with specific reference to lettings by external organisations. A new fee structure was adopted and implemented.

Amalia Gittens

Other Committees

In addition to the standing committees described above a number of governors also sit on the following sub-committees:

· Pupils’ Disciplinary Committee

· Staff Dismissal Committee

· Staff Dismissal (Appeals)

Committee

· Headteacher and Leadership

Group Performance Review

Committee

Summary of School Improvement Priorities 2003-2005

(A)	EXTENDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING (STAFF & PUPILS)

§ Develop the use of digital technologies in all curriculum areas through planned investment in projectors, cameras, whiteboards, laptops and DVD and initiate a ‘lead guru’ training and support programme to support the implementation of digital technology.

§ Arts Training Centre. Seek to achieve Arts Training Centre Status through the Specialist Schools Trust

§ Develop the more conspicuous use of arts method across the curriculum, utilising the strengths of our Advanced Skills Teachers (AST) in drama.

§ Establish a new Multi-media learning and resource area for post-16 students and extend opportunities to include second chance learning for adults.

§ Examine the feasibility of site location and funding for a Community Theatre and cyber café facility on the Upper school site.

§ Seek Investors in People Status.

§ Improve the effectiveness of curriculum transfer arrangements KS2/3

§ Produce an Action Plan to support the implementation of the Policy for Race Equality and Cultural Diversity

(B)

RE-SHAPING THE CURRICULUM EXPERIENCE

§ Re shape the 14-19 curriculum model in the light of government reforms to exploit the choice and diversity of curriculum pathways.

§ Implement in full the Key Stage 3 strategy.

§ Prepare for the introduction of a compulsory arts experience for all at Key Stage 4 from 2004 onwards.

§ Through the appointment of a Whole School co-ordinator for the Gifted and Talented, make more provision available through Curriculum and Enrichment programmes.

§ Develop more opportunities for Accelerated Learning through extension of teaching and learning styles (including gender) and the limited introduction of Fast Track opportunities in Science, Mathematics and the Arts.

§ Continue to raise pupil attainment and take up of curriculum experiences through development of secure systems for tracking and monitoring each pupil’s progress and attainment across the curriculum and in extra-curricular/enrichment programmes. (Focus – KS4 Value Added and gender differences)

§ Develop the leadership capacity of subject leaders

(C)	BUILDING A SECURE PLATFORM FOR ICT DEVELOPMENTS

§ Identification and agreement over level of investment necessary to support ICT developments as a whole between 2003/5, including lease and borrowing arrangements.

§ Produce a clear and strategic Whole School ICT Development Plan which addresses:-

* Infrastructure

* Hard and Software

* Staff Training

* Curriculum and administration purposes

* Determine and make the best overall balance of hardware resources in terms of networked rooms, PC clusters and individual workstations, taking into account developments in laptop and wireless technology

§ Clear identification of ICT opportunities in all Schemes of Work.

§ Development of the school website with interactive capability to support pupils’ home access to a school Intranet site carrying curriculum materials and assignments.

§ Development of ICT/Leadership and consultancy across the curriculum to support teachers in the use of classroom technologies and NOF outcomes.

§ Make more robust arrangements for the monitoring of the quality of ICT teaching and learning.

§ Improve the personal access of teachers to computers to increase personal competence and confidence.

§ Improve and extend quantity and quality of Technical Support for the Curriculum and Admin networks.

(D)

SECURING SPECIALIST SCHOOL STATUS (PHASE 3)

§ Evaluation of Second Phase Arts College Bid.

§ Preparation of Third Round Bid, with the advice and support of the School Improvement Group.

Christopher Marks

Outline Summary of Examination Results and School Targets

KS3 National Curriculum Test Results

Subject

KS3

2002/03

Target Result

2003/04

Target Result

2004/05

Target

English

Level 5+

Level 6+

82% 89%

52% 54%

87% 90%

56% 54%

87%

53%

Maths

Level 5+

Level 6+

83% 91%

60% 60%

86% 90%

65% 72%

90%

74%

Science

Level 5+

Level 6+

76% 89%

52 % 60%

85% 88%

56% 53%

87%

60%

ICT

Level 5+

Level 6+

N/A

80%

50%

KS4 GCSE Examination Results

	2001/02 Target Result	2002/03 Target Result	2003/04 Target Result	2004/05 Target
5 or more A*- C grades	68% 66%	63% 65%	67% 72%	73%
5 or more A*- G grades including English and mathematics	98% 100 %	98% 98%	98% 99%	98%
Capped average point score	41.9	40.5	40.66	41

Introduction

Our Aims

Issues discussed include:

Presentations to Committee

(A)

(C)