PROSPECTUS M E O L E B R A C E S C H O O L Achievement Respect Community
A WA R M W E L C O M E T O M E O L E B R A C E S C H O O L S C I E N C E C O L L E G E Thank you for your interest in our school. This brochure offers a snapshot of life at Meole Brace School. Please do contact us to arrange a visit for a fuller picture of a normal working day in our school. It would be a pleasure to show you around. Meole Brace School is a caring and cheerful community committed to developing the academic, personal and social skills of all our students to the highest standards. Our principal aim is to enable them to lead happy and successful lives, both at school and when they leave. We encourage our students to be self confident, to enjoy learning and to be motivated to achieve the best they can, now and in the future, through our core values of Achievement, Respect and Community ARC. We actively promote community values. We show care, consideration and courtesy towards each other valuing the contributions, achievements and traditions of all. Carers, parents and members of the local community are active in the life of the school. We place great emphasis on equipping our students with the social skills necessary to be able to form positive relationships and to be able to work cooperatively with others. We are proud of our reputation as a successful and vibrant school with high expectations; we are committed to providing a stimulating and high quality learning experience for all. Hilary Burke (Mrs) Headteacher A fantastic caring school in all respects. I can t sing your praises high enough. A great atmosphere which encourages its students to excel. Parental Survey, February 2014 The behaviour and safety of students are outstanding because the ethos of the school is central to all relationships OFSTED Inspection, May 2012
HOW WE MEET THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS The school access plan aims to improve accessibility to the school. A disabled person is defined as one who has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Our access plan, available in school, focuses on improving access to the curriculum, to information and to the site. Our Learning Support Department leads a network of support systems across the curriculum for those students who have Special Educational Needs. Students work in mainstream classes with support and facilities are also provided for short-term individual input where appropriate. We have a strong ethos of support for Gifted and Talented students providing specifically designed activities and trips. A number of our students are members of the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth. I m really pleased with how happy my daughter is at this school. Keep up the good work and thank you. Parental Survey, February 2014 We feel that from reception to the school s management team, parents are known and welcomed. Thank you for helping us to help our children. A job very well done. Parental Survey, February 2014 HOME-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP The partnership between home, students and school is a major contributing factor to the success of our students. We regularly inform carers and parents about their child s progress through Parents Evenings, Progress Review Days, written reports and interim assessments. Subject teachers and tutors also contact home with news about achievements or areas for development. In addition, parents receive three formal written reports per year to provide regular and up-to-date information on student progress. Newsletters and our website (www.meolebrace.com) provide whole school information and updates. We have an active parents group which all carers and parents are invited to join and support. We encourage all carers or parents to contact us at any time to discuss a concern they may have. We believe that it is important to listen and consult with all members of the community. The headteacher has an ambitious vision for the school and high expectations of both staff and students. Leadership of all pastoral aspects of the school s work is excellent. OFSTED Inspection, May 2012
ABOUT OUR CURRICULUM Programmes of study in Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9) and Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11) are designed to give all students the opportunity to achieve their full potential in every subject area. Individual skills and aptitudes are valued. Every student is set ambitious personal targets which are the focus of regular monitoring to evaluate progress. Teaching methods are adapted according to the student s ability and regular assessment is used to track their progress and prioritise their needs. In addition we offer a range of voluntary after school GCSEs including Astronomy, Statistics and Psychology. KS3 Subjects Art Design Technology Drama English Geography History ICT Language (French and Spanish) Maths Music Personal Development PE RE Science KS4 Core Subjects (Common to all) English Maths Personal Development PE RE Science KS4 Options Applied Health & Social Care Art BTEC Construction BTEC Business Studies Dance Design Technology (Resistant Materials) Design Technology (Textiles) Food Technology Geography History ICT Cambridge Nationals (Creative or Technical) Modern Foreign Languages (French, Spanish or German) OFSTED Inspection May 2012 Music Performing Arts (Drama) Physical Education Religious Education Science: Biology, Chemistry & Physics Students develop strong reading, writing and mathematical skills and their communication skills in both verbal and written contexts are particularly good.
OUR LEARNING RESOURCES Meole Brace School has an extensive range of resources focused on ensuring our students experience stimulating and enjoyable lessons. These include: delivery of lessons in well equipped subject areas by specialist teachers a wide range of ICT equipment to support quality teaching and learning including over 300 networked computers, 5 ICT suites, multimedia projectors and interactive whiteboards a Learning Resource Centre to support students in all areas. This comprises a purpose built library and suite of computers providing regular access to all students for research and presentation facilities. We employ a full time librarian to manage the centre and to provide advice for students and staff sports facilities that provide a wide and varied choice of PE activities. We have 2 sports halls, tennis and netball courts, football pitches, playing fields, athletic areas and a floodlit all-weather Astroturf playing surface We are extremely happy with the transition from primary to secondary school. I wish school was like this in my day! Parental Survey, February 2014 Parental engagement is excellent and this is reflected in the overwhelmingly positive response from parents and carers. OFSTED Inspection, May 2014
OUR STUDENT SUPPORT The care and guidance of students is closely monitored by Form Tutors and Year Team Leaders who stay with the tutor group and year group for five years. The tutor, as well as being the focal point for students during tutor time, delivers the Personal Development Curriculum to their tutor group. This is a personal, social and health education programme. Every student has a Homework Diary and Planner to record homework and VIVO awards. It is also a means of quick and regular contact between home and school. Our pastoral system provides a secure and supportive framework for students that underpins their progress throughout the school. Our work in this area has been praised by OFSTED inspectors in their last two school visits. OUR AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES All students have many opportunities to experience a variety of enrichment activities that support and enhance their learning. We encourage students to join after-school clubs and societies including Astronomy, Drama, Languages, ICT, Science Club, Art, Choir, Statistics, Music groups and many PE clubs. Every year a whole school production takes place that is presented in evening performances to the public. We are always delighted by the large number of students who volunteer to perform in the production and also to be part of technical crews in sound, lighting and props. Educational visits and outside speakers designed to broaden the experiences of students are a common feature of our curriculum delivery examples include Geography field visits to Dovedale, visits from artists into Art lessons, History trips to the First World War battlefield sites in France and Belgium, productions from theatre groups for students in English lessons and French visits. The School prepares its students very well for further education, training or employment OFSTED Inspection, May 2012
Shrewsbury A49 A49 To Whitchurch & Manchester 3 To Market Drayton Stoke on Trent B5062 To Newport To Oswestry & North Wales A49 B458 To Welshpool Railway Station To Telford, M54 & West Midlands B4386 To Montgomery Nuffield Hospital Longden Road Cemetery Golf Course A488 To Bishops Castle Brooklands Hotel Meole Brace School Meole Brace Retail Park A458 To Bridgnorth To Telford Dobbies Garden Centre A49 To Ludlow Hereford MEOLE BRACE SCHOOL Science College Longden Road, Shrewsbury, SY3 9DW Tel: (01743) 235961 Fax: (01743) 364017 Email: admin@meolebrace.shropshire.sch.uk Website: www.meolebrace.com