Subject Lead Computer Science

Glenthorne High School is a successful, over-subscribed, mixed comprehensive school for pupils between the ages of 11 and 19 situated in the London Borough of Sutton. In July 2017 we became part of the Willow Learning Trust with two local primary schools: Aragon and Abbey.

We believe in Achievement for All. We have a reputation for excellence and are well known for high standards of achievement and behaviour. Significant investment in facilities over the last few years has seen the building of two new science classrooms, a state-of-the-art Library and we are soon to add a new 6th form facility, due to be complete Summer 2023.

We were inspected by OFSTED in November 2021 and were judged good with outstanding in Behaviour and Sixth-form provision. Inspectors recognised ‘pupils are happy and safe and behave exceptionally well’. Relationships between staff and pupils are excellent. Also recognising Leaders and staff high expectations of pupils and that pupil do well in their subjects and are focused on doing their best.

The school was designated as a National Teaching School in March 2013 and we developed the Sutton Teaching School Alliance to support professional development and further improve best teaching practice across the Borough of Sutton. Glenthorne became a SCITT in 2014, leading secondary and primary schools in Sutton and Merton to deliver high quality ITT. The SCITT was judged ‘Outstanding’ in 2021. The SCITT comprises of over 20 high-performing local, yet diverse secondary and primary schools, which have made rapid progress over recent years, have high expectations of students and view teacher training as the key to future success.

We also have a specialism in the arts. We are a centre of excellence in the arts and hold the Artsmark Gold Award. We hold the Challenge Award recognising excellence in meeting the needs of our more able  pupils. In 2020 the school featured in the highly acclaimed and award-winning Channel 4 documentary, ‘The school that tried to end racism’, which gives you a flavour of the work the school is undertaking. Professional development is encouraged at all levels of the school and is supported by performance management.

We value professional development and there are opportunities to develop subject, pastoral, and management skills.

Our priorities are to continue to improve specific aspects of teaching and learning, develop our curriculum and raise standards of attainment. Standards achieved by our pupils in public examinations are high; GCSE & A level results stand at:

·  44% of entries obtained A*/A grades or 9-7 grades

· · 91% of pupils gained at least a standard pass in English and Maths

· · 82% of pupils gained at least a strong pass in English and Maths

· · 93% of pupils achieved at least a standard pass in English Language or Literature.

· · 88% of pupils achieved at least a strong pass in English Language or Literature.

· · 93% of pupils achieved at least a standard pass in Maths.

· · 86% of pupils achieved at least a strong pass in Maths.

· · 55% of pupils achieved the E-Bacc with a standard pass.

· · A Level results at 100% with 98% A*-C grades.

The curriculum at Glenthorne is organised into Subject Areas, each with its own Subject Leader. In Year 7, pupils are set in core subjects and languages with mixed-ability groups for other subjects. A wide range of GCSE and A Level courses are taught together with BTEC and other vocational courses. Subjects are taught in their own suites of well-equipped classrooms. Extra-curricular activities are a further strength of the school. Subject Areas encourage a wide range of extra-curricular activities - visits to galleries and theatres, clubs in Science and Technology, field trips, museum visits and so on. Recent school productions have included “Starlight Express”, “Annie”, “Bugsy Malone”, “Billy Elliot”, “We Will Rock You”, “Mary Poppins” and “Oaklahoma” in 2022. All involved over 100 pupils and proved to be huge successes.

Sport is a key area of achievement and the school runs a Football Academy for Sixth Form students. We run many teams and clubs in a variety of different sports. There is also an excellent Challenge Week for all KS3 students in July each year designed to promote teamwork, problem solving, creative thinking and resilience.

Pupils at the school are organised in mixed-ability tutor groups with nine (ten in Y7/8 & 9) in each year group. Most form tutors and Heads of Year move up the school with the year group. Together they play an important role in the monitoring of pupil progress as well as in supporting individual pupils. All pupils and staff are all allocated to one of four Houses: Rollason, Seacole, Turing and Morris, providing opportunities for pupils in all year groups to work together in friendly competition.

The SEN Department at the school is fully committed to supporting the needs of pupils who experience learning, behavioural or emotional difficulties. We offer a wide provision of intervention and support encompassing literacy, numeracy, speech and language, social skills, anger management and individual mentoring.

We also offer the cycle to work scheme to all staff, on site parking and generous pension scheme.

Willow Learning Trust is committed to promoting a positive and diverse culture in which all staff and young people are valued and supported to fulfil their potential irrespective of their age, disability, race, religion, belief, sex or sexual orientation. The Trust works hard to provide a working environment and management practices which balance the drive for high standards and expectation with the need to promote employee wellbeing and good health.

Please note the Trust is committed to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of all our children and staff. As such, all posts are subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure and pre-employment checks.

SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT 

Safeguarding at the Willow Learning Trust is of paramount importance.  Each school in the Trust has its own Safeguarding Policy which is reviewed and approved by the Local Governing Body on an annual basis or more frequently if new guidance is received, and adopted by each school’s Local Governing Body.  

• The Board of Trustees receives a termly update on safeguarding from each school through Headteacher Reports.  

• Each school nominates a Safeguarding Governor and a Deputy who visit the school to ensure that correct procedures are being followed and to check that the Single Central Record is upto-date.  

• Each school completes an appropriate safeguarding audit following Local Authority guidance which is reviewed by the Local Governing Body and submitted to the Trustees’ Personnel Committee each year in the Autumn Term.  

• Each school reports back to the Trustees’ Personnel Committee on action taken to address development points identified in their audit.  

• Each school puts in place appropriate systems and software to ensure effective safeguarding through filtering and monitoring of computer use. 

For further information about the school, please visit our website at www.glenthorne.sutton.sch.uk