Wimbledon College
Merton, United Kingdom
About Wimbledon College
Wimbledon College is a popular and oversubscribed school which prides itself on its exam results at both GCSE and A level. As a Jesuit school, our ethos can be summed up by St Ignatius Loyola’s vision for Jesuit schools as being “for improvement in living and learning for the greater glory of God and the common good.” Central to St Ignatius’ vision and to the College is the education of the whole person, providing each pupil with the opportunity to strive for excellence in all that they do.
Wimbledon College aims to create a caring and disciplined community in which pupils will feel secure and are motivated to be involved in their studies and in a wide range of school activities, to encourage pupils to recognise the best in themselves and to work hard to develop all of their talents, and to instil in its pupils an awareness of the needs of others and a commitment to putting their gifts and energies at the service of others.
Staff Development
At Wimbledon College, we believe that professional development is an essential and inherent part of your role regardless of the stage you are at in your career or the position you hold. This results in bespoke CPD journeys based on your current position and the trajectory you would like your career to go in. Every staff member is supported along that journey. Through a combination of internal and external CPD opportunities staff are able to develop their own skills and competencies and then have the opportunity to share those with colleagues from the College and across the borough.
We use a range of resources and strategies within and outside the College to achieve this:
· We have staff completing external leadership courses such as NPQs and Merton specific Leadership Courses
· We engage with a wide range of organisations, including UCL, Bluesky and PixL to support the delivery of our extensive professional development programme for both career progression and skills development tailored to individual needs
· We have a coaching programme to allow both teaching and non teaching staff to share best practice and offer career advice and guidance.
· We have in-school groups that work collaboratively on projects around a chosen topic such as promoting literacy across the curriculum
If you are starting your teaching career with us, we partner with Teach Wimbledon and Roehampton University to welcome both Schools’ Direct and PGCE students. We also have a comprehensive Early Career Teacher support system where you will receive an individual mentor, reduced timetable and opportunities to embed your learning.
We fully appreciate the importance of training for support staff and have a generous budget to ensure that external courses are available in addition to in school training for all interested support staff.
Our aim is to empower staff to ascertain their own professional needs, both within and around their role, and to provide whatever support they require to flourish.
Location
Being an ECT I feel so lucky to be in such a supportive environment at Wimbledon College. All the staff have been so welcoming and encouraging. The pupils have a real drive to learn which makes it a pleasure to teach them. I have especially enjoyed getting involved with the plethora of extra curricular activities, including coaching a Year 9 rugby team. There is a great sense of camaraderie between the staff and there is a really cohesive rather than competitive atmosphere.
- James, ECTFor my first teaching position I doubt I could have landed in a school more supportive and encouraging than Wimbledon College. The atmosphere at the school really is one of positivity, care and support; and with that support, it’s hard not to throw yourself into school life. As a Head of House, it's a pleasure to seeing students encourage each other to get involved in all manner of house activities, from sports day to swimming, chess club to rugby, all with the goal of winning the illustrious house championship. The opportunities offered to student and staff alike are abundant. I've been able to share my love for the countryside with the students in getting involved with the DofE programme, undertake an NPQ alongside my teaching, take on the roles of Head of house and Co KS3 science coordinator, and above all else, coach the mighty u13C rugby team to some spectacular wins.
- Tom, NQT+1I've really enjoyed developing my career from NQT to Head of Department in the time I have been at Wimbledon College. I have been well supported every step of the way and am looking forward to the opportunities and challenges being HOD will offer me. I am hoping to expand the History department by offering more extra curricular activities and continuing with the work to ensure our curriculum reflects the diversity of the students.
- Claire, Head of DepartmentI'm really pleased to have joined the Sixth Form team this year as Head of Rhetoric (Y13). Supporting students at such an important time of transition in their lives comes with a great deal of unexpected challenges. Thankfully, I have a lot of experienced staff in the pastoral support team to lean on. I try to stay as organised as possible and 'control the controllables' so that I can respond to any problems arising with a clear mind. Of course it's a demanding job but seeing my students engage with learning in a positive way and start to achieve success is equally rewarding.”
- Antoinette, Head of Line (Year)I don't believe any other school focuses on the men that we shall become and how we will impact the world around us, and for that reason I am proud to have attended the College. I have been able to achieve targets in and out of the classroom which I am very proud of, and there have been teachers along the way that I have always been able to turn to. Wimbledon College has furthered my development into a young man who is ready for the next step in his life, and I believe that is all a school is there to do.
- Y13 PupilI feel very proud to call myself a student of Wimbledon College. Whether it was doing up my tie in the morning with seven stripes or holding my hand on my heart above the Wimbledon College logo when I was preparing for a football game for the school, I always knew that my identity was a Catholic student of Wimbledon College, and I aimed to show that in everything I did, in and out of school. Every member of staff along the way encouraged me, and influenced me to work to my strengths, furthering my admiration of the subject, and overall, the teachers made me feel a sense of pride about my God-given talents
- Y13 PupilThe opportunities I have had this year to go so much further into the life of the school has made me realise how much people really do care about it. Especially the staff, who have inspired me to love my subjects and would go so far to get what’s best for each and every pupil. The daily interactions with them are invaluable.
- Y13 PupilI am very proud for having being part of a Jesuit school. It not only brings a sense of belonging in the sense of feeling part of the Jesuit family. All the boys have a real sense of community and I have made long standing friendships
- Y13 Pupil