Specialisms at Abbey Hill School & Technology College

Specialisms at Abbey Hill School & Technology College

Director of Specialisms Mel Lyons

Mission Statement

"Our mission is to secure for all our students their highest achievement. Through community partnership and the harnessing of new technologies we will prepare them for the challenges of the 21st Century, challenges which will include rapid, scientific, social and vocational change. We will maintain a centre of excellence, contributing to and supporting the development of new ideas which will generate a spirit of innovation and exercise, therefore raising expectations and achievement."

History

Abbey Hill was awarded Technology College status in 1999, became a Leading Edge school in 2004 and was awarded Applied Learning status in 2008 as a High Performing Specialist School. These specialisms bring a considerable amount of funding into school to enhance the quality of teaching and learning across the whole school from 11-19 and provision for the wider community.

We have recently been awarded accreditation for becoming a Consultant School through the SSAT which recognises us as a school that supports other schools successfully.

If you would like any further information, about the Specialisms at Abbey Hill please contact Mel Lyons on 01642 677113.

Overview of Specialisms at Abbey Hill School & Technology College

Technology Specialism

As a Technology College we use our specialist status to raise standards of achievement and the quality of learning in design and technology, science and mathematics for all our students.

We have become active partners in a learning society with our local families of schools and their communities; we offer opportunities for enriching and extending learning experiences which include sharing resources and good practice. The funding we receive purchases resources and allows us to employ staff to support various curriculum areas and deliver a creative and innovative curriculum.

Some of our Technology College programmes include:

• Supporting Science, Maths and Design & Technology lessons in local primary and secondary schools
• Adult literacy, numeracy and ICT adult classes for the local community
• Gardening with the local community
• Maths Trails
• Activities during Science week
• Sustainability projects
• Development of our extended schools programme
• Our pupils running ICT lessons for adults in the local community
• Assertive mentoring and effective use of Bsquared data
• Links with Business & Industry
• Working towards ICE award for our community involvement
• Supporting Primary Schools with the Lets Get Cooking Programme

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Applied Learning Specialism/HPSS School

The Applied learning Specialism has built on developments begun through the Technology specialism and the innovative early transition that we have led within a Leading Edge Partnership. “These three specialisms have had a significant and powerful impact on the curriculum and on students’ progress” (Ofsted December 2008).

The Applied learning Specialism has complimented the Enterprise work that is already embedded in the curriculum and extend applied learning in academic and work related areas.

Applied learning is being used to strengthen the whole school curriculum. Developing a competency-based curriculum at KS3 we are building a strong foundation for skill development and enable students to understand the links between learning and vocation from the start of their secondary school career.

We will continue to strengthen the pathways from KS4 to post 16 ensuring that students can build on aptitudes and extend their qualifications through access to the newly introduced Foundation Learning Tiers.

We are also working with Business in the Community through the "Seeing is believing" initiative to improve and extend our business partnerships and their involvement in the community.

These businesses include:

• Johnson Matthey
• Dickinson Dees
• Durham Business School
• Business in the Community
• Café Lily
• Community Ventures Limited
• Pearsons
• Exwold Technology
• KP Foods
• Dunelm Property Services – Esh Group
• Gazette Media

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Leading Edge Partnership Programme

The High Performing Specialist Schools (HPSS) Programme, launched in 2004, enables high performing schools to play a central reform role within the system, by sharing their expertise and resources with schools locally for the benefit of all young people in the locality.

As a Leading Edge School Abbey Hill has run a number of different projects in conjunction with our partner schools which include:

• Westlands Special School
• Bishopsgarth Maths and Computing College
• Hardwick Primary School
• Harrowgate Primary School

The projects that we have run are:

Transition project Leading Edge Project 2004 -2007

This runs across all schools where all year 6 students start secondary school in June/July. This scheme has helped to improve performance in year seven improve the whole transition process from key stage two – three. This supports the full year 6 to year 7 transition project with visits, school partnerships and purchase of uniforms for students. This is now embedded into our school calendar.

Eco Schools Project Leading Edge Project 2008-2011

Abbey Hill is running a project in school aimed at raising achievement using enterprise as a vehicle. The project focuses on the principles of sustainability, economic viability, healthy schools and Every Child Matters outcomes.

The project is based on running a series of mini enterprises based on growing and selling produce. It includes all schools in the collaboration, each with differing roles. The primary and secondary schools from the partnerships school run Eco clubs in which all of the pupils come to Abbey Hill after school and work in the poly tunnel and the Environmental Learning Base. In the winter term the focus is making artefacts such as lavender sachets, baskets of bulbs, development of wormery. In summer the children will work outdoors growing flowers and vegetables to sell, and keeping chickens. As part of the work that the students are involved with the students can achieve Wildlife Action Awards.

All of the work completed in the eco club has contributed to the school achieving their Silver Eco School Award.

The schools involved in this project are:

• Abbey Hill School & Technology College
• Westlands Special School
• Bishopsgarth Maths & Computing College
• Harrowgate Primary School
• Hardwick Green Primary School

Leadership Project Leading Edge Project 2008-2011

Each school from our partner schools has its own particular leadership and management issues such as succession planning, team building, developing leadership skills etc. Each school is running their own project targeting the development of leadership skills in a way that reflects individual school needs. This programme has been supported by Stockton Achievement Partnership and Hay Group training programme.

We are also running a joint longitudinal project over three years which will focus on school climate based on the understanding that creating a good school climate is an imperative for raising student achievement.

The schools involved in this project are:

• Abbey Hill School & Technology College
• Westlands Special School
• Bishopsgarth Maths & Computing College
• Harrowgate Primary School
• Hardwick Green Primary School