Childwall School

OLYMPIC ATHLETES TO VISIT CHILDWALL SPORTS COLLEGE

Childwall Sports College is delighted to announce that on Tuesday, 28th October 2008 we will be visited by a number of British Medal Winners from the 2008 Olympic Games. Childwall Sports College has been chosen to host an ‘Olympic event’ with colleagues from the Department for Children, Schools & Families (DCSF) and the Olympic Steering Group in addition to athletes joining staff and students to publicise the 2012 Olympic Games to be held in London but with competitions taking place throughout the country including the northwest of England. In addition to students from Childwall Sports College all our neighbouring Primary Schools have been invited to send representatives to join us on this special day. Invitations have already been sent and arrangements underway for this prestigious visit . Further details to follow.

August 2008 Letter from the Headteacher

Dear Parents/Carers

I am writing to remind all parents of students at Childwall Sports College that the new term starts on Wednesday 3rd September at 8.20 a.m. Sixth Form induction will begin on Monday 1st September, with staff engaged in two days of in-service training on Monday1st and Tuesday 2nd September. We are very much looking forward to receiving your children on Wednesday 3rd September. I would remind all parents of the importance of ensuring that every child is in full school uniform. Please find a reminder of Childwall Sports College’s school uniform appended to this letter.

I am absolutely delighted to be able to inform all parents that once again Childwall Sports College has exceeded it’s GCSE targets for 2008. We have exceeded the schools targets and indeed national targets for the GCSE five A* to C percentage figure, and also for the highly significant target set by the Government and DCSF in respect of GCSE passes at English and Mathematics. This is a superb result and I send my warmest congratulations to all 2007/2008 Year 11 Cohort who did superbly well in their public examinations, my congratulations obviously go to the staff.

On the 25th September we are holding our annual Open Day when we invite parents and students in years 5 & 6 to visit the school . I am delighted to tell all parents that once again we are over subscribed in terms of pupil numbers, with the new year 7 being particularly popular with parents, we do have waiting lists in all year groups and I know that our Open Day is a very important day in the life of Childwall Sports College.

The annual general meeting of the Parents, Teachers, Friends Association (PTFA) takes place on the 15th September at 6.00 p.m. in the Learning Resource Centre, I extend a very warm welcome to all parents to attend this first meeting of the new year.
Childwall Sports College goes from strength to strength and indeed the GCSE results have improved every year since we became a Specialist Sports College. It is our intention that we maximise the potential within every young person at Childwall Sports College and to this end I know that we will work with you as parents to ensure the success of each individual child and the continued success of Childwall Sports College.

Best wishes

D.W. Phillips
Headteacher

HMI Inspection July 2008

Childwall Sports College was inspected by HMI as part of the Ofsted Survey Inspection Programme for 2007-08. Ofsted surveyed two subjects during the course of the Inspection which took place on 1st/2nd July 2008. The two subjects involved were Information Communications Technology and Citizenship. We were delighted at the outcome of the report.

Information Communications Technology (ICT)

Standards in ICT reached by the vast majority of students at the end of Key Stage 3 have risen between 2005 – 2008. An increasing percentage of students are reaching Level 5 at the end of Year 9.
Students who complete an accredited ICT course in Key Stage 4 ……. reach standards broadly in line with the national average. At Key Stage 4 those students who follow an accredited ICT course are fully aware of their present level of achievement. They understand what they need to do to improve their work.
Relationships with staff during ICT lessons are positive.
Teaching Assistants work well with students and teachers and this ensures that students ……. with learning difficulties and/or disabilities make the same progress as their peers.
…….. lessons were well planned. Staff knew the students and adapted the lesson to ensure the students made good progress.
At Key Stage 3 there has been an increase in the number of ICT periods the students receive each week. The school now provides more time for ICT at Key Stage 3 than the national average.

Citizenship

Students participation in active Citizenship projects is outstanding. Students of all ages eagerly involved themselves in a wide range of active Citizenship projects. An outstanding example is a project run by the Geography Department in which students communicate with students in Japan, Turkey, Brazil, Indonesia and Chile so widening their horizons.
During the Survey Inspection students in Year 8 were rehearsing a drama they have written as a warning against the growing trend of ‘cyber bullying’. Their performance indicated high levels of maturity and understanding. The drama is to be performed to a public audience at the Liverpool Echo Arena.
Students are involved in voluntary work and in raising funds for many charities.
Most lessons were characterised by a good pace, a variety of activities and offer challenge to students at all levels.
Relationships are excellent. There is a mutual respect among the students and adults in school.
An outstanding feature of the curriculum is the huge range of visits available to students in every Year Group and the numerous visits to school by experts in many different fields of life.

“Childwall Sports College has a positive ethos and is a harmonious community where everyone feels safe, valued and secure.” Ofsted 2008

We were delighted at the positive comments following the HMI/Ofsted Inspection of July 2008. Congratulations go to all concerned.

Dewi Phillips,
Headteacher.

9th July 2008

SCHOOL MEALS

STOP PRESS

Due to rising fuel prices and the high price of fresh food Childwall Sports College has decided to raise the price of a school meal from £1∙65 to £1∙85 as of 1st September 2008. We obviously take great pride in our healthy food at Childwall Sports College and would not wish to compromise on quality or service.

D.W. Phillips,

Headteacher.

SHARP SYSTEM

(Schools Help Advice Reporting Page)
We have a new system at Childwall Sports College whereby pupils can seek help on-line with issues such as peer pressure; lack of confidence; bullying etc. Pupils will be introduced to the system via our schools Police Officer, Jenny Firth, and will be given instructions and guidance on how to access confidential help. We hope this will be up and running immediately after the half-term holiday.

CELEBRATING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
Parents/carers will be aware how important it is for us as a school to celebrate the wide variety of student achievements at Childwall. This may take the form of examination success, sporting success, music, drama etc. We make vigorous efforts to commend individuals, groups, year teams and indeed all members of the school community.

To this end we regularly take photographs, video recordings and other electronic images of our young people and staff at Childwall. Parents/carers will know that there are regular entries to the local media celebrating the wide range of successes of our students. These images of our young people in terms of photographs, videos, etc. are portrayed around the school and on our website.

These ‘images’ are recorded on a regular basis. If any parent/carer has any concerns regarding the possibility of their son/daughter being included within any of these recordings of images could they please inform me in writing immediately with full details.

I am firmly of the opinion that the celebration of our students’ achievements raises self-esteem and helps maximise the potential within every individual at Childwall.

Comments on this matter would be gratefully received by myself.

D.W. Phillips, Headteacher.

EXPENSIVE CLOTHING/JEWELLERY
Parents will know that we strongly advise all children at Childwall not to bring expensive items to school. We have no insurance cover for any items lost or stolen whilst in school. Any losses would have to be borne by the parents/carers. It may be advisable for parents to check their own personal insurance arrangements.

As regards jewellery, the school rule is “no jewellery” except for one pair of stud earrings. If your child breaks this rule then the jewellery will be confiscated for safekeeping and returned on the last day of the half term. If a parent wishes to collect the jewellery then they should telephone the school.

Mobile telephones must not be in evidence at school. Any pupil seen with a mobile telephone will risk having it confiscated.

About our School

Childwall is an ambitious, progressive and dynamic school. We are committed to ensuring that our students achieve at the highest levels and to this end we are always heavily involved in curriculum development and seeking to ensure that our students access the most appropriate courses.

We are a Specialist Sports College and are looking for re-designation in 2007. We are working extremely closely with neighbouring Secondary Schools in a well regarded and successful Sixth Form Collaboration. Our partner schools are King David High School and Broadgreen High School: A Technology College. Also within our Collaborative is the recently opened St. Francis of Assisi Academy and the Liverpool Community College. This Collaboration is deemed to be one of the most successful in Liverpool and has attracted growing numbers of students over the past few years.

Childwall’s Sixth Form numbers stands at over 320 at the present time.

In November 2005 we were inspected under Ofsted Regulations and received an excellent report. Click here to view report

The school also aims :

To ensure that every student receives a balanced and relevant education.
To help students to acquire knowledge and skills relevant to adult life, employment and parenthood.
To provide careers education and work experience.
To enable and encourage every student to learn how to learn by every available and appropriate means.
To help and encourage all students to develop lively enquiring minds; the ability to question and argue rationally, and to apply themselves to tasks and physical skills, and to encourage in every student a willingness to pursue this educational development as far as possible.
To encourage every student to understand the need for adaptability and to grow in the ability and willingness to adapt to changing circumstances.
To encourage every student to become aware of his/her rights and responsibilities as an adult member of a democratic society and to gain experience of democratic institutions and to become involved in decisions about themselves through e.g. School Council.
To enable each individual to gain self respect and respect for members of the different cultural, ethnic and racial groups in society and to enable each person to enjoy and appreciate living in a culturally pluralistic society with its richness of tradition, custom and talent.
To ensure that children employ language effectively, appropriately and constructively in a broad range of linguistic situations and for a wide variety of purposes and audiences.
To encourage every student to become aware of our dependence and influence on the environment, and to grow in a sense of responsibility towards it.
To encourage every student to develop habits of unfailing courtesy and consideration for others, concern for the less advantaged, and a willingness to serve the community.
To ensure the equal opportunity of all.
To ensure that the staff and Governors at Childwall are able, through supported staff development, to become skilful, knowledgeable and understanding in pastoral and academic matters, in order to raise pupil achievement.
To ensure that all members of the School community work in a safe and supportive environment.

The school is happy to show any prospective parents around the school. Any parent / carer wishing to visit Childwall should telephone the Headteacher to make an appointment.