The Wilnecote School Prospectus

The Wilnecote School
ENSURING EXCELLENCE

"The actions of senior leaders
have led to rapid improvements in
behaviour, teaching and pupils’
progress"
Ofsted November 2016

Welcome to The Wilnecote School
The Wilnecote School is a school at the heart of its community and has a
long tradition of providing high quality learning, care, support and
guidance within an ethos of trust and mutual respect.
We take great pride in supporting the young people in our care to reach
the highest levels of achievement and to leave us as well-rounded
individuals with the skills to make positive contributions to their wider
community.
The educational landscape is changing and The Wilnecote School is
embracing these changes in a way that retains our fundamental values
and traditions and, at the same time, drives us forward to become an
exceptional community school.
We are proud to be part of the CAT family of schools and excited by the
opportunities it is bringing to move forward collaboratively.
Changes in the way we work have heightened expectations and led to
improvements in behaviour, teaching, student progress and leadership.
This was recognised in an Ofsted inspection in November 2016.
I am privileged to lead The Wilnecote School and warmly welcome you to
come and see for yourself what makes Wilnecote so special.
Individual visits can be arranged via the Headteacher’s PA, who can be
contacted through the School Office or via email at
office@wilnecotehighschool.org.
Stuart Tonks
Headteacher

Community Academies Trust
Message from
Philip Hamilton
Chief Executive
Officer
of the
Community
Academies Trust
We are proud and excited that The Wilnecote School is part of the family of
schools that is The Community Academies Trust.
The Community Academies Trust is a successful school based multi academy
trust that was founded in 2012 by The Polesworth School and Birchwood
Primary School. Our name originates from our shared and determined
commitment to ensure communities are well served by their local school. Our
schools are:
•Focussed on achieving outstanding academic, personal and social
outcomes for the children.
•Committed to the moral imperative of community school
improvement and improving all children’s lives.
•Mutually supportive, not in competition and fiercely loyal to each
other.
•Equal partners with all other schools irrespective of their phase,
size or successes.
•Multi academy trust minded – our schools celebrate the success
of others as well as themselves and share accountabilities.
•Financially disciplined and committed to fulfilling their delegated
responsibilities to the best of their abilities under a robust
governance arrangement.
This culture and ethos ensures your school benefits from shared expertise and support. This means we can
maintain our attention to your child’s individual talents and potential. My personal commitment to your child
is illustrated by this story:
“As the old man walked the beach at dawn, he noticed a young man ahead of him picking up starfish and
flinging them into the sea. As he caught up with the youth, he asked him why he was doing this. The answer
was that the stranded starfish would die if left until the morning sun. The old man said that there were
millions of starfish, and how could he possibly make a difference. The young man looked at the starfish in his
hand, and threw it into the waves to safety “it makes a difference to this one” he said.
The main message from this story is clear – your child will thrive if we all make sure we focus on them as
individuals, get to know them well, meet their needs and be ambitious for them.
The Wilnecote School is moving forward and membership of the CAT is an important next step on that
journey of improvement. The school is a proud community school that has much in common with its new
partners. All of us involved with the school are determined the young people in our care will achieve socially,
personally and academically and leave us with a crucial sense of possibility - vital for success in life.
You can find out more about our Trust online at our website – www.communityacademiestrust.org

Our Values – A Vision for The Wilnecote School
Our vision for Wilnecote is simple – that the young people in our school are
empowered to achieve to a consistently outstanding level. We value three main
types of achievement:
Academic: We believe all young people have the potential to achieve great things. Intelligence can
be developed regardless of emotional and social background, given high quality teaching and
bespoke, personalised support. They should be equipped with a crucial sense of possibility based on
a well-developed self-awareness and an ambition for themselves and for the local and global
communities in which they live and work.
Nurturing Individual Talent: All young people achieve things they can be proud of every day in
addition to academic success and outside our school’s planned curriculum. We have a vital role in
ensuring individuals develop their own talents and interests and have a responsibility to instil in them
a sense of pride in who they are and what they achieve.
Relationships: Excellent relationships for learning are a prerequisite for all other achievements.
Relationships that engender mutual respect between young people, and all other members of our
school, local and global communities will ensure learning can be fun in a disciplined and caring
environment where the highest expectations of behaviour, courtesy, manners and respect are the
norm.
This vision is shared by all CAT schools and, in the context of The Wilnecote School, it is
important to us that we work together – students, staff, parents and our CAT family - to
provide:
•Excellent teaching, interesting and challenging lessons and an exciting curriculum so that students
are ambitious and achieve outstanding academic, personal and social outcomes.
•An inclusive learning environment that values students as individuals and in which they feel safe,
happy and well cared for.
•High expectations, excellent relationships for learning and behaviour.
•Opportunities for students to develop their talents and skills and to broaden their horizons.

Ethos and Expectations
Children thrive and achieve more than they ever thought possible if we focus on them as
individuals, get to know them well, meet their needs and be ambitious for them. At The
Wilnecote School we have high aspirations for each child and the highest expectations of
ourselves as professionals and all other members of our learning community.
Relationships
We believe that excellent relationships for learning are the basis for all other achievements.
Relationships that result in mutual respect between young people and all other members of the
school community will ensure that learning can be fun in a positive and caring environment.
Rewards & Behaviour
Children are best motivated and most likely to succeed in school when they are rewarded for positive
behaviour. At The Wilnecote School we aim for praise to outweigh sanctions.
The school runs a system called VIVOS which rewards students for all aspects of positive behaviour,
including effort, producing good work
and displaying an excellent attitude to
learning. Students are given points that
are recorded electronically so that they
can track their progress. The points can
then be used to purchase a range of
products from an online shop.
Other ways of celebrating success
include ‘student of the month’ for each
subject area and achievement
assemblies. Leadership opportunities
are available within each House so that
students can take on responsibilities.
Students’ best efforts are celebrated at
our annual Awards Evening which is a
major event in the school calendar.
“I think having VIVOs and Celebration
Assemblies are good as the VIVOs
allow students to decide what to do
with the reward points. The
assemblies are also good to celebrate
positivity which puts people in a good
mood. ”
Lewis Newton – Year 10
However it is important that we get the
balance right. We have high
expectations in terms of behaviour,
attitudes and courtesy in lessons,
around school and in the community.
Our “consequences of behaviour”
system is central to the way we
operate. It allows teachers to teach
and all students to learn without
disruption. It is absolutely clear about
what behaviour is unacceptable and
what the consequences of that
behaviour will be.

Working in Partnership with Parents
It is vital that parents, staff and students work together if each child is to fulfil their potential and
we are to be successful as a school.
The school values the support of parents in encouraging high standards of homework,
organisation, effort and participation. Parents are also encouraged to communicate with the
school, either via the student planner, the school website, a telephone call or in writing about any
issue they want to raise.
We may also need support when necessary over attendance, uniform and behaviour, including
reinforcement of the school’s consequences of behaviour system.
Attendance
Excellent attendance is essential if a student is to achieve to the best of their ability and to get the
best out of their education.
It is our intention to ensure that school is a safe and enjoyable place to be so that students feel
happy and want to attend. We encourage high attendance through regular rewards for 100% or
significantly improved attendance. If attendance levels slip our House teams intervene rapidly to
address the issues that have led to this, working with families to provide support, where
necessary.

Opport
At The Wilnecote School we see our role in terms of securing high academic achievement
and also in terms of supporting students to be successful in a much broader sense. This is
achieved by providing opportunities for students to take part in a wide range of extracurricular
and enrichment activities so that they can discover and nurture their skills and
talents, improve their self esteem and self confidence and broaden their horizons.
Sport
We have a wide range of sports teams – in football, rugby, netball,
swimming, athletics and badminton to name but a few. Many of
these teams have been successful at district and county level. The
school has an extensive fixture list with other schools as well as
hosting many inter-house competitions which give all students the
opportunity to participate and an annual Sports Day hosted at
Tamworth Athletics Club.
Extra-curricular sports clubs are organised before school and after
school. A range of activities combining traditional sports with new
and innovative activities are available to any student wishing to
participate.
International Links
We have a longstanding link of over 30 years
with our twin school in Bad Laasphe,
Germany. There is an annual exchange visit
open to all in which students spend a week
with a German family and then host their
German partner for a week later in the year.
The popularity of this link is increasing each
year and many lifelong friendships have
developed as a result of it.
Community Facilities
Our community has always been an important part of life at Wilnecote. Within the school building students
and parents have access to the leisure centre, drama studio and library, all of which are overseen and run by
the school with help from volunteers. During the school day our students access those facilities and
resources as a way of enriching the curriculum. Out of schools hours we encourage students to use those
facilities with their parents, to enhance their well-being, education and personal fulfilment as a family. This
ethos links closely to our values and vision to develop academic achievement, nurture individual talents and
foster good relationships.

unities
The Arts
We have specialised in the Performing Arts for many years.
All students are encouraged to participate in art, drama,
and music and we have built a high reputation for the
quality of our work.
•The annual school production is always a high
quality performance involving a large number of
students.
•A ‘Tech’ Club helps interested students to develop
their skills in sound, lighting and photography which
they put to excellent use in all major school events.
•Art, drama and music continue to be celebrated
through the Annual Arts Festival with very high
standards. Events are extremely well supported by
parents and the community.
Student Voice
Our House system provides student leadership opportunities
through the appointment of House Captains and other positions
of responsibility. Heads of House regularly consult a wider school
council on important student welfare issues and we listen and
respond wherever possible. We also involve them in staff
appointments.
“The wide range of enrichment activities on offer, and the way in which
leaders and teachers encourage participation in these, help pupils to
become active and responsible citizens” Ofsted November 2016

Caring for Students
An inclusive learning environment that values students as individuals and in which
young people feel safe, happy and well cared for will help them to succeed, to unleash
their potential and to take part fully in the life of the school.
House System
The House is central to the personal development and progress of each
student. It is led by a Head of House (senior teacher within the school) who
takes responsibility for student progress, intervention, behaviour and
attendance. Each Head of House is supported by a Pastoral House
Manager who deals with the day to day pastoral welfare of students and a
group of tutors. This team of staff is the key link between home and school.
All students belong to a mixed age tutor group which meets for 25 minutes
each day. During these sessions students engage in a range of activities
related to building relationships and Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural
Education so that we become a school of character.
Personalised Support
At The Wilnecote School we understand that students have many pressures with which to cope and pride
ourselves on being an inclusive school. We employ a wide range of adults including Pastoral House
Managers, Inclusion Workers and a Student Support Co-ordinator who look after the welfare of our
students and ensure that every child has an adult who they can trust and talk to if needed. We also have a
Health and Wellbeing Centre which supports this process and provides a base for other agencies to work
with our students.
Child Protection
We recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all students.
Our robust Child Protection and Safeguarding policy is consistent with the latest DfE statutory guidance.
All staff receive regular training.
We require all school staff to report concerns about a child’s welfare, including risk from neglect or
physical, emotional or sexual abuse to the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead Teacher. A member of
the safeguarding team will then liaise with parents/carers and other agencies, deciding on an appropriate
course of action. This will always be in accordance with the law and we will always act in the child’s best
interests.
ASD Resource
The school is home to an ASD Resource that provides the school with highly skilled staff and significant
expertise in working with young people on the autistic spectrum.
“Pupils feel safe in school and understand how to keep themselves
safe. Leaders work very well to ensure effective arrangements to
safeguard pupils”. Ofsted November 2016

Teaching should instil a crucial
sense of possibility in young
people and equip them to
become successful, happy and
productive citizens who achieve
to the best of their ability.
Excellence in Teaching and Learning
Students learn best when they are engaged in lessons; when they are motivated and
challenged by the learning activities; when they have positive relationships with staff
and other students; when they know how well they are doing and what they need to
do to improve.
At Wilnecote all students have access to good and outstanding teachers who give
them every opportunity to succeed. Our staff aim to teach excellent lessons that
encourage achievement, develop a range of skills and knowledge, actively involve
students in their own learning and are fun.
Our students learn in a variety of ways. Teaching is organised so as to personalise
learning by extending the most able whilst also providing support for those with
learning difficulties. During Year 7 most teaching is within the same teaching groups
and, as students move through the school, setting by ability is introduced to varying
degrees in many subjects.
Target setting is focussed on high expectations and high aspirations. Regular and
ongoing assessment is used to track progress against targets and to provide effective
intervention. Regular monitoring provides parents and students with information on
which they can act to secure further improvement.
Our staff see themselves as learners who constantly strive to improve their practice.
The CAT National Teaching School at Polesworth provides significant opportunities for
ongoing professional development and this has clear benefits for our students.

Curriculum
We aim to provide a high quality, broad, balanced and flexible curriculum that meets the
needs of all students, supports them to achieve the highest possible standard and equips
them for life and for the next stage of education or training.
All students study the full breadth of subjects
in arts, computing, humanities, languages,
mathematics, PE, science and technology
throughout Key Stage 3. There is, in addition,
a significant emphasis on developing and
enhancing literacy skills across the
curriculum.
We offer an excellent Key Stage 4 curriculum
with a wide range of academic, creative and
vocational subjects to meet the aspirations,
interests and talents of each student. All
follow a core curriculum along with up to four
optional subjects.
Homework is an essential part of the learning
process and helps students to become
independent, self-motivated learners.
The curriculum is supplemented by systems
of intervention and support. Where
necessary, students receive additional
literacy and numeracy help. If a student has a
specific, additional learning need then our
skilled team of teaching assistants and
learning mentors will provide personalised
support.
All students follow a PSHE (Personal, Social &
Health Education) programme during their
time at the school. This includes Health
Education and Careers Information, Advice
and Guidance from our own Careers Advisor.
“Senior leaders have designed a broad and balanced curriculum that
meets the needs of the pupils well. They have a clear vision for
broadening pupils’ learning experiences so that they are well
prepared for the next stage of their education or training”.
Ofsted November 2016

The Wilnecote School
Examination Results 2017
Subject Entries 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 U
English Language 133 0 0 3.8 13 21 18.0 26 13 4.5 0.8
English Literature 133 0 0.8 3.8 9.0 14 18.0 17 24 9.8 3.8
Mathematics 133 0 2.3 6.0 12.0 21 24 16 13 5.3 1.0
Subject Entries A* A B C D E F G U
Further Maths 9 0 22 56 22 0 0 0 0 0
Science - Core 83 0 1.2 7.2 25 24 17 16 9.6 0
Science - Additional 83 0 1.2 7.2 29 21 17 15 9.6 1.2
Science - Biology 51 0 7.8 24 22 16 18 12 2.0 0
Science - Chemistry 51 0 3.9 20 26 20 24 5.9 2.0 0
Science - Physics 51 0 7.8 16 26 35 12 3.9 0 0
Art & Design 34 8.8 18 15 41 5.9 8.8 2.9 0 0
D&T - Food 12 0 0 17 25.0 17 17 17 8.3 0
D&T - Graphics 24 0 8.3 8.3 17 29 13 13 13 0
D&T - Product Design 12 0 0 8.3 17 25.0 17 25.0 8.3 0
Geography 33 0 6.1 9.1 36 12 18 9.1 9.1 0
History 50 4.0 8.0 12.0 12.0 18.0 6.0 12.0 14.0 14.0
R.E. 35 2.9 14 29 26 26 2.9 0 0 0
Business Studies 44 2.3 4.5 14 23 21 11 11 11 2.3
Computing 20 5.0 15.0 20.0 30.0 5.0 5.0 10.0 5.0 5.0
I.C.T. 59 8.5 14 22.0 27 17 3.4 5.1 3.4 0
French 38 0 2.6 11 29 26 24 5.3 2.6 0
German 31 0 3.2 29.0 26 26 9.7 6.5 0 0
Drama 18 0 5.6 28 17 22 11 17 0 0
Music 12 0 25.0 42 17 0 17 0 0 0
P.E. 44 0 2.3 6.8 6.8 27 46 11 0 0
Vocational L2 (ECDL) 12 42 42 17 0 0 0 0 0 0

Other Information
Admission Arrangements
The natural catchment for the school is the communities of Dosthill, Hockley and Wilnecote. The majority
of young people from these communities come to our school but students from across the town and from
other counties also come here.
The school has an Admission Number (set by Staffordshire County Council) and this determines the
students we can accept into Year 7. For September 2018 this will be 192 students and applications often
exceed that number. Wherever possible we will accommodate parental choice and in September 2017 we
were able to take all Year 7 catchment students plus a number of other non-catchment students.
Parents/Carers who wish to express a preference for our school must do so on the forms sent out by
Staffordshire County Council * or complete the online form which can be found at
www.staffordshire.gov.uk under ‘school admissions’. These must be returned by 31st October.
Admission decisions are then made by the County Council and parents informed by 1st March. Parents
whose applications are unsuccessful may appeal.
* If you live outside of Staffordshire but wish to put Wilnecote High School as your first
choice of school you should fill in your Home County’s application form. However you may also
wish to let us know at school so that we can ensure the appropriate processes are undertaken.
The School Day
School Uniform
8.30 am Period 1 & Registration
9.30 am Period 2
10.30 am Personal Tutor Time (includes weekly House assemblies)
10.55 am Break
11.10 am Period 3
12.10 pm – 1.40pm Period 4 / Staggered Lunch
12.10 pm – 12.40 pm Lunch for Y8 & Y11
12.40 pm – 1.10 pm Lunch for Y7
1.10 pm – 1.40 pm Lunch for Y9 & Y10
1.40pm Period 5
2.40 pm End of Day
A school uniform gives students a sense of belonging and pride in their school. Our uniform is:-
•Black blazer with embroidered school badge
•Plain white shirt or blouse
•Clip on tie – in house colours
•Plain full length straight leg trousers or plain black knee length skirt – to be worn no shorter than
5cm above the knee
•Plain black leather / leather style shoes
•Any outdoor coats should be in keeping with the school uniform, ie navy blue or black

“The Headteacher and his team have been
relentless in their drive to create a strong
and aspirational culture, which is
increasingly shared by staff and pupils ”
Ofsted November 2016

The Wilnecote School, Tinkers Green Road
Wilnecote, Tamworth,
Staffs, B77 5LF
Tel: 01827 831300
Fax: 01827 831314
www.wilnecotehighschool.org