The School

St. Clere’s School is a successful and flourishing school that has achieved specialist school status as a language college and a training school. St. Clere’s has a newly built resource base for HI & VI which serves all secondary pupils in Thurrock.

It demands high standards of work, behaviour and appearance from all its pupils. Parents send their children here, confident that they will be challenged by the climate of hard work and high expectations.

There are currently 72 teachers at the school and the Governors seek to appoint staff who are energetic and enthusiastic in the classroom, have good academic qualifications and set the highest possible professional standards. Great emphasis is placed on creating an atmosphere which is calm, ordered and conducive to hard work and achievement.

The school aims to provide all pupils with the appropriate knowledge and skills to enable them to maximise their life opportunities.

To achieve this we seek:-

• to ensure the curriculum is broad, balanced, relevant and suitably differentiated;

• to employ committed, motivated staff who are conversant with change and development;

• to ensure effective teaching and learning by creating a caring, disciplined and well-resourced environment;

• to encourage quality progression and continuity both between primary and secondary phases, within our own school and to post 16 education.

• to create a full partnership with parents and the community in ensuring that our pupils can discharge their responsibilities in the world at large.

The school occupies an attractive site in Butts Lane, Stanford-le-Hope. The premises are generously equipped for academic and practical studies, with a Sports Hall, Gym and extensive playing fields which together provide excellent facilities for physical education. The new Sports Pavilion, due for completion in January 2006, will improve these facilities both for the school and the community. We have a specialist Modern Foreign Languages block of six classrooms and a purpose built teaching and computer suite. There are eight science laboratories, six technology rooms and a large library incorporating a computer network complementing three computer rooms and two music rooms.

Our Home School Commitment has been drawn up in consultation with pupils, parents, staff and governors. We believe that a fruitful partnership between home and school will:

• Encourage a shared commitment to the success of the individual.

• Create an ethos of understanding and openness in home school relationships.

• Help parents to develop a positive role that complements and supports the work of the school in educating their children.

The Curriculum at St Clere’s
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The aim of the School is to provide a sound and comprehensive education for all pupils. The subjects taught include English, Mathematics, Science, Technology, Information Communication Technology, Modern Languages, Geography, History, Religious Studies, Art, Drama, Music, Physical Education and Citizenship.

For the first three years pupils follow a broad, balanced course of study. At the end of Year 9, following advice from the staff and discussions with parents, children have an element of choice when deciding what subjects to study at key stage 4.

In Years 10 and 11, as prescibed by the National Curriculum, all pupils will study the following

subjects:-

• English Language and Literature
• Mathematics
• Science
• A Modern Language
• Physical Education
• Religious Education (GCSE Short Course)
• Information Technology
• Personal, Social & Health Education
• Work Related Learning

As a language college, we can offer pupils the opportunity to study a second modern foreign language to GCSE level. The top set will undertake G.C.S.E. French in Year 10 and can then progress to AS level in Year 11.

A wide range of GCSE and BTEC option courses is currently available, including:

Art & Design
Business Studies
Catering
Drama
Geography
Graphic Products
Health & Social Care
History
Information & Communication Technology
Media Studies
Modern Foreign Languages
Music
Physical Education
Product Design
Public Services BTEC
Textiles

School starts at 8.30 a.m. and finishes for Year 7 pupils at 3.00 p.m.There is a flexible end to the day on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, when pupils may attend the library, extra lessons and enrichment clubs until 4.00 p.m. Lessons finish at 3.00 p.m. on Wednesday, after which pupils attend regular target setting interviews with their form tutors on a rota basis. Lunchtime is between 1.05 and 1.55 p.m.

Homework

Every pupil is expected to undertake homework. In Year 7 this should take approximately one hour per day. Pupils are given a Homework Diary and parents are asked to look at this, check it regularly and sign every week. As pupils progress through the school the amount of homework set may gradually increase.

Reports and Parents’ Evenings
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Twice a year pupils take home a record of their personal achievements and progress. Each year there will be at least one Parents’ Consultation Evening and a Securing Success Day giving parents the opportunity to discuss their child’s progress. Additional opportunities for parents to meet staff will be offered at the beginning of each key stage.

Enrichment activities

St Clere’s offers a variety of enrichment activities during lunch times and after school, catering for all interests and abilities. As we are a language college we have added lunchtime Mandarin Chinese to our already extensive range of activities. In addition, classes are arranged to improve reading, handwriting and spelling and there are extension activities for the most able pupils at a lunch time club.

We urge pupils to take full advantage of the clubs and societies offered, where they may learn new skills, develop fresh interests and meet new friends. At the same time, they will derive a great deal of enjoyment during their five years at the school.

Resource Centre

The Resources Centre is open for study purposes, reading and issue of books at lunch time. It is also open to pupils after school for the loan and return of books and for study purposes. Information Communication Technology facilities are also available at these times.

Magazines, newspapers and pamphlets are available for use in designated reading areas, and librarians are always on duty with staff to help with any queries or problems. Further, a number of periodicals, both current affairs and interest based, are delivered to the library and held for reference only.

A range of learning aids are available including CD-Roms, Internet access, video players and televisions with headsets which allow up to six pupils at one time to watch a video for additional research on a subject, or to catch up on lessons missed. A ‘daylight’ slide projector enables pupils to view slides without the need for a blackout or screen.

Any of the facilities within the centre may be reserved by the pupils themselves for schoolwork or independent study. The centre staff are available whenever it is open – lunchtimes and most days after school.

Careers Education and Guidance

St Clere’s provides ample opportunity for its pupils to explore possible future careers and to make realistic and appropriate choices at 16+. Much of this provision comes via form tutors in Citizenship and tutorial periods and is supported by a well-resourced Careers Library and the Connexions Team with which the school has an excellent relationship.

Work Experience
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The school, in partnership with Trident, organises a two week work experience for all pupils in Year 10. Pupils have the opportunity to gain the Trident Gold award which combines work experience with community work and a personal challenge.

Attendance

Incidence Of Unauthorised Absence 2007/2008
(as percentage of possible attendances)

Authorised Absence

Unauthorised Absence

Attendance

5.53%

0.24%

94.23%

The school is proud of its good attendance record and every effort is made to maintain it. Without exception, all pupils are expected to attend regularly and arrive on time unless prevented by illness or other urgent cause.

Uniform
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St Clere’s is known for its smart uniform and pupils are encouraged to wear it with pride. The School reserves the right to decide what is reasonable/unreasonable attire, and pupils may be sent home if they are dressed unsuitably for school.

Every pupil is expected to wear the full school uniform when going to and from school, during lunch time, on school excursions, and when travelling as a member of a school team or organisation.

Discipline

A high standard of behaviour is expected at all times, including when travelling to and from school, in order to maintain the school’s excellent reputation within the local community.

Anti-Bullying Policy
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“We believe that all pupils have the right to work and learn in a happy and caring environment.”

Bullying is:
Deliberately hurtful and repeated behaviour over time against an individual.
(School Council June 2006)

It can be: Physical - any type or threat of violence

Verbal - name calling, teasing or spreading
rumours

Emotional - being kept out of a group or laughed at

Racial - comments or gestures about a person’s
background

Sexual - unwanted physical contact

“We are all responsible for preventing bullying.”

How to defeat the bullies: what we all can do…..

• Tell your parent or guardian what’s happening.

• Tell a teacher about the problem and if it doesn’t stop go back to the teacher again.

• Try to ignore the bullies. If they fail to get a reaction they may give up.

• Try standing up for yourself. Be assertive, but don’t come down to their level. You might end up in trouble.

• Ask your friends and classmates to stick up for you. If you all stick together, the bullies lose their power.

• Keep a record of what’s happening and ask your friends if they’ll act as witnesses if you need adult help to sort things out.

• You must speak out: bullies rely on peoples’ silence.

Childline number: 0800 1111

Dealing with Complaints
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It is important for the well being of all involved that parents should recognise the high standards expected at St. Clere’s before deciding to apply for admission.

Our aim is to work in partnership with parents in dealing with any problems that may arise. A copy of our complaints procedure is available from the School Office upon request.

School Meals
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The School operates its own cafeteria meals service, offering both traditional, healthy option and fast food meals.

Facilities are also available for those pupils who wish to bring a packed lunch.

Collective Worship Policy

The School is legally required to provide a daily act of collective worship for all its pupils. The regulations are set out in the Education Act 1944 as amended by the Education Reform Act 1988.

The School is committed to an active approach to collective worship in the belief that it is a significant element in providing a broad and balanced curriculum for all pupils. In this context collective worship assumes its rightful importance and makes clear the necessity of a format and content which are, in every case, educationally justifiable.

Collective worship is intended to bring the school community together and foster its corporate life, not to be divisive or exclusive in any way. Whilst recognising the statutory rights of withdrawal from collective worship relating to pupils and members of staff, the school seeks to encourage the presence and participation of all. The School recognises that its pupils and staff represent a variety of faith backgrounds. This diversity is valued and means that differing responses to material presented during collective worship are perfectly natural and will be respected. Historically, the exercise of right of withdrawal has been minimal in this school and there seems no reason why this pattern should change substantially. However, if parents wish to withdraw their child from the Collective Act of Worship they should write to the Clerk to the Governing Body in the first instance.

Special Educational Needs
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At St. Clere’s provision for special educational needs is seen as a whole school issue and we aim for a curriculum where learning activities can be undertaken at a variety of levels and in a variety of different ways to meet individual needs.

Pupils are supported in all areas of the curriculum, by a team of teaching assistants, who also supervise literacy sessions and monitor individual programmes of work. We do all we can to ensure that every child will leave school with the core skills of literacy, numeracy and social independence.

We make every effort to identify, assess, support and review pupils’ special educational needs in line with the SEN Code of Practice, whilst helping our pupils to appreciate their individual strengths and to develop their potential. It is important that each child feels valued within the school community and is fully included in school activities.

All subject teachers and learning support assistants have a role in meeting special educational needs and we are keen to involve parents at every stage in any plans made to meet a child’s special needs.

Charging Policy

Under Section 118 of the 1988 Education Act parents may be asked for a voluntary contribution towards the payment of trips and other educational activities where appropriate.

Pupils may be charged for the cost of material for such subjects as Craft, Design and Technology, Food Technology and Art when the finished article is to be owned by the parents or the pupils.

A charge will be made to parents of pupils receiving individual tuition in the playing of any musical instrument except where it is provided as part of the National Curriculum or G.C.S.E. course.

A full copy of the Charging Policy is available from the Headteacher’s Secretary.

Arrangements for Inspecting Documents

Copies of all policy and procedural documents, the latest Ofsted Report, Articles and Instruments of Government, and all documents pertaining to the operation and performance of the school are available for inspection on application to the Headteacher’s Secretary. Copies may be purchased at a nominal cost.

St. Clere’s Association
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The school values the importance of working closely with parents and in the past there has been a St. Clere’s School Association. The Association had as its aim the general support of the school and in particular the provision for the school of equipment or facilities which would not otherwise be available.

As with all such organisations we relied on a small group of committed parents to run the committee. The children of those parents have now moved on and sadly we have been unable to interest new parents in taking on the key roles so the Association has not run since 2003/2004.

Additional fund raising is very important so we would like to encourage all parents to consider joining our Weather Lottery. All you have to do is predict the temperature of six locations world wide and if each temperature is right you could win the first prize of £10,000 each day. Win or lose, 40% of the proceeds go direct to our school.

One member has already won £200 by matching four correct numbers and last month for example the existing 19 players won 24 times!

Application forms are available from reception and will be on offer at the Induction Evening in July.

THE OFFICER OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE YEAR 2006/2007 is:-

Mr J. Solis (Chairperson)
c/o St. Clere’s School
Tel.No.641001

SCHOOL GOVERNORS

Mr R. Osborne (Chairman)
c/o St. Clere’s School
Tel.No. 641001

Mr B. Martin (Vice Chairman)
c/o St. Clere’s School
Tel.No.641001