At St Philip Howard Catholic School we aim to achieve the best from our students in everything they do. Through a positive three-way partnership between, home, school and parish we aim to work together to ensure our children achieve their potential. We believe that a happy child is a fulfilled child and therefore we put strong emphasis on creating a firm pastoral system. We know that the pastoral support they receive in school will equip them to become sensitive, mature young adults as they move on to the next stage of their lives and we know that this pastoral support will enable every student to become an effective learner. Our Catholic faith underpins everything in school and all our students have Religious Education lessons and take part in all kinds of liturgy, which support and fulfil our mission. We offer the full range of National Curriculum subjects but we also believe that we should develop all our student opportunities. Accordingly we offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities, which extend the experiences of students and help to involve them in the local community as well as the wider world. We were given our designation as a Sports College in September 2004. It is our belief that through the medium of PE and Sport we will be able to raise standards not only in the area of Physical Education, but also across the school as a whole. In collaboration with our partner schools both in the Primary and Secondary sector we will be able to offer provision and facilities by becoming a centre of excellence for PE and Sport across the Glossopdale area. Our intention is to make a major and significant contribution to the development of PE and Sport across the community and in partnership with High Peak Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council we will endeavour to fulfil our vision through sporting excellence.

“The School Community, through the provision of an education founded on Catholic Christian principals and the teachings of the Church, will care for all members."

We aim to:

Help young people develop independent, lively enquiring minds, giving them the ability to question, to argue rationally and reach decisions.

Help young people use language effectively and imaginatively in reading, writing and speaking.

Provide a basis of (a) mathematical, (b) scientific and (c) technical knowledge, enabling boys and girls to learn essential skills.

Instil respect for moral values and tolerance, e.g. of other races, religions and ways of life.

Teach young people about human achievement and aspirations and encourage aesthetic awareness.

Develop awareness of how present-day society evolved and is still evolving.

Help young people to appreciate how the nation earns and maintains its standard of living, and the interdependence of nations.

Encourage acceptable standards of appearance, personal hygiene and healthy living.

Encourage an awareness of, and respect for, the environment.

Give satisfaction of achievement to all students whatever their ability.”

Day	Lunch Time Activities	After School Activities
Monday	Yrs 7,8 + 9 hockey Yrs 9 + 10 Volleyball Rm 8 Use Careers software to search for job ideas 12.45-1.15	Yr 7 football St. James Primary – netball
Tuesday	Yr 7 football Yrs 10 + 11 kickboxing Art Club 12.30-1.15 Careers Adviser's Clinic in Connexions area	Yrs 8 + 9 football D dance rehearsals
Wednesday	Years 7 & 8 kick/boxercise Dance rehearsal/Yrs 7 + 8 netball Art Club 12.30-1.15	Years 10 + 11 football GCSE dance Technology ‘catch up' w/b 21.9 3.30-4.30 GCSE music support
Thursday	Year 11 Basketball Dance rehearsals Art Club 12.30-1.15 12.45-1.15 Careers library open to search for ideas	Yrs. 8, 9 & 10 basketball Ignition 3.40-4.50 Art Club 3.30-4.30 GCSE Support w/b 32/9 3.30-4.15
Friday		Jnr Sports Leader Award Dance rehearsals School Band 3.45-4.30 (Hall) Art Club 3.30-4.30

In line with current Government initiatives all Secondary Schools are encouraged to apply for Specialist status with a choice of ten possible subject areas. An integral part of the bid process requires a partnership to be forged between schools and their local communities. Why Sports College status? Historically PE had suffered from a low profile within the school curriculum. The school has consulted with local sports clubs/providers, disabled groups, pre-school groups, staff, parents, children and other agencies to enable them to formulate both their community and school audits and development plans. Significantly the response from these groups has been very positive and enthusiastic reinforced by their willingness to write letters of support. We feel strongly that the award of specialist sports status would not only benefit the school and its children but the Glossop community as a whole. What does specialist status mean to our school? Financially the school benefits from a one-off grant of £100,000 to be used on designated building projects related to the chosen specialism. In our case this has been used for the refurbishment of changing rooms, construction of a dedicated PE classroom and a small fitness suite. In addition £129 per pupil per annum is payable for 4 years with 33% to be allocated to community initiatives. Perhaps more importantly it means there is now the opportunity to work with the local groups from the Glossop community by providing enhanced facilities, expertise and coaching to help improve sports provision with accessibility for all.

Admissions to St. Philip Howard School are dealt with by the Headteacher and the Governors’ Admissions Committee on behalf of the Governors of the School. The Governors recognise that under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, parents have a right to express a preference for the School and Governors have a duty to comply with that preference consistent with the need to provide an efficient education including efficiency in the use of resources.
The standard number for admission to Y7 agreed with Derbyshire County Council Education Committee is 91. This Standard Number lays down the maximum number of children that the Governors consider can be admitted in the Y7 intake group. Parents wishing for a place at St. Philip Howard Catholic School for the September intake should apply on the LEA's application form no later than the 1st December of the previous academic year. The LEA will then inform St Philip Howard Catholic School of all applications that have been made. The governors will then inform parents of offers of places.

The Governors of the School have a responsibility, laid down by law to maintain the Catholic character of their school and their admissions will be controlled with this in mind.