WELCOME TO OUR SCHOOL!!!

Bournemouth School is a selective Grammar school for boys with over 1,000 students, including around 300 in the sixth form. It is located to the north east of this famous resort town on a site which is adjacent to its sister school, Bournemouth School for Girls. Bournemouth School began life in 1901 in new buildings in another part of the town but moved to its present site on East Way in 1939.

The school offers a wide range of facilities, from its extensive computer network to its well-resourced library. A modern art and technology block provides excellent workshops, art studios and computer rooms. New sports facilities, opened in 1999, provide an eight badminton court sports hall, a well-equipped health and fitness suite and a full-size floodlit all-weather pitch.

The school acquired specialist Language College status in September 2000. Languages offered, both to pupils and the community at large, include French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese and Arabic. A wide range of opportunities are available for pupils to extend their language skills, including a broad and long-established exchange programme.

• To encourage its students to develop lively enquiring minds, to think independently and to enjoy learning so that they will be encouraged to take advantage of educational and vocational opportunities later in life.
• To ensure that its students develop the whole range of skills, including numeracy, literacy and technological awareness, relevant to the rapidly changing world beyond formal education.
• To encourage its students to develop both team and individual interests outside of the formal curriculum so that they can derive personal satisfaction from leisure time and never claim to be bored.
• To encourage its students to develop the qualities of self discipline, independence and self-confidence.
• To encourage a sense of individual and collective responsibility both in the School and the community outside.
• To ensure that our students maintain high moral standards and develop the social skills necessary to work successfully with other people.
• To encourage its pupils to appreciate and show concern for the environment on a local and global scale.
• To provide a structured framework in which all the above skills can be developed.
• To provide its students with an insight into the world of work, including the wealth creating industries.
• To guide students towards the selection and attainment of worthwhile goals beyond school.
• To provide stimulating and challenging teaching materials in an environment conducive to learning.
• To provide extension and support materials for different ability levels.
• To set high, but realistic, targets for each individual student and group of students and ensure that these are achieved.

The timetable allows for 25 hours of teaching contact time per week, in accordance with DfES requirements for a minimum 24 hour week. The curriculum covers all required National Curriculum Core and Foundation subjects for pupils aged 11-16 (i.e. Key Stage 3 & 4) and in addition offers opportunities for curriculum enrichment by providing additional subjects and a wide range of extra-mural activities.

Core Curriculum:

Mathematics, English (leading to separate GCSEs in English Language and English Literature), Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics), Technology (GCSE Design and Technology including specialisation in Electronics, Materials or Graphics), Information and Communication Technology (delivered across core subject areas), Modern Languages (one subject chosen from French, German, Spanish or Italian), Humanities (one subject chosen from History or Geography), Religious Education, Personal Social Health and Citizenship Education and PE/Games. The National Curriculum may be disapplied for those wishing to study a second language in place of Design and Technology.

Bournemouth School was designated as a specialist Language College in June 2000 and its work started in September 2000. As a specialist College it receives funding from the Department for Education & Skills (DfES) to develop the teaching of modern foreign languages. The view of the school is that the ability to communicate in a number of languages is now an essential skill that all school leavers require. Our approach to language teaching is to ensure that students have exposure to a wide range of languages and are encouraged to develop multi-linguistically. All students pursue two modern foreign languages up to KS3, in addition to Latin and they also have the opportunity to experience other languages as well. In KS4 all students are encouraged to maintain two languages, at least one through to full GCSE. In addition to the languages studied during the formal school day there is an opportunity to start a new language from those offered as a part of the Language College project. These languages are Portuguese, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, Arabic and Japanese.

We have a number of Clubs and Societies in which pupils participate. These take place during lunchtimes or after school and receive the full support of staff.

There is a flourishing Combined Cadet Force, with Army, Navy and RAF sections, and also a long-established Scout Troop, which has its own Venture Unit. These organisations provide wonderful opportunities for developing leadership skills and teamwork. Members can participate in a wide range of activities such as gliding, shooting, sailing and adventure training.

We also place considerable emphasis on the cultural life of the school and, in addition to a flourishing Art Department which regularly exhibits pupils work, we have a tradition of debating, annual drama productions and opportunities for boys to play in a variety of music ensembles.

Music plays an important part in the life of the school and peripatetic lessons are available to pupils.