How it works:

Erith School is a large school - 1972 boys and girls in September 2004 - 123 full and part-time teaching staff, 145 support staff and twenty acres of land and buildings.

Within the school there is a Senior Leadership Team who are responsible for the day-to-day and long term development of the school. The team consists of the Headteacher, three Deputy Heads and seven Assistant Heads, who work within one of the three sub-teams. All teams have a curriculum and pastoral focus. Our Business Manager is also part of the team.

The ten Faculties mirror the structure of the National Curriculum – thus, Mathematics, English, Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), Modern Languages (French), Humanities (Geography, History, Religious Education, Citizenship and Social Science), Technology (Craft, Design and Technology, Food Technology, Business Studies, Information Technology), Creative Arts (Art, Music, Dance and Drama), Physical Education, Curriculum Support (Special Needs) and the Life Skills Faculty (Personal, Social & Health Education, Careers, Work Experience and Progress Files).

Erith School is divided up into six horizontal year groups on the basis of age. Each year group has its own very distinct identity and is led by a Head and Deputy head of Year.

Standards:

The academic standards of the school are high, about 98% of the school population sit the GCSE public examination at the end of the statutory course and Advanced Level courses are provided in about thirteen subjects. About 40% of the Sixth Form are following courses of this nature. The school has also developed strong Post 16 GNVQ vocational courses. In sports and athletics, the school has a high reputation. Drama, Music and Art flourish and exhibitions and performances play an important part in the school calendar. Overseas school journeys are very popular with the pupils. Apart from exchange visits to France for the linguists and the very large ski trips organised on an annual basis, well over a hundred pupils each year take part in the annual Isle of Wight holiday for new entrants, during the Easter vacation of their first year at Erith School.

The school has a very powerful Parent-Teacher Association and a supportive Governing Body. The Parent-Teacher Association functions as a forum for discussion on educational issues as well as a fund raising body. Over the years, the school has enjoyed magnificent support from the PTA, both in terms of finance and in terms of assisting the school to develop. Around the school, in Faculties and in general use, are many examples of items funded by the PTA – mini buses, seats for pupils, landscaping, faculty equipment, curtains, blinds, library books, etc., etc.

The aims of the Parent-Teacher Association are to promote the interests of Erith School, to foster links between school and parents, to raise funds to improve the amenities of the school and to regularly hold meetings on important educational issues and topics.