WELCOME!!!
Welcome to Valley Park Community School. We value diversity of cultures and ways of living and strive for academic and vocational excellence and an active sense of social responsibility. We aim to create a vibrant, challenging, caring and motivating school, of which everyone is proud.We emphasise the importance of:
- academic and vocational skills and abilities
- developing the whole child
- building the children's confidence in themselves
- encouraging exploration of ideas and free thought
A Community With Values
Our schools Statement of Values was agreed by the Governing Body when the school was established in 1998. We set consistently high standards of conduct and mutual caring and respect throughout the school community, inside the school and out. We have an active, inclusive learning curriculum that prepares students for their role in the community, fosters life long learning and fulfils their potential. Valley Park promotes a safe, clean environment which encourages creativity, supports the learning environment and promotes the ethos of the school. We expect high standards of professional conduct and behaviour in all aspects of school life, and expect to deliver quality outcomes for all. We aim to develop strong partnerships with the community as a whole, to enhance the quality of teaching and learning and to provide opportunities from the cradle to the grave.
A Caring Community
Valley Park is a community of friendship and mutual support. We believe that all our students can achieve and be successful if they believe in themselves and have good confidence building opportunities.
Our induction programme starts in Year 6, ensuring that by the first day of school in Year 7 our students already know their form teachers and peers and can quickly settle in. Quality pastoral care continues through the school years, including a positive and effective approach to disipline.
We expect our students to have respect for themselves, for other people and for their environment. We have a strong family atmosphere which inspires team building and trust, and we work closely with parents at every opportunity.
We work together to improve our school environment and services, and we are always interested to hear our students' opinions. We encourage and support all of our students, regardless of their ability. Students with additional educational needs, including our most gifted and talented, are given individually planned support and extra activity, to make sure they reach their true potential. Our students also help each other both informally and through our peer mentoring scheme.
A Sixth Form Community
Our sixth form is a natural choice for students wishing to continue their education with all the benefits that Valley Park has to offer; plus many extras. Whilst they have their own accommodation, sixth formers remain very much a part of our whole school community. They are positive role models for the lower school, many keen to help their younger peers.
The Sixth form curriculum is flexible and wide ranging, including vocational courses as well as AS and A2 Levels. Students continue to approach their work with passion and commitment, and still manage to get involved in many fun activities and social events.
The highest standard of pastoral care continues in the sixth form, with a comprehensive tutorial and careers programme, including full support for many university applications.
A Performing Arts Community
At Valley Park we strongly believe that young people who have skills in performing arts have extra confidence - to be themselves, to communicate, and to achieve highly in other areas. As a result, performing arts have a very important place in our curriculum and extra curricular activities, and we encourage everyone to get involved and to discover their unique talents.
Our vibrant music, drama and art departments give energy to our school and provide important opportunities for our students to express themselves creatively, to perform with confidence and to learn new skills. We work closely with many partner organisations and individuals including theatre companies, musicians and artists to ensure that our students experiences are inspiring and rewarding.
In recognition of the wide ranging provision for the arts, Valley Park has been awarded and Arts Mark Gold by the Arts Council.
A Sporting Community
We want our students to develop a life long love for sport and healthy activity during their time a valley park. We provide opportunities for everyone to take part in sports and games, and there are plenty to choose from.
As well as PE in the formal curriculum, there are many teams and clubs open to our students and we approach sport with a spirit of inclusion, enjoyment and personal achievement. We also have a strong tradition of doing well in sports competitions at local and regional levels. Valley Park has 45 acres of playing fields.
An Active Community
Learning at Valley Park is enriched by a range of extra curricular activities with an emphasis on joining in and having fun. There are many clubs and teams open to students which are run either before school, at lunch time or after school.
A Community Looking To The Future
We endeavour to ensure that when their school career is complete, all our students emerge from our school as well balanced adults who are fully aware of their rights and responsibilities to the community they live in locally, nationally and globally. Our aim is that our students will be well equipped to discover how best to make their contribution to the wider community as they travel onwards through their adult lives and continue learning. |