Welcome to Bishopsgarth Community School
Bishopsgarth Community School is well known for giving children a first-rate education and an excellent start in life.
We have the highest expectations for everyone, regardless of who they are or where they come from.
As a smaller school we pride ourselves on our personal care. We know all of our pupils, their strengths and how to help them improve.
We want our children to feel happy, safe and valued, because we know that secure pupils go on to achieve at the highest levels at whatever they want to do.
In recent years Bishopsgarth students have left us with excellent examination results and then gone on to further education, university and employment. This sort of achievement is open to everyone who joins us.
A School for the 21st Century
Bishopsgarth School is designed to be totally effective. It is a light and bright place where education can be a pleasure.
There are colourful displays of children’s work throughout the building to encourage everyone to learn from each other.
Carpeted throughout and on one level, it has a purposeful atmosphere in which children feel comfortable and valued.
As well as quiet places for study it has larger areas in such subjects as Maths, Drama, Music, Sports and Special Needs. These allow bigger groups to come together so that all pupils get the opportunity to experience teaching of the highest calibre.
Caring for the Individual
Bishopsgarth School has room for 600 pupils. This means that it is not a big, impersonal place, but a school where each child gets individual attention.
The head of year, second in year and form tutors are always on hand to offer help as and where it is needed.
All students in upper school have a personal tutor who gives advice on matters like college applications, employment opportunities and study skills.
Each child also has access to a Learning Mentor, who is an adult employed by the school to help students succeed by providing personal help and advice.
Open evenings are held throughout the year and parents are also welcome to visit at other times to discuss progress.
We never forget that the key to our success is partnership – parents and school working together for the good of the child.
Extra Curricular Opportunities
Pupils at Bishopsgarth get the chance to experience a whole host of new activities.
For example, the annual activities week brings the opportunity to learn archery, sailing, quad biking, disco dancing, fishing, arts and crafts and many more absorbing sports and hobbies.
Pupils will also get the chance to go away on residentials during their time at the school. In recent years there have been trips to places near and far, including the North York Moors, the Lake District, Otterburn, Dorset, London, Paris, Italy and America.
There are many different clubs in school. Recently, for example, the Chess Club, the Drama Club, the Soccer Teams, the Photography Club and the Art club have been very popular.
The chance of additional study for all is also an important part of our extra curricular provision. The Homework club for 4 nights a week and is there for lower school pupils to use the computers to complete school work. In upper school al departments run classes after school which will help everyone gain success.
Our Policy – High Standards Bring High Results
We expect our pupils to attend each and every day in full uniform, ready equipped for work. To help everyone reach success children are issued with a planner each year for recording homework and details of their studies.
We have clear and fair policies of behaviour, which reward good work. Where pupils fall below our high expectations, parents are quickly involved to help get the child back on track.
Our aim is to get the highest results for all. Over the past few years we have been consistently awarded grade A’s by the government in recognition of the fact that our GCSE and Key Stage 3 examination results are well above the national average.
And we aim to be even more successful in the future.
Dear Year 6 Pupil,
Moving on to your Secondary School from your Primary School is one of the biggest steps you ever have to make. So big, in fact, that you will remember it all of your life!
To make this move easier for you I am sending you some information about Bishopsgarth. You can read this and learn about a number of the things we have to offer you over the next five years.
We want you to find out as much as possible about Bishopsgarth before you join us in September 2004. We know that if you are happy and confident you will do really well during your secondary career. Then you will leave with great examination results and go on to college or to get the work you want.
To give you this information we have an Open Evening in October when you can come along with your parent or guardian and look at our facilities, try them out and meet the staff.
Over the next year Bishopsgarth teachers will also visit your Primary School to meet you. In July 2005, you can come along to us for two days of activities – both fun and work!
If there is anything in the meantime you want to know about Bishopsgarth, please contact me at the school. I will arrange for you and your parent or guardian to come along and discuss your concerns and interests.
Our School motto is: ‘Excellence For All’.
We achieve this by giving all pupils the chance to do really well in al aspects of school life. The inspectors recognised this when they wrote: ‘Bishopsgarth is an effective school which provides pupils with a good quality of Education. It is a school with a clear sense of purpose and direction. All members of the school community are valued, and there is a firm belief that everyone in school can and will achieve.’
Vision Statement
THE STAFF OF BISHOPSGARTH SCHOOL WILL WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY TO RAISE THE STANDARDS OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR ALL.
WE WILL ENSURE THAT THE SCHOOL IS SAFE, SECURE AND STIMULATING.
WE WILL PUT INTO PLACE STRATEGIES WHICH ENCOURAGE:
* CONFIDENCE
* AWARENESS
* IMPROVED EXAMINATION
RESULTS
* ENQUIRING MINDS |