Students are supported with a full Transition Programme as they begin their journey into the Senior School in Year 7, helping them to develop their independence and time management skills. Throughout their time in the Senior School not only will students be studying for their GCSE exams; they will also be developing important life skills and qualities through a curriculum that focuses on more than just academic achievement. These include debating, public speaking, leadership skills and team building.
As the girls move through Senior School, they take part in the Wayfarers programme or Combined Cadets Force. These are run in combination with the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze award. If they opt for CCF they can join either the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army or RAF Sections. All have different themes but achieve the same aim of providing a vehicle for students to grow and develop. CLEAR Challenge days also happen every term.
At Adcote School we pride ourselves on our supportive and caring environment, and this is never more important than in the Senior School, as students face increasing pressures of exams. Academic development is supported by small class sizes, excellent teaching, and strong teacher/student relationships.
Small class sizes enable our dedicated teachers to deliver tailored learning for students of all academic abilities, including the highest. Individual help is available for any girls who require support with their studies or to help them overcome a specific learning difficulty.
A wide range of subjects is taught in the Senior School, which is reflected in the large number of options available at GCSE. Performing Arts, Fine Art and Textiles form an integral part of life in and outside the curriculum. Sporting and cultural activities are also used to inspire initiative, ambition, responsibility and compassion.
PE, Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE), information on careers and work experience are included as an important part of the core curriculum for all the girls.
The school day begins with Assembly or form time at 8:35, and continues until 4:00. Supervised prep and activities then take place until 5:25 when the buses leave for day girls. Day girls are welcome to join the boarders for breakfast at 8:00 and to stay for supper if they wish to for small extra charges. We aim to be as flexible as possible to meet the needs of busy working parents.
Pastoral Care
Here at Adcote School our pastoral care and support are excellent. We pride ourselves on being one large family and there is always someone to talk to. On arrival at the school, all girls in Year 7 and above are assigned a personal tutor. This person will be the primary contact for the girls and their parents. Formal meetings are held every half term between girls and their tutor, to discuss progress in both academic and pastoral matters. Boarders can also turn to any member of the House staff team to help with any problems.
Each area of the school has a Head of Section (Junior, Senior and Sixth Form). We also have a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator, for specific learning support, and a counsellor comes to school each week if the girls wish to speak to someone from outside of school.
Student Wellbeing
We have a whole school approach to supporting our students’ mental health through our CLEAR Learning Programme. Resilience is particularly important. We teach our students to cope with change, adversity and overcoming barriers and enable them to feel more confident.
We offer programmes in mindfulness and wellbeing, which can reduce stress and anxiety, as well as focusing on positive thinking techniques. This also leads to a more positive outlook and benefits academic work. We have a full time medical officer who helps with all health issues, including signposting to external support organisations (E.g BEAM) when further support is needed.
Learning Support
Our teachers support and guide students in their academic journey by delivering top quality teaching. We are also equipped to give additional help and support when required. Short courses are offered as boosters to students, which sit alongside normal lessons. This additional support, as well as small class sizes, ensures that all students get the tailored education that they need to succeed.
Student support is assessed on an individual basis and reviewed accordingly. If your child has an existing Special Educational Need (SEN), we would like to discuss this prior to admission. We can plan what level of support is put into place to care for your child. We have dyslexia specialists and a team of Learning Support Assistants who offer provision in small groups and on a 1:1 basis. Our Head of Learning Support is Annabel Jacobs.
If your child has an Educational Healthcare plan (EHCP), please mention this during the admission process, as it is vital that provision is planned carefully in advance of registration.
Athena Programme
Adcote School recognises the importance of providing opportunities for students with gifts and talents in all aspects of School life.
We believe that gifted and able students are those who demonstrate an ability to achieve levels of performance which are significantly higher than average for their year group in one or more areas of learning:
- Physical talent
- Artistic talent
- Mechanical ingenuity
- Leadership
- High intelligence
- Creativity
Being an inclusive school, we have the widest possible view of ability and believe that many students have particular skills outside the usual definitions of ability. We therefore also encourage and reward those students who, for example, are good at helping others, noticing when other children are upset and supporting them and so on.
Throughout the School a wide range of teaching methods and strategies are used to ensure that all students achieve well in relation to their capability through skilfully differentiated lessons. We are committed to matching what is taught and how it is taught to the students’ abilities and aptitudes.
The Athena Programme has been created to enable our Gifted and Talented students to stretch and challenge themselves through a range of seminars, lectures, debates and events led by professionals in a range of learning areas. The Athena Programme also includes opportunities for students to access a range of extension projects designed by subject teachers in order to enhance their learning.
