Highsted Grammar School

Highsted Grammar School is a state-funded selective secondary school (grammar school) for girls in Sittingbourne, Kent.

Highsted Grammar School
Address
Highsted Road

Sittingbourne
,
Kent
,
ME10 4PT

England
Coordinates51.3331°N 0.7368°E / 51.3331; 0.7368
Information
TypeGrammar school;
Academy
MottoEsse quam videri
Established1904
Local authorityKent
Department for Education URN136305 Tables
OfstedReports
Head teacherAnne Kelly
GenderGirls
Age11 to 18
Number of students865
HousesChanel, Eliot, Franklin, Keller, Roddick, Seacole
Websitewww.highsted.kent.sch.uk

History

The school was established in 1904 in Brenchley House on Sittingbourne High Street as Sittingbourne High School for Girls.[1] It moved to its current site in Highsted Road in the late 1950s, at which time it was known as Sittingbourne Girls’ Grammar School (SGGS).

In common with many secondary schools in England, Highsted has a house system. When formed in 1904 the houses were: Briton, Cymru, Scots and Spartan. The houses now are: Chanel, Eliot, Franklin, Keller, Roddick, Seacole.

The school, now known as Highsted Grammar School, converted to Academy status in 2011. It now takes both boys and girls into its Sixth Form. In September 2013, Anne Kelly took over as headteacher after the retirement of former headteacher Jennifer Payne.

Description

Virtually all maintained schools and academies follow the National Curriculum, and are inspected by Ofsted on how well they succeed in delivering a 'broad and balanced curriculum'.[2] Unusually, Highsted which converted to an academy in 2011 has not had a Section 5 inspection since then.[3] On conversion, all schools have a three year exemption window: Ofsted looked at the previous maintained school's last two inspections and has not seen the need to do an inspection.[4]

Within a three year Key Stage 3, year 7, 8 and 9 pupils study the complete range of National Curriculum subjects. The core programme is English, Mathematics, 3 Sciences Information & Communications Technology (ICT), History, Geography, and Modern Languages chosen from French, German and Spanish. Art & Design, Design & Technology, Drama, Food & Nutrition, Music, Physical Education (PE) and Religious Education (RE)are also taught. There is also a Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) curriculum is delivered using focus days and is included in a Highsted feature, the voluntary but heavily advised 'Super Curriculum'. [5] Contrary to the Ofsted recommendation, certain pupils will commence some GCSE subjects in year 9.[6] Students start by doing 3 lots of 30-min long homework a night.[5]

Years 10 and 11 are the Key Stage 4 examination years, Like all other schools, GCSE courses are currently studied, Which include the core of compulsory subjects needed to reach the Progress 8 benchmark: English (Language and Literature), Mathematics, Science (Biology, Chemistry & Physics) taken to GCSE as core and additional or three separate Science subjects, ICT (Diploma in Digital Applications), a Modern Language (from French, German or Spanish), and either Geography or History. Further options are studied for GCSE examinations; these are typically on offer: Art & Design, Business Studies, Design & Technology, Drama, a second Modern Language, Music, a second humanities subject, PE, RE and Sociology. Other non-exam courses are provided to meet statutory requirements: PE, PSHE, Careers Education and RE.[5]

In Key Stage 5 otherwise known as the Sixth Form, a traditional range of 'A level' academic courses are offered[5]

Social

A Facebook page was set up in 2014 with the aim of creating a Highsted Old Girls Association.[7]

References
  1. "Highsted Grammar School: Centenary 1904–2004" (PDF). Highsted Grammar School. 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  2. Roberts, Nerys. "The school curriculum in England Parliamentary Briefing Paper" (PDF). parliament.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  3. "Conversion Letter 2012". ofsted.gov.uk. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  4. Ofsted Communications Team (8 October 2020). "Find an inspection report and registered childcare". reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  5. "Curriculum Statement" (PDF). highsted.kent.sch.uk. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  6. Allen-Kinross, Pippa (6 December 2019). "Three year GCSE? No 'outstanding' for you". Schools Week. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  7. Highsted Old Girls' Association School website. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
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