Teaching Assistant

School Information

Introduction

Thank you for your interest in Hetton School. Our school is characterised by our key values around Respect, Learn and Achieve. We have well-presented, polite and co-operative students and a dedicated and professional staff. The school has a well-founded reputation and a long history with its predecessor school opening in 1912. We moved into our excellent new building in September 2016, which made a huge difference to the learning climate and opportunities students receive. We are part of a caring community and a school that supports and guides students well with their personal development and well-being. There is a high level of satisfaction from parents. The opportunities for extra-curricular activities are plentiful.

Student profile

Hetton School students have higher than average Free School Meals eligibility. Currently around 48% are so, or have been eligible in the past 6 years. Over 30% of students are in the bottom 20% of IDACI (child deprivation) rankings and less than 1% in the top 20%. Students come to us in Year 7 with broadly average Key Stage 2 results, although this is variable year to year.

Ofsted

Our school was inspected by a team from Ofsted, in September 2021. Although the key finding in this inspection was that our school still requires improvement, inspectors agree that we had made huge strides moving to good in all categories except quality of education. The outcomes that our students have achieved when leaving the school have not been good enough. We are in processes of changing this.

Core Values

Hetton is a school that strives to have a challenging, inclusive curriculum built on the foundations of great literacy and numeracy. It is shaped to what our students need to know, understand and do in order to thrive in the years after they leave us. Hetton is a school that has community at its heart. By working with people in the locality we help the community to thrive. We help our students become positive global citizens who care for our environment, as our school strives to do the same. Hetton is a school that values the wellbeing of students and staff. We work hard to ensure that all are supported. Hetton is an environment where everyone is wholly committed to success, but also has time to enjoy life beyond our school. Hetton is a school where we aim to deliver a highly effective staff-training programme, mapped out for every individual. At Hetton we thrive through our values of: Respect. Learn. Achieve. and our Learn to Achieve philosophy. Hetton is a school where we aim to have the highest expectations of students and ourselves – Where every student, no matter what their starting point, is expected to operate with a Growth Mindset. We define this as Learn to Achieve.

School Improvement

We always look to move forward and our next steps are to continue to develop our student’s positive attitude to learning, including a high-functioning pastoral care system that enhances student’s academic success and is symbiotic with their wellbeing. We will develop our effectiveness through evidence-based teaching and learning – where we collaborate more as a whole staff, regularly evaluating our practice ensuring that students have a great experience regardless of the classroom they enter. We will deliver the highest standard of education to all students, regardless of their background. We will achieve this through providing all students with a rigorous education, which challenges them, not only academically, but also in terms of their contribution to society

Stakeholder Views

The latest termly staff survey carried out in January reflects the positive approach towards the school. For example, 97% of staff state that they are proud to be a member of the school; the same percentage say that they know what we are trying to achieve; and 100% state that the Headteacher leads the school well. The students are similarly positive with 98% stating that their teachers give them work, which challenges them; 92% saying that teachers help them to do their best; and 88% saying that they would recommend the school. 90% of parents are very confident that their child is safe in school; 87% state that the school is well run by leaders; and 82% saying that they are happy with the progress their child is making.

The Future

Over the last few months the Governing Body has been carefully considering the best strategy for the future of Hetton School and our community. On Wednesday 23rd March the governors resolved by overwhelming majority vote that the Governing Board of Hetton School will formally apply to convert to become an academy and join Northern Education Trust for a September 2022 conversion. Northern Education Trust is a multi-academy trust operating in the North of England. It was established in 2012 and operates 21 academies; 11 primary and 10 secondaries. The trust we will be part of, constantly focus on standards and understand that outcomes are paramount. Their decision making is driven entirely by what is best for children. By doing this, the trust enhances the life chances of the children and young people in their care. You can find out more information about Northern Education Trust from the prospectus and website.

Mr Craig Knowles, Headteacher (April 2022)