The Woodroffe School

Woodroffe is an excellent school with a national reputation. It is widely recognised as one of the best schools in the southwest. It is the founding school of the Jurassic Coast Teacher Network, leading and supporting and alliance of schools across the region, and one of only Maths Hubs in the country.

The school is fortunate in having students who are a pleasure to teach as well as a stunning location situated above Lyme Regis and looking out across Lyme Bay. It is a mixed, 11 - 18 comprehensive with around 1,040 students on roll, including approximately 200 in the sixth form. The school offers a unique combination of the traditional and the innovative. The atmosphere in the school is warm and friendly and student/teacher relationships are excellent. Woodroffe enjoys close links with the town and has been an important part of the community for many years.

Though a Dorset school, Woodroffe has a wide rural catchment, attracting students from well beyond its designated area. Woodroffe is full and applications for places in Year 7 are always heavily oversubscribed.

The school has an excellent reputation locally and it is the reason that many people choose to live in the area.

Academic performance is very good. At Key Stage 4, we are consistently one of the top schools in the county, and significantly above national average in key performance indicators; at A-Level, we work consistently above the national average despite our inclusive offer.

As a Foundation school, Woodroffe benefits from a committed and supportive governing body. There is also a strong commitment to staff development and the school has a very strong, personalised professional development offer.

The school is housed in an imposing thirties building but extensive modernisation, including a brand-new teaching block, has taken place over the years. There is a state-of-the-art Drama Studio, a superb Sports Hall and Fitness Suite and a recent addition is the new Digital Arts room with its suite of Apple Macs and a professional recording studio.

In Years 7 to 11 the school aims to provide a broad, balanced, relevant and supportive curriculum,

embracing the requirements of the National Curriculum. In Key Stage 4 a broad core is maintained with most students completing the English Baccalaureate. The Sixth Form aims to provide a framework of diverse opportunities enabling individuals to achieve success in academic, personal, and social development. It is an important feature of Woodroffe and fully reflects the comprehensive nature of the school.

The Sixth Form curriculum is broad and flexible and allows students to develop programmes of study suited to their individual needs. Thirty-six examination courses are on offer at A Level and Level 3, covering all the major disciplines. This offer is the most extensive locally.

A programme of Personal and Social Education is organised in Year 7, and Years 8 to 11 follow a Citizenship and PSE Course. In the Sixth Form there is a programme of personal and professional development. This allows the Sixth Form to invite visiting speakers in to talk about topics which broaden their knowledge and understanding of the world.

Students with Special Educational Needs are catered for through a programme of in-class support and limited for specialist inputs. Our aim is for them to retain and complete the full curriculum offer wherever possible.

Woodroffe aims to provide a caring atmosphere in which stable relationships can be formed. We operate a Year System for pastoral care, Heads of Years and Tutors rotating from Years 7 to 11. We do, however, emphasise that the "academic" and "pastoral" elements of our work are inextricably linked.

We have a thriving student School Council of which contributes a great deal to the work of the school.

Woodroffe is committed to UNICEF’s Rights Respecting Schools agenda and was one of the first secondary schools in the country to achieve the RRS award.

Extracurricular activities are extensive. Sporting and musical elements are strong, drama productions take place on a regular basis and there is an annual Art and Design Exhibition. We operate the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and enter teams for the Ten Tors Expedition on Dartmoor. For a full list of recent events look at our website.

Community links are fostered through several activities. Students regularly participate in community events in town. Sixth Formers undertake community service in a range of local organisations. Members of the community are encouraged to come to school to contribute to Assemblies and a range of curricular activities.

Lyme Regis and District is a delightful area in which to live and work. We hope you will be inspired to be a part of and contribute to our team.

Further details about the school, including a prospectus, can be obtained from Mrs Rattenbury, Head’s PA: rrattenbury@woodroffe.dorset.sch.uk