Kesgrave High School

About Kesgrave High School

We are proud of staff and students at Kesgrave High School and we expect them to take a pride in all that they do.  We have a strong pastoral system, high academic standards and clear and fair behaviour expectations.  Our experience tells us that children thrive in an environment that sets firm boundaries, is consistent in its expectations and which builds relationships that set the tone for learning

We provide an environment in which our students feel safe and are encouraged to grow, often challenging their own expectations.  Our positive, inclusive approach ensures that students make the most of their talents and potential.  We are lucky to have a school environment which befits these expectations, investing in their futures through the latest technology and facilities.

We encourage students to take responsibility, to be curious and to have a thirst for knowledge.  Students learn from each other, as well as from their experienced and skilled teachers, in a supportive learning environment where everyone is valued.

Relationships within and beyond the classroom are positive and help us to secure the best possible outcomes for our young people.  Teachers, associate staff, parents and carers all work together to help our young people to progress.

Our Culture and Ethos

Kesgrave High School is proud to be 'more than just a school'.  Our ethos is at the heart of everything we do:

'Be Positive, Be Respectful, Be Your Best'.

- We have an ethos of purposeful learning with a sense of adventure and challenge, where students and staff are empowered to experiment and develop exciting learning opportunities.

- Our practice and development is rooted in evidence-based research.

- Class sizes are kept as low as possible.  On average, a KS4 class has 22 students and at KS5 12 students.

- Our three period day means that staff and students have a break after every lesson to ensure smooth transitions between lessons and a calm purposeful learning environment.

- All departments have access to a designated curriculum administrator who helps drive improvements and reduce workload for teaching staff enabling them to focus on their core activities.

- Team rooms for all departments help build supportive, collaborative relationships and facilitate shared planning time.

- The majority of meetings are dedicated to Teaching and Learning.

- Departmental development is focussed on clear and manageable priorities rooting our work in the cornerstones of the best classroom practice.

- Lesson observations are for the purpose of teacher development and sharing of best practice.  We discuss how to get better.

- There is no prescribed template for lesson planning.  Our Teaching and Learning Principles focus on Subject Knowledge, Challenge, Modelling, Review and Retrieval, Questioning, Feedback and Oracy.

Headteacher

Julia Upton