Head of Modern Languages

Every student matters at The Stanway School. To be part of our staff community is to accept challenge as a daily experience, promote kindness as an integral part of developing young people’s personalities and to celebrate success for all. These form part of our Stanway Standard: a recognition of when our young people ‘get it right’ and bolster their confidence through explicit acknowledgement of our core values; more than that, though, they are essential to our ethos as a school.

Proud

Our school is heavily over-subscribed, with over 1300 students currently on roll. This year (2021) all of our year groups will be full with 280 students following the development of our site to accommodate students in modern, purpose-built classrooms that include our new Creative Arts block and recently completed new dining hall to facilitate safe recreation time too. From Italian Meatballs to a Full English Breakfast, our lunchtime offering is popular with staff and students alike!

As a specialist Humanities and Maths & Computing school, our students are motivated to pursue a broad education into KS4 when choosing their GCSE options. Evidently, we are doing something right with some great headlines in recent years’ exam results:

• 51%/44% of students achieving Grades 5+ in both English & Maths

• 76% of all entries achieved a Grade 4 or above

• 21% of all entries achieved a Grade 7 or above, including English and Maths

• 65 Grade 9s have been awarded this year

High expectations for behaviour, attendance and punctuality help our students make good progress and we endeavour to match our teaching to students’ individual needs, interests and aptitudes. All members of the school community are expected to strive to beat their previous best and take pride in their achievements.

Determined

Our outstanding staff are determined to provide high quality teaching for all students, regardless of their prior attainment or social background. As testament to this commitment, we have a suite of well-attended Continuing Professional Development activities that take place throughout the school year. One example would be staff opting to engage in research to ensure we remain at the cutting edge of educational development and pedagogy, supporting students through evidence-based approaches to ensure rigour in our curriculum. Alternatively, as a new member of staff at Stanway you could benefit from our collaboration with The Sigma Trust (since September 2016); over 35 Science colleagues gathered at a partner school in February to discuss exam board feedback and try online resources to reinforce class-based learning at home.

At The Stanway School, we are proactive as well as reflective in our attitudes towards development and therefore we aim to engage our staff because, ultimately, it leads to better outcomes for our students who are always the priority.

Respectful

The Stanway School is a trusted and respected member of the local community and works exceptionally hard to provide the very best start for our young people through outstanding teaching and the highest quality guidance and support. We have implemented a behavioural system based on positive regard and building relationships with our students, which enables us to have conversations about how to support students in the classroom and maintain the focus on learning as paramount to our daily activities rather than simply sanction behaviours that limit potential and impact on attainment.

Considerate

At The Stanway School, we help our students to find their own voice through a broad and balanced, exciting curriculum. At the heart of our curriculum is a strong commitment to teaching modern British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and belief. Our curriculum offers opportunities for all learners to succeed through the development of sequenced knowledge and cultural capital over time. Pathways through the carefully designed curriculum allow students to make more than national progress throughout all year groups. Following their own academic path, our young people develop informed opinions, and are able to play a full part in their school community leaving them ready for their next stage of education, work or training.

Everyone in our school community is valued, and we recognise this through our multi-layered rewards system. Students are motivated to apply for our Omnium, Bicameral and Triumvirate awards, in appreciation of students’ commitment to their school community and personal achievement. We recognise and celebrate success wherever it occurs: in the classroom; on the pitch; in the studio, or in contributions to the wider community through the annual charitable events organised by each of our five houses.

Responsible

An established member of the Sigma Trust, we aim to provide opportunities for our students and staff alike to broaden their horizons through opportunities to develop. We honour our responsibilities as an employer by offering individualised development based on the strengths and goals of our staff. Learning Support Assistants are encouraged to gain skills to ensure they are effective in their crucial roles supporting students; Initial Teacher Trainees are welcomed each year to inspire the next generation of teachers for our students, and benefit from experienced mentors and excellent role models. Once qualified, our staff are motivated to develop their skillsets through engagement with the Early Career Framework; then, when they are ready, aspiration to middle leadership and beyond can be pursued. The NPQML and NPQSL are rooted within our development pathways as we fulfil our responsibility to challenge all and nurture confidence in future leaders.

Jonathan Bland

Headteacher

The Stanway School

Safeguarding

The Sigma Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records, online checks and other vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across our schools.