The school serves the community of Darlaston, which is situated to the south west of the borough of Walsall. The school has been on its present site, bordering with George Rose Park, for over forty years.
The current student roll is 1100. There are 76 full time teachers and 47 support staff.
Darlaston has a number of unique features in its organisation and management structure. These include Academic Review Days, which have replaced traditional Parent’s Evenings, Community Days, where students are engaged in work with adults from many of the agencies we are associated with, and a growing level of support from our multi-agency network.
As a result of this extensive work in the community, the school was awarded a School’s Curriculum Award in June 2000.
Academic results have improved slowly but steadily in the last few years. The number of students gaining five higher grade passes has risen from a previous three year average of 18% to a current average of 30.7%. In 2004 and 2005 34% of students achieved five or more GCSE passes at A* - C – a record for the school. In 2006, however, there was a dip in results to 24%.
We have had three OFSTED inspections, 1977, 1999 and 2004 each of which have been successful and showing cumulative improvements. The numbers of Post-16 students is currently 116 and we are hoping to expand further in this area.
The full range of National Curriculum is taught at KS3, with a slightly higher portion of curriculum time being direction to English, Mathematics and Science.
Lessons are currently 50 minutes long, four being taught in the morning session and two in the afternoon. School starting at 8.25 a.m. and finishing at 2.50 p.m. means that there is time for extra-curricular activities, beyond the formal lessons structure.
Darlaston Community Science College has a long and proud tradition of working with students and families from underprivileged backgrounds. All of our pastoral support teams devote their time to address the issues raised by this social and economic reality of modern life.
In keeping with tradition, the use of Walsall’s outdoor centre at Bryntysilio, near Llangollen in mid Wales, for residential study and holiday activities, is a regular calendared process.
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