About Furtherwick

Welcome to Furtherwick Park School. We are a successful 11-16 mixed Secondary with student numbers of around 600, located in the heart of our community on a generous site with excellent sporting facilities. Behaviour is good, relationships are positive, and we are committed to achieving the best for the young people in our care.

Our latest Ofsted inspection in February 2006 spoke of ‘a number of good and some outstanding features’, and said the school’s progress was ‘very good’. In 2006 we achieved our best results ever, with 47% of students achieving 5+ A*-C at GCSE and value added score in the top 25% of schools nationally. Not one child left the school without GCSEs.

Our Learning Support department is much-praised, with individual and small group work in the dedicated Learning Support area known as ‘Taz’. Counselling services are provided by qualified staff.

We have a strong record of sporting achievement and hold the Sportsmark Award.. A number of students compete at regional and national level and we have a strong presence on the local sporting scene. The school has extensive playing fields, a sports hall, gym and an indoor swimming pool.

We work together with the other Secondary and Primary schools in the ‘Canvey Partnership’ on many activities including an Extended Schools Partnership, an exemplar of good practice, offering a wide range of activities outside the school day and in holidays to all local children from 5 to 16. We are partners with SEEVIC Sixth Form College in nearby Benfleet and have several partner schools in Europe as part of the EU-funded Comenius Project: there are exchanges with students from The Netherlands and Germany every year. In 2005 we established a further partnership with Changzhou Beijiao School in Jiangsu Province, China. We teach Mandarin, host a visiting teacher and our annual Summer School in 2006 was held jointly with them, in China. We are one of only 3 schools in the UK to have participated in a radio link up with NASA and the International Space Station. From September this year Furtherwick Park will become a Specialist School in Media Arts, focusing on English.

“Pupils….. enjoy coming to school and value the company of their teachers and friends” – Ofsted 2006

Partners for Success

We will:

• Challenge, motivate and inspire
• Develop self confidence
• Foster strong social values
• Care

We expect:

• Commitment to learning
• Respect for others
• Honesty

We uphold each individual's right to:

• Equality of opportunity
• Be safe and secure
• Learn

Personal Appearance

By sending your children to Furtherwick Park School, parents are agreeing to our dress code. All students wear full school uniform. The uniform has been designed to give a smart appearance at minimum cost. There is a uniform shop on the school site where all items of clothing may be purchased. Items of uniform without the school logo can be obtained locally.

Uniform List (applies to both sexes)

• Black blazer with school badge
• Black ‘V’ necked school sweater
• White, plain shirt or shirt type blouse
• Black knee length skirt or black trousers
• School tie
• Black or white short socks or plain, neutral or black tights.
• Black shoes, flat or with low heels

Trousers should be of the smart plain tailored variety. Loose, baggy styles or tight ‘ski-pant’ types are not allowed. Any form of denim is unacceptable, as are ‘trainers’ or similar sporting shoes when worn for general use. Outdoor coats should not be worn in school at any time.

If there is a genuine reason for students not to be in full school uniform then a brief note of explanation is required from the parent/carer and this should be given to the form tutor. The school will then consider its response accordingly.

The only jewellery which is allowed to be worn is an ordinary wristwatch and one pair of small studs worn in the lobe of the ear. Additional items of jewellery such as rings and necklaces are not allowed for safety and security reasons. If necessary, excess articles will be confiscated.

Please note that the school accepts no liability for loss of, or damage to, students clothing or possessions on the school property.

Hair should be worn in a conventional style – extremes of fashion are not permitted. Students must not have lines or patterns cut into their hair. Hair colour if used should be one natural looking colour.

If students arrive at school unsuitably dressed or their appearance does not follow our expectations, they may be ‘isolated’ or sent home until they present themselves appropriately.

P.E. Uniform