ABOUT US

Poole High School is a flourishing 12 - 18 co-educational Comprehensive School situated near the centre of Poole. The School is the upper tier of the Poole Harbour Schools' Educational Pyramid which includes Baden-Powell and St. Peters CE (VC) Middle School, Hillbourne Middle School, Longfleet CE (VC) Combined School and Oakdale / South Road Middle School. Students also come to us from Hamworthy, Branksome Heath Middle School and St Aldhelms' CE (VC) Combined School.

The High School benefits from extensive facilities with specialist departmental suites for Science, Technology , Art and Design, Information Technology, Music, Business Studies, Theatre Studies plus Physical and Outdoor Education. Departments also have access to the Town of Poole, the Purbecks and on occasions, to London and other parts of Britain. The school also offers opportunities for students to visit other European countries and beyond through our links with World Challenge

Poole High School expects students to reach the highest standards they possibly can at each stage of their education. The staff at Poole High School are highly qualified and committed. In the Lower and Upper Schools class sizes are approximately 25-27 students in non-practical subjects and under 20 students in practical subjects and most practical subjects. In the Senior School the average class size is around 10-12 students. Our class sizes enables teachers to know their students, their strengths and weaknesses and to help them to acquire the necessary academic and study skills for achievement and progress in later years.

Students who are disadvantaged because they learn more slowly than others are well supported at Poole High School through the work of the Special Needs department. In each year there is one small group with a maximum of 17 students who benefit from tuition with specialist staff to help them gain maximum advantage from the curriculum. The school encourages students to take responsibility for their own work and progress and they are actively encouraged to participate in self-evaluation and the setting of their own short and medium term targets. Expectations are high at Poole High School, but they are carefully matched to achievable potential to ensure that students maintain confidence in their own abilities and a positive self-image within the learning environment.

We offer an exciting range of courses to suit most students. The teaching staff are dedicated, helping every individual reach their potential and also develop a full range of the skills needed for adult life. But what makes our Senior School unique is the very high level of guidance and support we offer. A recent OFSTED report commended this aspect of the Senior School's work, in particular, as excellent practice. We were delighted to be deemed such a successful and well-run Senior School. In addition we offer a wide range of enrichment activities including sports, community service and Religious Education. You will have all sorts of opportunities from working with younger students in school to work experience placements relevant to your future plans. The atmosphere in the Senior School reflects your growing maturity and will increasingly make you responsible for your own learning.

The Poole High School Curriculum is divided into a Lower School (Years 8 & 9) and an Upper School (Years 10 &11). In both schools, the curriculum is designed to cover all aspects of the National Curriculum. Lower School pupils follow a general course for their first two years. The Curriculum allows a certain degree of diversity in that pupils may apply for the School's Special Music Course, an additional Modern Foreign Language or may be given extra lessons to improve basic skills, e.g. literacy.

In the Upper School, courses normally lead to external examinations (G.C.S.E) and / or the School’s Certificates. In addition, the School offers a Special Needs and Vocational Studies Programme which involves work experience. It is hoped that the following subjects will be available to examination level:

• Art & Design,
• Drama,
• Dance,
• Design Technology: Food/Textiles,
• Child Development,
• Resistant Materials,
• Electronic and Graphic Products,
• Biology,
• Chemistry,
• Physics,
• Balanced Science,
• Business Studies,
• Business & Communication Systems, Information Studies,
• English Language,
• English Literature,
• French, German and Spanish,
• History,
• Geography,
• Information & Communication Technology,
• Mathematics,
• Music,
• Religious Studies,
• Psychology and Physical Education.

The Senior School Curriculum is designed to offer each student an appropriate balance between academic and vocational courses. The curriculum comprises the following Areas of Study:

• English
• Mathematics
• Physics / Chemistry / Biology / Human Biology
• Business Studies / Finance
• English Literature / English Language / Lit,Art & Theatre Studies / Media Studies /
• Communication Studies
• Design Technology
• Health & Social Care
• History / Politics / Archaeology
• Information & Communication Technology
• Modern Languages
• Psychology / Sociology
• Physical Education / Sports Education
• Religious Education / Ethics
• BTEC Firsts in ICT / Sport / Business & Art

• Specialist Departmental Suites
• Five Physics / Electronics Labs
• Five Chemistry / Science Labs
• Five Biology / Science Labs
• Heated Indoor Swimming Pool
• Modern Indoor Sports Hall & Aerobics Room
• Fitness Studio
• Senior School Hall
• Extensive Outdoor Games Facilities
• Large School Library, including a Computer Suite
• Drama Studio / Harbin Theatre / Performing Arts Studios
• Five Specialist Technology / Craft Rooms
• Four Art Studios plus Pottery Studio
• Careers Office and Library
• Business Studies Centre
• Eight Computer Laboratories
• Four Food/Textiles Rooms
• Music Rooms with Practice Facilities
• Senior Students Common Room & Refectory
• Senior Students Study Room/Library