Message from the Headteacher
Welcome to Portway Community School. We are an 11-16 mixed comprehensive of 700 students to the north west of Bristol, serving primarily the communities of Shirehampton, Lawrence Weston, Avonmouth and Sea Mills. We share a building with the Kingsweston Centre, a school for students with autism.
Portway School has a long and proud tradition of high standards, particularly in the areas of arts and sport. The school has recently been awarded Artsmark status and is opening a new £1.5m rugby development centre on the banks of the Avon. However, we are working hard to ensure that every aspect of the school is equally strong, so all students’ talents and abilities can flourish and develop. Our examination results in 2006 at both SATs and GCSE showed significant improvement.
In January 2006, the school moved into its new PFI building and this has had a major impact on the quality of our curriculum and resources. In addition, the students voted for a new uniform of blazer and tie from September 2006 as they believe it is the mark of a good school.
I joined the school at the end of January 2006 and have been made to feel very welcome. Why not come and see for yourself? You are more than welcome to tour the school at any time. Please telephone us for an appointment. I look forward to meeting you.
David Hebden B.Mus.(Hons) Headteacher
Pastoral Care
The students are placed in mixed ability tutor groups on arrival in the school, essentially based on friendship requests from Primary School.
Each tutor group has a tutor and Head of Year and we aim to turn round all parental enquiries within 24 hours. Within the school, we also have a student receptionist who is a trained first-aider, a community police officer and two learning mentors. These four staff supplement the teaching staff and tutors to support our students should they need help and guidance. The school has a Learning Support Unit (LSU) to support students who have behavioural difficulties.
The school provides all families with a Discipline policy annually, which includes our strong line on bullying, racism, homophobia and other forms of anti-social behaviour. To support the staff in their work, the school has trained 20 students to be bully counsellors and they have a designated area and time should a student wish to see them. Portway also has an active School Council that meets the Headteacher weekly to represent the students’ views on all aspects of school life.
Achievements/Activities 2005-2006
- Clerical/Medical Personal Finance Competition: WINNERS (Yr 8)
- Bristol City Panathlon Sports Event: WINNERS (All ages)
- Artsmark awarded
- French Trip to Paris
- Theatre trips to Bristol Old Vic, Hippodrome, Bath and London and two theatre companies came to the school
- Gifted and Talented trips to Bristol University, Bath University, Warwick University
- Student trips to The Cottage, Portway’s own residential cabin in the Welsh Mountains.
- Over £2,000 raised for charities such as MacMillan Nurses, Bristol Hospital (Children’s Ward) and Cancer Relief.
- Year 11 Prom at Ashton Court
- Year 10 Football tour to Manchester
- Annual Book Fair
- Jenny Mullinder (Year 9) appointed to UK Youth Parliament
- Residential summer camp for students on Skills Force course
- Appointment of 20 peer bully counsellors
- Rewarding achievement trips to Alton Towers and Drayton Manor
- Spellathon marathon for MENCAP
- Trips to poetry workshops at Coulsdon Hall
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