ABOUT US

Ours is a school community of which I am very proud. It is a successful school, increasingly warmly praised by OfSTED in four successive inspections (the most recent October 2006) for all aspects of school life, but especially its "outstanding ethos", the extremely high quality of its teaching and learning and its academic achievements. OfSTED's most recent judgement is that "Alder Grange is an outstanding school", an accolade which very few high schools receive.

This is a line in the sand from which we have no intention of retreating. The quality of our work is recognised nationally and our ground breaking Self-Evaluation work means we strive continuously for excellence in all we do - we shall never be quite satisfied.

National Curriculum levels measure your child’s progress in each subject.

They are like the rungs of a ladder; children move up through the levels as they move up through the school.

National Curriculum Levels are not used for assessment at Key Stage 4.

During Key Stage 3 most children will work within Levels 3 to 7

By the end of Key Stage 3 most children reach Levels 5 and 6

Not all children progress at the same rate and may need extra help at school and home.

An extended school is one that provides a range of activities and services, often beyond the school day, to help meet the needs of its pupils, their families and the wider community. Alder Grange’s commitment to supporting the growth of the “whole child”, and to serving the interests of parents, guardians, carers and the wider community is at the heart of its Values and Aims Statement. It has, therefore, been working as a form of “extended school” before the term was coined and remains fully committed to supporting as fully as possible any central government, county, local or other initiative which promotes these goals.

My role is to enrich the curriculum, particularly through outdoor pursuits such as hiking, climbing, canoeing, etc.. The aim is always to use these activities to build up pupils’ self-esteem and confidence, and enhance their ability to co-operate with others in a group. We also hope to impart a love of, and respect for, the outdoor environment. Each Year Group has the opportunity to take part in an adventure/outdoor pursuits weekend. In Year 7 all pupils have the opportunity to enjoy a team building day at Whitehough Outdoor Centre in the Autumn Term. In Years 10 and 11 the school has a vibrant Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.