Welcome!
A high achieving school where Everyone Matters
Welcome to Vandyke Upper School and thank you for visiting our website.
These are exciting times at Vandyke. The following illustrate the school's continuing success in raising student achievement and living up to our proud tradition that "Everyone Matters".
- Last Summer the school recorded its best ever GCSE results.
- OFSTED inspected the school in December 2006 and judged the school to be "good, improving and ambitious".
- A major programme is nearly complete to refurbish the main block and to provide outstanding study / library, PE, Drama and Music facilities with ground-breaking, new dining provision opening in September 2007.
- Vandyke was recognised nationally as a leading Specialist Sports College through our invitation to become a Partnership School.
- We achieved again the prestigious Charter Mark for customer service, the only school in Bedfordshire to hold this award.
- The school's work encouraging healthy lifestyles was recognised through the Healthy Schools Award and Vandyke staff and students featured at the National Healthy Schools conference in March 2007.
- Student trips took place to USA, South Africa, France, Germany and Poland.
- Sixth Form students gained places on a wide range of degree courses including at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
- The range of student leadership opportunities continued to grow and Student Voice activity across the school is held up as a model of good practice.
We continue to build on successes and have set challenging targets again this year for examination performance and to improve further the quality of our students' experience and the opportunities available to them.
I hope that you will find our developing website useful. If you require further information please contact us by telephone or email.
Tim Carroll
Headteacher
Facilities and Lettings
Vandyke Upper School has an impressive range of facilities which are available for the public to hire during term-time. The facilities and their associated booking costs are detailed below.
If you would like to enquire about making a booking please contact the Bookings Officer by email or telephone (Tel: 01525 636702) to find out availability. If the facilities you require are available, please complete a Booking Form.
Please note: the Astroturf is fully booked with regular commitments except on Friday nights from 9pm-10pm. If you would like to book the Astroturf during this time, please refer to the Information regarding use of the Astroturf and complete a Booking Form.
Booking Conditions and Notes for Hirers
Terms & Conditions for hire of the Theatre, Activity Area and/or Lounge
Your Booking Form should then be faxed or posted to: The Bookings Officer, Vandyke Upper School, Vandyke Road, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire LU7 3DY Fax: 01525 636701.
Following receipt of your Booking Form, you will be sent a Confirmation of Booking and an invoice.
| Facility |
Hourly Rate (Ł) |
With Discount (Ł) |
Sports Development Rate (Ł) |
| Indoor Sports Facilities |
|
|
|
| Sports Hall |
42.00 |
31.50 |
21.00 |
| 1/2 Sports Hall |
16.50 |
12.38 |
8.25 |
| Cricket Nets (indoor) |
27.00 |
20.25 |
13.50 |
| Dance/Aerobics Studio |
16.00 |
12.00 |
8.00 |
| Outdoor Sports Facilities |
|
|
|
| Grass Football Pitch |
36.50 |
27.38 |
18.25 |
| Grass Field Training Area |
17.50 |
13.13 |
8.75 |
| Tennis Court |
5.15 |
3.86 |
2.58 |
| Netball Court |
5.15 |
3.86 |
2.58 |
| Other Facilities |
|
|
|
| Theatre |
37.00 |
29.60 |
n/a |
| Drama Studio |
15.50 |
12.40 |
n/a |
| Lounge |
11.50 |
9.20 |
n/a |
| Library |
9.30 |
7.20 |
n/a |
| Classroom |
9.30 |
7.44 |
n/a |
| Dining Room |
24.75 |
19.80 |
n/a |
| Kitchen Facilities |
Negotiable |
|
|
| Other Charges |
|
|
|
| Cleaning (minimum) |
17.00 |
n/a |
n/a |
Prices are inclusive of VAT, where VAT is applicable. Discounts of 25% for sports facilities and 20% for other facilities are granted on a series of 10 or more bookings, made and paid for in advance.
Discounts may also apply to a series of less than 10 bookings where the school considers that the hirer is a regular user.
Youth groups may qualify for the Sports Development Rate (50% discount), where a series of 10 or more bookings of sports facilities are made between 6pm and 7pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays, or between 6pm and 8pm on Mondays or Fridays.
| Astroturf Sports Pitch |
Sep - Apr |
May - Aug |
| Full Pitch |
56.50 |
23.00 |
| Half Pitch |
28.50 |
17.00 |
| Youth & Sports Development (Sun, Mon and 18.00-19.00hrs Mon-Fri) |
Full
Half Pitch |
27.00
17.00 |
| Hockey Club |
38.00 |
All prices shown are per hour or part thereof. Failure to leave the hired facility on time may incur a further charge (Condition 4 Booking Conditions and Notes for Hirers).
PROSPECTUS
DEPARTMENTS
Departments: English - Mathematics - Science - Art, Design & Technology - CPRE - General Studies - Health & Social Care - Performing Arts - Humanities - Modern Languages - Business Studies/ICT - PE/Sport - Library & Resource Centre - SEN
STUDENTS
Students: Clubs - Curriculum - Duke of Edinburgh - Here to Help - Higher/Further Education & Careers - Learning Links - Sixth Form - Student Voice - Uniform - Use Email
SPORTS COLLEGE
"Sports College Status is raising the profile of the school, improving attainment and boosting personal development and well being” Ofsted 2006
What are Specialist Schools?
Specialist schools are an important part of the Government's plans to raise standards in secondary education.
The SSP promotes school improvement by providing opportunities for schools to work to their strengths, enabling them to deliver effective teaching and learning in their area of expertise, as well as across the curriculum, and to drive innovation.
There are currently 2695 designated specialist schools. Specialist schools represent around 85% of all secondary schools. Over 2.5 million students are now taught in specialist schools - over half of all students attending secondary schools.
Vandyke Sports College - Vision
Vandyke Sports College will raise standards of achievement in physical education and sport for all our students across the ability range leading to whole school improvement. We aim to be a regional focal point for promoting excellence in physical education and community sport, extending links between families of schools, sports bodies and communities, sharing resources, developing and spreading good practice, helping to provide a structure through which young people can progress to careers in sport and physical education.
Vandyke Sports College will increase participation in physical education and sport for all pre- and post-16 year olds and develop the potential of talented performers.
Ethos and Key Characteristics
Sports Colleges are expected to develop a visible Sports College character throughout the school and within their local community which inspires their students.
Vandyke Sports College will:
- Support the Government's aspiration for all young people to have two hours high quality PE per week within and outside the curriculum.
- Take an appropriate role in the Physical Education, School Sport and Club Links Strategy (see below).
- Develop the skills and understanding of teachers and make imaginative use of new technologies as a means of raising the quality of teaching and learning in PE.
- Extend provision and facilities to benefit all students of all sporting abilities, whilst also giving those with the greatest potential, opportunities to achieve the highest standards of which they are capable.
- Work with other schools and the wider community to develop and share good practice, facilities, human and other resources with a view to improving learning opportunities for all.
- Are involved in national initiatives (e.g. Step into Sport) and competitions that enrich provision in PE and sport for their own pupils and those in their partner schools.
School and Community Objectives
Vandyke Sports College will focus on the following school and community objectives to ensure that its vision and ethos is instilled within our school and wider community through a four year development plan.
School Objective 1 (SO.1) - To raise standards in PE through improving the quality of teaching and learning.
School Objective 2 (SO.2) - To raise standards in ICT through improving teaching and learning.
School Objective 3 (SO.3) - To raise students aspirations, improve attitudes to school and to work, and to improve student performance, in particular boys.
School Objective 4 (SO.4) - To develop a sports college ethos that values the involvement of students by creating opportunities for students to exercise leadership and, in particular, sixth form students to play a more prominent role within the school.
Community Objective A (CO.A) - To improve achievement and levels of participation in PE and Sport in KS2 and S3 (linked to SO.1 due to split Key Stages between Lower, Middle and Upper schools).
Community Objective B (CO.B) - To raise standards in PE in Year 9 and at KS4 and KS5 through collaborative development with The Cedars Upper School (linked to SO.1 because KS3 is split between Middle and Upper schools).
Community Objective C (CO.C) - To work with the local authority, Primary Care Trust and Community Associations to provide a coordinated programme to engage families living in Meadow Way and Oakley Green in physical activity, in particular women beyond school years.
The Physical Education, School Sport and Club Links Strategy (PESSCL)
As a specialist Sports College we play an active role in implementing the PESSCL strategy through our school and community plans as well as by being the hub site for our Leighton-Linslade School Sport Partnership. The partnership builds on links with other bodies associated with strategic developments in sport as well as developing sporting opportunities across the town through our family of middle and lower schools.
Healthy Schools - Out of School Hours Learning Opportunities - Leighton-Linslade SSP - News - Raising Standards in PE - Whole School Impact - Working with our Community |