Our Humanities Specialist Status has enabled us to provide better facilities and experiences to all our students and to strengthen our work with the local and wider communities. A strong pastoral system promotes personal and social responsibility and a wide range of extra-curricular activities allows each girl to develop her personal talents and aspirations to the full.
The school stands on the northern edge of Torquay in its own extensive and attractive grounds. Recent additions to the original buildings are a full-size Astro-turf, new netball and tennis courts, a new dining hall and kitchens, a fully equipped Learning Resources Centre and state-of-the-art language and history suites.
The school has its own residential study centre in Brittany which was purchased in 1990 and is completely self-supporting. There is accommodation for 39 students in bedrooms sleeping 4-6, each with their own shower facilities, and an additional suite of rooms for 4 staff.
The house has a modern, fully equipped kitchen, a spacious dining room, a laundry room, a lounge, a large garden and facilities for disabled visitors. It is used extensively by our own students but is also let to other organisations and private groups.
The governors are committed to providing the best possible facilities for the girls in the future. In Autumn 2006 work is beginning on the construction of a new music and drama suite and plans are in place for a Sixth Form Centre on the main school site.
About The School: Our Values
The values of our school are reflected in its aims: -
- to be a school where girls are able to excel in academic, creative, athletic and expressive disciplines according to their individual abilities and aspirations.
- to be a school committed to extending the understanding of learning and where initiative and enterprise are encouraged.
- to be a school where courtesy, concern for others and commitment to the local, national and international community are recognised as characteristic of all students and staff.
- to be a school where learning to understand our world is a focus for all the girls
The School Compass (Click on above image) sets out in diagrammatic form an affirmation of our school aims and the ways in which they can be put into practice. These values underpin the total ethos and style of the school and identify what the school considers to be of worth. All members of the school community are encouraged to use the Compass as a guide to enhance personal behaviour, academic achievement and the quality of community life.
Pastoral System:
Our pastoral system is based around the need to look after all parts of a student’s life. Our students are allocated to a House on entry to the school. These are named after former Head Teachers: Beal, Jackson, Robertson and Wilkinson. The House system enables students to work together for events such as Sports’ Day, the Swimming Gala and various interhouse events.
Sixth form students are elected by their House members to be Heads of House and these senior students also provide invaluable support for the younger members of the school.
Our support system includes a wide range of options. The leaders of the Pastoral care system are the Heads of Year, with the same Head of Year following the students through until they leave Year 11.
Year heads in order left to right: Mr. Willett, Mrs. Dolan, Ms. Bucklar, Mrs. Payne, Mrs. Berry.
Front: Mrs. Vaughan, Mrs. Hampson.
Additionally, Year 12 students are trained to be peer educators so that younger students can feel confident in approaching someone other than a teacher for support and advice.
The school has strong links with outside agencies such as Connexions and the Early Intervention Team for Torbay.
We have a school nurse or counsellors on site most days and they can be called in for emergency support at other times.
Forms and Houses:
On joining the school each girl is assigned to a form within her year group which corresponds to one of the four Houses named after previous Headteachers: Beal, Jackson, Robertson and Wilkinson. The division into forms takes account of previous schools and friendships, sisters in the school and parental preference. The girls remain in these form groups for some lessons in Years 7-9 but may be arranged differently for some subjects.
Induction of New Pupils:
When a girl joins the school in Year 7 every effort is made to help her settle in and adjust to the new environment. Every girl who gains and accepts a place at the school will be visited in her Primary school. She is then invited to an Induction Day in July so that she can become familiar with the buildings and meet the members of her new tutor group and her form teacher. Parents are invited to a meeting in the Summer Term before admission. For girls who join the school at a later stage, care is taken to ensure that they settle in as quickly as possible.
Expectations for Girls Behaviour:
We are a caring and considerate community where individuals are treated fairly and with respect and where the girls treat each other and their environment with care. The girls are expected to maintain a high standard of personal behaviour so that they can pursue their studies unhindered and community life can run smoothly. We have a few clear and simple rules which reflect the aims of the school and we seek to minimise the need for sanctions through encouragement and praise. Rewards are given for exceptional work, effort, service and achievement in all walks of school life.
Girls are able to catch up or repeat a piece of work during the lunch-times if necessary. More serious problems with work and behaviour may result in the girl being placed on report. Parents will be involved as appropriate in any discussions involving the behaviour of their daughter.
Curriculum:
Torquay Girls' Grammar School provides all students with a broad, balanced curriculum taught by well-qualified staff who are specialists in their individual subjects. Teaching styles are designed to enhance the learning experience. Factual knowledge must be supported by reasoning and understanding so that the girls can adapt readily to the demands of the rapidly changing world.
In Years 7-9, Key Stage 3, students study Art, English, French, German, Geography, History, Information Technology, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Religious Education, Science and Technology.
In Years 10 – 11, Key Stage 4, all girls continue to study English Language and Literature, Mathematics, Double Award Science, at least one Modern Foreign Language, one Humanity and Physical Education. At this stage English, French, Mathematics and Science are taught in sets or in teaching groups according to their other option choices. In addition four options are selected from Art, Business Studies, Dance, Drama, French, Geography, German, History, Latin, Religious Education, Music, Physical Education and Technology.
At the time when these choices are made, parents' meetings are held at which all the appropriate subject teachers and specialist careers staff are available. |