Grey Court School

Enrichment is at the heart of the school body. At Grey Court we value the Social, Emotional, Physical and Intellectual development of our students.At Grey Court involvement in activities that challenge, are fun, reflect life, provide social interface, broaden knowledge, give opportunities for leadership, help build self-belief, develop social skills through teamwork, provide health benefits and promote excellence will greatly enhance the qualities of the individuals involved.

We do encourage healthy competition, valuing the merits of team sport and individual pursuit. Over recent years we have been very successful in many of our sporting endeavours at Borough, London and national levels. In this vein Grey Court continues to thrive as a centre for sporting excellence.As well as sport we encourage our pupils to participate beyond the sports arena and have seen them flourish in the range of activities offered through academic routes and the visual and performing arts.When the young people in our school community embrace all aspects of community life at Grey Court they are often likely to go on and achieve with confidence and clarity of purpose.

Admissions for transitions Year 6 to Year 7 are managed by the Admissions Dept; London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and not by the school. Offers for September 2018 will be sent out directly by the Local Authority.Applications from Richmond’s residents will be made on Richmond’s Common Application Form, which will be made available in paper form and online. If you do not live in the London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames, please contact your home borough for guidance. Admissions for the present Year 7 to 11 are coordinated by the School Admissions Department at Richmond Council.

The Grey Court Curriculum aims to be an inspirational and aspirational curriculum that meets the needs of a diverse range of learners. All children have a right to a broad, balanced and relevant education which provides continuity and progression and takes individual differences into consideration.The school always will deliver its teaching on the basis of the worth of the individual within a culture that fosters respect for others and celebrates diversity. The school always will strive to offer students the opportunity to develop their talents to the maximum; to broaden and deepen their areas of interest; to furnish them with the skills to learn, not only whilst at the school, but throughout their lifetimes.

The school will ensure that every student has access to the National Curriculum along with as wide a range as possible of other experiences.Our aim is to ensure that all students achieve the highest standards. The school will monitor all achievement and progress in conjunction with the requirements of the law.Students follow a 30 period weekly timetable with each period lasting 50 minutes. One English lesson a week in year 7 and year 8 is dedicated to a reading programme (accelerated reader). In year 8, students take on the eight gradu8 challenges through the year.

Our Key Stage 4 options offer is innovative and varied and meets the needs of all our learners. In addition to the large number of GCSE courses on offer, there are 5 level 2, GCSE equivalence courses (Health and Social Care, Music Technology, Creative Media, Food and Cookery and Personal Finance, and 1 As course (Politics) for the most able learners. See below for a list of option subjects offered at Key Stage 4.In Key stage 5, there are 6 x 50 minute lessons per course. Students have 4- 6 periods of timetabled supervised study over the week. The curriculum offered includes a mixture of traditional, facilitating A- levels course and some level 3 technical awards. Please see below for a list of Key Stage 5 subjects offered.

The PSHE and Citizenship (known as personal Development and Wellbeing – PDW) programme is organised outside of the normal timetable, through drop-down periods. The programme includes the use of outside speakers and special event days to enable us to meet our statutory requirements for citizenship, personal and social education and enterprise education.

The governors of Grey Court School are dedicated to the achievement of excellence by students through innovative and inclusive teaching.The governors are ambitious for the school and proud of what has been achieved in recent years. We are delighted that with strong leadership and high-quality staff, Grey Court is now an over-subscribed school where increasing numbers of young people are getting top GCSEs.The Governing Body is responsible and accountable for all major decisions about the school and its future. Governors set the school's vision and strategic aims, monitor and evaluate performance acting as a critical friend to the headteacher, and ensure the school is accountable to those it serves. The Governing Body is made up of representatives from the community, those with business or professional expertise, parents, teaching and non-teaching staff. There are five elected parent governors.

A key feature at Grey Court School is the quality of care, guidance and support that is available to students from the moment they join us. We provide a strong network of pastoral care with the core purpose of ensuring that students feel happy, safe and able to achieve. Of central importance is the fostering of high quality relationships between students, their peers and staff which allows everyone to feel a sense of pride in their school community and how it develops.Student support at Grey Court begins with the Tutors who provide the all-important daily contact with the students. They monitor attendance, punctuality and behaviour and generally help to ensure that students are happy and progressing at school. They also provide the first point of contact for parents.