Twickenham School

Twickenham School believes by collaboration we can all become stronger. As part of a family of local schools that includes Hampton High, Teddington and Waldegrave we can ensure that our students are equal partners in a community of high-achieving, inspiring and creative schools.

At Twickenham we are united in our aim to ensure that our students know they are safe, valued and supported whilst at the same time being challenged to achieve their best at all times.Our students are supported and encouraged to grow in confidence and self belief. If students are to become leaders of their own learning they must keep an open mind, enjoy hard work, and be curious about the world in which they live. Students will be stretched in their lessons to take risks, take on new learning challenges and develop creativity. They will achieve their aspirations through high standards of teaching, learning and leadership.

We believe in traditional values such as respect for all, perseverance, dedication, integrity, empathy and responsibility. We aim to ensure that all members of our community experience trusting and caring relationships with each other to achieve the best possible outcomes.

Admissions for Year 7 are managed by the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, not by the school. Offers for September 2018 will be sent out by the Local Authority.Applications from Richmond’s residents will be made on Richmond’s Common Application Form, which will be available in paper form and online.Full details can be found at the School Admissions Department at Richmond Council.A waiting list for the school will be held by the Local Authority in criteria order (regardless of when an application is received) until the end of the academic year in July 2018. After this date the school waiting lists will be disbanded and parents will have to request in writing to have their child’s name added to a waiting list for the school.

The curriculum provision at Twickenham School is broad, balanced and fully inclusive. There is an emphasis on promoting strength and success in traditional academic subjects, but this is balanced with a desire to foster variety and personalisation in our provision. The curriculum is constantly reviewed and developed to not only meet the needs and strengths of our students, but to provide rich opportunities for them to develop a range of skills and enjoy memorable experiences.

At the beginning of Year 7 there is an induction period during the first 6 weeks. We believe that the most effective and fairest way of grouping students is setting by ability, using nationally generated data alongside our data based on general intelligence, baseline tests in subjects to ensure that students have been placed in the appropriate sets. These tests also contribute to an indication of future performance up to GCSE level and allow us to track progress from the start.

Along with the core subjects students will also study art and design, dance, drama, geography, history, music, design technology, computing, religious studies, French or German. Every student is set separately in English, mathematics,science and grouped into either French or German. We operate a flexible system with regards to setting and use the review system to make adjustments throughout the year. Key Stage 3 is the launch pad for excellence in Key Stage 4 and has a curriculum built on the skills and knowledge needed for success.

We have designed an exciting curriculum that we believe personalises students’ learning, meets the needs of all and, most importantly, allows all students to be successful and make outstanding progress. Each student will follow courses to suit their abilities and allow them the highest chance of personal success. Teachers will advise parents and students of the best courses. In Years 10 and 11, the majority of students study a core of traditional subjects that make up the English Baccalaureate – English, mathematics, science, history or geography and a modern foreign language. Beyond the core, they can study a variety of GCSE qualifications – see link below to our Year 9 option booklet. Commitment from students both in the classroom and through homework is essential in developing self-discipline and independent study, resulting in academic success.

Twickenham School governing body is made up of people from the school's community. Their role, together with the Headteacher, is to set the future direction of the school. The governing body makes decisions on issues such as performance targets, school policies and the School Development Plan. Because our governors have a variety of skills and experience, they are able to support and advise the Headteacher along with responding to government initiatives and inspection recommendations.

The Trust and staff of Twickenham School are committed to providing a safe and secure environment for students, staff and visitors and promoting a climate where students and adults will feel confident about sharing any concerns they may have about their own safety or the well-being of others.

eaching British values at our school is an important way to enable students to embrace the key values that they need to be equipped for life in modern British society. Through promoting the British values of Democracy, the Rule of Law, Individual Liberty, Mutual Respect, and Acceptance for those with different faiths and beliefs, students at our school develop self-knowledge, are better able to make the right choices and make contributions to the wider school and their community.

The DfE have recently reinforced the need “to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and acceptance of those with different faiths and beliefs.