ABOUT THE SCHOOL...

Newent is a small town of some 4000 inhabitants and is situated 10 miles north-west of Gloucester city within 3 miles of the Herefordshire border. Since we are close to the M50 motorway, we have easy access to Wales , the Midlands and the south-west of England .

Newent Community School was Gloucestershire’s first purpose-built ‘Comprehensive’ and opened to 650 pupils in 1965. 40 years on and it is now a thriving, over-subscribed Foundation school serving the town and the rural community with 1500 students aged 11-19 years. The school is situated in a pleasant rural site on the southern edge of the town and has developed many new educational facilties over the years. The school enjoys an enviable reputation both in the local community and further afield.

The school has a strong tradition of academic success with an A*-C GCSE pass rate that averages 66% - well in excess of the national picture. As the only 11 – 18 education establishment in the Forest of Dean area we have a 6 th Form of 250 students who are following a range of Advanced and Vocational courses. Approximately 60% of our Year 11 students stay on, and we also attract a number of students from other 11 – 16 schools. The A Level pass rate for last year is 93% (A – E grades).

As a comprehensive school, we are proud of our provision for children with special educational needs. The Learning Support department is staffed by a SENCo, Assistant SENCo, 3 specialist teachers and 11 Learning Support Workers. We have established a strong link with the local counselling service ‘Teens in Crisis’, which supports our own very strong pastoral system. More than one of the local schools has adopted our model for pastoral care, which places all students upon entry to the school with a Tutor who they remain with for their compulsory education. The tutor groups are vertically banded and therefore each tutor group contains students from Years 7 – 11. Each tutor group is part of the overall House system and currently we have 3 individual houses – Collingwood, Mountbatten and Nelson. Many competitive events are run for the students within the House system ranging from football, netball, Sports Day and the House Festival.

On the 24 acre campus there are extensive sporting and leisure facilities, including an all-weather flood-lit artificial playing surface, 7 tennis courts, a 4-court sports hall, squash courts, gymnasium, indoor heated swimming pool, access to a fitness centre, and playing fields in excess of 30 acres. The school has first call on all facilities during school hours and immediately after school. In the evenings and at weekends, the sports centre manages all these facilities for the benefit of the local community.

As a community school, we offer a wide range of Adult Education classes, which are held both in the school and in the dedicated suite of rooms in an adjacent building. On site is a ‘clubroom’ and members only (out of hours) bar facility.

Not only can we boast academic success, we have an enviable reputation for high quality extra-curricular achievements in sport, music, drama and visual art. The school’s orchestras have a well-deserved reputation and the Jazz Band is in demand for public appearances. We have now been awarded Specialist School status in the Visual Arts and we also hold the prestigious ‘Artsmark’, ‘Artsmark Gold’ and Sportsmark’ Awards. will receive additional resources for the next four years to develop the Arts and ICT at the school, and support Community Arts activities.

As an Arts College Specialist School, we use the visual arts to enhance our work as a good, community, comprehensive school. Our 4-year school improvement plan enables us to meet our targets for examination results, for additional curriculum provision, for links with other schools, especially primary schools, and for community activities.

Drama is an integral part of the curriculum and students take part in productions for internal and public performance. There are also variety shows and rock-band performances. The school has a variety of musical experiences on offer to students in addition to the formal curricular ones. The school has a Junior and a Senior Orchestra, a Chamber Orchestra, a Junior and a Senior Choir, and a Junior and a Senior Jazz Band.

Students of all abilities, in all departments are encouraged to maximise their potential. Art, Sport, Music and Drama flourish, there are high levels of participation and performance in many sports and over 150 students are involved in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. In addition there is an extensive programme of visits, field trips, camps and exchanges, which further enrich student opportunities and experiences while encouraging the development of skills and interests for their future as well as providing further opportunity for success.

“This is a good school in which students flourish and develop academically and personally to achieve well and attain above average standards as a result of the good education provided. Students grow into responsible, confident, courteous and considerate young people because the school’s ethos encourages this growth so effectively” OFSTED 2003