rugby portobello - The Walmer Road School

The Walmer Road School

Click here for our School Policy Documents

Click here for our Exam Result Documents

(Established September 2005)

The Walmer Road School is an independent school, approved by the Department for Education and Skills (Reg. No. 207/6202). It offers students at Key Stage 4 (ages 14-16), who may be unsuited to mainstream secondary education, an opportunity to participate in a full-time education programme.

Students who attend the school would have been unlikely to pass any examinations and get places in further education. The Walmer Road School’s aim is to reintegrate students into education.

The school received an excellent Ofsted inspection in 2005. The OFSTED inspectors wrote:

"Walmer Road School is a very good school. The impact of the Head Teacher’s very high quality of leadership and management is evident in the corresponding quality of the curriculum and of teaching and learning and in the positive school culture and ethos within which pupils flourish. A consistent approach to pupil management is supported by clearly articulated expectations and sharply defined boundaries of acceptable behaviour." (October 2005)

The complete OFSTED report for The Walmer Road School is available in .pdf format

Click here to download

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/index.cfm?fuseaction=summary&id=134811

We provide up to 16 student places per year. The focus is upon whole-person education which we describe as a blend of meaningful personal development and academic engagement.

Our students are able to undertake examinations in:

•   GCSE English
•   GCSE English Literature
•   GCSE Mathematics
•   GCSE Citizenship
•   Asdan Cope
•   NVQ Catering
•   Community Sports Leaders Award
•   ICT Clait
•   English Speaking Board

It also offers:

• PSHEE
• General Science

In principle the school follows the aims of the National Curriculum as a measure for student progress. Where the school differs from mainstream education is in:

Small class sizes.
A highly supportive and nurturing environment.
An insistence upon positive and comprehensible student development tailored to each student.
Weekly external activities to local places of interest: museums, exhibitions, special events, etc.
Reviews of students’ progress.
An annual residential activity.

We also seek to ensure the close involvement of each student’s parent(s) /guardian(s), as they are expected to be active collaborators in their child’s education and development. This collaboration means regular meetings and ensuring their child maintains high levels of attendance. Although we do not have a school uniform, we do insist that students are well presented at all times.

For students completing Year 11 we work with the local Connexions Service and have a detailed exit plan for the next step of their education or training. The expectation is that all students graduating go onto further education or training. To ensure that this is maintained we offer pastoral support beyond Year 11 as required.

Students at Walmer Road School say:

“It’s better than any other school I’ve been to.”

“It’s calmer and I am able to concentrate more.”

“This is a far more suitable place for me to get my GCSE’s.”

We welcome visitors to the School and are always pleased to meet with parents of prospective students in. We are commited to excellence.

Programme Description

To provide small classes.
To look at each student as an individual and to develop a whole person approach to their education involving their parents/carers.
To teach a GCSE curriculum and other qualifications.
To ensure all students complete their education
To ensure all students go on to further education or nationally approved vocational training