Prospectus 2016 entry

Making a positive difference to students’ achievements and experiences, maintaining the highest expectations and inspiring self belief.

Highgate Wood School Prospectus 2016-17

CONTENTS

Highgate Wood School Montenotte Road Hornsey London N8 8RN

visit us at our website www.hws.uk.com

call us on 020 83427970

Follow us on twitter twitter.com/highgatewood

MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD TEACHER Page 2

OUR AIMS, OUR SCHOOL Page 3

KEY STAGE 2\3 TRANSITION - Starting Secondary School Page 4

HOUSE SYSTEM AND STUDENT LEADERSHIP Page 5

YEAR 7 CURRICULUM Page 6

KEY STAGE 3 CURRICULUM Page 7

KEY STAGE 4 CURRICULUM Page 8

POST 16 Page 9

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Page 10

GROWTH MINDSET AND THE FOUR Cs Page 13

SCHOOL UNIFORM and STUDENT ADMISSIONS Page 16

OUR GOVERNING BODY Back Page

SCHOOL PRODUCTIONS AND EVENTS Page 14

COMMUNITY AND INTERNATIONAL LINKS Page 12

OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS Page 11

OUR FACILITIES Page 15



Welcome to Highgate Wood School.

I am very proud to be the Headteacher of Highgate Wood School and to have the privilege of leading this wonderful

school community. We are a successful, mixed comprehensive school, with over 1400 students who come from a

variety of backgrounds and have a wide range of talents and aptitudes. These incredible students are guided by my

excellent staff who are well supported by our parents/carers and by a very committed team of governors.

Highgate Wood School has high standards and high expectations, and we encourage all our students to continuously

improve on their personal best. Their academic progress and examination success is ensured by top quality teaching,

first rate facilities and challenging targets. Their emotional well-being is ensured by our excellent pastoral systems

and by the positive relationships that are at the root of our working practise.

We want all our students to become successful, confident and caring adults who are able to play an active part in a

society where adaptability, enterprise, perseverance and consideration for others are increasingly important. We

expect them to aim for excellence and we support them in achieving their fullest individual potential - academically,

creatively, socially and personally. As a school that believes in a growth mindset, all of our staff embrace the concept

that talent and ability is not fixed, but instead can be developed over time with focused practice, hard work and

commitment.

Our motto is Everyone Matters and this is demonstrated by the way we value every student as an individual, and

through the numerous opportunities by which their talents and abilities are identified and nurtured. Traditional

values of Courtesy, Consideration, Contribution and Cooperation (the 4Cs) underpin the school’s ethos and are at

the core of our expectations. Our mission statement that we make a positive difference to students’ achievements

and experiences, have the highest expectations and inspire self belief is at the heart of what we do.

We aim to be the local school of choice – a school that serves its local community and has something to offer every

local child who wishes to attend. The fact that every year we are consistently and increasingly over-subscribed for

places suggests that we are achieving this. Your sons and daughters will be given every opportunity to gain academic

success and personal fulfilment as well as to develop their talents and social skills in a friendly, supportive

environment.

I am sure they will enjoy the Highgate Wood experience!

Patrick Cozier Headteacher

MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD TEACHER

2



School Aims

At Highgate Wood School the education of every young

person is held to be of equal value. The school motto is

that Everyone Matters and this is reflected in our school

aims. At the end of seven years at Highgate Wood

School we want our young people to:

have high expectations of themselves and of others

thrive on their passion for learning

demonstrate the highest standards in whatever they

set their mind to

show respect and tolerance towards everyone,

including those of different faiths and beliefs.

take their place in society with a set of principles

underpinned by the importance of contribution,

courtesy, cooperation and consideration

show and display an appreciation of justice, morality

and the rule of law

choose a healthy lifestyle underpinned by good

eating habits and regular exercise

have the skills, abilities and qualifications necessary

to achieve economic well-being

be positive and confident in their approach ...be a

living, breathing example of the Highgate Wood

School ethos.

ABOUT HIGHGATE WOOD SCHOOL

School Profile

Highgate Wood School is a successful 11-18 mixed

comprehensive school providing secondary education to

1425 students. The school is over-subscribed.

We underwent our last OFSTED inspection in November

2011 which highlighted our “positive and inclusive

learning ethos” and described the school as a place

where children “enjoy a good quality of education

because the good teaching they receive secures equally

effective learning and progress.”

Ofsted judged us to be outstanding in terms of how safe

our students feel at

school.

Highgate Wood School

serves a multicultural

community and many of

our students are

bilingual. Over 50

different languages are

spoken within the

Highgate Wood School

community.

Just under half our

students are drawn from

a wide variety of minority

ethnic groups, including

Black-Caribbean, Greek

and Turkish Cypriot, as

well as from the Turkish,

Kurdish, Black-African,

Indian, Bangladeshi,

Pakistani, Chinese and

Somali communities.

Historically, we have had more boys than girls (with an all

girls school being so close by), but this has changed in

recent years as our girls’ achievements have encouraged

more parents to send their daughters here. Our current

Year 7 cohort comprises slightly more girls than boys.

3

Actively promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

[HWS] “develop young and creative

individuals who are well prepared

for the next stage of their lives.” Ofsted Nov 2011

“One of the things I love about my

school is that there are so many

different individuals here. It is like

the whole world in miniature!”

Sophie Year 10



Starting Secondary School

Starting secondary school or changing schools is a big

step and we do all that we can to make the process

easy and enjoyable.

We pride ourselves making sure we visit all our local

primary schools to meet the new Year 6 cohort during

the spring and summer terms. Students joining other

year groups are also encouraged to visit prior to taking

up a place and their Head of House ensures that they

have a structured start.

Claire Allaway, one of our Assistant Headteachers, has

specific responsibility for ensuring that the new Year 7s

settle in well and are quickly able to take advantage of

the many benefits Highgate Wood School has to offer.

KEY STAGE 2\3 TRANSITION

A carefully planned induction programme commences in

June when new students and their families come into

Highgate Wood School for one-to-one discussions with

an established member of staff. This allows our new

students to begin to get to know us, and us to know

them.

In July we have a Transition Day, when all our new

students spend a day at the school. They get to meet the

rest of their tutor group, many of their teachers and also

members of their House.

Ms Allaway has considerable experience in settling in

new students and monitoring their academic and social

progress, as well as retaining links with their primary

schools.

“Students succeed at Highgate Wood

because of the good quality care,

guidance and support they receive.”

Ofsted Nov 2011

4

Ms Allaway is supported by an enthusiastic team of Year

7 tutors who see their tutor group every day, as well as

the Heads of House and their teams who have a specific

responsibility to help new students settle into their House

and to the life of the school. We swiftly get to know the

children’s academic and social strengths, as well as any

individual difficulties they may face, and support and

guide them accordingly.

We try to build our relationships with parents and families

from the start, and this assists in making the children’s

transition from primary to secondary education a

successful and happy one. All Year 7 parents and carers

are invited to an evening meeting in the summer term

prior to their children starting at school, to meet members

of the Year 7 team and the three Houses to discuss any

concerns and raise any questions.

There is another meeting with Year 7 tutors In the second

half of the autumn term. This is a social evening that is

scheduled for just before Learning Review Day which

provides parents and carers the opportunity to discuss

any issues which may have arisen since September and

helps ensure that all Year 7 students have settled in well

to, are enjoying school and working hard.

During the course of the year parents receive regular

updates of their child’s progress, including information

about their academic achievements and their attitudes to

learning.

“I was really nervous on the first

day, but by the end of the first week

I felt really at home. I had met new

people and made new friends.”

Alex Year 7



HOUSE SYSTEM AND STUDENT LEADERSHIP

Student Leadership

At Highgate Wood School “student voice”

plays a very important part in many of

the decisions and plans that we have.

Every tutor group has a representative

on the School Council which meets

regular to discuss issues connected to the student

experience at Highgate Wood School. Representatives

from the School Council are invited to attend meetings of

the Governing Body and also the school’s Senior

Leadership Team where they are able to raise any

concerns or issues they feel are important.

The School Council have an influence in many aspects of

school life, including the ability to voice student concerns

regarding homework, uniform, service within the canteen

and more general aspects of the school environment.

Together with the opportunities provided by the School

Council students are encouraged to take on other

leadership roles, including working as a peer mentor, or a

“buddy” to new students, and developing their skills

through different training programmes.

Currently students are involved in the Jack Petchey

Award Speak Out Challenge, Childnet’s Digital Leaders’

Programme and opportunities available through the

Phoenix Trust, Free the Children and the National

Association of School Councils.

Higher up the school, in the sixth

form, leadership skills are

developed still further through the

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Scheme and by our involvement

in World Challenge.

Da Vinci House

Named after: Leonardo Da Vinci

Motto: “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.”

Seacole House Named after: Mary Seacole

Motto: “From caring comes courage.”

Edison House Named after: Thomas Edison

Motto: “Success comes from perseverance.”

House System Three years ago Highgate Wood School reintroduced

the House System that had been part of the school when

it first opened in the 1960s. Students voted on the

names of the Houses, created their logos and devised

the mottos that have now become part of the Houses’

identities.

Every student benefits from having a whole team of

individuals who are dedicated to supporting their

academic progress and their social and personal well-

being. It is also now easier for younger students to be

supported and helped by the older students in their

House, and for discussions to take place across year

groups about what to prepare for and what to expect.

Each House has a Head of House, whose core

responsibility is student progress; a Deputy Head of

House, whose focus is pastoral well-being, and 15

House tutors who work with all the students in their Tutor

Group to ensure everyone is thriving and moving forward

in their learning. They are assisted by a dedicated team

of mentors and other professionals, who provide

targeted guidance, intervention and practical support to

the individual students and groups that the House teams

have identified.

Our House system is now developing further with the

recent introduction of roles of responsibility to which

students can be

elected . This will

enable student voice to

have an increasing

impact in the success of

the House and the

school as a whole.

“Students are able to make a real

difference and our thoughts and ideas

are always taken seriously. We help

the school to be the best it can be!”

5



YEAR 7 CURRICULUM

6

* Parents are advised of their right to withdraw their child from RE and Sex Education. Students will be supervised but no alternative curriculum is available.

The Year 7 timetable has 50 one-hour

periods on a two weekly cycle.

No. of

periods

3

2

4

3

7

3

3

6

4

3

4

2

6

Students in Year 7 learn either French or Spanish.

PE at Key Stage 3 is taught in single sex groups.

Formerly known as RE

Subject*

Art

Computer Science

Design Technology

Drama

English

Geography

History

Mathematics

French/Spanish

Music

Physical Education

Ethics and Cultural Studies

Science

“The broad and balanced

curriculum provides for the

learning needs of all students.”

Ofsted Nov 2011

The First Year

The demands of secondary school learning can seem

quite different from life in primary school. Twelve different

subjects all taught by different teachers can take some

getting used to!

Our focus in Year 7 is to ensure those basic skills of

reading, writing and arithmetic are solidly in place for all

students. Schemes like Sound Training and Accelerated

Reader help build reading and writing, whilst our Make

the Most of Maths programme assists everyone to

improve their understanding and application of

mathematics.

Students in Year 7 extend significantly on their knowledge

from primary school in subjects like Computer Science,

where programming is taught from the outset. Similarly

they are able to take advantage of our specialist teachers

and resources in Modern Foreign Languages, developing

their strengths in speaking and understanding a foreign

language (either French or Spanish); in Drama, where

they broaden their skills of communication and expression

and in Design Technology through which they are able to

design and make a wide range of products.

Year 7 students also benefit for a carefully designed

programme of enrichment days and events, delivering the

PSHE curriculum whilst also providing opportunities for

students to develop themselves as independent learners

and critical thinkers, allowing them to explore issues

around personal safety, healthy relationships and general

well-being as well as exploring the concerns arising from

current events and the need to be a good citizen in a

world that is constantly changing and presenting ever

more complex demands.


Highgate Wood School Prospectus 2016-17 7

The Curriculum - Years 7, 8 and 9 Our aim is to provide a broad and balanced curriculum

that is both challenging and exciting . Throughout Key

Stage 3 we build on each students’ earlier school

experiences to extend the breadth and depth of their

knowledge, develop their understandings and improve

their skills in all areas of the curriculum.

Each year within Key Stage 3 has a different emphasis.

In Year 7, the focus is on ensuring those basic

building blocks of literacy and numeracy are firmly

established while also developing mastery of

collaborative and individual working.

In Year 8, the introduction of Citizenship supports

our focus on the world beyond school, and students

are given a wide range of learning experiences to

equip them for success in the world beyond the

classroom.

In Year 9, the focus is on completing Key Stage 3

and fully preparing students for the demands of

GCSEs. We take particular care to ensure that

informed decisions are made on the choice of

curriculum for Key Stage 4 and parents are

encouraged to play an active role in this process.

In all lessons students are encouraged to develop skills

for learning and for

assessing their own

progress. They will

always be expected to

explore avenues for

further improvement.

Everyone Matters

Throughout Key Stage 3, students are taught in groups

designed to provide the best level of challenge and

support so that everyone is able to progress and

achieve. We set by ability in Maths in Year 7, and slightly

later in Science and English. In subjects like Drama, Art,

Music and Design Technology we group differently to

help maximise experience and attainment.

Students with particular learning or language needs are

helped within their lessons by Learning Support Advisors

and occasionally with individual or group learning by

specialist staff outside the classroom.

Subjects

At Key Stage 3, students are offered a wide range of

learning experiences and opportunities both with the

subjects they study and through collaborative projects

between different subject areas.

Through Key Stage 3, students study English, Maths,

Science, History, Geography, Ethics and Cultural Studies

(formerly RE), Computer Science, Citizenship/PSHE,

Physical Education, Design Technology, Music, Art,

Drama and Modern Foreign Languages.

Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) is

delivered across the curriculum for all years, but

particularly in Tutorial time

and the Enrichment

programme activities in

Year 7 and

Citizenship\PSHE in Years

8 and 9.

“All the teachers encourage you to do your

best, and they work really hard to help you

succeed. And I know every day I will learn

something new” Claire Year 9

KEY STAGE 3 CURRICULUM



The Curriculum - Years 10 and 11

The ever-evolving demands of the workplace and of

Higher Education has seen our provision at Key Stage 4

develop steadily over recent years. All students study a

core curriculum that includes English, Mathematics and

Science, but also have a wide range of opportunities

within and beyond the timetable to develop an

understanding of a much wider range of subjects and

acquire an extensive range of skills and experiences.

We encourage all students to continue their study of a

foreign language, and to gain accreditation in their first

language (where applicable). In recent years, students

have successfully been awarded GCSEs in Greek,

Turkish, Bengali, Russian, Portuguese and Dutch.

The school offers opportunities for the EBacc pathway,

which includes a modern or community language, one

of the humanities and the possibility of Computer

Science as well as the core provision. We also provide

more vocational pathways for those students for whom

these are more suitable.

All Key Stage 4 students also participate in Work

Related Learning projects, including work experience,

enterprise days and other curriculum-based work.

OUR CURRICULUM—KS4

Academic Success

In recent years Highgate Wood School has consistently

returned excellent examination results, with the vast

majority of our students meeting or exceeding their

target grades. In 2015 64% of our students achieved 5

A* - C grades (including English and Maths). This is a

slight dip on previous years, where our results have

always been closer to 70%. Significantly, however, the

figure does represent an extremely strong value-added

measure. Our 2015 did extremely well based on

predictions from their primary school results.

Optional Subjects

Students are able to choose three additional courses to

complement their core subjects. The school prides itself

on the range of courses available, which also includes

the opportunity for some students to follow alternative

courses at partner colleges as part of their full curriculum.

The courses Highgate Wood School currently offers to

students at Key Stage 4 include:

Art & Design

Business Studies

Computer Science

Drama

Economics

Food Technology

French

Geography

History

Media Studies

Music

Music Technology

Philosophy

Physical Education

Product Design

Science

Sociology

Spanish

Textiles

Sustainability studies

“There is so much knowledge that the

teachers help you unlock at Highgate

Wood School. There are so many

things to discover.” Erden Year 9

Based on the new, and perhaps more challenging

Progress 8 measure that will be introduced in 2016,

students at Highgate Wood School perform consistently

better than at other schools in the country. 2015 results

indicate they achieved very significantly better. Progress 8

looks at a wider range of results than the previous 5 A* -

C measure and has been introduced to promote a broader

and more rounded curriculum as part of the success

measure than the previous 5 A* - C supported.

Our 2015 results also confirmed that Highgate Wood

School nurtures high achievers. Twenty-five students in

that cohort achieved 10 or more A* - A grades, which

reinforces our previous success in having a top ranking of

non-selective schools in the country for students

achieving A* and A grades at GCSE.

8



OUR CURRICULUM—Post 16

Transition to University

All our post-16 students have

an Academic Mentor who

provides guidance and

advice during their time in

the sixth form. This will

include help with study

skills and exam technique

as well as providing more

general pastoral support.

A particularly important

role of the Academic

Mentor is to assist with

the UCAS university application process.

We have an excellent record of helping students onto

the next stage of their education, at university and

elsewhere. Highgate Wood School students have been

successful in their applications to a wide range of

institutions from Cambridge to Falmouth, Belfast to

Bristol, studying across a wide range of subjects from

Medicine to Fashion, French to Philosophy.

University destinations are as varied as the individuals

who chose them, but approximately one third will

progress through to Russell Group universities, whilst

others will select different universities and

colleges around the country to further

their education.

We believe that our sixth form not only

prepares students academically for the

step up to university but also helps them

develop socially and emotionally to be

successful in whatever they go on to do in

the future.

“The popular sixth form enjoys a

positive reputation locally and,

through good leadership and

management, it complements the

provision provided in Years 7 to 11.”

Ofsted Nov 2011

The Post 16 Offer

Highgate Wood School has over 250 students in the

sixth form which is made up of students who have

joined us from other schools as well as those who

completed their GCSE courses here.

We offer a wide range of subjects at Post 16, mainly A

levels, but also a small number of vocational courses.

These include:

Art & Design Maths

Biology Media Studies

Business Studies Music

Chemistry Music Technology

Computer Science PE

Drama Philosophy

Economics Photography

English Language Physics

English Literature Product Design

French Psychology

Further Maths Pure Maths

Geography Sociology

Government & Politics Spanish

History Textiles

Our results at Post 16 have been excellent over the last

seven years, consistently placing the school in the top

range of schools nationally in terms of “value-added”

performance.

In 2015 our sixth form students maintained the school’s

good results: 85% A*- C in examinations that were taken,

and well over half achieving top A*-B grades. We have

also attracted and enrolled a record number of sixth form

students both from within and beyond Highgate Wood

There is a wide ranging enrichment

programme for students in our sixth

form, which includes the Duke of

Edinburgh Award scheme, being part

of Global Challenge and maintaining

our longstanding relationship with the

Hillcrest Aids Charity in South Africa.

9



We encourage all our students to develop their

independent learning skills and take responsibility for

many areas of their own development.

Our Learning Resource Centre is kept open every day

after school to allow students to study and access the

computer network. A homework club is also run by the

Learning Support Department every day after school to

help students complete the work they have been set.

All our students have access to a growing range of

useful on-line resources to support their independent

learning and help them develop their understanding and

skill. These include a whole range of award-winning

resources from London Grid for Learning, free access

to Microsoft Office 365, (which includes the students’

safe school email account), and a subscription to SAM

Learning the award-winning revision site, as well as the

school’s own on-line resources.

Homework

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Students at Highgate Wood School are rewarded for their

efforts beyond the classroom, as well as their focus and

hard work within it.

The school operates a system called Vivomiles. Vivo

points are awarded for good classwork, good homework

and exhibiting any of the 4Cs.

Every student has their own on-line Vivo account so they

can check how many Vivos they have been awarded, who

by and what for. Parents and carers also have their own

access to their child’s Vivo account so they too can see

how well things are going.

Vivos can be accumulated and spent on a range of

rewards in the Vivo shop. They can also be donated to

the House charity.

Students who have reach particular thresholds in Vivo

awards also get other privileges within the school, and are

recognised and rewarded for their achievements.

There is an ongoing competition between the

Houses on which has acquired the

highest number of Vivos. A weekly

update of these scores, together with

the top Vivo earning students, appear

on our plasma screens each week.

Homework is an important part of secondary education.

Its purpose is to develop independent learning, improve

skills, consolidate classroom learning and enhance

knowledge and understanding. It also gives parents and

carers the chance to become involved in their child’s

education.

Through Key Stage 3, students are set regular homework

for all subjects. In core subjects (English, maths and

science) students are set one-hour homeworks each

week; in the foundation subjects one one-hour homework

is set for each fortnight. Homework may consist of

research or investigation, practical activities, creative or

extended writing, review and revision or the use of

particular resources (eg SAM Learning).

Students need to keep a note of their homework tasks in

their Student Planner, but they are also posted on the

Show My Homework website. This allows parents, carers

and students themselves to keep a careful eye on what

homework is required.

Help and support for students to access or complete their

homework is available from the LRC and the Learning

Support Homework club, as well as directly from the

classroom teacher.

Independent Study Vivos

10



Working Together with Parents

We value our partnership with parents/carers and are

grateful for the significant contribution they make in

supporting their children’s progress and our school

community as a whole.

We have a number of ways in which this partnership is

supported and strengthened. These include

Parent/carer’s evenings – an opportunity to meet

with subject teachers – one meeting for each year

group per academic year

Academic Review meetings – a chance to discuss

early progress in the autumn term with your child’s

form tutor

Year 9 Options meetings - an opportunity for

parents/carers of Year 9 students to receive

information, advice and guidance about Key Stage

4 courses

We encourage parents to take a regular and active

role in reviewing their child’s learning by using the

student’s School Planner to feedback comments to

tutors and teachers.

OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS

Parents and Staff Association

All parents and teachers automatically belong to the

Parents and Staff Association (PSA).

Members of the PSA arrange social events when

parents and staff can meet informally. The PSA also

organises fundraising activities through which money is

raised for extra curricular projects.

In the last year, PSA support has enabled the school to

move forward with a whole range of initiatives that

would have been impossible without their help. These

include buying a Spectrometer for science, trampolines

for PE and helping to fund many of the school’s clubs

and afterschool activities, supporting post 16 students to

visit universities and colleges and providing tea and

cakes for some very welcome staff appreciation

afternoons.

The PSA group is heavily involved in some of the

school’s most important events, including the annual

music, art and drama festival, MADFest, the Winter

Concert and the school play.

Highgate Wood School PSA also provides a means of

communication between parents/carers and the school.

There are regular meetings (roughly two per half term).

At some meetings there are presentations from staff

where parents/carers can hear about school initiatives

and the work of specific curriculum areas.

A member of the governing body is linked to the PSA to

ensure that the voice of parents is considered at

Governing Body level. There are also “Governors’

Surgeries” during some PSA meetings to allow easy

dialogue between parents and school governors.

“The school engages parents

and carers well in their

children’s education.” Ofsted Nov 2011

Communication with Parents

It is important that parents know what is happening in

their child’s school. At Highgate Wood School we use a

wide variety of means to help ensure parents are

informed and up-to-date with school news and events.

We produce a regular magazine, Insight, which is

distributed to all students each half-term and is also

available on-line through the school website. There are

also other publications to provide information for a

particular event or purpose.

Increasingly, the school is making use of digital tools to

improve our communications and contact with families.

These include the school website at www.hws.uk.com,

and the school twitter feed @highgatewood.

We also help parents keep up-to-date by the use of text

messages and email communications.

We are making ever greater use of email in our

communications with parents and do request that

parents keep the school up-to-date with their email

addresses.

11



COMMUNITY AND INTERNATIONAL LINKS

11

We have competed internationally, and have helped

develop a sister programme in Poland through a

Comenius Regio grant.

So popular is the programme with our students that we

now hold our own North London conferences at

Highgate Wood School every March involving around

15 other schools and 250 – 300 students. Formal

participation in Model UN now includes students from

Years 9, 10, 11 and sixth form.

For students in Years 7 and 8 we have a well

established DebateMate club, often

supported by our Model UN veterans,

where younger students can develop their

skills in argument, persuasion and debate.

Model United Nations

A key element of our commitment to Global Citizenship

is the Model United Nations programme that we have

participated in for the since 2005. At Model UN, students

take on the role of ambassadors for a particular country

and then debate in one or two day conferences around

an agreed topic. Their goal is to resolve global problems

using the structures and formal debating procedures of

the UN.

Highgate Wood School has built up an enviable

reputation within Model UN, with our students winning

the ‘Best Delegation’ award in the London Conference at

their first attempt and receiving acclaim for their talents

and abilities in the Model UN forum many times since.

Students at Highgate Wood School benefit

enormously from opportunities to become true

global citizens. Through the curriculum that they

follow, and the development of partnerships with

schools across the world, we recognise our

students’ enhanced enthusiasm for learning and

their openness to new ideas. Our students have a

greater awareness of themselves, as well as a

greater respect and appreciation of others. This is

clearly demonstrated by the ways in which they

apply critical thinking to local and global issues.

Working on projects with peers from many different

countries has enabled our students to become even

more confident and articulate.

We are involved in a number of prestigious projects

with many international partners. We are currently

working with schools in several European countries

as well as schools in the United States, India and

South Africa. Our excellent record of effective and

sustainable international work has been recognised

by the British Council.

“strong global links with faraway

communities offer students valuable

opportunities to share experiences

and learn from others.” Ofsted Nov 2011

12



The Four Cs

We wish to encourage all our students

to adopt the ethos of the 4Cs before,

during and after school.

Courtesy: We expect an automatic

sense of courtesy underpinned by the

use of “please,” “thank you” and “sorry”.

Consideration: We expect our students

to always be considerate of each other

and their surroundings —walking quietly

and sensibly, using the bins provided for

litter and holding doors open for each

other.

Contribution: We want our students to

ensure that they are always making a

positive contribution to the school

community, taking part in as many

activities as they can and taking

collective responsibility for making

Highgate Wood School a better place.

Cooperation: We expect all our

students to cooperate with members of

staff and each other. Even when

students are unhappy with a decision,

we still expect members of the Highgate

Wood School community to cooperate

first and then find a way to deal with the

situation.

GROWTH MINDSET AND THE FOUR Cs

"Your present circumstances don't determine

where you can go; they merely determine

where you start." Nido Qubein

Growth Mindset

People used to think that intelligence was fixed at birth. You were either

talented in specific areas or you weren’t. Some still think it now, saying things

like “I was never any good at maths, so it’s no wonder my child struggles

too… it’s obviously not in our genes”.

Modern studies have shown this belief in fixed abilities to be false. The

biggest influence on someone’s success is not their genetic make-up,

it is how hard they work, how focused they are and how determined

they are to succeed.

At Highgate Wood School we firmly believe in this idea of a "growth mindset"

and recognise the huge importance of perseverance, resilience, focused

practice and hard work. We thus value effort above attainment, hard work

above high scores, safe in the knowledge that it is through effort and

endeavour that the highest goals are reached.

We ask all members of the school community; students, staff, parents and

governors, to adopt the principles of a Growth Mindset where you:

Accept that talent can be developed

Embrace challenges and difficulties

Persist in the face of setbacks

View effort as a path to mastery and success

Try to learn from criticism

Get inspiration in the success of others (rather than feel threatened by it)

Be the best you can possibly be

Realise that if you can’t understand something, it is just because you

can’t do it yet ...

Understand that real mastery doesn’t come easy… it is the result of hard

work over time

Embrace deferred gratification, accepting that effort may not pay off

immediately, but will bring its own rewards over time

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School Performances

We are proud of Highgate Wood School’s reputation

as a centre of excellence in the creative arts.

Our strength in music, drama, art, design technology

and new media is reflected in the high quality

productions, exhibitions and other events that are

staged at the school.

Prospective students, and their families, are welcome

at these events, including our Winter Concert on 15th,

16 and 17th December, our production of the musical

Our House in February and at Madfest, our annual

celebration of the arts in July.

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SCHOOL PRODUCTIONS AND EVENTS

Images from the Winter Concert 2014



An Environment for Learning

Highgate Wood School completed a major

modernisation programme in September 2010 that

transformed the school into the attractive and effective

modern learning environment that we enjoy today.

Since then there has been significant investment to

enhance our resources and facilities and ensure we

maintain an environment that is fit for learners in the

21st century.

The school has a state-of-the-art computer network

contributing to learning and teaching across the school.

All classrooms make use of interactive, multimedia

technology to enhance the learning experience whilst

around the school we have several dedicated ICT areas,

including four computer suites equipped with PCs, and

three equipped with iMacs for media, music and

graphics work. We have ICT-rich vocational classrooms

and DT workshops and further ICT spaces in the

Learning Resource Centre, the Sixth Form Study Centre

and the new Learning Support Area.

OUR FACILITIES

Cashless Catering

Our computer network extends to the Dining Hall where

it supports the system of cashless catering which has

removed the need for students to bring money into

school. Highgate Wood School works with Wisepay to

allow payments to be made on line.

Our all weather pitch and tennis courts, which form part

of the school’s substantial open spaces where students

socialise as well as engage in activities, are used well

beyond the limits of the school day. There are sport and

training events for students from early in the morning till

long after the end of the school day.

Highgate Wood School is one of the leading schools for

sport in Haringey, hosting the School Games Organiser

coordinating competitive sport for half of the borough.

We work closely with four feeder primary schools;

Coleridge Primary, Rokesly Junior School, Weston Park

Primary and St Aidan’s Primary School supporting their

pupils to participate in a minimum of two hours of high

quality PE per week.

Sports Facilities

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Dining Hall

The Dining Hall is a bright and airy space, making it ideal

not only for mealtimes but also as a social space shared

by staff and students.

Our modernisation programme also included the

refurbishment of the Main Hall which is now a functional

and attractive performance space that supports the high

quality of performance and production that has

characterised Highgate Wood School for many years.



UNIFORM AND ADMISSIONS

Highgate Wood School has a school uniform and dress

code. All students are expected to wear their uniform

properly and with pride on the journeys to and from

school as well as once they are in school.

The current uniform is as follows:

black blazer (with summer blue lining) with school

logo

white shirt, with top button done up.

black sweater or cardigan (with summer blue trim)

black, blue and white striped tie, with House

variation.

black trousers or school skirt (with summer blue trim)

black leather\leather look formal shoes

Students need to have a school bag for carrying books

and equipment. They are also expected to have a pen, a

pencil, a ruler and a calculator for use in lessons as a

minimum set of equipment.

Students are also required to wear school PE kit, which

is designed in House colours.

Admissions to Highgate Wood School are administered by the

Local Authority.

For an application form please contact:

The Admissions Service

River Park House

225 High Road

Wood Green

London

N22 8HQ

Phone: 020 8489 1000

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://tinyurl.com/hwsadmission

Secondary admissions

Online Application Open Date: 1st September 2015

On-Time Closing Date: 31st October 2015

Publication of Outcome Online Date: 1st March 2016

Upload Supporting Documents Deadline Date: 21st July 2016

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Admissions School Uniform

Highgate Wood School’s Governing Body work closely with

the Headteacher, Senior Management and school staff for the

benefit of the whole school community.

Chair: Charles Wright (Co-Opted Governors)

Clerk: Michael Woods

LA Governor: Cllr Eddie Griffith

Co-Opted Governors:

Phil Cocksedge

Violet Hazelwood-Henry

Chris Parr

Imogen Pennell

Oli Blackaby

Brenda Allan

Joe Demetriou

Vacancy

Parent Governors:

Elizabeth Hess

Diana Brown

Phil Cavendish

Rob White

Chris Tully

Julia Chalfen

Paul Bennett

Staff Governor:

Emily Ford

Headteacher:

Patrick Cozier