LES BEAUCAMPS HIGH SCHOOL

DETAILS FOR JOB APPLICANTS

History

The school was the first of the new 11-16 secondary modern schools to be built in Guernsey and was opened by Princess Margaret in 1959.Les Beaucamps takes children from the parishes of the Castel, St Martin’s and St Andrew’s and is pleasantly situated affording a west coast sea view.

Numbers in the school increased from the initial 300 and peaked in the early 70’s at nearly 900. The present roll is 519 students. Approximately 75% of students continue their education post-16 at the Grammar School or College of Further Education with the rest finding employment mainly locally in a still buoyant economy.

Buildings

Les Beaucamps enjoys good facilities and has a pleasant working environment. The school is built around a central quadrangle with designated areas for curriculum subjects. There are three science laboratories, a Library, six rooms equipped with ICT suites (network PC’s), a music room, art and drama rooms as well as a separate technology block and gymnasium. The school hall is used for regular whole school assemblies and there is a dining room with a small canteen facility. The external wall of the quadrangle has a sculpture by ex-student and International artist, Eric Snell. The sculpture has been adopted as the school logo. Recently re-planted gardens provide an attractive aspect to the school. It is planned to completely rebuild the school in the next few years.

The Curriculum

Guernsey broadly follows the National Curriculum and all students have access to the National Curriculum as well as having a timetabled lesson of Personal and Social Education/Citizenship which is delivered by a specialist team. ICT is taught as a discrete subject at KS3 and all students follow an ICT related course at KS4. At KS4, in addition to the prescribed subjects of English, Maths, Science, P.E. and Social Studies (including RE), there are currently four option blocks essentially based on subjects drawn from The Arts, The Humanities, and Technology. Students may also select from a range of vocational subjects. Students can study for a maximum of 10 GCSE subjects. On average, 56% of grades awarded at GCSE are at level C or above. Last year, 66% of the Year 11 cohort achieved at least five GCSE Passes at C or above.

When students join the school they are placed in mixed-ability groups with the exception of one group which caters for more able students and a small group for students who are still struggling with the basics. Setting occurs from Year 8 in Mathematics. From September 2009, students under the age of 16 will no longer be able to leave school on reaching their fifteenthbirthday. An increasing number of students opt to study post 16 at the Grammar School or the College of Further Education. Some of these students go on to attain the highest possible Level 3 qualifications. All students in Year 11 undertake a block of work experience with the majority of leavers finding employment locally.

Les Beaucamps is fortunate to have a well resourced ICT platform which is linked to the Guernsey Grid for Learning. All teaching staff have use of a laptop computer as well as an email address for professional use. Most rooms have interactive whiteboard technology. The school’s e- Learning team has a forward thinking development plan that is impacting positively on the way students and staff work. We have a pupil computer ratio of 3:1. The school is developing a number of online links with other schools and networks of expertise across theworld as well as developing stronger links within our own community.

Pastoral Organisation

The school is organised on a year basis with students placed in tutor groups aligned to a House System. Year Heads and their team of house tutors move up with their year groups in order to promote continuity of care. The school is careful to avoid an academic, pastoral divide and students are monitored through the house tutor system with annual ‘year reviews’. Students are assessed on a regular termly basis with an emphasis on positive achievement. House points are awarded for pleasing effort or work and participation in house events results in the termly award of house trophies.

Community

Les Beaucamps is fortunate to be a small school where there is still a strong sense of community at the school and across the island. Many staff offer a plethora of extra-curricular activities. The school’s Activities Week at the end of the Summer Term has included sailing, visits abroad, a school camp and a multitude of other different activities. Students have opportunities to take part in a variety of school based clubs as well as initiatives such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and Young Enterprise. Regular trips are organised to nearby St. Malo and our neighbouring islands and there is an annual ski-trip during the Spring half-term.

Guernsey is an attractive place in which to live and work and Les Beaucamps enjoys a good reputation within the local community.

Business Partnership

Les Beaucamps is proud to have achieved a working partnership with many local companies, both large and small. These companies assist in the education of our students through providing work experience placements and training opportunities as well as resources for the curriculum. We also have a link with Plymouth University.

Ethos

Les Beaucamps aims to give all its students a broad and balanced education. We expect ourstudents to strive for excellence and hope that they will value their education, now and in the future. We want all our students to experience a sense of achievement in at least one area. We are preparing our students for life within a global community, not just within their island.

In March 2003, the school was inspected through a similar process to OFSTED. The opening paragraph of the Summary Report reads “ Les Beaucamps School is a very good school which has continued to make impressive progress in many areas since the last inspection in 1997.” The report goes on to describe the “purposeful, warm and supportive ethos” of the school. A full copy of the Report may be read on our website.

The school (currently staffed at 40 FTE) is managed through teams of staff working together: Senior Management Team, Heads of Departments, Heads of Year and Year (Tutor) Teams.Teams are well supported by a small number of non-teaching staff. The emphasis is on a collegiate, consultative approach and the school ethos is one of a learning culture where change is managed carefully. All new colleagues take part in a structured induction programme organised by one of the Deputy Headteachers.

Finally, if you require further information, why not visit our web-site on www.lesbeaucampshigh.sch.gg

November, 2008

Peter Le Cheminant, Headteacher