Greenford High School

In this brief introduction my purpose is to tell you about what sort of school we are…

In essence, Greenford High is a high achieving, inclusive comprehensive school with excellent exam results. Our value added score, the difference we make to students’ attainment compared to their levels on entry, puts us in the top 5% of schools nationally in 2008, whilst our recent Ofsted inspection described us as a good school with an outstanding curriculum. Indeed, we teach everything from Psychology to Japanese, Economics to Physics, Media to Further Maths, hairdressing to Sociology. As a recently appointed Business, Enterprise and Language College, we have particular strengths in these areas, but with GCSE English results hitting 70% and Maths achieving 67% in 2008, we also know that our core subjects are very strong. We are still digesting, and still receiving, our exam results for 2009. Initial headline figures would suggest that our 5 A*-C grades at GCSE are 65%, while at A level our A-B grades in Year 13 are at 52%, with a value added score (ALPS) puts our Post-16 centre in the top 8% in the country. Our students and staff have much to be proud of, but there is no complacency in the school, only a desire to continually improve. Our continual focus and discussion on learning, teaching, assessment and the quality of lessons provides the engine that drives the school on.

We believe very much in students achieving excellent academic results and going on to university – indeed 99% of our Year 13 students go on to higher education, including the best universities in the country. Our school site and buildings are actually based on the model of a university campus with different faculties of learning, such as the Maths and Science block. But we are also an inclusive, truly comprehensive school which accepts every type of student and tries to get the very best out of them, whatever their ability or personal circumstances. This philosophy is at the core of what Greenford High is all about. For prospective parents, we should make it clear that we have only two selection criteria, whatever the age of the student. Firstly, we take brothers and sisters of students as we believe very much in the strength of the family; secondly, you have to live within a mile of the school. Each year group has 240 students and we are heavily over-subscribed, while our Post-16 centre has approximately 500 students

There are many other things I should briefly mention: our fantastic new buildings and great facilities; ICT resources that are second to none; one of the biggest Post-16 centres in London; a fantastic pastoral and inclusion system with many dedicated professionals, without a teaching timetable, constantly on call; superb sports facilities and a great PE department; wonderful curriculum enrichment, with trips, clubs, drama and concerts; a dedication to developing staff as part of our training school status; a learning and teaching team developing our curriculum in terms of thinking skills and working as part of Creative Partnerships…

I could go on… but the thing that makes us special is not the buildings nor our facilities, but our desire to keep on improving. The positive relationship between students, staff and parents is what we are most proud of.