Northampton High School

The Good Schools Guide Review of Northampton High School, Northampton, NN4 6UU

Our View

A happy and high-achieving school that nurtures and educates girls throughout those all-important teenage years. School prospectus says, 'Kindness, courtesy, service and fun go hand in hand with striving for academic success,' and pupils certainly bear this out. With its increasingly sparkling achievements, a school on the up.

Headmistress

Since 2007, Mrs Sarah Dixon BA PGCE (fifties). Educated at Belvedere School, Liverpool (another GDST school), then joined HM Customs and Excise straight after A levels. Left at 24 to go to Warwick University, where achieved first in English, followed by PGCE. First teaching post at Stamford High School, then moved to Bedford School, where she was head of PSHE and year 11. Became head of Peterborough High School in 1999 before taking reins at Northampton High eight years later when school became part of GDST. 'I felt as if I was coming home when I arrived here,' she says. Warm, inspiring and hugely experienced, teaches year 7 girls for one period a week - 'It means I get to know all of them'. Also sees every girl for a one-to-one meeting each year. 'Mrs Dixon takes a real interest and always follows up on stuff,' one sixth former told us. 'My mum thinks she's awesome.' Firm advocate of single-sex education for girls - 'If you've been at an all-girls' school you find it easy to set your own goals and pursue them with confidence'. Has been ISI inspector for 17 years. Husband Mark is chair of science at exam board OCR. Two grown-up daughters.

Academic Matters

Head says girls 'mean business' and recent results prove her point. ISI report in 2011 praised, 'The quality of the pupils' learning, attitudes and basic skills is excellent,' and noted girls' focus, concentration and progress. These comments are borne out by 2011 A level results - 84 per cent A*-B, with PE, further maths, maths, art, geography, RS, English literature, German, Spanish and classical civilisation the top-performing subjects. Sixty five per cent of GCSEs A*/A, even higher than previously, with maths, English, Spanish, art and design and sciences the best. Most take at least nine GCSEs. Dual award science available or three separate sciences. At A level girls can choose from 28 subjects -- all the traditional ones, plus classical civilisation, critical thinking (AS), economics, food, nutrition and health, government and politics, PE and psychology. Four girls recently piloted AQA's Extended Project Qualification and more will follow suit in coming years. Curriculum based on national curriculum guidelines. In addition, Latin taught from year 7 and German and Spanish from year 8.

Staff very keen on preparing pupils not just for university, but also for workplace beyond - from skills days for all to work experience placements for sixth formers. A year 12 keen on studying veterinary science, for example, spends part of Friday afternoons working for a local vet, while in recent years several have won paid internships at HSBC.

Believes in being as inclusive as possible - full-time SENCo gives one-to-one support and in groups, as well as to gifted and talented.
Two-thirds of teachers are women, a third men. Clear policy on homework -- year 7s, for instance, get nearly seven hours' worth a week. Laptops given to all from year 11 up - cost incorporated in fees and school gets them back when girls leave. Classroom teaching supplemented by specialist speakers, theatre visits, lectures and trips abroad (including annual expedition to Normandy each year for year 8s). Three forms per year group, with fourth being added for year 7s from September 2011.

Games, Options, the Arts

Prides itself on its sporting achievements. As head says: 'We have élite teams but believe in fitness and enjoyment for all.' Girls do netball, hockey, swimming, squash, tennis, badminton, rounders, cross country, athletics etc. Sports hall, dance studio, Astroturf, netball and tennis courts, plus three hockey pitches and 25m five-lane swimming pool.

The music department is located at the heart of the school and boasts everything from an orchestra, choir and jazz band to a strings group that played at the Royal Albert Hall two years ago. More than 160 girls have individual music lessons in school. Drama is very popular too, and girls take it at both GCSE and A level. Annual school production (from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to Hamlet) performed in main hall, which seats 650.
Art really has the wow factor. Department gets outstanding results and many go on to do art, architecture, graphic design and fashion later on. Head of art believes in encouraging pupils to expand their ideas and creativity and her approach pays dividends. When we visited, just ahead of the school's annual arts festival, the walls were a feast for the eyes -- from a dress made entirely of bottle-tops by a GCSE student to etchings, screen prints, oils and collages.

Other activities include community service, Young Enterprise and D of E, as well as voluntary lunchtime clubs like printmaking, ceramics, public speaking, book group and eco-team. Resourceful group of year 10 and 11s produces their own online school magazine, complete with 'what's hot, what's not,' fiction, poetry, recipes and even an agony aunt.

Background and Atmosphere

Founded in 1878 by committee of local church people. Moved from historic Rennie Mackintosh building in centre of Northampton to purpose-built, two-storey building on the outskirts of town in 1992. Envious visiting heads frequently comment on 'intelligent and 'very civilised' design. Set in 24 acres so plenty of space to run off steam. Main building is designed in a figure of eight, with two pretty courtyards in the middle. Corridors decked out in school's trademark blue with a few bright pink IKEA sofas dotted around to provide light relief. While some schools appear noisy and hectic, this one is refreshingly calm and orderly. All girls encouraged to use well-equipped library, which boasts 12,500 books. Full-time librarian on hand to help them develop their research skills - no relying on Wikipedia here.

Pastoral Care and Discipline

Girls say it's a friendly and welcoming place, with approachable teachers who 'really care'. Very good at settling new girls in, with induction days the term before they start and imaginative new Big Sister, Little Sister initiative, where sixth-formers keep an eye on new year 7s. School council, with reps from each year group, and new house system in place. Girls belong to one of four houses - Hestia, Selene, Artemis or Demeter. Lots of house competitions, from drama and singing to sports and film-making. Head girl is voted in by girls and teaching staff, along with leadership team consisting of deputy head girl and two more deputies for social services and charity.

Rules on drugs, alcohol, smoking and bullying all clearly stated, but girls and staff say these aren't issues here. One sixth former told us: 'It's just not what we do.' Another joked: 'No one would even dare.' If concerns about work or behaviour do arise, letters sent home to parents. Saturday detentions imposed if eight work or behaviour reports in one term are sent out, but no one can remember it ever happening.

Stylish new uniform introduced for 11 to 16 year olds in 2010 -- blazers, crisp navy and white blouses, navy skirts. Sixth-formers wear own clothes but must look smart - no strappy tops, short skirts, hoodies, jeans or trainers. Oldest girls have their own commonroom, café and study room. School lunches are wholesome and served up in three light, airy canteens. Lots of choice - hot meals, salads, vegetarian options, dessert, fruit and yoghurt. Recent school dinner competition asked girls to design their own meal, and as a result obliging catering staff served up couscous, tacos and even square-shaped chips! Some girls bring packed lunches from home. Very working-parent friendly, offering early supervision and breakfast from 8am, supervised prep sessions till 5pm and after-school club till 6pm.

Pupils and Parents

Head reckons typical Northampton High girl is 'outgoing, articulate, hard-working and caring', while head girl says approvingly, 'You are allowed to be yourself here'. Pupils from a mix of rural and urban backgrounds. Many live in Northampton and surrounding villages, but some travel in (by school minibus) from as far afield as Brackley, Daventry, Wellingborough, Milton Keynes and Bedford. Parents, a mix of professional types, county set and self-employed, very supportive of school. 'It has a real buzz about it,' one mother told us, while another said: 'The school seems to embrace everything and everybody. When we go to a concert or play the pupils do everything, whether they're conducting the orchestra or doing the lights. I really feel the girls are being prepared for the outside world.' Eclectic list of old girls includes former MI5 boss Baroness Eliza Manningham-Buller, novelist Anne Fine and Olympic swimmer Caitlin McClatchey.

Entrance

Main entry points are at 11, 13 and 16. Each year around 100 girls compete for 80 year 7 places, all sitting school's own entrance exam (English, maths and verbal reasoning) in January prior to entry. Half arrive from own junior school, while rest come from wide range of local primaries. A dozen or so enter the school at 13, mostly from preps like Spratton Hall, Winchester House and Beachborough. Up to ten new girls join sixth form each year. All need minimum of five GCSEs at A*-C, including English and maths, but school likes to see at least Bs in proposed A level subjects.

Exit

Virtually all to higher education, with around five heading to Oxbridge each year. Average of five per cent opt for deferred university entry and take gap years between school and university. Good spread of degree subjects, but physics, biomedical sciences, medicine and classics lead the pack. Popular university destinations currently include Nottingham, Birmingham and other Russell Group luminaries. A few girls leave after GCSEs, mainly heading to co-ed schools like Northampton School for Boys.

Money Matters

Several scholarships on offer at 11, 13 and sixth-form level - academic, arts and sports. A number of means-tested bursaries available too.

Special Education Needs Survey

SEN Statement

SEN is a whole school issue. The school's aims are to provide equal opportunities to develop all students' talents and abilities to their full potential, ensuring that students with special educational needs have full access to the curriculum. With this in mind, these aims are met through a whole-school approach to Special Needs provision with all teaching staff taking responsibility for meeting individual needs. Additional support is available from the Learning Support Department who provide support in class, individual and group sessions.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder

	Currently no provision for.	Can provide for but no experience of	Experience of	Now provide for in school	Centre of Excellence for.
Aspergers Syndrome Mild
Aspergers Syndrome Moderate
Aspergers Syndrome Severe
Autism Mild
Autism Moderate
Autism Severe
Semantic Pragmatic Disorder
Other Autistic

Behavioural Difficulties

	Currently no provision for.	Can provide for but no experience of	Experience of	Now provide for in school	Centre of Excellence for.
Attention Deficit Disorder Mild
Attention Deficit Disorder Moderate
Attention Deficit Disorder Severe
Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorders Mild
Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorders Moderate
Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorders Severe
Emotional and behavioural difficulties Mild
Emotional and behavioural difficulties Moderate
Emotional and behavioural difficulties Severe
Conduct Disorders
Obsessive Compulsive Disorders
Oppositional Defiant Disorders
Tourettes and other tic disorders

Genetic and related Disorders

	Currently no provision for.	Can provide for but no experience of	Experience of	Now provide for in school	Centre of Excellence for.
Down's Syndrome Mild
Down's Syndrome Moderate
Down's Syndrome Severe
Fragile X
Other genetic

Learning difficulties

	Currently no provision for.	Can provide for but no experience of	Experience of	Now provide for in school	Centre of Excellence for.
Moderate learning difficulties
Profound and multiple learning difficulties
Severe learning difficulties

Specific learning difficulties

	Currently no provision for.	Can provide for but no experience of	Experience of	Now provide for in school	Centre of Excellence for.
Dyscalculia Mild
Dyscalculia Moderate
Dyscalculia Severe
Dyslexia Mild
Dyslexia Moderate
Dyslexia Severe
Dyspraxia Mild
Dyspraxia Moderate
Dyspraxia Severe
Other Specific Learning Difficulties Mild
Other Specific Learning Difficulties Moderate
Other Specific Learning Difficulties Severe
English as an additional language

Sensory Impairment

	Currently no provision for.	Can provide for but no experience of	Experience of	Now provide for in school	Centre of Excellence for.
Hearing Impairment Mild
Hearing Impairment Moderate
Hearing Impairment Severe
Multi-sensory Impairment
Speech and Language Difficulties
Visual Impairment Mild
Visual Impairment Moderate
Visual Impairment Severe

Medical and Related Needs

	Currently no provision for.	Can provide for but no experience of	Experience of	Now provide for in school	Centre of Excellence for.
Cerebral Palsy Mild
Cerebral Palsy Moderate
Cerebral Palsy Severe
"Delicate" children
Epilepsy
Eating disorders
Physical Difficulties (Not indicated elsewhere.)
Other

General Questions

Are all children tested for SEN on entry to the school?		Assessments carried out by the school SENCO
Please outline the screening programmes used by the school.		All students including SEN pupils sit the school entrance exam. Feeder schools are given an additional information sheet asking if their students entering the high school require SEN support, then further testing is done during September by SENCO with these pupils.
How many children with statements of need or equivalent do you have in the school?		We have currently two pupils with hearing impairment difficulties.
Do you make special provision for exceptionally gifted children?		All subject departments have a set criteria in which gifted and talented pupils are identified, monitored and assessed. The school SENCO provides a Gifted and Talented register for all subject departments, this is updated every term.
Please outline what is on offer for such children		Extra curricular activities as well as extension activities in all subject areas.
Please indicate if the school has or has available to it any of the following:
Behaviour Support Unit.
Learning Support Unit.
Pupil Referral Unit.
Other withdrawal.
Specialist language centre
Schemes or Initiatives such as SHARE or Playing for Success.
Please indicate if the school has any of the following characteristics:
SEN accreditation, for example by CRESTED?
Centre of excellence for SEN that is Not already outlined?
Good wheelchair access		Signs, lift access and assistance by staff which is coordinated by the school SENCO.
Provides outreach support?
Receives outreach support?
Do children with SEN participate fully in sport and other extracurricular activities?		Provision is made according to the needs of the pupil.
Please provide information on staffing. Does the school have:
A SENCO or equivalent?
Staff who will administer prescription medicines to a child
Qualified teaching staff with learning support or SEN commitment(please say how many, in full-time equivalent).		2
Non-teaching staff with learning support or SEN commitment(please say how many, in full-time equivalent).
Please list specialist qualifications held by teaching staff with learning support or SEN commitment.		The senior school SENCO and junior school SENCO are qualified assessors and practitioners of specific learning difficulties.
Please list specialist qualifications held by non-teaching staff with learning support or SEN commitment.

School Features

Curricula

GCSE - standard English curriculum

A level - standard English curriculum

Comments

Be the first to comment on this school.

Please login/register to comment.