Rose Hill Westonbirt School

The Good Schools Guide Review of Rose Hill Westonbirt School, Tetbury, GL8 8QG

Our View

Created by the merger of Rose Hill (long established and traditional co-ed prep formerly at Alderley, Gloucestershire) and Querns Westonbirt in August 2008. The good news is that the remodelling of the school has produced two much improved buildings (plus some useful temporary accommodation) where previously one. A converted girls' boarding house provides the multi-purpose school hall, office accommodation and some pleasant classrooms for older pupils. Former Querns building works well for the younger ones and includes hard, bark and grass outside play areas. Nearby copse is being integrated as an 'outdoor classroom' space. Parents love the way that pupils play and share together across the age groups and praise the 'family feel'. Flourishing nursery and highly successful reception class feed the lower years. Parents we spoke to were very impressed with both the teaching and the level of care all the way through the school.

Learning support is well co-ordinated from designated area, 'The Beehive', and moves straight in with appropriate (individual or small group) help as soon as a need is seen by teachers. One mother praised this positive intervention, telling us how her daughter now loved reading as a result and was 'zooming through her books'. At 5+ she was also playing the piano and loving her sport. Gosh.

Separate ICT suite for year 3 upwards and pupils benefit from proximity of super sports, music and other facilities shared with the senior school. Vibrant art area (temporary accommodation proved versatile here) supports sculpture and fashion as well as regular art classes; French is introduced from nursery level. Music teacher cited as 'miraculous'. Forty children have individual music tuition. Singing, recorder and other instrumental groups; 'outstanding concerts and musical productions,' we were told. Choir performs locally and pupils are entered for Cheltenham Festival music and drama events, as well as LAMDA examinations, in which they excel. Visits out of school are many and varied: educational for all age groups and lots of sporting fixtures for 7+.

Lots of parental involvement and fun activities with and without the children: karting for all ages, parental rock band, Querns and Roses, lined up for summer ball gig. Children 'love it' and parents we spoke to describe it as 'a fabulous school'. After recent uncertainties associated with the merger, RHW can now settle down to its dedicated rôle of providing a happy educational environment for 3-11 year olds.

Head

Since September 2009, Mr Neil Shaw BA MA PGCE (thirties), educated at Nottingham High School before reading geography at Exeter, then PGCE at Nottingham and MA at Loughborough. Began career at St George's, Edgbaston, where he was promoted to deputy headship, thence to first headship at Kingswood School, Solihull. Married with one daughter. His high energy levels have been put to the test, but parental consensus is that he is winning on most fronts. Following the merger (see below) and his appointment to the 'new' post thus created, he won over quite a few by holding evening sessions (in the term before he took up his post) to listen to parental concerns from both camps. Pro-active and determined but not yet universally appreciated, we discovered, although school tells us that since our visit this has changed and he is very much appreciated!

Entrance

Visit, then taster day when child is assessed in classroom situation.

Exit

11+ entry to Westonbirt most likely route for girls; otherwise either sex to local grammars, comprehensives or other independents that admit at 11.

Special Education Needs Survey

SEN Statement

Learning Support is available in a dedicated, discreet classroom by a qualified specialist.

09-09

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

Genetic and related Disorders

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?
Please outline the screening programmes used by the school.
How many children with statements of need or equivalent do you have in the school?
Do you make special provision for exceptionally gifted children?
Please outline what is on offer for such children
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
Provides outreach support?
Receives outreach support?
Do children with SEN participate fully in sport and other extracurricular activities?
Please provide information on staffing. Does the school have:
A SENCO or equivalent?
Staff who will administer prescription medicines to a child		Resident school nurse.
Qualified teaching staff with learning support or SEN commitment(please say how many, in full-time equivalent).
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.
Please list specialist qualifications held by non-teaching staff with learning support or SEN commitment.

School Features

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