Downlands Community School Prospectus

CO DOWNLANDSOOL

MMUNITY SCH

Learning is at the heart of everything we do

Thank you for considering
Downlands Community
School for the next very
important phase of your
01 child’s education.

Welcome to Downlands Community School

I hope that this prospectus gives you a flavour of the activities, trips and clubs. The high expectations we
ethos of the school and of the excellent provision we have ensure that students develop a passion for learning
offer at Downlands. We are very proud of our outstanding and confidence and belief that they can succeed in
school and are fortunate to have such a fantastic team anything they want to do in the future. Downlands is an
of teachers and support staff, dedicated to maintaining outstanding school. Our aim is to continue to improve
the highest standard of education possible for our young the quality of education we provide and become a
people. We are committed to placing learning at the truly ‘great’ school. We are proud of our students
heart of everything we do — the outstanding outcomes achievements, their conduct and their leadership. Our
young people consistently achieve at Downlands are curriculum prepares them for their next steps whatever
a result of this commitment. We have a holistic view of their abilities or interests.
education and students are encouraged to maximise
their participation in a wide range of extra-curricular Mark Wignall - Headteacher

Downlands Community School | www.downlands.w-sussex.sch.uk

“Relationships between
teachers and their students

are excellent, with good
humour and mutual
respect evident.”

Ofsted

02

As a fully inclusive school
we offer a personalised
education and keep the
individual needs of the
students at the heart of
03 everything we do.

Supporting, Nurturing and Challenging Our Students

Our outstanding pastoral system provides a blend of All Year 7 Tutor Groups have Year 11 Prefects allocated
support and challenge required to develop happy, to guide and support students in their first year at
confident and respectful young people. Each child on Downlands. We have a team of dedicated specialist
joining the school becomes a member of a Tutor Group staff to support students including Learning Mentors,
within one of the four Houses; there are frequent inter- Behaviour Mentors, Pastoral Support Officers and
House competitions culminating in Sports Day. The Tutor Teaching Assistants. Provision for our academically very
and Achievement Leader as well as our Pastoral Support able students is also a priority and we are proud of the
Officers (one PSO dedicated to each year group) provide challenge we provide to nurture our most able to the
a blend of support and care, closely monitoring the pinnacle of achievement and success.
well-being of each student.

Downlands Community School | www.downlands.w-sussex.sch.uk

“I like the feeling 04
of community within
the school. Teachers are
kind and approachable
making Downlands
a great place to be.”

Year 11 Student

At Downlands we work
hard to cultivate a belief
that there are no limits to
05 any students’ progress.

Outstanding Teaching and Learning

Students are taught that determination, resilience and a is fully staffed by an exceptionally talented team of
willingness to learn from feedback are the keys to their specialist teachers in every subject area.
own growth. Downlands takes pride in offering an
engaging, inspiring and innovative curriculum for all, We are among the top performing schools in West Sussex
equipping our students with the skills and qualifications and nationally. Pupils have very high aspirations and we
they need to build successful futures. are proud that a significant number succeed in securing
At Downlands our exam results are consistently places at the top Russell Group of universities including
outstanding for all abilities of students. Downlands Oxford and Cambridge.

Downlands Community School | www.downlands.w-sussex.sch.uk

“Lessons are full
of interactive activities

which help me learn
while having fun”

Year 10 Student

06

We are situated in an

inspiring location at the

foot of the South Downs.

Downlands is at the heart

of the local community and

07 the community is at the
heart of all we do.

Downlands Community Working Together

We believe that education reaches far beyond the taught Development Plan and are directly involved in school
curriculum and we promote a strong community ethos, improvement.
which enables students to make outstanding academic,
social and personal progress. We have excellent links with our partners in China, our
partner school in Chennai, India and our twinned towns
Students take on significant duties and responsibility of Wald Michelbach in Germany and Montmirail in France.
in managing the school environment from becoming Moreover the Downlands School Association is very
Science Ambassadors in Year 9, Sports Leaders in Year active, organising events to raise funds for the school and
10 to Prefects and Head Prefects in Year 11. Student provide entertainment for the wider community including
focus groups are attached to each section of our School the annual Summer Fayre in June.

Downlands Community School | www.downlands.w-sussex.sch.uk

“Students are confident
and happy both around
the school and in lessons.”

Ofsted

08

The wide variety of clubs,
activities and trips ensure
that students develop
skills and interests beyond
09 the formal curriculum.

Excellent Extra-Curricular Provision

Staff give freely of their time offering additional study The Creative Arts Faculty stages a whole school
support sessions before, during and after school; every production every year as well as Gig Night and the Spring
department runs clubs, trips and activities. The PE Concert for musicians and the annual Creative Arts and
department has a busy calendar of fixtures throughout Technology Exhibition. The Duke of Edinburgh Award
the year in a wide variety of sports including football, Scheme is a popular choice for pupils in Years 10 and 11.
rugby, stoolball, netball, cricket, basketball, badminton,
rounders and athletics. Every student has the opportunity We are committed to improving our offer; our aim is
to be involved in competitive sport; Downlands has elite to engage every single pupil in extra-curricular activities
teams who compete both nationally & regionally and of some kind.
have become County Champions in some sports.

Downlands Community School | www.downlands.w-sussex.sch.uk

“Thank you for all the help 10
and kindness you showed to
my son on the trip to Berlin.
He had a fantastic time and
told us how lovely, helpful and
informative all the staff were.”

Parent

CO DOWNLANDSOOL
MMUNITY SCH

Get in touch

Downlands Community School , Dale Avenue, Hassocks, BN6 8LP
t: 01273 845892 | e: [email protected] | www.downlands.w-sussex.sch.uk

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