Essential Guide Magazine 2023 51 St Thomas the Apostle St Thomas the Apostle School and Sixth Form is a boys’ Catholic school with a mixed sixth form in the heart of South East London. Their intake refl ects the multi-faith community in which they are situated and they are a very popular choice in the local area, with families recognising the outstanding all-round education they are able to provide. The school continues to be proud of its outstanding results, which consistently place them with the top schools for progress nationally. Last year’s GCSE results show St Thomas the Apostle School to be the best state boys’ school in the country for progress, placing the school 12th in the whole country. Sixth form results are impressive, with all students transferring to their fi rst or second choice university or apprenticeship, including Oxbridge for some. These exceptional results are consistently high thanks to hard work and dedication of students and their teachers, who also provide a rounded and extensive extra-curricular programme for every student. Ofsted (November 2018) praised every aspect of the school, grading the school as Outstanding in every category. Inspectors remarked that: “Pupils behave impeccably in lessons and throughout the school. They are polite, thoughtful and determined to do well.” “Staff at all levels go the extra mile to make sure pupils achieve, feel cared for and thrive within a supportive and productive learning environment.” They are looking forward to welcoming you to one of their September open events. Please check the website, www.stac.uk.com, and Twitter @stacsouthwark for the school’s latest news. Essential Guide South East London.indd 51 30/08/2023 14:54:45
Essential Guide Magazine 2023 52 Lessons in Dyslexia Dyslexia is an increasingly common specific learning difficulty experienced by children and adults alike. In fact, at least 10% of the UK’s population are thought to be dyslexic (British Dyslexia Association). With growing awareness of dyslexia and its cousin, dyscalculia (when an individual has similar challenges in maths), many parents too are learning about the condition. You may have concerns about your child, or your child’s reading and writing skills, and be wondering ‘could this be dyslexia?’. This article is here to help Dyslexia is defined as: “... a learning difficulty which primarily affects reading and writing skills. However, it does not only affect these skills. Dyslexia is actually about information processing. Dyslexic people may have difficulty processing and remembering information they see and hear, which can affect learning and the acquisition of literacy skills. Dyslexia can also impact on other areas such as organisational skills.” Dyslexia is usually spotted and supported in children at primary school age due to increased awareness amongst teachers and support staff. While dyslexia in our children today is commonly picked up by school staff, you may think you have spotted early signs in your child, particularly if they have developed coping strategies that minimise how their challenges present themselves in a large setting like school. Most individuals affected by dyslexia will show signs of finding particular areas of learning challenging. Due to this, most cases will be picked up in schools. This isn’t always the case, though, especially if they have developed a host of coping strategies to mask their challenges due to fear or embarrassment. Equally - some children develop strategies to work around their challenges, not realising that this isn’t how it should be. Being aware of common challenges dyslexic individuals face could help your child access the support they need earlier. Here are some common signs of dyslexia from the NHS website: Pre-school age (0-5): • Delayed speech development compared with other children of the same age (although this can have many different causes) • Speech problems, such as not being able to pronounce long words properly and “jumbling” up phrases (for example, saying “hecilopter” instead of “helicopter”, or “beddy tear” instead of “teddy bear”) • Problems expressing themselves using spoken language, such as being unable to remember the right word to use, or putting What are dyslexia and dyscalculia? What are the signs of dyslexia? sentences together incorrectly • Little understanding or appreciation of rhyming words, such as “the cat sat on the mat”, or nursery rhymes • Difficulty with, or little interest in, learning letters of the alphabet” Primary school age (5-12): • “Problems learning the names and sounds of letters • Spelling that’s unpredictable and inconsistent • Confusion over letters that look similar and putting letters the wrong way round (such as writing “b” instead of “d”) • Confusing the order of letters in words • Reading slowly or making errors when reading aloud • Answering questions well orally, but having difficulty writing the answer down • Difficulty carrying out a sequence of directions • Struggling to learn sequences, such as days of the week or the alphabet • Slow writing speed • Poor handwriting • Problems copying written language and taking longer than normal to complete written work • Poor phonological awareness and word attack skills” Teenagers and adults: The NHS states that “as well as the problems already mentioned, the symptoms of dyslexia in older children and adults can include:” • Poorly organised written work that lacks expression (for example, even though they may be very knowledgeable about a certain subject, they may have problems expressing that knowledge in writing) • Difficulty planning and writing essays, letters or reports • Difficulties revising for examinations • Trying to avoid reading and writing whenever possible • Difficulty taking notes or copying • Poor spelling • Struggling to remember things such as a PIN or telephone number • Struggling to meet deadlines Essential Guide South East London.indd 52 30/08/2023 14:54:45
Essential Guide Magazine 2023 53 Spotting signs that your child may be struggling can be unsettling and worrying, but rest assured, dyslexia is incredibly common, and there is a great deal of support available. It’s also important to remember that as dyslexia is a specific learning disability, this does not affect a person’s intelligence. With the right adjustments, they have every chance of going on to succeed alongside their peers. If you have concerns, the first thing to do is raise these with your child’s teacher. They may echo your concerns, especially if your child is new to their class, and appreciate your involvement with a more holistic view of your child’s progress. If your child’s teacher agrees that there is a chance your child could be experiencing dyslexia, they will usually refer them to the support of a Special Education Needs Coordinator (SENCo). A SENCo is a specialist teacher who has taken on further study to support the assessments and interventions for children with additional needs, be they learning needs, behavioural needs, or medical needs (or a combination). The SENCo will either carry out an assessment themselves, if they have the necessary qualifications, or bring in a specialist to do this. They may ask you to have your child’s overall health and wellbeing checked with a GP first (such as checking for vision and hearing problems), as well as assessing for any other learning challenges they think your child may have. They may begin with a screening test to decide how likely dyslexia is, and follow this up with a full diagnostic assessment if they feel they need to investigate further. You can also access a private dyslexia assessment, if you feel this is best for your child. You can look into this further on the British Dyslexia Association website: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/services/ assessments, or alternatively search for a registered psychologist with specialisms in dyslexia on the British Pyschological’s Society’s directory: https://www.bps.org.uk/find-psychologist. We hope this guide helps you and your child on their learning journey. Remember that just because your child exhibits some symptoms of dyslexia, this may not mean they are. The important thing is to raise your concerns with your child’s teacher as soon as possible, so that assessments can be made where needed and supports can be put in place. With the right support, your child can thrive and go on to pursue their passions! I think my child might be dyslexic, what do I do? What happens if my child receives a dyslexia diagnosis? Final thoughts If your child’s school suspects they are dyslexic, they can put supports in place before a formal diagnosis comes through. As dyslexia is such a common learning difference they are likely to have a breadth of resources and techniques available, which can be quickly put into place to support your child’s learning. The support required for each child will differ depending on the severity of their dyslexia and their age. Your child’s school will also gather information about your child’s needs during their dyslexia assessment. Common interventions for dyslexic children and young people include: Specialised reading materials with pale backgrounds that aren’t white - this can sometimes exacerbate dyslexia Specialised filters to put over traditional books which help with the reading process Specialised technology designed for dyslexic individuals, especially for older children and teenagers, such as screen-readers, reading pens and audiobooks, to help children develop enjoyment around reading Time spent with a 1:1 TA to focus on particular areas of challenge, such as spelling or handwriting Multimodal approaches to teaching reading, such as using lots of physical resources Support with organisation, especially for older children For further information and guidance on how you can support your child in their learning, The British Dyslexia Association has a fantastic guide on strategies for supporting reading, spelling, writing and homework, viewable at https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/advice/ children/how-can-i-support-my-child/spelling. They also provide a list of recommended tutors, if you feel your child could benefit from additional support alongside that offered by their school. Equally, your child’s teacher may appreciate your concerns, but be able to reassure you that your child is unlikely to be dyslexic. If this is the case, they should be able to evidence their view with examples of your child’s progress and evidence of their overall abilities. If you disagree with your child’s teacher, you can raise your concerns directly with the school Special Educational Needs Coordinator, or a year leader - who will either provide further reassurance, or escalate your concerns. They may feel there could be other issues going on, such as vision problems - in which case, they’ll refer you to your GP for further support and advice. Essential Guide South East London.indd 53 30/08/2023 14:54:45
Essential Guide Magazine 2023 54 At Sedgehill Academy we offer an outstanding education in a warm and supportive environment, uniting high academic achievement with strong development of character. Sedgehill Academy has been part of United Learning since 2020, one of the country’s leading education providers. Uniquely we cover both the state and independent sectors, close collaboration across the group allows us to draw on a very talented pool of education professionals to bring out the best in everyone in our school community. We have high expectations and aspirations for every student and reject the view that success in life is pre-determined or that our talents are fi xed. We believe that with hard work, kindness, integrity, and excellence our students will fi nd success. Last summer saw Sixth Form students from Sedgehill Academy securing places at a variety of prestigious Russell Group universities. This year, we are excited about the start of a Basketball Academy for talented and committed players. When you visit us, as well as the strong focus on students’ academic success, you will fi nd a caring and friendly environment, with a culture of aspiration where everyone is striving to bring out the best in themselves and each other. But at Sedgehill we believe that there is more to a good education than just academic success. We aim to develop character, compassion, and service through the delivery of an Education with Character, which challenges, inspires and excites our students, helping them to become happy, confi dent, and successful young adults. OPEN EVENING Come and see us for yourself! SEPTEMBER THURSDAY 21 ST 6:00 - 8:00pm BOOK NOW at sedgehillacademy.org.uk OPEN MORNING TOURS Every Friday at 9am throughout the year FOLLOW US: @SedgehillAcad Sedgehill Academy Essential Guide South East London.indd 54 30/08/2023 14:54:46
Essential Guide Magazine 2023 55 Prendergast Ladywell Prendergast Ladywell School is a coeducational, 4-16 school where young people from our local community are provided with an excellent education that enables them to achieve outstanding outcomes in a safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment. We are a school that CARES; where Community, Ambition, Resilience, Effort and Success are valued. Reflective and kind students are led by well trained teachers and professional support staff. We believe that all our students can Achieve Excellence; it’s the motto written on the badge of every student in the school. Prendergast Ladywell School provides an excellent education with high quality teaching and a challenging and enjoyable curriculum that enables students’ progress and provides a range of enrichment activities. Our students are encouraged to make positive contributions to our school, our community, and become healthy, happy and engaged members of society. Our ethos is underpinned by the relationships that the members of our community have with each other. These relationships are built on the foundation of compassion, equity and mutual respect so that every member of our community has a sense of belonging and are free to develop into the best versions of themselves. PRENDERGAST LADYWELL SCHOOL We invite you to join us at our OPEN DAYS Open Evening Tuesday 12 September - 6:00 to 8:00pm Thursday 21 September, Virtual Open Evening (6-8pm) Open Mornings Thursday 14 September - 9:15 to 10:30am Tuesday 19 September - 9:15 to 10:30am Thursday 21 September - 9:15 to 10:30am Tuesday 26 September - 9:15 to 10:30am It is an exciting time to join Prendergast Ladywell School ● Strong Leadership; strong vision ● High standards and high expectations ● Academic excellence - progress for all ● Outstanding care - outstanding facilities ● A family school at the heart of the community Leathersellers’ FEDERATION OF SCHOOLS EDUCATION FROM FOUR TO EIGHTEEN Manwood Road, London, SE41SA www.prendergast-ladywell.com @prendergast_PLS Good Provider Achieving Excellence ‘‘We look forward to meeting you’’ Niall Hand - Headteacher Part of the Leathersellers Federation of schools we contribute to and benefit from the collaboration and support our family of schools provide. The forthcoming years at our school will be incredibly exciting. We warmly invite you to be part of our community. Niall Hand, Headteacher Prendergast Ladywell School Essential Guide South East London.indd 55 30/08/2023 14:54:46
Essential Guide Magazine 2023 56 Welcome to Prendergast Vale School, an all-through school in the heart of Lewisham for children from the ages of 3 to 16. We are a small, inclusive and vibrant school community; as our school motto says ‘in perpetuum discimus’ - we are forever learning, with academic and personal excellence for all and developing creativity at the heart of our practices. We believe all our pupils can achieve success in life by working hard and being kind. As a small school, all of our pupils and their families are well known to the people who work at the school. Our subject specialists design engaging and high-quality curricula that enable our pupils to reach their academic potential and develop a thirst for learning. As a result, they will become confident, resourceful and independent learners who can pursue their ambitions and attend university if they wish. Not only should students have well regarded qualifications when they leave school, but they will also acquire character traits that will enable them to be successful in life. Traits such as optimism, resilience and confidence are developed throughout all subjects and through extra-curricular activities. We encourage pupils to value their education at Prendergast Vale and we equip them to achieve and excel in life after school. They leave our care as responsible, motivated young adults who are eager to make positive contributions to society. Prendergast Vale is a small school within a big community. As a member of the Leathersellers’ Federation of Schools, we are stronger together. The Leathersellers’ Federation of schools is made up of a group of three secondary and two primary schools as well as Prendergast 6th Form. We are very fortunate to be part of the Federation and receive a lot of support from the Leathersellers’ Company, which helps our pupils succeed. Edmund Coogan, Headteacher. Prendergast Vale School Essential Guide South East London.indd 56 30/08/2023 14:54:46
Essential Guide Magazine 2023 57 Cleeve Park is a school that bases our educational values on Commitment, Pride and Success. Commitment to learning; Pride in ourselves and our community; Success in all we do. From the moment you visit our school we will support your child to recognise their potential, building confi dence and ambition. Our school offers a broad and balanced curriculum that is partnered with strong pastoral care. Academic achievement Academic achievement is important to open doors in the future. Success looks very different for each individual, we understand this and celebrate those differences but there is a clear focus on GCSE and Post 16 qualifi cations as the main route to success in adult life. We have high expectations for all students whatever their starting point. Students are set challenging but achievable targets. Where appropriate there is a wide menu of support and intervention for all levels of learning. Openness and Respect for self and others We are a caring, polite, well-mannered and inclusive school community where everyone understands what is right and what is wrong and this holds strong infl uence over the way they treat themselves, the way they treat others and the way they make decisions. We recognise that we can all continue to learn and improve and accept that the ways of the past may not be the way of the future. Sport & the Arts Education concerns the whole person and every pupil has the ability to achieve or excel if exposed to the correct opportunities. For some, success in sport and the arts is the key to success in school. We have state of the art sports and performing arts facilities that encourage creativity and talent. We encourage all students to participate in our comprehensive extra-curricular activities that range from sport to media to debate and much more. We look forward to welcoming you to our school to experience its unique atmosphere. Further information is available from the website www.cleevepark-tkat.org Cleeve Park School Essential Guide South East London.indd 57 30/08/2023 14:54:47
Essential Guide Magazine 2023 58 St Columba’s – Valuing Children as Individuals St Columba’s is a Catholic Comprehensive Academy, part of the South East London Catholic Academy Trust. We are a welcoming, vibrant and happy community dedicated to faith, learning and achievement and we welcome boys of all academic and religious backgrounds. The school has a tradition of high standards and high expectations. As a caring Christian community, we work in partnership with parents to enable students to achieve their very best. Gospel values inform all aspects of school life and learning - in the school community everyone has the right to be happy, safe and achieve. We are proud to be an inclusive Catholic school that welcomes students from all faiths or none. During our last OfSTED visit in 2019, inspectors recognised this defi ning characteristic when they said ‘You and your governors aim to provide a highly inclusive education….The Catholic values you hold are evident in the safe and welcoming community the school has become.’ We are proud to be a school where every child is known and valued as an individual and this too was recognised ‘Warm and positive relationships are a strong feature of your school. As a result, pupils feel confi dent in lessons to ask questions and push themselves forward in their learning.’ Students are set by ability so that each individual is challenged to achieve their best. To support their successful transition, Year 7 students have their own playground. As a comprehensive school, every child really does matter and St Columba’s help each individual to grow spiritually, academically and socially. For more information, please visit www.st-columbas.bexley.sch.uk. St Columba’s Catholic Boys’ School Essential Guide South East London.indd 58 30/08/2023 14:54:49
Essential Guide Magazine 2023 59 Coopers is a community based on trust and respect that inspires resilience, ambition and success for all. We are a welcoming, thriving and fully comprehensive school for young people aged 11-18. With our expanding Sixth Form, we view our pupils’ time at Coopers as a seven-year journey - combining both academic rigour with quality pastoral support. Our school’s values are our core foundation, and are at the heart of all we do. Following the pandemic, our pupils have demonstrated faultless resilience, courage and determination, as refl ected in our recent A-Level results. We continue to be exceptionally proud of their accomplishments. At Coopers, we are committed to improving outcomes and transforming lives, recognising social mobility, and the transformative power of education. Coopers forms part of the Education for the 21st Century Trust - a values-led organisation, driven by a determination to create welcoming, inclusive schools for the local community, whereby every pupil thrives, makes excellent progress, and succeeds. Recognising and rewarding success is a fundamental part of what we do; from school performances and competitions through to residential and local visits, we aim to nurture the whole child. As a rapidly improving school, we are delighted to have once again been named a ‘GOOD’ school in our recent Ofsted inspection. If you wish for your child to join us at Coopers, please visit us on our annual Open Evening on Thursday 28th September. Thursday 28th September Open Event Times are yet to be confirmed but information would be put on the website nearer the time. Coopers School Essential Guide South East London.indd 59 30/08/2023 14:54:50
Essential Guide Magazine 2023 60 St Paul’s is unique in welcoming students from the Catholic faith and students from our local neighbourhood. This creates an inclusive and diverse community where all are nurtured and supported to aspire to their highest levels of achievements. We provide excellent pastoral care for our students who are primarily looked after by one of our Faculties throughout their time at St Paul’s. This allows for strong professional relationships to be built between students and their form tutor as well as family members. We see the partnership between home and school as key to the development and success of our students. We have a full three-year KS3 Curriculum offer and wide range of academic and vocational courses for KS4. Our specialisms in sports, the arts and business complement the academic curriculum. The personal development of students is a strong feature of St Paul’s helping our students to develop lifelong skills, confidence and sense of responsibility for the world they live in. We know that every day spent at St Paul’s is an investment in the future; not just the future of the young person but the future of the world that they will one day lead. We see real hope for the world every day by nurturing young people who are passionate about social justice and who have a strong ethical code by which to live. Our staff and students have raised over £210,000 for charity since becoming an Academy. Our excellent facilities enrich the lives of both students and staff with a wide range of sporting activities for all, as well as an extensive programme of extra-curricular activities beyond timetabled lessons. Our Open Day will be held on Saturday 30th September between 9am and 12 noon. We will then be holding three Open Mornings on Thursday 5th October, Thursday 12th October and Thursday 19th October where the Principal will speak at 9.45am. We look forward to welcoming you to our Open Day and Open Mornings, when you will have the opportunity to meet and speak with staff and students. St Paul’s Academy St Paul’s Academy Open Events 2023 Open Day Open Mornings Saturday 30th September 9am – 12noon Thursday 5th October 9.00am – 10.15am Thursday 12th October 9.00am – 10.15am Thursday 19th October 9.00am – 10.15am The Principal, Mrs Ward, will speak at 9.30am and 10.30am Tours start at 9.00am Last entry at 9.30am The Principal will speak at 9.45am ABUNDANCE ACHIEVEMENT AMBITION Essential Guide South East London.indd 60 30/08/2023 14:54:50
Essential Guide Magazine 2023 61 Haberdashers’ Hatcham College – Where Tradition meets Innovation Haberdashers’ Hatcham College is a wonderful school in New Cross, SE14, in which students develop into young adults, with all the choices that their education has provided them. Academic achievement is our core purpose, but no less important is the development of character and values that enable Hatcham alumni to reach their full potential and go out into the world to effect that positive change. Learning beyond the traditional classroom is incredibly important to us. Enrichment opportunities are vast, particularly with the Haberdashers’ Advantage programme, which ensures characterbuilding opportunities for all students to enrich what is taught in classrooms and to harness the skills and confidence needed to successfully navigate life beyond school. Part of the Haberdashers’ Academies Trust South, a family of nine schools in and around south-east London, we have an established history of providing education for almost 150 years. We understand how daunting it can feel to start secondary school and have an excellent transition programme in place to ensure new students feel welcome and prepared for their Haberdashers’ secondary school journey. Music, sport, art and mathematics gifted and talented scholarships are available and seek to identify and develop students who have beyond-age expectation or talent. Join us for an open event or visit our website for more information: www.habshatcham.org.uk Haberdashers Hatcham College Join us! Open Evening Thursday 5 October, 5–8pm Open Mornings 10, 11, 12 October at 9.15am Hatcham College is an 11–18 Haberdashers’ secondary school in New Cross, SE14, where Tradition meets Innovation For more information visit www.habshatcham.org.uk Follow us @habshatcham Together, stronger Essential Guide South East London.indd 61 30/08/2023 14:54:50
Essential Guide Magazine 2023 62 St Matthew Academy The Essential Guide to the SMA Media and Communication and Sporting Excellence Programmes At SMA, we are delighted to offer pupils in Key Stage Three the opportunity to enrol one of our two scholarship programmes: ‘Media and Communication’ and ‘Sporting Excellence.’ Media and Communication The Media and Communications programme is also an academic pathway designed for pupils in Key Stage Three. The Year 7 programme begins with an introduction to cameras and photography and leads into the first project of the year in which pupils will develop a vlog on a topic of their choosing. This project will include components for in-depth research, script writing, filming and editing. There will also be an opportunity to explore light photography and sound dubbing. In Year 8 and Year 9, pupils will take part in projects looking at the function and mechanics of film trailers and develop towards working in groups to create their own genre based film trailers from scratch. During all three years of the Media and Communication Programme, pupils will have a number of opportunities to take part in sessions led by industry professionals including camera operators and media executives. Pupils will also experience visits to professional film studios and take part in national film making competitions for example the Childnet Film Competition. Pupils could even have their work screened at the British Film Institute Southbank Cinema and might be invited to livestreamed events such as the one at Disney UK that SMA M&C pupils were lucky enough to be involved in this year. The Sporting Excellence Programme and the Media and Communication Programme have become an integral part of the SMA success story. Our pupils develop academic passions that mature into opportunities in higher education and possibly even careers in the world of sport or media. Sporting Excellence The Sporting Excellence programme is designed to identify, support and challenge pupils with a particular aptitude for physical education. The programme encourages pupils to explore a range of different sports and provides opportunities to achieve excellence in practical settings as well as to develop a deep theoretical understanding of sport. The programme also involves tailored strength and conditioning, at least 1 additional sporting opportunity per term, which might be in the form of seminars given by professional athletes; visits to a well-known sporting venues and of course, participation in sports teams representing St Matthew Academy. Further opportunities include looking at the science of sports nutrition; listening to guest speakers; understanding the concept of mental wellbeing; exploration of sport as an industry; analysis of sporting programmes and the psychology of sport. The pupils, who have been successful at the annual trials held in July, will participate in the Sporting Excellence Programme during Years 7, 8 and 9. They can then progress onto the GCSE PE course in Years 10 and 11. Further to this, these pupils will also receive support from the PE Department in exploring opportunities for PE in further education. Essential Guide South East London.indd 62 30/08/2023 14:54:51
Essential Guide Magazine 2023 63 Open Evening: 4:30pm-7:30pm Tues 26th September Open Mornings: 9:15am-11:00am Tues 19th and Wed 20th September Tues 10th and Thurs 12th October Open Afternoon: 1.15pm-2.30pm OPEN EVENTS @stmattacad www.stmatthewacademy.co.uk Essential Guide South East London.indd 63 30/08/2023 14:54:52
Essential Guide Magazine 2023 64 Bonus Pastor Catholic College “Through Faith to Success” Lewisham’s Ofsted Outstanding Mixed Secondary www.bonuspastor.co.uk 0208 695 2100 @bonus_pastor Talk and Tour Thursday 21st September 6:30pm and 7:30pm Talk and Tour Monday 25th, Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th September 9:15am To register your interest and pre-book a visit please visit our website OPEN EVENTS Essential Guide South East London.indd 64 30/08/2023 14:54:52