Education Feature: South Camden Community School - Vertical is the way upward
Published: 29 September, 2011
THIS has been an exciting year for South Camden Community School.
Work on a £25million rebuilding programme started in January, and students and staff are looking forward to moving into the first new building, the sports block, later this term.
The school community quickly developed the ability to ignore the building works going on behind the hoardings, however, and concentrate on the important task of learning.
The reward was a big improvement in examination results for 2011, with 50 per cent of students achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C including English and maths and 40 per cent of all A-level and BTEC National exam entries achieving an A*-A grade or Distinction.
The examination results supported Ofsted’s very positive July 2011 report which confirmed that attainment is improving rapidly, students enjoy school and feel safe, behaviour is good and the school enjoys positive relationships with parents and carers who speak highly of the school.
In September students and staff took on the challenge of moving to a completely new “vertical tutoring” system which provides more support for students in smaller tutor groups, and closer links with parents.
Each tutor group now has no more than 16 or 17 students of all ages across the school and is looked after by two adults; not only teachers but mentors, teaching assistants administrative staff and even the headteacher are now tutors, and younger students are also supported by the older members of the group.
The school council elections are in full swing and are certain to be hotly contested in a school where Ofsted judged the positive contribution made by students to their community to be outstanding.
• SCCS welcomes visitors every Wednesday morning between 9am and 10.30am and is holding its annual Open Evening on Monday 3rd October from 4.30 to 7.30 pm.
Contact details
South Camden Community School
Charrington Street
London, NW1 1RG
Tel: 020 7387 0126
Fax: 020 7387 0739