Responses to questions submitted via the website:
1. Do you teach evolution?
Yes, as part of the Science curriculum.
2. What is your policy on sex education?
The Sex and Relationship Education Policy is available on our policies page.
3. How is the segregated teaching of boys and girls working?
We carried out a major survey of single gender teaching at the end of the Summer Term 2009. It indicated that students are enjoying single gender lessons and learning effectively in them. Academic progress to date in single sex lessons is comparable with that in other subjects.
4. Do you stream children according to ability?
We set students according to ability in Maths and Science.
5. As a new school there is no demonstrable track record of children going to university – Russell Group universities in particular. What strategies do you have for supporting children who not only want to go to university but to Oxbridge and for fostering connections with these universities?
All students at Wren will be supported in achieving access to Higher Education courses. The most fundamental ways in which this aim will be pursued are by supporting students to achieve the best possible examination results and by providing them with the skills and confidence to excel in entrance interviews. We have already established productive links with a number of universities and a group of Wren Year 8 students will be visiting Oxford later this academic year. Our Academy co-sponsor, Berkhamsted School, provides an excellent link in helping us to build relationships with the best universities.
6. I understand that you have not yet chosen which GCSE exam board will be followed, being early days. However, do you have any expectation or aspiration for a particular board (in the same way that you open to offer A levels and vocational courses in the 6th form)?
As in most schools, we anticipate following courses offered by a range of GCSE examination boards. Final decisions on the boards we will use will be taken by the end of the current academic year (i.e. by the time our first cohort of students reach the end of Year 8).
7. We moved in this country 6 months ago and my son can speak English only a little bit. I wonder if you have any support or special program for those students who don’t speak English well.
Any students with difficulty in accessing the full curriculum will be supported to enable them to do so. We cannot respond in detail to your son’s individual case.
8. a. I didn’t see a gym during the open evening and I would like to know whether or not you have a gym in your school.
b. After seeing the school tonight my husband and I would like some clarification on the structure of PE lessons, for example where are they held? There seems to be very little sports facilities, and not much emphasis on this side of the curriculum.
The brand new Academy Sports Hall, built to Sport England specifications, opens at the end of October 2009. Alongside it will be our outdoor all weather sports surface and the Academy playing fields.
9. Does my son have opportunity to play tennis in your school because he likes it?
There will be an opportunity for tennis as part of the sports curriculum.
10. Can you give me some information on Wren Academy’s policy on pastoral care?
Several of our policies impact upon pastoral care. Examples to be found on our policies page are:
> Behaviour
> Anti Bullying
> Student Voice
11. Following the open evening, I would like to ask which schools are your main feeder schools?
We have over 40 feeder primary schools.
12. a. Being a C of E school, I would like to know what structure RE lessons take. b. My child is currently at a Church of England primary school, and I would like to know how RE lessons are organised and what these lessons entail.
Religious Education lessons follow the format of the National Curriculum in which all major world religions are studied. These lessons differ from our assembly and tutorial activities which have a distinct Christian content.
13. Please can you tell me if there will be any opportunity for my daughter to continue with violin lessons (paid for by us of course) during the school day?
Many Wren students have individual music tuition. Lessons, paid for by parents, take place during the Academy day.
14. On your curriculum you state that as additional subjects you are proposing Latin or Classics?
Latin and Classics feature on our list of intended enrichment activities. Depending upon available staffing expertise, these subjects will come on stream from September of 2010 or 2011.
15. Are there any opportunities for orchestra practice at the school?
We have an Academy orchestra which has already made a number of public performances.
16. Are you expecting the majority of pupils to achieve respectable grades at GCSE level?
Our aim is that over 90% (and as close as possible to 100%) of our first student cohort will achieve a minimum of 5 A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent. We will then build upon this performance with subsequent year groups.
17. We got the impression that you were talking about alternative exams to GCSEs – could you elaborate on this please.
GCSE will remain the staple examination for students at Key Stage 4 (age 16). Some students may be attracted to, or benefit from, a vocational course alongside their GCSEs, in which case we will provide the most suitable combination of qualifications that we can.
18. Are you expecting to introduce a dance & drama course/exam in the near future?
Drama and Dance can already be found in our enrichment programme. There will certainly be a Drama related examination course offered at Key Stage 4.
19. Kindly advise where I can find the Ofsted report about the school.
There has been no Ofsted report on Wren Academy yet and there is unlikely to be before sometime in the academic year 2010-11.
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