SCITT Subjects offered at Pershore High School 2023 – 2024:

THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT - HOD – Natalie Keogh

The English Department at Pershore High School has an enviable reputation and a proven record of success at both G.C.S.E. and ‘A’ Level.  We are committed to providing all students with a challenging and stimulating curriculum that enables them to achieve their potential, both academically and as members of society. Through inclusive practice and challenge for all, we strive to ensure that each of our students end their learning journeys with success.

The department is based in a purpose-built block which, in addition to eight dedicated classrooms, benefits from a library space and intervention room. There are currently eight specialist English teachers and an experienced Subject Learning Support Practitioner.

Our Key Stage 3 programmes of study are constantly evolving but have, at their heart, the skills required for GCSE. We deliver English Language and Literature discretely and in ability sets so that all students benefit from targeted and challenging lessons. We recognise that reading and enjoying a wide range of stimulating texts empowers students to mature culturally, socially and emotionally. Therefore, our curriculum is designed to ensure that every year, all students receive a rich and varied diet of novels, plays, poetry and non-fiction. We aim to foster a love of reading, develop critical thinking skills and create opportunities for students to explore and understand the wider world.

All Key Stage 4 students complete two GCSEs: English Language and English Literature. We follow the AQA specification and benefit from having several experienced Examiners in the team. Every year, we reflect on our practice and constantly seek opportunities to refine and improve the quality of teaching and learning in this crucial stage.

We have a thriving Sixth Form and offer both A’ level Literature and A’ Level Literature and Language: in both subjects, we follow AQA courses.  There are nine lessons per fortnight in Key Stage 5 and we take a collaborative approach to ensure high quality teaching, learning and assessment.

We are an ambitious department for ourselves and our students; we set high standards across the board. In this way, we offer many enrichment opportunities for all students from theatre visits to creative writing.  In addition, we have an exceptional record in both debating and public speaking. 

The Department has worked with many trainee teachers and is fully committed to ensuring their success. We are a supportive, welcoming and experienced department. Without doubt, we take pride in our students’ achievements, ensuring that they are well-rounded, confident, literate individuals who are fully equipped for their future.

The Science Department HOD – Sarah Comber

The Science Department at Pershore High is a dedicated, hard-working team and enjoy close working relationships with each other. We also meet socially outside school hours.  Everyone has the opportunity to make contributions, and we both encourage and support members of staff in developing their skills and experiences within the department or wider school. Information, ideas and resources are continually shared, and we are keen to collectively do the best we can for all students.

We welcomed our first Year 7 cohort in September 2021, and we have worked hard to put together an engaging and challenging KS3 curriculum. All KS3 students have 6 hours of teaching per fortnight, increasing to 11 hours from Year 10 onwards. All students study Science until the end of Key Stage 4 and we expect to enter all students for a GCSE examination.

Our KS4 students are taught Science by subject specialists. From September 2022 we are offering Separate Sciences to two groups in Year 10 students as an option for the first time. All other students follow the Trilogy Combined Science GCSE pathway. Results at GCSE are very good and above national and county averages. In 2022, 79% of our Year 11 cohort gained G4 or above in Science. Separate Scientists also achieve higher than national figures; those students gaining a G7 or above being 73%, 52% and 60% in Biology, Chemistry and Physics respectively.

At A Level, the Science department offers Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Biology and Chemistry students follow the OCR syllabus, with AQA for Physics students. Students receive 9 hours of specialist teaching per fortnight, with an additional supervised assessment lesson taken by non-specialist staff. Each class has either two or three teachers and the delivery of the course is split between them. The courses are very popular with Sixth Form students.  Students are encouraged to attend conferences, and links have been made with universities such as Reading and Worcester to provide workshops for students. Our Sixth Form students are enthusiastic and hardworking and the results in all three Science disciplines are excellent and above national and county averages.

At present the department is staffed by ten full-time teachers and three part-time teachers, assisted by two laboratory technicians, housed in a purpose-built Science block.  This has eleven laboratories, three preparation areas and a staff workroom.

The Department is committed to high standards and high expectations in terms of student achievement, and the Head of Science actively encourages staff to develop their expertise and play a full role in the work of the department. We also have close relationship with the University of Worcester and regularly host PGCE students during their school placements.

Our main concern is to enable our students to achieve their full potential and we take pride in all their achievements, and the calm and purposeful ethos which permeates our school.  We are committed to continuous improvement, with particular regard to staff welfare and development.  The department is a very supportive one, and all new and training teachers will receive high quality support within school. In short, Pershore High School is a very good school to teach in and we welcome your interest in working with us.