Prospectus

Chiltern Edge School

Foundation School serving South Oxfordshire and the North of Reading

A happy and
harmonious
school

School
Site

Welcome to
Chiltern Edge
School

We are very proud of our school and the achievements of our students.
We look forward to showing you round!

Chiltern Edge is located on a spacious eleven hectare site on the edge of Sonning
Common Village. Most of our well drained sports pitches are located in the South
Chilterns AONB. The school regularly hosts large sporting events such as the South
Oxfordshire primary school cross country series. We have excellent sports facilities
including a full size sports hall, tennis courts, fitness training room and squash courts.

Students are prepared well

for the next stage of their
education, training or
employment.
- Ofsted Report

Chiltern Edge is a very distinctive and vibrant community. We believe that as the smallest
secondary school in Oxfordshire and Reading we oer a very supportive learning environment.
This enables teachers to know their students well and each young person to feel that they can
succeed and make their own contribution to school life.
Whatever your priorities, we believe that Chiltern Edge would be a very positive choice for your
child. We oer outstanding pastoral care, a competitive academic curriculum with excellent exam
results and a wide range of sporting and artistic extra-curricular activities. As a recipient of the
International School Award, we recognise the importance of an outward looking and culturally
diverse education. Community Service is a key aspect of life in our school. Examples of this are the
brilliant work of our Houses in fundraising for their chosen charities and our nationally recognised
anti-bullying team, the Power Group. These young people demonstrate how Chiltern Edge
students learn the importance of making a signicant contribution to the world they want to grow
up in. The eorts of our Amnesty International team were recently recognised nationally when they
received the prestigious Marsh Award for outstanding human rights activism.
Thank you for considering Chiltern Edge as a choice for your son or daughter. I hope that you will take the opportunity to visit us on our Open Evening
and Open Mornings in the Autumn term to see what we have to oer. Of course we also conduct tours throughout the school year and these can be
arranged by contacting my Personal Assistant.

Over ten million pounds has been spent on our site over the last decade.
Upgraded facilities include;

Performing Arts block with professional standard Dance and Drama studios.

Dedicated Design Technology suite with specialist rooms for Food, Textiles and
Resistant Materials.

Modern Foreign Languages suite.

School library.

New school reception and meeting rooms.

Upgraded Science labs.

The school has a state of the art wireless network and computer technology is a regular
feature of learning from programming in PC suites to composing music on mini iPads.
We have a full size lecture theatre with excellent AV equipment. This space is used regularly
for activities as wide ranging as House assemblies, visiting speakers and the daily lunchtime
Film Club. The school is wheelchair friendly which underlines our commitment to working in
partnership with the co-located Bishopswood Special School and to making the school site
accessible to the whole community.
A land sale in 2017 will enable us to embark on an exciting multi-million pound development
of both learning and sport facilities on the school site, to include a full size Astroturf and state
of the art fitness suit.

Daniel Sadler, Head Teacher

The Headteacher provides

highly effective leadership.
- Ofsted Report

Students view the school

as safe and secure.
- Ofsted Report

Support for
learning

At Chiltern Edge we aim to give every

top grades. We regularly consult with GATE

learner the challenge and support they

students to ensure that they are receiving the

need to make outstanding progress.

support they want.

We conduct a comprehensive testing

In our Curriculum Support Department a

programme on entry to ensure that we

team of highly trained teachers and

know the potential of our year 7 students.

teaching assistants work with numerous

Challenging but achievable targets are set

external experts such as Educational

for each subject and these are tracked

Psychologists to ensure that students with

carefully. Students who hit their targets

SEND receive both the academic and the

early have them uplifted to ensure they

pastoral help that they need to be happy

maintain momentum.

and successful.

Improvements in
students outcomes
can be attributed to
a well-planned and
evolving curriculum
that is designed to
meet their needs.
- Ofsted Report

This programme starts as early as Year 7 and

Teachers work hard to plan and deliver

independent on-line learning through

builds to a very focused series of guidance

interesting and varied lessons which stretch

excellent software packages such as Doddle

events in Year 11. Chiltern Edge students

and engage the whole class. Intervention

and GCSEPod. These enable students and

move on to a wide variety of destinations

programmes and one to one support ensure

parents to focus on the particular areas where

ranging from those who gain entry to

that students who fall behind have the help

pupils need extra help or challenge. Parents

Oxbridge and Russell Group Universities after

they need to get back on track.

are kept well informed through detailed

A Level to others who move straight into

Our GATE programme identifies and

progress sheets and annual written reports.

employment through apprenticeships with

including our Attendance Officer, Pastoral Manager, Counsellor, Careers Co-ordinator and

Our four Houses Draco, Lyra, Orion

a full time School Nurse. Students are all part of a vertical tutor group containing around

and Pegasus are small communities

relationships between students of different ages and, for example, benefits new Year 7

Regular Learning Review and Subject Teacher

A regular programme of extra learning

evenings give opportunities for face to face

The innovative Show My Homework platform

opportunities such as Maths Challenges and

conversations. Heads of House, Tutors and

gives parents and students on-line access to

external visits is designed to help these pupils

Teachers meet much more regularly with

all of their homework assignments.

aim for the top. Teachers regularly organise

parents when there are concerns about

activities in lessons which take learning to

progress on either side. Throughout the

another level for GATE students. In Year 11

school, Careers education and work related

our PORTAL programme has a strong track

learning have a high profile.

of around 125 students led by an

experienced Head of House.

pupils by giving them support from older mentor prefects in their own group.
They are designed to ensure that
The Tutor groups meet for twenty minutes

During this time the House Council will also

at the end of each day to review learning

meet and other House business such as the

and focus on our SEAL curriculum (Social

organisation of sports teams takes place.

and Emotional Aspects of Learning).

Formal House assemblies take place once

per week and range from House
celebration events to talks from senior staff

local and national employers.

one subject or across the curriculum.

record in helping more able students hit the

The Heads of House are supported by a strong team of specialist non-teaching staff

five pupils from each year in the school. This arrangement helps to build cohesive

The school provides strong support for

engages students who show high ability in

House
System

every student can access;

Skilled pastoral care
Academic challenge and
mentoring

and presentations from external speakers.

Whole year group assemblies take place
periodically to focus on specific topics such

A positive atmosphere
permeates the school

charity fundraising

as Option choices and Year 7 Camp.

Students who benefit from an especially
nurturing environment also receive
excellent support and care in our

- Ofsted Report

Community activities such as

Opportunities to compete for the

House in Sports and other
competitions

Curriculum Support Department where the

school Power Group is based.

Student leadership roles

Outside the
classroom
Sport

Performing Arts

For many students, the most memorable and formative events in

Drama, Music and Dance play a pivotal role in life at Chiltern Edge.

school take place outside the classroom. At Chiltern Edge we are

Our students love to rehearse and perform. From an outstanding series

passionate about getting every student involved in the wider life of the

of autumn musical productions to the vibrant summer festival

school. We participate in a huge range of sports fixtures ranging from

organised by the students themselves and the regular Amnesty

Rugby and Netball to Canoeing and Triathlon In a small school like

International concert the standard and variety of talent on display

Chiltern Edge every student has the chance of being involved in a

never ceases to amaze.

team if they want to. Chiltern Edge students perform at the highest

As in sport, participation and excellence are the keynotes. All who

level. For instance, in recent years one of our girls captained the Wales

rehearse for the school production are offered a role and leads in the

U16 Football team, our Head Boy achieved a place in the Wasps Rugby

show in recent years have gone on to places in the National Youth

Academy and three students were County Champions in Athletics.

Theatre, RADA and Trinity Laban. Former pupils perform at the highest
level. Natalie Dormer lately star in Game of Thrones was Head Girl at

Former students have gone on to Olympic and National

Chiltern Edge.

representation in a range of sports including Sam Townsend, a World

Cup champion in Rowing and Fran Kirby who is part of the England

Public Speaking

Football squad. After school clubs, practices and fixtures take place on

Another distinctive strand in the life of students at Chiltern Edge is our

a regular basis. All students are actively encouraged to take part in our

long standing strength in Public Speaking. All students are taught the

Inter-House competitions including Sports Day.

principles in English lessons and many take part in the school

competition. In 2016 the top speaker in the local Youth Speaks event
was a Chiltern Edge student.

The emphasis placed on behaving well,

showing respect and being polite contributes
well to the students spiritual, moral, social and
cultural development.
- Ofsted Report

A comprehensive programme of extra-curricular visits is designed to

The Duke of Edinburgh Award programme in Year 9 brings

enrich the experiences of our pupils and to bring their learning to life.

opportunities for expeditions in the South Chilterns and in recent years

Of course, we retain the core of traditional residential opportunities

a wide range of Performing Arts visits to workshops and performances

such as the German Exchange to Hollfeld, Year 7 camp in Henley, trips

in the West End has inspired our students. Another highlight in Year 7 is

to Kilvrough Outdoors Centre, the geography field visit to Yenworthy

the day trip to Boulogne with the legendary visit to a chocolate factory!

and the Austrian Ski trip whilst many more have been added in

We aim to ensure that many trips are affordable and accessible to all

recent years.

students and we work with parents to help spread the costs when they

do arise.

Vision Statement
The community as a whole will be proud of the school and will regard it as a valued
resource. It will be the school of first choice for the majority of children in local
primaries and will be recognised as a school with high standards and high
expectations of all. All students and their parents will play an increasingly significant
role in influencing the future of Chiltern Edge School.
We will be committed to ensuring that all students make good or excellent progress
from their starting points. Students learning experiences during and beyond the
school day will challenge and excite them as they prepare for adult life in an ever
changing world. Academic success will be balanced by opportunities to shine in
sports, the Arts and community service. Decisions they make about their futures will
be well judged and will make the most of their skills and interests.
The school will continue to attract high quality staff who will make the most of the
opportunities to enhance their skills and extend themselves professionally. They will
enjoy working at the school and will continue to explore best practice and improve
on previous best. Through their efforts the school will continue to develop as a
vibrant learning community.

Chiltern Edge School

Foundation School serving South Oxfordshire and the North of Reading

Chiltern Edge School

Reades Lane
Sonning Common
Reading
Berkshire
RG4 9LN
Tel: 0118 972 1500
Fax: 0118 972 1501
Email: office@chilternedge.oxon.sch.uk