Profile of the school
Background
Debden Park High School is an “outstanding” school just outside London. The school was rated Outstanding by Ofsted (the Government inspectors) in September 2009. The school specialises in Performing Arts. The school is relatively small with an average roll of 764 pupils. Pupils range from 11-16 years old. The aim of Debden Park High School is to provide an excellent education in a safe, supportive learning environment where people are valued and make positive contributions to the school community and where pupils go on to become responsible, independent members of society.
Performing Arts Specialism
The school has achieved great recognition for its specialism. The school works with a number of different schools in the local area and across London as part of the Kemnal Trust. Primary schools use and enjoy the facilities and the local community are invited to high quality performances. The school was recently successful in winning a national competition which resulted in performances at the National Theatre in London. It was awarded Artsmark Gold in June 2009.
Strong Leadership
The school’s success has been attributed to the leadership team, led by an inspirational head teacher. The team have created an environment in which students enthuse about learning. As one boy told Government inspectors, ‘I can’t wait to get up in the morning so that I can come to school’. A combination of ambition, passion and expertise has enabled the school’s senior leaders to assemble and mobilise a workforce with a common purpose – that of maximising the life chances of every student in the school.
The curriculum
Lessons are supported by a creative and dynamic curriculum which focuses heavily on performing arts. Teaching is outstanding and the leadership team have been very effective in targeting their energies and resources towards improving the quality of lessons.
Carefully planned curricular opportunities allow students to increase their knowledge and understanding of a range of different cultures, and they are both curious and appreciative of the diversity that they find. The curriculum provides a stimulating and motivating framework for all of the school’s activities. Students develop an outstanding approach towards their local, national and global communities through a range of curricular activities, many of which are targeted at enhancing global understanding and cohesion. We hope the British Council Joint Curriculum Project will build on this and allow our students to become successful international citizens.
The students
Students thoroughly enjoy school, attendance rates have improved considerably in the past two years, and punctuality is very good. A striking feature of the school is the consistently high standard of behaviour. Students are cooperative and relate to one another well. Year 9 students are mentored and supported very effectively so that they can make appropriate choices for Years 10 and 11.
Prefects and peer mediators are given responsibilities which they take seriously and carry out effectively. For example, a Year 8 student told Ofsted inspectors that she had been very well looked after by older students when she first joined the school, and that this had continued in her second year.
Please click on the video below to see just some of the highlights that our performing arts specialism has allowed us to produce.
