Aberdare Community School

Message from the headteacher

Neges o’r Pennaeth

On behalf of the governing body, teachers and staff at Ysgol Gymunedol Aberdâr Community School it is our pleasure to extend a warm welcome to you all. This prospectus will tell you a great deal about our school; how it is organised, what we offer and what we expect from our learners. We hope that you find the information useful and helpful. We are a caring school, which expects high standards of work, behaviour, attendance and good manners. Our main focus is to ensure that all learners achieve their full potential under the guidance and care of staff.

It is with great pleasure that on behalf of the governing body, staff and pupils at Ysgol Gymunedol Aberdâr Community School, we welcome you to our school prospectus.

We are incredibly proud of our school and the community that it serves. Ysgol Gymunedol Aberdâr Community School is a vibrant, engaging, inclusive and highly aspirational learning community with a dedicated team of staff who work tirelessly to provide the best possible learning opportunities and experiences for all of our pupils across the school in order that they are able to reach their full potential.

As a school we strive for excellence in all aspects of our work and set high expectations and standards for all members of our community. We strongly believe that in order to achieve our best we all have to be working at our best at all times. It is for this reason we expect all of our pupils to have the highest possible standards of attendance, attitudes to learning and quality of work.

This prospectus will tell you a great deal about our school; how it is organised, what we offer and what we expect from our learners. It contains key information about the curriculum that your child will be following, the outstanding facilities and resources we have on offer and the wide range of extra curricula activities that your child can participate in. It is our strong belief that learning outside of the classroom is an integral part of your child’s development and as such you will find that we offer a wide range of diverse extra curricula activities that enrich our pupil's experiences and contribute to their learning process.

We fundamentally believe that Ysgol Gymunedol Aberdâr Community School can only achieve its ambition of excellence across all aspects of its work through effective partnership with all stakeholders. Parents and carers have a significant role to play in the success of our school and we encourage parents to play an active role in the learning experience of their children. This embraces support for the school rules, high expectations of work, attendance and the willingness to monitor progress and achievement.

Despite being a large school, we pride ourselves on the care, support and guidance we provide to each and every pupil across the school. Every pupil is seen as an individual and we respect and value these characteristics to encourage tolerance and understanding of each other. Our pastoral team are a significant strength of the school and provides a comprehensive wellbeing support package to address the needs of all learners.

We use a wide range of social media platforms to share the daily experiences and achievements of our pupils including our school website, Facebook and X. If you have any further questions or if you would like to arrange a visit, then please feel free to contact the school via reception.

It is a privilege to be the Headteacher of Ysgol Gymunedol Aberdâr Community School and lead the whole school community ensuring that we are providing an outstanding education for your child. By working together in partnership, we will support each and every one of our pupils in striving for excellence in all aspects of their school life, instilling the confidence and self believe that they can and will achieve their full potential during their time with us.

Mr R B Owen - headteacher

Vision and Core Values - Aims and Objectives

School Aims

Aberdare Community School aims to be an outstanding school where young people enjoy learning, achieve highly and enter into the adult world with confidence.

We aim to produce an environment that encourages each pupil to develop qualities of self-discipline, organisation, motivation and the enjoyment of working hard that makes them confident and competent members of society.

We aim to develop the positive ethos and learning culture throughout the school community with a commitment to continual improvement and meeting the very highest expectations.

We aim to encourage a strong and effective partnership with parents and the local community.

We will continue to develop the literacy, numeracy, digital literacy, and creativity and communication skills so necessary for pupils to access the curriculum and take a full part in society as ambitious, capable learners.

We will take every opportunity to reward pupils and enhance their self-esteem whilst supporting one another in demanding the highest academic and social standards.

We will offer a broad and balanced curriculum which evolves to reflect the needs of pupils and the demands of modern society.

Please visit our website, our Facebook page, Twitter feed and other social media platforms.

Admissions

Application forms are distributed by the local authority to all year 6 students as part of the Admissions Policy. Students within the catchment areas will be offered a place, subject to the admission number not being exceeded. In such instances, places will be allocated in accordance with the Authority’s over subscription criteria. For further information, please contact the Local Authority.

Transition

Transition is an on-going process and our senior team work closely with our partner primary schools. Every year all learners in years 5 and 6 take part in a programme put on by our school that focuses on one of the following: health and well-being, sustainability and global citizenship or on science and technology-based study.

Our assistant headteacher inclusion also visits all partner primary schools with the progress leader for year 7. The visits are intended to ensure that vital information about your child is shared prior to entry.

As parents you will also have ample opportunities to visit the school and meet with the staff. Before your child even gets here, we have gathered a lot of information about them and we use this to ensure that they are challenged on entry and do not repeat work unnecessarily. In June, prior to entry an induction event is organised allowing children to meet their form tutors and gain confidence in their new school. Though most learners transfer easily there are some who may find it more difficult.

Aberdare Community School has an excellent support system for vulnerable learners. As well as the staff mentioned above, our year 7 assistant progress leader and the pastoral support assistant for year 7 are all on hand to support your child.

About our School

Key stage 3

All learners between the ages of 11 and 13 (years 7 to 8) follow a broad range of subjects determined by the requirements of the Curriculum for Wales. There will be a number of extra-curricular opportunities for your child. We offer the chance to learn a range of musical instruments including guitar and drums and we also seek to encourage those with a good voice to develop it by employing a voice coach.

These opportunities are free to all learners. There are regular sporting fixtures and the school offers a huge range of sporting opportunities outside of the normal rugby, hockey, football, netball, basketball, and cricket.

In year 7, learners are grouped into 2 bands omega and gamma and within these learners are streamed to aid their learning. The school holds an open evening for prospective parents of learners in year 5 and 6 early in the autumn term.

Key stage 4

The school operates a 3 year key stage 4 curriculum and during year 8 learners will be able make choices about which subjects they would like to study in key stage 4. Subjects that are suited to their likely career interests as well as their ability.

At this point children are able to make decisions about their learning pathways and we want this to be a real discussion between parents/carers, the child and the school.

An options evening is held in the spring term and parents are also able to read through an options booklet that outlines the subjects available and how they are examined.

We encourage parents to come to the school to learn more about the subjects that are on offer. Considerable help and guidance is given to our learners when they are making these choices and each child has access to an individual interview with a careers’ advisor as well guidance from their progress leader. Every effort is made to ensure that learners get their subject choices but clearly when choices are involved this may not always be possible. During year 10 learners have the chance to go out on work experience and all learners in years 9-13 will study for the Welsh Baccalaureate this is an excellent qualification allowing learners to further develop a range of skills that employers wish learners to have.

Every effort is made to ensure that learners get their subject choices but clearly when choices are involved this may not always be possible.

During year 10 learners have the chance to go out on work experience and all learners in years 9-13 will study for the Welsh Baccalaureate. This is an excellent qualification allowing learners to further develop a range of skills that employers wish learners to have.

Welcome to our Sixth Form

Learners who wish to study in our sixth form traditionally need to gain at least 5 good GCSEs including english language and mathematics. However, for certain subjects including the separate sciences, we insist that learners have at least a B grade to start the relevant advanced level course.

Sixth formers have a separate internet coffee shop shared with the staff which is open throughout the day. The sixth form courses are run in partnership with our other partner secondary schools in the Cynon Valley and learners are able to choose courses in these schools should they wish. However, as a school we offer a wide range of sixth form courses that cover sciences, humanities, languages, sport, music and drama.

Sixth formers also have access to designated IT facilities and their own printer for school use only. The school recording studio, Apple Mac suites and other state of the art facilities mean that many of our children opt to undertake subjects in their home school.

Please note that admission to the sixth form is via the headteacher and the senior team. Our provision is non statutory. Therefore, we reserve the right to deny access to our sixth form if there have been attendance or attitudinal issues during key stage 4 - for example, if we feel that we cannot provide a full timetable appropriate to a child’s needs. Interest in our sixth form from outside our catchment is increasing due to the quality of the provision.

Sixth form courses and option choices are wide and varied and for up-to-date information we advise you to come to our open evening held whilst children are in year 11, or to look at our website. We do provide English Language and Mathematics resit classes for those who narrowly miss a C grade but the time allocation for these is much less than that offered in year 11. It is also important to note that many university places are offered now to students who have at least a B grade in English and Mathematics.

The School Day

8.45-9.00am	Registration/Assembly - Cofrestru/Gwasaneth
9.00-10.00am	Lesson 1 - Gwers 1
10.00-11.00am	Lesson 2 - Gwers 2
11.00-11.20am	Break - Egwyl
11.20-12.20pm	Lesson 3 - Gwers 3
12.20-1.20pm	Lesson 4 - Gwers 4
1.20-2.00pm	Lunch - Cinio
2.00-3.00pm	Lesson 5 - Gwers 5
3.00pm	End of Day - Diwedd Dydd

School Uniform for year 7 & 8

School Blazer	Black blazer with school badge, only available from school.
Shirt	White formal shirt - short or long sleeve.
Tie (Only available from school).	Black and yellow. All learners should wear their ties with a small know tied at the neck.
Jumper	Black V-neck with school badge, only available in school (Optional).
Skirt	Straight, black, knee length skirt or school pleated knee length skirt with school badge (Only available from school).
Trousers	Formal, smart black trousers. The bottom of the trousers should sit on the shoe and not cling to the leg. Denim, lycra, skinny type trousers or leggings are not acceptable.
Socks	Black socks to be worn with trousers (Trainer socks are not acceptable).
Tights	Black tights at least 40 denier to be worn with skirts.
Shoes	Plain black footwear with no logos, markings or embellishments (no boots or high heels).
Outer coat	No hoodies or sweatshirts or cardigans allowed. Coats are not to be worn inside the school building.
Shorts	Tailored school shorts with school badge – optional summer term only (Only available from school).

School Uniform for years 9 - 13

School Blazer	Black blazer with school badge, only available from school.
Shirt	White formal shirt - short or long sleeve.
Tie (Only available from school).	Black and yellow – year 9. Black, yellow and burgundy – years 10 and 11. Burgundy, yellow and grey – sixth form. All learners should wear their ties with a small know tied at the neck.
Jumper	Black V-neck with school badge, only available in school (Optional).
Skirt	Straight, black, knee length skirt or school pleated knee length skirt with school badge (Only available from school).
Trousers	Formal, smart black trousers. The bottom of the trousers should sit on the shoe and not cling to the leg. Denim, lycra, skinny type trousers or leggings are not acceptable.
Socks	Black socks to be worn with trousers (Trainer socks are not acceptable).
Tights	Black tights at least 40 denier to be worn with skirts.
Shoes	Plain black footwear with no logos, markings or embellishments (no boots or high heels).
Outer coat	No hoodies or sweatshirts or cardigans allowed. Coats are not to be worn inside the school building.
Shorts	Tailored school shorts with school badge – optional summer term only (Only available from school).

Physical Education Kit for all Learners

Pupils are expected to conform to the PE school uniform list below and any pupil temporarily not in full PE school uniform should bring a note of explanation from parents.

PE Kit
• Black and gold PE top with school badge. • Black ¼ zip mid layer training top with school badge. • Black school PE leggings OR Black school PE shorts with Black PE socks. • Black skort with school badge (optional). • Waterproof training top with school badge (optional). The above items are only available from the school. • Separate and appropriate footwear for each activity, e.g Trainers or non-metallic studded boots. • Plain black base layer top (optional). • Towel and black swimsuit.

PE Kit

• Black and gold PE top with school badge.
• Black ¼ zip mid layer training top with school badge.
• Black school PE leggings OR Black school PE shorts with Black PE socks.
• Black skort with school badge (optional).
• Waterproof training top with school badge (optional).

The above items are only available from the school.

• Separate and appropriate footwear for each activity, e.g Trainers or non-metallic studded boots.
• Plain black base layer top (optional).
• Towel and black swimsuit.

Pupils are permitted to wear head scarves for religious reasons only, but are not permitted to wear anything which covers their faces. To avoid any potential confrontation, the wearing of religious items should be agreed between the parent/carer and progress leader.

Policy on the Wearing of Jewellery

1. Pupils are allowed one pair of plain studs worn in the lobe of the ear. No other piercings are permitted. This includes facial piercings.
2. Pupils are not permitted to wear stretchers or ‘javelin’ style earrings.
3. Due to health and safety reasons pupils are not allowed to wear bracelets, necklaces or rings of any description (except for religious reasons).
4. Pupils are allowed to wear a wristwatch. No watches are to be worn during examinations.

Policy on the Wearing of Makeup and Hair Styles

1. Pupils are allowed to wear minimal makeup to school.
2. Pupils are not allowed to wear nail varnish or false nails to school.
3. Pupils are not allowed outlandish hairstyles or hair coloured in an unnatural colour.
4. Pupils are not allowed visible tattoos.

Additional Learning Needs

Our aim is to provide a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum for all pupils, whilst acknowledging that some children may require extra support. All pupils have access to the full range of national curriculum subjects. Some pupils requiring assistance with learning receive help from our specially trained staff or are supported in the classroom by teaching assistants, who may work one to one with pupils.

The school has a team of trained literacy specialists who provide pupils with basic skills interventions. We also support pupils with English as an additional language and pupils who speak a different first language to English are given the opportunity to take a GCSE in their home language.

The school has a number of pastoral staff trained to provide pupils with emotional support. We regularly survey our learners to assess their attitudes towards themselves and school and use this information to identify pupils who may need additional help to achieve their full potential.

We also work closely with Eye-to-Eye counselling services, enabling pupils to access confidential professional counselling within the school environment. Parents and carers are always kept informed and will be aware of any interventions their child may undertake.

The school also works with the School Educational Psychology Service as well as other agencies to provide tailored support.

Our school has two local authority learning support classes, which are called Astra and Sirius. These distinct groups specialise in provision for pupils with a diagnosis of ASD. Entry to the classes is via the local authority. Pupils in the classes play a full part in the life of the school and are on the school roll.

Student Guidance

Learners are allocated to form groups and are expected to be in school for registration at the start of the day and to attend all their lessons on time.

Lateness will not be tolerated and will be subject to appropriate sanctions. The form tutor works in the same way as those lower down the school and aims to get to know your child academically and socially. Tutors and subject teachers monitor attendance and progress.

Learners who fail to make sufficient progress will be expected to attend a meeting with the school and parents/carers will be asked to attend. Learners who then fail to meet targets for improvement may be asked to leave school.

Please do not hesitate to contact Mr C. Lovell, assistant headteacher, for further information or for a tour of the school if you are thinking of your child transferring to us post-16.

Pastoral organisation and wellbeing

Learners are placed into mixed-ability form groups at the beginning of year 7. Learners usually remain in these form groups, where possible with the same form tutor, until the end of year 11. Your child’s form tutor will play an important role as he or she progresses through the school. The form tutor is often the first person a pupil might turn to if they need help or guidance. Our form tutors regularly monitor pupil progress, attendance and behaviour and intervene when a pupil needs additional support.

Each year group has a dedicated progress leader who is responsible for the pastoral care and well-being of learners in their year group. As with our form groups, your child’s progress leader will remain the same throughout their time at the school. Our progress leaders are ably supported by assistant progress leaders and pastoral support assistants, who are non-teaching staff who are often your first point of call should you wish to discuss any concerns you may have.

Aberdare Community School is committed to ensuring that all learners are supported fully throughout their time at the school. In addition to the pastoral team, a member of the school’s senior leadership Team is attached to each year group.

Attendance

Regular attendance to school is extremely important and all learners should aim for 100% attendance over the course of the year.

Research shows that students who have a high level of attendance achieve more. All absences need to be authorised. If a pupil has more than 10 unauthorised absences, then the Local Authority may issue a ﬁne. If a pupil is absent and no explanation has been given, the school will contact parents. Medical appointments should be arranged for after school where possible.

We have a number of strategies in place to support learners’ attendance including our learning house facility that we use if a child has an injury/illness that would prevent them being able The Learning House to move around the building safely.

Within school learners are marked into each lesson electronically and in this way, we assure ourselves to the best of our ability that learners are present in all lessons.

We also have a range of rewards in school to encourage good attendance. The school is supported by the Educational Welfare Officer who also supports us in ensuring that learners attend regularly and who works closely with parents and carers.

Learners whose attendance falls below Welsh Government guidelines or who are constantly late may face penalty notices and fines.

School Meals

The school does not allow learners in years 7-11 off site during the day and the school provides excellent food from early in the morning. Learners can choose from a range of good quality and well-priced meals. Meals are served in the Atriums for years 7-8 and the main restaurant, Caffi Caradog for those in years 9-11. A staff and sixth form café, Caffi Llyfrau, is to be found on the first floor. The school is committed to providing learners with good quality, healthy options.

The Learning House

This is an area within the school which is managed by the pastoral support assistants.

Learners who are having difficulties in school or need a different approach to learning might spend some of their day in this environment.

However, it is there to support learning and not replace it.

Learners who have this support will still be expected to make progress and go to time-tabled lessons for most of their school week.

Parents and carers of learners who have this support or indeed any other form of support will be notified.

Where a pupil is not engaging within this environment then the provision will be withdrawn and the resources re-directed.

Assessment, reporting and recording

We believe in working with parents and carers to support your child’s learning throughout their time at Aberdare Community School. Regular and rigorous assessments ensure that we track progress, celebrating successes and identifying where additional support may be required every term.

All learners are given aspirational minimum target grades, based upon their previous achievements and their potential. We use national curriculum levels in years 7 and 8, GCSE grades with years 9 to 11 and GCE A level grades with years 12 and 13. Our teachers identify core tasks for each year group, which are used to assess progress. Detailed feedback is given for these assessed pieces of work, so that learners are aware of what they did well and of what they need to do to improve. Our learners are encouraged to reflect on the feedback they have been given to ensure that they understand fully how to improve their performance. At the start of year 7 (or upon entry is a learner joins the school at any other stage in their education) all learners complete Cognitive Ability Tests (CATs). They are designed to assess a pupil’s ability in three different areas:

• Verbal Reasoning – the ability to express ideas and reason through words.
• Non-verbal reasoning – problem-solving using pictures and diagrams.
• Spatial reasoning – the capacity to think and draw conclusions in three dimensions.
• Quantitative reasoning – the ability to use numerical skills to solve problems.

We also test learners’ literacy and numeracy skills on entry, so that we can provide a tailored support package if learners need extra help in these vital skills. The results of these assessments, combined with your child’s performance data from primary school, enable us to ensure that learners are placed in the correct group.

All learners are placed in groups according to their ability. We regularly review our grouping arrangements to ensure that learners are placed in the right class for them. Parents and carers are invited to one Parents’ Evening per year. Parents and carers receive one annual full report, and two interim reports, outlining your child’s progress across all subject areas. Our progress leaders and leaders of learning are of course available to meet with parents at any point during the year to discuss any concerns around achievement or a pupil’s attitude towards learning. Learners’ achievements are celebrated at our annual Prize Evenings and through the school’s rewards system. We are committed to recognising all kinds of achievements, including academic, sporting and cultural successes.

Discipline and Behaviour

In Aberdare Community School we place great importance on the way we behave and act as members of our community.

The school council, governors, parents and teachers have all contributed to developing a clear code of conduct and behaviour for learning policy.

Our code of conduct is clearly evident in our planners and in all classrooms and focuses on respect for others and the environment, an attitude that leads to success and good attendance.

Rewards and Sanctions

At Aberdare Community School learners are expected to:

• attend school regularly and arrive to school and lessons on time.
• show consideration, courtesy, and respect at all times to staff, their peers and visitors to school.
• show respect for their environment, keep the school.
• clean and tidy so that it can be a welcoming place of which we can be proud.
• walk about the school safely and quietly, keeping to the left.
• line up outside the classroom in an orderly fashion.
• come to every lesson equipped to work i.e. bring pen, pencil, ruler, rubber, books and planner.
• always try to understand other people’s point of view.
• be polite and helpful to others, respect each other’s rights.
• take responsibility for their own words and actions.
• always work hard to the best of their ability and role-model being a determined learner.

Learners can be rewarded by:

• Verbal praise and encouragement.
• Positive written comments in exercise book and/or planner.
• Letter or phone call home.
• Referral to leader of learning / progress leader for verbal praise.

Our reward system at Aberdare Community Sschool is called SEREN. SEREN is an acronym for Success, Excellence, Resilience, Equality and Nurture and Respect. SEREN points are awarded through a range of categories.

Learners will be awarded for:

• Excellent classwork.
• Displaying a positive attitude to learning.
• Being prepared for learning (correct equipment).
• Participating in extracurricular activities.
• Being punctual to school and lessons.
• Contributing positively to learning.
• 100% weekly attendance.
• Excellent piece of homework.
• No behaviour points.

Beyond the classroom

Supporting the Able and Talented

At Aberdare Community School learners are grouped to allow them to attain their full potential.

The school runs an enrichment programme and subject leaders work with senior staff to identify More Able and Talented Learners (MAT).

These benefit from opportunities to enrich their learning through competitions, masterclasses or through the school providing opportunities to study GCSE subjects early.

The school also supports learners to attend open days in university and takes part in a project aimed at getting learners from state schools to red brick universities such as Oxford and Cambridge.

All learners entering the school follow the SWEET BTEC Qualification in Personal Growth and Wellbeing and gain a BTEC Level 2 qualification, with a view to them gaining a GCSE by the age of 14.

We are one of the few schools in Wales to offer this opportunity.

Buddies and Anti-Bullying

Respect for each other lies at the heart of everything we do.

Aberdare Community School is a Rights Respecting School and in our assemblies and in all our dealings with learners we make it clear that we have a zero tolerance to bullying.

We also make sure that learners are aware of the dangers of online bullying and if this occurs the school will involve the police and parents to ensure this stops.

Our form tutors and progress leaders are vigilant, and we make sure that children who feel that they are being bullied know where to go to seek help.

The school will not tolerate bullying, intimidation or intolerance of any kind and learners are aware that there are clear sanctions to deal with such behaviours.

We want our learners to grow into caring and responsible citizens and therefore bullying will not be tolerated. As part of our statutory responsibility, we have an Anti-Bullying Policy which can be found on our website.

Child Protection

The school has a safeguarding policy and is fully compliant with all the statutory and local authority guidance to ensure that our children are safe in school.

Our school has a senior member of staff (assistant headteacher) who is appropriately trained and charged with the responsibility for co- ordinating child protection matters within the school, and that all staff, both teaching and non-teaching, are aware of who that person is.

The Child Protection (Safeguarding) Officer is Miss Tara Neale (assistant headteacher) and the Deputy Child Protection Officers are Mrs Michelle Pearce (deputy headteacher) and Mr Steffan Williams (director of pupil progress).

They are supported by all of our progress leaders and pastoral staff, who are fully trained, by the local authority, to ensure that all members of our school community are safe.

Homework

Homework is important for all learners in our school. It allows learners to build on the learning that is going on every day in school and helps them to develop as individual learners. All learners who come to Aberdare Community School are expected to complete homework and we hope that you will support us in this.

The nature of homework tasks may vary and can include written tasks, research, reading, aural and oral work.

We ensure that the nature of the homework recognises the age, ability and resources available to our students.

Every pupil is issued with a homework diary or planner. It is essential that all homework is recorded in learners’ planners and that parents and carers check these planners on a weekly basis to ensure that homework is completed on time.

Performance, Music and Dance

At Aberdare Community School, we offer a wide range of exciting opportunities in Drama, Dance and Music to maximise and support learners’ potential and talents. Learners are able to work creatively in our purpose built Music studios including a Recording studio and PC Suite. Our performers can truly achieve their potential in our sprung floored Dance Studio and even learn to operate lighting and sound equipment in our specialist Drama Studio.

Performance beyond the timetable includes many amazing extra-curricular opportunities throughout the year including Orchestra, Jazz Band, Junior and Senior Choir as well Dance and Drama Clubs. Learners may learn to play an instrument, individually working weekly with a peripatetic teacher. Our talented learners also have the chance to make unforgettable memories by taking part in the annual school production, performed in the professional venue of The Coliseum, Aberdare.

Passionate about performance? We offer learners theatre trips including visits to The Wales Millennium Centre and New Theatre in Cardiff, as well as working with professional performers and theatre companies in our own outstanding facilities.

Information Technology

ICT is delivered to all learners at Key Stage 3. In addition, learners have opportunities to learn about computer programming through a series of additional calendared days within the school year. We place a huge emphasis on all our learners becoming digitally competent and learners have opportunities to use IT in all their subjects. This makes the use of technology realistic and allows learners to see how IT is used in the 21st Century.

The school is fully wireless and as well as having 2 Apple suites and 14 computer suites, along with bookable laptops and iPads for use by students within subject areas.

Sixth form students have access to a study area and computer suite situated around Caffi Llyfrau, which is open every morning. Sixth form students are also able to remain after school to make use of the facilities and have their own printer access.

Learning Resource Centre

The school is a 21st Century learning establishment with access to iPads and laptops. The school library provides opportunities for pupils to access books for pleasure as well as research for information.

Y Senedd Aberdâr

Do you want to have your voice heard?

Then join Y Senedd Aberdâr! We have a range of sub committees that focus on key areas affecting your life at Aberdare Community Sschool, including LGBTQ++/ Mental Health and Wellbeing/ UNCRC/ Anti-Bullying and Eco Schools. If you want to join this fantastic organisation, you can sign up with your Form Tutor. You can also put yourself forward for Form Captain or Deputy Form Captain in your first week at Aberdare Community Sschool. We look forward to seeing you and remember: your school, your voice!

Sport

Sport plays a vital part in our school and the leader of learning for this subject is in charge of health and well-being as director of pport and health and wellbeing.

We have an Aberdare Community Sschool sports coach who works with members of the department to organise a number of events throughout the year to support the improvement of health and fitness for all learners. We also work regularly with professional sportsmen and women, as we invite them into school to share their inspirational stories with our learners. In recent years, we have been proud to welcome international footballers, rugby players and elite athletes to help raise aspiration and support our learners with advice on nutrition, training and fitness.

The school has state of the art facilities for sport as we share the facilities of the local leisure centre; additionally, we have our own multi-use games area as well as access to the new athletics stadium, 3G pitches and cricket facilities. The sports centre houses wide screens, which are used alongside iPads and tablets to enhance sports lessons and further develop pupil skills in a variety of sports including tennis, badminton, gymnastics, netball, basketball, volleyball, rounders, cricket and hockey. All learners have regular PE lessons on their timetable and we expect learners to wear our sports’ uniform.

Extra Curricular

The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, Extended Learning and Out of Hours Activities

All learners in years 9 and above are offered the chance to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme. We already have a high number of participants in the Bronze and Gold Awards. There is a rich provision of opportunities both sporting and non-sporting outside school hours with learners being offered the chance to take part in Engineering schemes, Rotary competitions, trips to art galleries, musical and theatrical events. We also host a large number of after school events for learners organised via the Youth Participation Service. Trips and excursions will operate in conjunction with school policy on this.

More Information

Disability Access

The school acts in accordance with The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 (DDA) and the Equality Act 2010, which define a disabled person as someone who has ‘a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial or long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities’. Aberdare Community School is committed to the goal of the achieving equality of opportunity for disabled persons.

As a consequence we:

Promote equality of opportunity between disabled persons and other persons.

Eliminate discrimination that is unlawful under the act.

Eliminate harassment of disabled persons that is related to their disabilities.

Promote positive attitudes towards disabled persons.

Encourage participation by disabled persons in public life and take steps to take account of disabled persons’ disabilities, even where that involves treating disabled persons more favourably than other persons.

At our school we pride ourselves on the fact that all our learners have the opportunity to develop individually and socially.

Careers Advice & Guidance

Aberdare Community School is a Gatsby School. All learners from years 7 - 13 at Aberdare Community School take part in a structured programme of Careers Education and Work- Related learning. This is intended to prepare them, as they progress through the school, for the World of Work. It also provides them with the ability to make increasingly important decisions that will influence their further education and careers options. Much of this is delivered in our focus days or in specialised events that take place throughout the school years. Learners also benefit from one-to-one interviews and mock interviews as well as listening to outside speakers. The school delivers a number of courses that prepare learners for the World of Work and many learners visit open days in Universities and Colleges of Higher Education. We also collaborate where possible with industry and business and are part of Careers Wales Business Class.

Religious Education and Collective Worship

The day begins with a year group assembly or meaningful time spent in form rooms discussing the ‘Thought for the Week’. All learners are taught Religious Education and follow the syllabus as agreed by the local authority at Key Stages 3 and GCSE Religious Studies and NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Exploring Worldviews are offered as an option in Key Stage 4. The school has no affiliation with any particular religious denomination. As a school we are committed to promoting tolerance and respect for those who have differing religious beliefs.

Medical Provision

Many teaching and non-teaching staff are first aid trained. We will contact you, as parent/carer, if we feel your child is not well enough to remain in school or requires medical attention beyond basic first aid. Your child’s attendance is very important to us and so we do ask for parents to be sensible when deciding on whether a child is too unwell to be in school. Please contact the school as early as possible if your child is too unwell for school or has an emergency medical appointment that cannot wait until after the school day so that attendance records can be accurately maintained.

Relationships and Sex Education (RSE)

We believe that the purpose of Relationships and Sex Education should be to provide knowledge about loving relationships, the nature of sexuality and the processes of human reproduction. This should enable learners to learn to view their relationships in a healthy and responsible manner. Every effort is made to ensure that the message is tailored to the age and understanding of the child and that sound moral values are a part of it. All such sessions are delivered by appropriate adults such as school nurses or the school police liaison officer. We work closely with outside agencies to deliver elements of this programme feeling that their expertise and background allows them to present this in an effective and engaging manner. Relationships and Sex Education is linked with areas of the national curriculum. Where this occurs learners will learn about this in Science at both Key Stage 3 and later.

Equality

At Aberdare Community School we want all our learners to achieve to the best of their individual ability.

Our philosophy is that everybody is given the opportunity to succeed by following a curriculum suited to their unique individual needs.

It may mean that some will have a slightly different curriculum to others, but it is child led and centred.

We believe that the school has a part to play in breaking down stereotypes related to such matters as sex, race, religion and disability.

Such matters are dealt with through the formal curriculum in lessons such as our Certificate of Personal Effectiveness, PHSE days and Religious Education, but more importantly in the way in which personal relationships are managed on a day-to-day basis.

The school is a Restorative Approaches and a Rights Respecting organisation.

We will not tolerate any form of intolerance and we make every attempt to ensure learners respect one another.

School Security and Pupil Safety

The security and safety of our learners is a priority. All visitors are required to enter the school via the Visitor Entrance which is located on the north side of the school building and report to the school reception. All visitors to the school must sign in at reception where they will be issued with a visitor’s badge. Learners enter the school via the Pupil Entrance which is to the south of the school building. Access gates to the staff car park and bus bays are secured during the day and access is controlled by staff within the school. To the south of the school building the site is enclosed by perimeter fencing. The school is joined to the Sobell Leisure Centre, but access is secured with card readers, only issued to school staff. The school has extensive CCTV coverage that operates 24 hours a day for the health and safety of our learners and staff.

Use of the Welsh Language

We are proud of our language and heritage and the commitment to the language is to be seen in many areas of the school not just in lessons.

We celebrate our nationhood in many ways including holding an annual Eisteddfod and the Welsh department organises a number of trips to Llangrannog and places of cultural interest in Wales.

Within the school you will hear Welsh spoken informally by a number of our staff and around the school there are bilingual signs.

Welsh is the first language heard when you telephone the school, and it is also evident on materials printed in the school.

Many of our staff speak Welsh and Welsh may be heard in assemblies where there is a bilingual focus. In addition, all subjects contain a focus on Curriculum Cymreig within their schemes of work.

How to make a complaint

The school is committed to dealing effectively with complaints. We aim to clarify any issues about which you are not sure. If possible, we will put right any mistakes that we have made and we will apologise.

Our definition of a complaint is “an expression of dissatisfaction in relation to the school or a member of its staff that requires a response from the school.”

We will consider your complaints in an open and fair way and will make every effort to protect confidential information. Complaints made anonymously will be recorded but investigation will be at the discretion of the school, depending on the nature of the complaint.

We believe that all complainants have a right to be heard, understood and respected and we expect the complainant to be polite and courteous. We will not tolerate aggressive, abusive or unreasonable behaviour.

In the first instance, a concern should be raised with a teacher or a member of the office staff, normally within 10 days of the incident. Most complaints are resolved in this way.

If you feel that your initial concern has not been dealt with effectively, you should put your complaint in writing to the headteacher. If your complaint is about the Headteacher, your complaint should be addressed to the chair of school governors.

It is rare for a complaint to progress any further than this, but if you feel that your complaint has not been dealt with fairly, you should write to the Chair of School Governors at the school.

A full copy of the document: Complaint Procedures at Ysgol Gymunedol Aberdar Community School is available upon request or can also be found on our school website here.

Headteacher	Mr Richard Owen
Senior deputy headteacher	Mrs Michelle Pearce
Acting deputy headteacher	Mrs Karen Leyshon
Assistant headteacher	Mr Christopher Lovell
Assistant headteacher	Miss Tara Neale
Assistant headteacher	Mrs Emma Harris
Director of pupil progress	Mr Steffan Williams

Chair of governors	Mr Mark Harding
Vice chair of governors	Mr Stuart Whippey