< Previous Parent Area Next > Learning Resources Centre Open 8.00 am - 4.00 pm, Monday to Friday ​ At the heart of the school, our Learning Resources Centre (LRC) provides a vital research facility, quiet study and reading area for our pupils. Our computer suite and well-stocked library of over 9,000 fiction and non fiction books is an important teaching and learning resource. The LRC is also open during break and lunchtimes to welcome pupils seeking a quiet haven for reading, research or doing home learning. The LRC is also home to our careers services and Home Learning Club.

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< Previous Parent Area Next > Travel Information ​Your child may qualify for free transport if we are your catchment school and the distance (measured by the nearest available walking route) is: Year R to 3: more than two miles Year 4 to 11: more than three miles (this is reduced to more than two miles if your child meets low income criteria). ​​ This is not an automatic process when your child starts primary school or transfers from primary to secondary school. You will need to contact School Transport to apply for a place. Check eligibility or to apply ​ ​ Time tables and live travel updates​ ​ The Westgate's School travel plan. ​​​ ​Travel FAQ

Prom Committee leader and PSA link < Previous Pupil Leadership Next > As the senior council representative for Prom Committee, I make sure that the year 11 prom is fun and accessible for everyone. This includes being very organised in orchestrating fundraising events for the prom and being involved in all the other aspects such as the yearbook. Then, communicating this to the other senior council members and teachers. We also support the PSA (Parent and Staff Association). We ensure that the school and parents work together in order to raise money for school projects. We suggest projects through speaking with other groups and organise pupil involvement.

Squash Club (Yr 3-6) Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 3.30-4.15 pm < Previous Enriching the Curriculum Primary Clubs Next > SQUASH CLUB - At the Winchester Racquets and Fitness Club Organiser - Alex Philips We have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to have a Westgate school only squash club provided to us from The Winchester Racquets and Fitness Club. It will be led by Gary Hinton, an experienced fully qualified England Squash coach. There is a cost of £35 per month for this club. How to sign up for an existing member: Go to www.wrfclub.com Sign-in Click on the ‘Westgate Afterschool’ tile. Select ‘Squash’ Select the correct year group and term start date. Select who will be participating. Follow through to make payment. How to sign up for a non-member: Go to www.wrfclub.com Register for the portal. Sign-in Click on the ‘Westgate Afterschool’ tile. Select ‘Squash’ Select the correct year group and term start date. Select who will be participating. Follow through to make payment.

Relax Kids - mindfulness classes (Yr 1-4) Tuesdays after school, 3.20-4.20 pm < Previous Enriching the Curriculum Primary Clubs Next > Relax Kids Oraniser - Jules Ryan The classes will include: music and movement, fun mindfulness games, basic stretches, self massage, belly breathing techniques, positive self talk and relaxing story visualizations. Children will learn to recognise their emotions and learn fun techniques to help themselves to calm down (self regulate). There is a cost for this club of £6.50 a session If interested please email your interest to Jules : relaxwithjules@yahoo.com For more information visit Jules website www.relaxkids.com

< Previous Curriculum in-depth Next > Media Studies ”Casting a critical eye over the ever-changing influence of modern media” Our Media curriculum intends to: Enable pupils to become critical and analytical readers of media texts. Enable pupils all-through to question the way the media represents individuals and groups, and its power to manipulate audiences. Enable pupils to create purposeful, effective media products. Secondary Choices Process Learn More Why learn Media? Media plays a key role in modern society: each time we watch television, read a newspaper or access the internet, we are exposed to the power of the Media. We are also affected by Media that we do not necessarily choose to use. This is why this dynamic and exciting subject provides pupils with an excellent tool to navigate and analyse the world we live in. In addition to this, the core skills of analysis work to build on and support the work pupils undertake in English. EYFS | KS1 Content KS2 Content Year 7 & 8 Content Year 9 Content Year 10 & 11 Content Course Content in Years 7 and 8 In Year 7 we look at various public figures considering how they are represented in the press and how they have become heroes of our time. We also link this with some image decoding and inference skills which start to build a bank of media terminology. In Year 8 we study advertising building on our prior knowledge of media terminology and looking at how the adverts persuade the audience to purchase products. Course Content in Year 9 Pupils learn about the theoretical frameworks (Media language, representation, Media industries and audiences) and discover how to apply them to Media texts. In addition, they learn practical skills such as how to use Photoshop and how to produce a Media product for a set brief. Course Content in Year 10-11 Pupils are required to explore Media language, representation, Media industries and audiences. They apply these theoretical frameworks to set texts from the exam board as well as unseen Media products. In addition, pupils develop practical skills and produce a practical production using editing software and original images. Assessment: The Media GCSE consists of two exams collectively worth 70% and a Practical Production, completed within school, worth 30%. Home Learning: Pupils are expected to complete Home Learning every week. Usually, this will take one hour. Home Learning will be set as a variety of tasks including finding and analysing examples of Media texts, researching texts, contexts and/or theories and preparing for practical work. Exam Board: Eduqas C680QS Media is taught within the English syllabus in the Primary phase. It is taught from KS3 onwards as a discrete lesson objective then as an individual subject. Media is taught within the English syllabus in the Primary phase. It is taught from KS3 onwards as a discrete lesson objective then as an individual subject.

Westgate Professional Development - Outreach Opportunities Our school is able to provide a range of support for colleagues within the education community. Please let us know if there are any bespoke opportunities you would like to consider by contacting us on.... Courses and support opportunities Emergency Paediatric First Aid training courses Learn More

< Previous Curriculum in-depth Next > English "Read like a writer; write like a reader; question like a critic; think like an individual" Our English Curriculum intends to: Instil in pupils a passion for literature and a life-long love of reading. Teach readers to becoming critical, analytical and evaluative readers of fiction and non-fiction. Enable pupils to craft language so that they become convincing writers, able to communicate in their writing for different audiences and purposes. Ensure that pupils are effective communicators in spoken English. Secondary Choices Process Learn More Why learn English? English has a pre-eminent place in education and in society. Our English course will teach pupils to speak and write fluently so they can communicate their ideas and emotions to others, and through their listening and reading others can communicate with them. With reading in particular, pupils have a chance to develop culturally, intellectually, emotionally, socially and spiritually. Literature play a key role in such development. Reading also enables pupils both to acquire knowledge and to build on what they already know. All the skills of language are essential to participating fully as a member of society: pupils who do not learn to speak, read and write fluently and confidently are effectively disenfranchised. The curriculum is taught as an integrated course combining the study of language and literature, which continues in Years 9 -11. Our vision is that from Reception Year onwards, all pupils develop passion and enthusiasm for English through exploring and appreciating a range of texts both literary and non-fiction and learn how to craft language to suit a range of audiences and purposes. The English curriculum is taught as an integrated course. However, pupils will be entered for GCSE English Language and Literature as two discrete qualifications. EYFS | KS1 Content KS2 Content Year 7 & 8 Content Year 9 Content Year 10 & 11 Content Overview of the Course: From the start of Year 7, all pupils are introduced to our core skills – the golden threads - so they are fully embedded by the time the pupils reach KS4. These key skills are taught through a study of novels, plays, poetry and non-fiction or media-based texts. Course Content: Year 7 Year 7 pupils begin the year with the ‘Heroes’ unit which is designed to develop a range of pupils’ inference as well as introduced the skills of analysis and comparison. Writing will involve crafting a persuasive speech to be delivered to the class. Subsequent units include the study of a modern novel; poetry of peace and protest; a creative travel writing unit; a Media Unit on representation and stereotypes and a Shakespeare play. Year 8 Year 8 has been designed to build on the skills that have been introduced in Year 7. The year begins with a unit on Gothic Literature where pupils analyse 19th century fiction and write an opening to their own Gothic novel. By the end of the year, all pupils will have also studied a dystopian novel to develop creative writing skills; a media-based unit on advertising; a Shakespeare play; poems from other cultures and developed reading skills to explore what life was like in the nineteenth century. The course is planned to provide a range of cultural experiences to widen pupils’ horizons and develop a passion for reading and the study of literature which we hope will stay with them throughout their life. Pupils are encouraged to transfer the reading and writing skills to other curriculum areas and these links are often made explicit in lessons. Course Skills: Reading: skimming, scanning and decoding skills, comprehension and inference, analysis of language and the structure of a text and evaluation skills are introduced and consolidated over the two years. Writing: both creative and analytical writing skills are taught together with a focus on structure of the text, use language devices, improving vocabulary and technical accuracy. Spoken language skills are practised through speeches and drama-based activities and debating and other structured talk. Assessment: Pupils will be assessed in every unit and each assessment will focus on a different skill for either reading or writing. All pupils will be fully prepared for the assessments and will practise the skills needed during lessons. The assessments will focus on key skills to provide a strong foundation for all pupils in improving their literacy, analysis or communication skills. To support your child’s learning in English and Media Studies clips will be shown from films such as: 'War Horse' and 'Romeo and Juliet' (Year 7); 'Macbeth' (Year 9); These clips and/or films will be shown in lessons according to our curriculum plans. In alignment with British Board of Film Classification regulations, pupils may be shown clips from films that are slightly above their chronological age (e.g., a film classified as a 12 for pupils in Year 7) where a teacher deems it appropriate for educational reasons. In doing so, adults will ensure that it is appropriate for the learning task and for the children in the class and if there are any scenes that could be upsetting, will advise pupils in advance. If you have any concerns and would like to discuss this in more detail, please do contact Mrs. Griffiths, Faculty Leader for English and MFL, as soon as possible such that we can adjust our plans, and we will be happy to work in partnership with you English Language and Literature in Year 9 An Overview of the Course in Year 9 Pupils will develop their skills as critical readers of fiction and non-fiction texts and also become writers, adept at crafting language to suit a range of audiences and purposes. They will also become confident speakers able to express their opinion on a range of challenging ideas. Course Content: English language skills are taught in an integrated way, complementing and supporting the English Literature course. Pupils will read a choice of modern fiction, a Shakespeare text, poetry, a range of non-fiction texts including speeches, adverts and autobiographical journals. More confident learners will study Latin as part of their English Curriculum. The addition of Latin provides further enrichment and enhances learners’ understanding of language development, with a view to taking the language onto GCSE if they choose to. Other curriculum opportunities such as participating in a Shakespeare workshop, viewing a production or analysing speeches by famous historical figures and politicians broadens pupils’ cultural experiences further. Course Skills: Reading skills of inference, analysis and evaluation. Writing to persuade and argue and develop a distinctive voice. Writing creative texts including stories and descriptions. Spoken language presentation skills. English Language GCSE and English Literature GCSE The English curriculum is taught as an integrated course. However, pupils will be entered for GCSE English Language and Literature as two discrete qualifications and pupils must study in order to achieve. English Language GCSE: Pupils follow the AQA course for GCSE English Language. Pupils will build on the skills of reading and writing they have been developing throughout their time at The Westgate, but now it will be much more tailored to the demand of the exam. Pupils will continue to develop as critical readers with a focus on the skills of inference, analysis and evaluation and comparison. They will read a range of fiction and non-fiction texts, both contemporary and from the nineteenth century Assessment: The English Language GCSE is assessed through two linear exams, both worth 50% of the course: Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing. Paper 2 Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives. Pupils are given practice GCSE assessments at the end of each unit. English Literature GCSE Pupils follow the AQA course for GCSE English Literature. They will read a nineteenth century novel, either: ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ by Robert L Stevenson, ‘A Christmas Carol’, by Charles Dickens or ‘Frankenstein’, by Mary Shelley. They will also study a modern text: either ‘Lord of the Flies’ or ‘An Inspector Calls’ and a range of pre and post 1914 poetry on the theme of Power and Conflict, and ‘Macbeth’ Please note: texts are subject to change according to exam board review. Assessment: The English Literature GCSE is assessed through two linear exams: ‘Shakespeare and the Nineteenth Century text’ worth 40%. ‘Poetry and Modern Texts’ worth 60% of the course. Pupils are given practice GCSE assessments at the end of each unit Home Learning: Pupils are expected to complete Home Learning every week. Usually this should take one hour. Home Learning will be set as a variety of tasks including using the on-line resource Doddle, reading tasks in preparation for the lesson, language analysis, and the completion of written tasks. Exam Board: AQA – 8700 Phonics and Reading Schemes For Key Stage 1 At The Westgate School, we believe that a strong foundation in the Early Years Foundation Stage includes an early mastery of the basic skills in Year R, enabling all pupils to successfully access the wider curriculum as they progress through the primary years and beyond. Years 1 and 2 and Key Stage 2, Years 3 - 6 children follow the statutory national curriculum for both phonics and reading. We use 'Bug Club' core reading programme and initial reading and writing skills are taught in Reception and Key Stage 1 classes using systematic synthetic phonics teaching, including cued articulation , providing pupils with a rigorous and thorough grounding. Handwriting skills are taught with the aim of enabling all pupils to write with a confident, joined and fluent script.​ Policies and mapping Primary Phase Reading Policy ​ Primary Phase Early Reading Policy ​ Primary Phase English Map ​ Long Term Plans Year R curriculum progress model​ Year R - Long Term Overview Year 1- Long Term Overview Year 2 - Long Term Overview Year 3 - Long Term Overview Year 4 - Long Term Overview Year 5 - Long Term Overview Year 6 - Long Term Overview ​ Phonics and Reading Schemes For Key Stage 1 At The Westgate School, we believe that a strong foundation in the Early Years Foundation Stage includes an early mastery of the basic skills in Year R, enabling all pupils to successfully access the wider curriculum as they progress through the primary years and beyond. Years 1 and 2 and Key Stage 2, Years 3 - 6 children follow the statutory national curriculum for both phonics and reading. We use 'Bug Club' core reading programme and initial reading and writing skills are taught in Reception and Key Stage 1 classes using systematic synthetic phonics teaching, including cued articulation , providing pupils with a rigorous and thorough grounding. Handwriting skills are taught with the aim of enabling all pupils to write with a confident, joined and fluent script.​ Policies and mapping Primary Phase Reading Policy ​ Primary Phase Early Reading Policy ​ Primary Phase English Map Long Term Plans Year R curriculum progress model​ Year R - Long Term Overview Year 1- Long Term Overview Year 2 - Long Term Overview Year 3 - Long Term Overview

Support Vacancies Early Years Practitioner Nursery ​ Closing date: Learn More Work with us

Primary Curriculum < Previous Curriculum - Overview In-depth Next > ​We believe every child is unique and our Early Years’ team have high expectations of what all our children can achieve. We support each individual to overcome any barriers to learning so that they can all reach their potential. ​ Through play-based, active learning in our Nursery and Reception Year we provide each child with a range of engaging opportunities to stimulate their creativity and support their development. We value the importance of the indoor and outdoor environment to develop children’s thinking, problem solving and communication skills. Our unique All-through School provides many exciting opportunities. ​Colleagues promote and encourage a Growth Mindset to allow all children to develop through effort, good teaching, learning and persistence. We are committed to giving our children the best start to their education, teaching them skills which ensure their current well-being and future success. "We are ambitious for all our children to develop a lifelong love of learning." Our curriculum is built around the EYFS Characteristics of Effective Learning:​ Playing and Exploring ​Finding out and exploring Playing with what they know Being willing to 'have a go' being engaged​ 2. Active Learning​ Being involved and concentrating Keep trying Enjoying achieving what they set out to do Being motivated​ 3. ​Creating and Thinking Critically ​Having their own ideas Making links Choosing ways to do things​​​ We integrate our School Values into our curriculum and everyday interactions. They are to be caring, be respectful and be responsible. The Early Years Foundation Stage provision Our children are nurtured within a play based curriculum which is broad, planned and balanced using indoors and outdoors spaces with both adult led and child initiated learning . The play is enjoyable, devised to promote thinking and problem solving, improve language competence and encourages the exploration and investigation of materials. In the Early Years Foundation Stage at the Westgate, we aim to develop and nurture the Characteristics of Effective Learning in all our children. These characteristics are: playing and exploring, active learning, creating and, thinking critically; together they enable children to become happy and effective learners. Our specialist Early Years Foundation Stage Leader oversees provision in both our Lower School and the Nursery ensuring continuity for all children who progress through this route as well as, from other settings. Colleagues work together to develop teaching, learning and the environment and ensure the highest quality provision and the best possible start in readiness for Year R - whether that be in our own Lower School at The Westgate, or other primary settings in the area. Primary Phase (Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2) Our Lower School curriculum is uniquely shaped by the breadth and depth of expertise available in our all-through setting and, by our vision for learning in the primary years. There are golden threads that run through the curriculum and inform Westgate’s teaching and learning. In particular, pupils are encouraged to adopt a Growth Mindset: to understand that their talents and abilities can be developed through effort, good teaching and learning, and persistence. Pupils are encouraged to have high expectations of themselves and to develop resilience in their learning. Phonics and Reading Schemes For Key Stage 1 - at The Westgate School, we believe that a strong foundation in the Early Years Foundation Stage includes an early mastery of the basic skills in Year R, enabling all pupils to successfully access the wider curriculum as they progress through the primary years and beyond. Years 1 and 2 and Key Stage 2, Years 3 - 6 children follow the statutory national curriculum for both phonics and reading. We use 'Bug Club' core reading programme and initial reading and writing skills are taught in Reception and Key Stage 1 classes using systematic synthetic phonics teaching, including cued articulation , providing pupils with a rigorous and thorough grounding. Handwriting skills are taught with the aim of enabling all pupils to write with a confident, joined and fluent script.​ Through our maths curriculum, we aim to develop pupils’ early mastery of maths skills together with a deep understanding and real enjoyment of mathematics. Pupils are provided with regular opportunities to apply their maths skills in a range of contexts. Pupils are taught using a concrete, pictorial, abstract approach in order to develop a deep understanding. Pupils are given opportunities to reason and apply their skills. Planned around half-termly topics, the curriculum provides pupils with the opportunity to learn subject-specific knowledge and understanding, explore links across subject areas and practise their writing. Each topic begins with an enrichment activity such as an educational visit or special event that captures the children’s interest and imagination and builds towards a showcase event such as an exhibition or assembly where c hildren’s learning can be shared and celebrated. Additional to topics, our curriculum includes discrete teaching in the foundation subjects, specifically Spanish, PE, Music and Computing are planned and co-taught by subject specialists from Year 3. As pupils progress through the Lower School they will receive a breadth of subject specialist teaching using specialist facilities in a range of subject areas including Science, Design and Technolog y and, Computing. Pupils' confident and assured use of new technology is developed through its application across the curriculum. Discrete skills in coding and programming are taught over the primary years which culminates in a programming project in Year 6 led by a specialist teacher of computing. The RE curriculum follows Hampshire's syllabus, ‘Living Difference’, reflecting mainly Christian traditions of Great Britain whilst taking account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in Great Britain.​ If pupils are absent, teachers ensure they catch up on learning using a pre-teaching model. This is carried out as the children come in to school in the morning. Class teachers contact home if children are absent for more than three days to organise learning at home for pupils, if appropriate. Learning Beyond the Classroom​ Home Learning Model for the Primary Phase

< Previous Curriculum in-depth Next > Photography “Art is not what you see but what you make others see” At The Westgate School our Photography curriculum intends to: Develop intuition, reasoning, imagination and dexterity into unique forms of expression and communication. Promote self-esteem, while teaching us to respect each other and show empathy for each other’s individual identities. Give space to think openly and to have confidence in our own opinions on life and the world around us. Encourage a culture of questioners rather than a culture of responder. Secondary Choices Process Learn More Course content: Photography sit within the Art Department and is a course we offer from Year 9 onwards. During the course of Year 9 pupils will explore this new subject area and build the foundation skills that are required for the GCSE course which will begin in Year 10. When going into Year 10 we do not recommend that pupils take 2 or more of the Arts as the demands on your time will be substantial. Pupils often spend many additional hours at our after school club or at home working on their Arts projects and it is hard to give enough time if you are trying to build two portfolios. Photography looks to explore: The ability to explore formal elements of visual language; line, form, colour, tone, pattern, texture, in the context of lens-based and light-based media. Investigating different ways of working as appropriate to their chosen area (s) of learning Responding to an issue, theme, concept or idea, or working to a design brief Showing in their work the use of viewpoint, composition, focus control, movement and narrative Using appropriate techniques, technologies and equipment for recording images and lighting subjects Showing an understanding of the manipulation and production qualities of still and moving images Knowledge and Understanding: Pupils will gain knowledge and understanding of: How ideas, feelings and meanings are conveyed and interpreted in images, artefacts and products in their chosen area(s) of learning in Photography: lens-based and light-based media Historical and contemporary developments and different styles and genres in relation to Photography: lens-based and light-based media How images, artefacts and products relate to social, historical, vocational and cultural contexts A variety of approaches, methods and intentions of contemporary and historical artists, craftspeople and designers from different cultures and their contribution to continuity and change in society within their chosen area(s) of learning in Photography: lens-based and light-based media A working vocabulary and knowledge of specialist terms relevant to their chosen area(s) of learning within Photography: lens-based and light-based media. Still Life photography, (working from natural or manufactured objects). Documentary photography, photo journalism, narrative photography, reportage Photography involving a moving image, (television, film and animation). New media practice such as computer manipulated photography and photographic projections. EYFS | KS1 Content KS2 Content Year 7 & 8 Content Year 9 Content Year 10 & 11 Content Photography is not a standa alone subject at KS3 but we introduce elements of the discipline within our Arts curriculum. Course content: During the course of Year 9 pupils will develop a workig understanding of the form of photography, developing their grasp of how it has evolved over time as well as beginning to structure and edit photos to maximise their impact. We will cover aspects of: Still Life photography, (working from natural or manufactured objects). Documentary photography, photo journalism, narrative photography, reportage Fine Art photography, photographic installation Photography involving a moving image, (television, film and animation). New media practice such as computer manipulated photography and photographic projections. Photography will enable pupils to consider how ideas, feelings and meanings are conveyed and interpreted in images. Pupils will develop a knowledge and understanding of photography and cameras. Course skills: Pupils will be expected to demonstrate skills and techniques in the context of their chosen area(s) of learning within Photography: The ability to explore formal elements of visual language; line, form, colour, tone, pattern, texture, in the context of lens-based and light-based media. Investigating different ways of working as appropriate to their chosen area (s) of learning. Responding to an issue, theme, concept or idea, or working to a design brief Showing in their work the use of viewpoint, composition, focus control, depth of field, movement and narrative. Using appropriate techniques, technologies and equipment for recording images and lighting subjects within their chosen area. Showing an understanding of the developing, printing, manipulation and production qualities of still and moving images where appropriate. Understanding the value of working individually and as a member of a team within their chosen area. Knowledge and Understanding: Pupils will gain knowledge and understanding of: How ideas, feelings and meanings are conveyed and interpreted in images, artefacts and products in their chosen area(s) of learning in Photography: lens-based and light-based media. Historical and contemporary developments and different styles and genres in relation to Photography: lens-based and light-based media How images, artefacts and products relate to social, historical, vocational and cultural contexts. A variety of approaches, methods and intentions of contemporary and historical artists, craftspeople and designers from different cultures and their contribution to continuity and change in society within their chosen area(s) of learning in Photography: lens-based and light-based media. A working vocabulary and knowledge of specialist terms relevant to their chosen area(s) of learning within Photography: lens-based and light-based media. Home Learning: Pupils will be set 1 hour of Home Learning per week. Exam Board: AQA - 8206