Sutton Valence School 薩頓瓦朗斯中學 ,薩頓瓦朗斯學校 -英中教育 Anglo-Chinese

薩頓瓦朗斯中學

Sutton Valence School

Sutton Valence School 薩頓瓦朗斯中學 ,薩頓瓦朗斯學校Sutton Valence, Maidstone, Kent ME17 3HL
Tel: 01622 845200 Fax: 01622 845301
Website:
• CO-ED, 11–18, Day & Boarding (full, weekly & flexi)
• Pupils 471, Upper sixth 63
• Termly fees £3230–£4220 (Day), £5080–£6680 (Boarding)
• HMC, SHA, BSA
• Enquiries/application to the Admissions Secretary

What it’s like
Founded in 1576 as a boys’ school, it has been co-educational since 1983. The school occupies about 100 acres on the slopes of a high ridge overlooking the Weald and above a beautiful and safe village. There is excellent accommodation, delightful gardens and extensive playing fields; a new sports hall has recently opened. Modern teaching facilities are first-rate. The separate junior school is on a 20-acre site in the neighbouring village of Chart Sutton. The school has a reputation for close pastoral care and produces good academic standards and examination results. Pupils from a broad academic range aim high and achieve well. Flourishing music and art departments; strong in drama. An impressive range of games and sports in which high standards are achieved (30 plus representatives at county, regional and national level). A very large number of clubs and societies provides for most conceivable needs. There is a strong commitment to local community schemes.

School profile

Scholarships, bursaries & extras Scholarships, value up to 50% fees: academic, sport, music, art, drama, design technology, all-rounder. Some bursaries according to need. Parents expected to buy textbooks; £300 maximum extras, plus music lessons.

Parents 30% in the professions. 45+% in industry or commerce. 70+% live within 30 miles; 12% live overseas.

Head & staff
Headmaster: Joe Davies, appointed 2001. Educated at Cambridge University (history). Previously Deputy Head at St John’s Leatherhead and Housemaster at Tonbridge. Also a rugby blue and played for the London Welsh RUFC.
Teaching staff: 50 full time, 5 part time. Annual turnover 5–8%. Average age 38.

Exam results
GCSE: On average, 80 pupils in fifth: 87% gaining least grade C in 8+ subjects. Average GCSE score 60 (57 over 5 years).
A-levels: 51 in upper sixth. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 297.

University & college entrance 90% of 2003 sixth-form leavers went on to a degree course. 30% took courses in science (including medical science) and engineering, 5% in accountancy, finance and maths, 30% in economics, business studies and IT, 6% in the arts, 15% in law, English and languages and 15% in vocational subjects. Others typically go on to employment or other higher education courses.

Curriculum GCSE, AS and
A-levels: 20 GCSE subjects, 22 AS/A-level subjects.
Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; in addition, A-level general studies and key skills. 32% take science A-levels; 38% arts/humanities; 30% both.
Vocational: Work experience available – one week for all sixth formers.
Special provision: Specialist support for mild dyslexics; ESL classes for non-English speakers.
Languages: French, Spanish offered to GCSE, AS and A-level. Regular exchanges. Music and art tours (France, Benelux countries, Italy and Eastern Europe). Some European pupils in sixth form.
ICT: Taught as a discrete subject in all years and across the curriculum (eg DTP in humanities, databases in history). All pupils take at least GCSE short course in IT. 120 computers for pupil use, all networked and with e-mail and internet access.

The arts
Music: 45% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 11 musical groups including 3 choirs, orchestra, concert orchestra, string and wind ensembles, jazz band, big band, guitar ensemble. GCSE, AS and A-level offered.
Drama & dance: GCSE, AS and A-level drama offered. LAMDA exams may be taken. Drama workshop and stage make-up for junior years. Dance offered as an extra-curricular activity.
Art & design: On average, 30 take GCSE, 12 AS/A-level. Design, sculpture, photography (including digital photography), painting, printing, mixed media also offered.

Sport & activities
Sport: Choice from rugby, cricket, hockey, netball, swimming, tennis, athletics, cross-country, rounders, badminton, squash, racquetball, basketball, shooting, golf, judo, fencing. County, regional and national representatives in rugby, hockey, cross country, tennis, cricket.
Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. CCF optional for 3 years at age 13+, community service optional at 15+. Up to 30 clubs, eg shooting, art, model-making, chess, photography, typing, fencing, gymnastics.

School life
Uniform: School uniform worn; special sixth-form uniform.
Houses & prefects: Competitive houses for sport. Prefects, head of school appointed by the Headmaster and head of sixth form.
Religion: Chapel twice weekly and services on Holy Days.
Social: Debates, dances, business conferences, choral activities with local schools. Organised exchanges to Europe. Day pupils allowed to bring own car to school. Meals self-service. School shop. No tobacco or private alcohol allowed.

Discipline Pupils failing to produce homework once would expect to do extra work in lunchtime detention; repeated failure to produce work in fifth and sixth forms punished by Headmaster’s detention (7–9pm Saturday). The school is committed to a strict policy in respect of smoking and drugs: those using drugs on the premises should expect expulsion.

Boarding 60+% have own study bedroom, 40% in dormitories of up to 3. Single-sex houses of approx 50. Resident qualified nurse. Central dining room. Flexible boarding, including weekly and day boarding, options are available. Visits to the local town allowed, at housemaster’s discretion.

Alumni association is run by Mr C R G, Shaw, c/o the school.

Former pupils Sir Charles Groves; Compton Rennie; Sir Rustam Feroze; Peter Fairley; Terence Cuneo; Mark Benson; Ben Brown; Sydney Wooderson; Robert Fisk; Robert Ferley (England cricket).