Specialist Arts & Music in Hartlepool . The English Martyrs School

The School

The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College is an expanding 11-18 mixed voluntary aided Catholic High School which has an excellent reputation throughout the area. There are 1760 students on roll including 380 in our thriving Sixth Form. The school is oversubscribed every year. There are currently 123 full time equivalent members of the teaching staff and 67 members of the support staff. The school serves the entire Catholic community of Hartlepool and our catchment area encompasses the whole of Hartlepool LA. As a result we have a genuinely comprehensive intake which is one of the great strengths of the school.

The Catholic Ethos

The school exists to educate students in the Catholic faith in the widest sense and is committed to represent Christian family values. Its primary aim recognises that it is a faith community, believing that each individual in it is on a pilgrimage of growth. As a Christian community the school tries to embody Gospel values of love, justice, forgiveness and reconciliation. Decisions concerning the curriculum and relationships will be based on these values. The Governors will expect applicants to contribute to the development and maintenance of this ethos.

School Mission Statement

The basic aim of the school is to serve the children of the community educationally, pastorally and spiritually, and to develop in each individual student a full range of academic, sporting and cultural talents; to develop within the school a true sense of community spirit which will form a foundation for the students’ future lives in the wider community, and to do these things in a Christian environment, enriched by our Catholic tradition.

Our School

Arts College since 2000
Described as a GOOD school with many features designated as OUTSTANDING : Ofsted Report March 2009
Sixth Form College graded as OUTSTANDING in all categories Ofsted : March 2009
Received IIP for the fourth time in December 2007
International School Award 2009
RECORD results in 2009 : ‘A’ level pass-rate of 99.5% (NEW RECORD); 54% A/B grades
AS A/B rate of 40.9% (NEW RECORD)
GCSE 66.3% 5 + A* - C including English and Maths (NEW RECORD)
Is expanding and consistently over-subscribed
A £6.3 million new building project was recently completed
£23 million pound BSF building programme commencing in near future

Inspection

The school has undergone four Ofsted inspections; the first in 1996, the second, a short inspection, in 2000,the third in October 2005 and the fourth in March 2009. The school was also inspected as part of the Hartlepool Area Wide 16-19 Inspection in 2001 and had a subject inspection (Business Studies) in 2007. All six inspections were very positive. The main highlights of the 2009 inspection are enclosed.

Recent and Future Developments

There have been many additions to the building stock and facilities over the years, including a new Art Gallery and Studio, a new Science Laboratory (providing us with eleven in total) and a new 4-classroom Maths block. These were all completed in 2002.

A new 2-classroom English block and Learning Support Unit opened in September 2003.

Two exciting new developments are worthy of mention. A £400,000 floodlit all-weather pitch was opened in November 2004. A major £6.3 million whole-school re-modelling project was completed in October 2006. This involves a mix of new build and internal adaptation and comprises:

a new Sixth Form Block
a new School Library
new PE Changing Rooms
new Multi-Gym suite
new Art room and specialist Drama Studio
new Music building incorporating a large teaching room, practice rooms and a state-of-the-art recording studio
remodelled Student Support Centre
two lifts to improve access to the current building
a new playground area
redeveloped playing fields
enhanced ICT provision
improved dining provision at lunch-time
new car park

BSF

We are part of the Hartlepool Wave 5 BSF initiative. We have been allocated £23 million to rebuild/re-furbish our current accommodation. Building is scheduled to commence in 2012 and be completed by 2015.

Staff Development

The school is committed to staff development and has a structured support programme for newly qualified teachers and for all new colleagues joining the school at any level. The school also works in partnership with the Universities of Durham and Sunderland on Initial Teaching Training and is very committed to the success of this venture.

Extra-Curricular Activities

The school runs a wide range of extra-curricular activities including extra study provision, sporting activities, musical, dramatic and cultural pursuits, foreign trips and retreat experiences. This aspect of school life is very important and is very much appreciated by the students.

English Martyrs Association

There is an active parents and friends of the school association which meets on a monthly basis. This important and hardworking group provides a forum for discussion, arranges social events and is a valuable source of additional finance for school.

Pastoral Organisation

The school operates a House system with the form tutor, Heads of House and their assistants and Heads of School at the heart of this. One of the Deputy Heads has a brief for the overall pastoral welfare of all the students. All pupils from Year 7 to Year 11 wear uniform, but Post-16 students are allowed to wear clothing of their own choice, provided that it is smart and sensible. Discipline throughout the school is very good. Whilst the general atmosphere is friendly and much emphasis is placed upon courtesy and kindness, there is, nevertheless, an underlying firmness of discipline prevailing throughout the school. Relationships, therefore, between staff and the pupils are extremely good.

Management Structure

The school is run on a Senior Leadership Team basis and comprises of the Headteacher, two Deputy Heads, six Assistant Headteachers and two Assistant Hedteachers (Developmental). The full team meets at least once per week and all members share fully in consultative decision making. The Academic Board and Pastoral Board meet each half-term as do the Departments and House Teams.

	Catcote Road, Hartlepool TS25 4HA Tel: 01429 273790
	General Info General Information < Back \| Print \| Home > The School The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College is an expanding 11-18 mixed voluntary aided Catholic High School which has an excellent reputation throughout the area. There are 1760 students on roll including 380 in our thriving Sixth Form. The school is oversubscribed every year. There are currently 123 full time equivalent members of the teaching staff and 67 members of the support staff. The school serves the entire Catholic community of Hartlepool and our catchment area encompasses the whole of Hartlepool LA. As a result we have a genuinely comprehensive intake which is one of the great strengths of the school. The Catholic Ethos The school exists to educate students in the Catholic faith in the widest sense and is committed to represent Christian family values. Its primary aim recognises that it is a faith community, believing that each individual in it is on a pilgrimage of growth. As a Christian community the school tries to embody Gospel values of love, justice, forgiveness and reconciliation. Decisions concerning the curriculum and relationships will be based on these values. The Governors will expect applicants to contribute to the development and maintenance of this ethos. School Mission Statement The basic aim of the school is to serve the children of the community educationally, pastorally and spiritually, and to develop in each individual student a full range of academic, sporting and cultural talents; to develop within the school a true sense of community spirit which will form a foundation for the students’ future lives in the wider community, and to do these things in a Christian environment, enriched by our Catholic tradition. Our School Arts College since 2000 Described as a GOOD school with many features designated as OUTSTANDING : Ofsted Report March 2009 Sixth Form College graded as OUTSTANDING in all categories Ofsted : March 2009 Received IIP for the fourth time in December 2007 International School Award 2009 RECORD results in 2009 : ‘A’ level pass-rate of 99.5% (NEW RECORD); 54% A/B grades AS A/B rate of 40.9% (NEW RECORD) GCSE 66.3% 5 + A* - C including English and Maths (NEW RECORD) Is expanding and consistently over-subscribed A £6.3 million new building project was recently completed £23 million pound BSF building programme commencing in near future Inspection The school has undergone four Ofsted inspections; the first in 1996, the second, a short inspection, in 2000,the third in October 2005 and the fourth in March 2009. The school was also inspected as part of the Hartlepool Area Wide 16-19 Inspection in 2001 and had a subject inspection (Business Studies) in 2007. All six inspections were very positive. The main highlights of the 2009 inspection are enclosed. Recent and Future Developments There have been many additions to the building stock and facilities over the years, including a new Art Gallery and Studio, a new Science Laboratory (providing us with eleven in total) and a new 4-classroom Maths block. These were all completed in 2002. A new 2-classroom English block and Learning Support Unit opened in September 2003. Two exciting new developments are worthy of mention. A £400,000 floodlit all-weather pitch was opened in November 2004. A major £6.3 million whole-school re-modelling project was completed in October 2006. This involves a mix of new build and internal adaptation and comprises: a new Sixth Form Block a new School Library new PE Changing Rooms new Multi-Gym suite new Art room and specialist Drama Studio new Music building incorporating a large teaching room, practice rooms and a state-of-the-art recording studio remodelled Student Support Centre two lifts to improve access to the current building a new playground area redeveloped playing fields enhanced ICT provision improved dining provision at lunch-time new car park BSF We are part of the Hartlepool Wave 5 BSF initiative. We have been allocated £23 million to rebuild/re-furbish our current accommodation. Building is scheduled to commence in 2012 and be completed by 2015. Staff Development The school is committed to staff development and has a structured support programme for newly qualified teachers and for all new colleagues joining the school at any level. The school also works in partnership with the Universities of Durham and Sunderland on Initial Teaching Training and is very committed to the success of this venture. Extra-Curricular Activities The school runs a wide range of extra-curricular activities including extra study provision, sporting activities, musical, dramatic and cultural pursuits, foreign trips and retreat experiences. This aspect of school life is very important and is very much appreciated by the students. English Martyrs Association There is an active parents and friends of the school association which meets on a monthly basis. This important and hardworking group provides a forum for discussion, arranges social events and is a valuable source of additional finance for school. Pastoral Organisation The school operates a House system with the form tutor, Heads of House and their assistants and Heads of School at the heart of this. One of the Deputy Heads has a brief for the overall pastoral welfare of all the students. All pupils from Year 7 to Year 11 wear uniform, but Post-16 students are allowed to wear clothing of their own choice, provided that it is smart and sensible. Discipline throughout the school is very good. Whilst the general atmosphere is friendly and much emphasis is placed upon courtesy and kindness, there is, nevertheless, an underlying firmness of discipline prevailing throughout the school. Relationships, therefore, between staff and the pupils are extremely good. Management Structure The school is run on a Senior Leadership Team basis and comprises of the Headteacher, two Deputy Heads, six Assistant Headteachers and two Assistant Hedteachers (Developmental). The full team meets at least once per week and all members share fully in consultative decision making. The Academic Board and Pastoral Board meet each half-term as do the Departments and House Teams.