Ringmer Community College

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Ringmer Community College

• Vocational Specialist College Diary
• January 2006 March 2007

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CONTEXT Rural Location
December 2005 redesignated as a specialist
technology school with the rural dimension. Also
had vocational second specialism plans accepted
after having been identified as a high performing
school.
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What makes us a high performing school?

• The vast majority of students achieve above and
  beyond their predicted levels.
• Value added from attainment at key stage 2 to key
  stage 4 for the past 4 years has put us into the
  category of a high performing specialist school
• We make a difference
• Present year 11 predicted 66 A-C.

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Strong Community Links
Eco group helped church achieve Eco Award
Spring 2005 Silver
surfers
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Emphasis on student voice
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Fully comprehensive intake from a wide catchment
area
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Strong alternative provision already in
place/begun 2005

• Astronomers Group
• Duke of Edinburgh run through Youth Service
• Health and Social Care Applied GCSE links made
  with nursery on site adults with learning
  disabilities learning on site old peoples
  residential home and doctors surgery in village.
• Junior Sports Leadership Award
• ASDAN COPE/Arts Award
• Applied Business Studies GCSE

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January 2006

• Meeting with Childrens Service Authority/LSC and
  SSAT. CSA and LSC concerned about 6th form
  presumption, lack of information their end.
  Negotiations begin with all other relevant
  stakeholders.
• College SLT begins to expand initial plans and
  attend SSAT events network with other vocational
  schools gather information and research.
• Principal and Vice Principal attend Vocational
  Conference at Rotherham

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February 2006

• Governors and SLT hold consultation and focus
  group meeting with parents about vocational
  status and post-16 provision.
• Parents have presentation and then split into
  groups to air issues and discuss.
• Very positive response from parents who are very
  interested in diplomas our choice of lines of
  study and of a stage not age curriculum offer.
• Extra meeting arranged because of demand from
  parents who hear about it and cannot attend.
• Discussion and presentation about radical
  overhaul of our student support (pastoral)
  system. More personalised pathways and
  choice/every child matters and extended schooling
  means more demands on time and partnership
  working. Quality mentoring needed for all
  students. Proposal to have non-teaching house
  leaders vertical house and mentor groups mentor
  groups of 15-16 students only, involving ALL
  staff. Mixed response and work to be done.

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March 2006

• Governors training day Saturday to look at 6th
  form and 14-19 curriculum plans. Much discussion
  and risk analysis undertaken.
• CSA discussions about local 14-19 partnerships
• Principal discusses plans with local partner
  secondary 11-16 schools Sussex Downs FE College
  and Plumpton Agricultural College. Concerns aired
  competition or collaboration?
• LSC agrees curriculum plans to add to area
  provision rather than be seen as competitive.
• SLT Team attend SLICT course.
• Rural area students have to travel far more
  local provision needed. Ringmer to build on
  current strengths technology specialism arts
  mark gold rural dimension inclusion.

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April/May 2006

• Discussions and negotiations continue with local
  partner schools and FE/LSC
• Curriculum planning around current draft diploma
  lines in Engineering Health Society and
  Development and Creative and Media. Principal
  attends Skillset day on CM Diploma Line at BBC.
• Planning for 2006/07 curriculum new business
  studies option expand Asdan provision Plumpton
  tutors to work with science department on new
  land and environment course, including small
  animal care. Principal wants a farm and SLT all
  shudder at the prospect of having to muck out
  during the holidays. Some chickens prove to be a
  small compromise. Construction and Astronomy
  courses and Dance Leadership Award also to begin
  2006.
• Increased flexibility courses at colleges and
  through work placements going well. Dedicated
  member of staff to develop work placement and
  employer links place students and monitor
  quality and progress appointed.
• Meanwhile, DfES regularly ring for updates about
  the presumption issues still to be resolved
  here with CSA and LSC.

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June 2006

• 14-19 partnership boards in place. New
  coordinators to be appointed.
• Local discussions continue
• Students concerned about new mentor system, year
  10 especially upset about break up of their tutor
  groups. Much discussion with them and some
  parents/staff. We assure them we intend to
  improve quality of support and communications.
• New House Leaders appointed, all from existing
  staff who are professionals in their own field
  i.e. Connexions PA Inclusion coordinator.
• LSC in to discuss build and curriculum offer
  still much confusion about presumption. SSAT
  coordinator an essential support.
• Director of CSA meets with Governors and agrees
  to support 6th form. Capital team from CSA
  discuss build design.

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July 2007

• Re-furbishment of what used to be old rural
  science block back in the 1970s begun raise low
  roof, new windows, doors, floors, heating and
  whiteboards to be installed. Planned use for land
  and environment in 2008.
• Nursery housed in an old hut which is falling
  apart (site staff taught in it during 1960s)
  discussions with local primary and CSA about
  where to house it.
• Small garden at back of rural block cultivated by
  students and ALDD students during curriculum
  enrichment week.

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August 2006

• Good results for IF students, especially in
  engineering and rural courses.
• Refurbishment of block completed and to house art
  temporarily.
• SLT meet during holidays to complete extensive
  work on curriculum plans for 14-19 offer.

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September 2006

• New 14-19 partnership board meets with
  coordinator. Diploma offer decided upon. Gateway
  training and discussions start.
• Deputies group formed
• Rough build designs produced by architects.
• LSC to look at and get back to us.
• Authority begin to look at publishing statutory
  notice.
• DfES ring for progress check.
• New house system is proving to be a profound
  success students like attention and having
  older peer mentors. Ethos completely different
  much more of a sense of community.

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October 2006

• LSC have concerns about build more work and
  tighter deadlines. New plans with much reduced
  costs needed.
• Principal asked to present vocational and 6th
  form plans to expert panel in London reaction
  very positive Youve not only thought outside
  the box, youve exploded it.

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November/December 2006

• Extensive work on Gateway application
• More building plans and questions to answer
• Statutory notice published
• Vice Principal gives talks at SSAT conferences
  about new pastoral system feedback from student
  and staff survey is very positive. Yr 11 students
  accept it was the right thing to do.
• DfES concerned things moving slowly and have
  extensive dialogue with college - timeframe tight
  for presumption.

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January 2007

• LSC agrees capital for build in principle more
  questions to answer
• Lead member accepts change of status from 11-16
  to 11-19 college
• Gateway applications in. Joint area prospectus
  planned.
• HMI subject inspection Citizenship and Business
  says we are well-placed for vocational
  developments.
• More plans drawn up and discussed with LSC. Build
  planned for Summer 2007 Summer 2008 very
  tight timeframe and negotiations still going on.
• Governors marketing committee set up.

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February 2007

• Council putting in bid for village/community
  library and learning centre on college site.
  Nursery to be located at primary school. Swimming
  pool refurbishment complete planned extended
  facilities will enhance vocational vision.
• 4 chickens take up residence.
• New Curriculum Leader for ICT Business and
  Enterprise appointed for April.
• New links made with English and media centre at
  Sussex University.
• Collaborative work with North Camden School in
  London begins, with visit to Ringmer by leisure
  and tourism students.

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Caring/ContributingEco College Awarded
International Green Flag Status January 2007
(3rd Green Flag)
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Second Specialism Why Vocational?

• Need to personalise curriculum
• Already working in partnership with Sussex Downs
  College and Plumpton Agricultural College
• Increased flexibility courses Ringmer targets
  students carefully highest retention rate in
  county
• NEETS in area too high.
• Parental, student and community support

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6th Form Presumption

• Retention rate for Neets in area poor
• Nearest alternative vocational pathways in
  Brighton and Eastbourne
• Academic emphasis in area and at Lewes
• Record of adult education/lifelong learning
• Capacity in college
• Area does not hit traditional social deprivation
  factors etc for extra funding via EAZ/Excellence
  in Cities etc
• How to turn urban models/pathfinders into rural
  one
• Record of alternative provision good

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Our Planned 6th Form Offer 2008

• Offering new diplomas
• From KS4 -5
• 1.Creative and Media
• Includes
• Visual Arts
• Graphic/Product/Fashion Design
• Advertising/Film/TV/Radio
• Sound/Lighting/Costume Design

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Building on existing strengths and gaps in area
provision

• Priory Performing Arts Specialism
• Sussex Downs Music School
• Technology
• Arts Mark Gold twice/3rd application in

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Specialist Diplomas

• ENGINEERING
• HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
• LAND BASED AND ENVIRONMENT
• In partnership with Sussex Downs
• Chailey
• Plumpton
• Levels 1-3

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Partnerships with employers some existing
examples

• Youth Service
• Police
• Parish Council
• Freedom Leisure
• Local Churches
• Health
• Glyndebourne opera fashion
• Sandra Rhodes
• Community Orchard
• JCB
• Massey Ferguson
• Glynde Estate
• Farleys Yard

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The vision for the accommodation and teaching
methodology

• 1919 Walter Gropius Founder of the Bauhaus in
  Weimar, Germany
• A building of the future under the motto Art
  and Technology, a New Unity
• New teaching methods the academician working
  alongside the craftsman
• The school will gradually turn into a workshop