Clapton Girls' Technology College prides itself in being First for Learning. Our school community Learns Together, Works Together and Welcomes the Community. We are known for high quality, inspiring teaching resulting in exceptional achievement.

Learning Together

High achievement for all
Clapton Girls' Technology College is a vibrant centre of learning where every student is given an opportunity to achieve. Our value-added scores are always within the top 20% in the country. GCSE A*-C scores are over 50% and at Key Stage 3, we are in the top 100 most improved schools nationally. We achieve highly across the curriculum and ensure students achieve their very best and succeed. Girls are encouraged to be confident, assertive and believe in themselves. We positively promote the education of girls and are committed to celebrating diversity and actively promoting equality for all.

Curriculum Organisation and Learning
Students are taught in a variety of mixed ability, fast track and set groups. Teachers build on students' knowledge from Year 6, so that girls immediately engage in new learning. Those with special educational needs are given extra help, either in the classroom or in separate groups. We also identify, encourage and challenge students with particular aptitudes. During Years 7 to 9, students study the broad balance of subjects specified by the National Curriculum. In Years 10 and 11 girls are working towards their GCSEs and other public examinations, including vocational qualifications. A regular daily programme of homework is set for all students. Citizenship, careers, health and sex education are provided through the PSHCE (Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education) programme. Religious Education covers aspects of all major religions and emphasises respect and tolerance. As a specialist Technology College the use of technology is promoted throughout the school and supports all subject areas including the arts.

Public Examinations
The school's examination results have risen substantially in recent years and we have ambitious targets for further improvement. All students are expected to take public examinations. The choice of examination subjects is made after consultation with students and parents. Candidates usually sit GCSE examinations in Year 11, although some students are entered for some subjects earlier.

Facilities
Clapton Girls' Technology College has excellent facilities for learning including:

• An outstanding technology building containing a wide variety of modern equipment for the teaching of technology
• Six large computer suites
• A well equipped Learning Resource Centre to which all students have access
• A homework centre, with teacher supervision for after school work and research
• Excellent Sports, Music and Arts facilities.
• A permanent Prayer Room for staff and students use.

Extra Curricular activities
All students are encouraged to join in after school extracurricular activities including:

• Daily ICT breakfast club
• Daily individual study time in the Learning Resource Centre
• The daily opportunity to use the careers library and homework center
• GCSE and SATs Revision Club
• GCSE clubs in community languages
• Choir and music clubs
• A range of PE activities
• Duke of Edinburgh award scheme
• A Saturday Study Support programme runs from January to June.

Sports
We offer a vast variety of sports including basketball, football, gymnastics, netball, rounders, swimming, tennis and trampolining. Our winning football and netball teams play regularly in local leagues. External tutors deliver dance and martial arts.

Holiday Schools
Clapton Girls' Technology College organises an exciting range of provision during the Easter and Summer holidays. Holiday schools include literacy, numeracy, gifted and talented programmes, SATs booster and GCSE revision classes.

Work Experience
Students complete two weeks' work experience in Years 10 or 11 when they learn about the world of business and industry. Other opportunities include involvement in the Hackney Schools' Mentoring Programme and the City Brokerage links.

Working Together

Pastoral Care
On entry, all students are guided and supported by a permanent Head of Year 7 who works closely with a permanent team of tutors and co-tutors. These teachers monitor each student's academic and social development to help her to fulfill her potential. The Head of Year 7 visits every primary school to meet students while they are in Year 6. The Year 7 team is very experienced and works closely with parents. Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education lessons, taught by tutors, aim to enhance and support every student's academic experience through a full programme which develops personal, social and study skills. A high emphasis is placed on achievement, with a structure of rewards throughout the school. Students are encouraged to show consideration for others and to create a purposeful atmosphere where learning can take place. Excellent attendance and punctuality are a high priority. The school has two learning mentors and a Home Support Worker who provide additional support for students.

Behaviour for Learning
The school has a set of school and classroom rules agreed by students, staff, parents and governors. Copies of these are given to all parents when their daughter starts at Clapton. Incidents which break the rules, or any other school policy, particularly policies that promote equality and anti-bullying are dealt with seriously.

Uniform
Uniform is simple and flexible. All girls wear the school uniform which consists of a lavender blouse or polo shirt (available only from the school), plain black skirt, trousers or shalwar kameez. A white T-shirt and black tracksuit/black leggings are worn for PE.

Partnership with Parents
Parental involvement is actively encouraged. Parents, daughters and teachers sign a Home/School Partnership Agreement together when a student starts at Clapton. Parents are invited to attend a Progress Review Day and a Parent Consultation Evening during the year. They are also invited to attend other school meetings and functions. Parents can make appointments to see their daughter's Head of Year or senior staff at any time. Each student has a Personal Diary which provides day-to-day contact between home and school. A regular school newsletter (Clapton News) is sent to every home every two weeks. Parents are also invited and encouraged to help the school by hearing students read, translating or interpreting.

Assemblies
There are regular school and year assemblies. The themes of these reflect the multi-cultural and multi-faith nature of the school. Students regularly participate in assemblies.

School Council
There is an active School Council which meets fortnightly. There are also Year Councils and student committees focusing on the environment, public relations, learning, equal opportunities and anti-bullying. Students are encouraged to participate actively in school decision-making.

Sixth form
We will be opening our own Sixth Form in September 2007 and be part of the central area partnership with other secondary schools from that area, we believe our Sixth Form will offer further academic opportunities for Clapton students.

Past students
Ninety-eight per cent of all Clapton students go on to further education and many go on to higher education. Many return to mentor younger students, to speak in assemblies and to see their names on the honours board. There is an active ?Clapton Girls are Everywhere' old girls' organisation.

Portico Learning Centre
Clapton Girls' Technology College is the site of the Portico City Learning Centre. This facility will provide state-of-the-art ICT facilities for the school, other local schools and adults from the local community. Clapton already has a thriving adult learning programme in partnership with Innovatory. Parents are actively encouraged to join our classes and are welcomed as part of our learning community.

Safety and Security
Clapton is a secure site and is part of the Safer Schools' Partnership. Entrances and exits are supervised by adults. All visitors are welcomed at Reception and are required to wear identification. Students attend lessons from 8.50am ? 3.05pm, with half an hour lunch break. The girls' safety and security is assured by all girls remaining on the school site at lunchtimes.

Oversubscription criteria for community secondary schools
Children who have a school named in their Statement of Special Educational Needs are required to be admitted to the school and will be counted against the admission number. We will make every effort to offer your child a place at the school you prefer but if the school is oversubscribed we will be unable to meet every preference. If this happens, places will be allocated in accordance with the following criteria:
1 Children looked after by a local authority.
2 Children whose acute medical or social need justifies a place at that particular school*.
3 Children with brothers and sisters** at the school at the time of the proposed admission (not including Year 11).
4 Applicants living nearest to the main entrance of the school as measured in a straight line on a map or using a GIS mapping system.

Distance as measured in 4 above will also be used in any tie-breaker decisions for priorities 1 and 3 above.

Visits to the School
We very much welcome visits from parents and others interested in the education of girls. Everyone who visits and sees our school at work is very impressed by the calm and orderly atmosphere and the achievement of the students.

The school will be open at the following times for visits by parents:

Thursday 13 September 2007 9.30am - 10.30am
Friday 14 September 2007 9.30am - 10.30am
Wednesday 26 September 2007 ? 9.30am - 10.30am
Tuesday 16 October 2007 9.30am - 10.30am

Tuesday 25 September 2007 ? Open Evening 7pm - 9pm


Please contact the school if you need an alternative time of day.

Subjects

Years 7-9 (ages 11-14) (Key Stage 3)

• Art
• Humanities ? Geography, History, Religious Education
• Drama
• English
• French, German and/or Spanish
• Information and Communication Technology
• Mathematics
• Music
• Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education
• Physical Education
• Science
• Technology

Years 10-11 (ages 14-16) (Key Stage 4)

• English
• Mathematics
• Double Science
• Technology
• History, Geography and/or Sociology
• Music, Drama and/or Art
• French, German and/or Spanish
• Information and Communication Technology
• Media studies
• Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education
• Religious Education
• Physical Education
• Vocational courses