Departmental Highlights

Art

There have been changes in the staff roles and responsibilities to aid the organisation and development of specialisms within the art department. The employment of a specialist photography teacher has been a key element to the advancement of the students' knowledge in GCSE and A-level lessons.

The results for GCSE art based subjects have been varied this year with 100% A*–C grades from Art General and 3D Art, but disappointing results from Graphics and Photography. This has been identified as the department priority for development in 2006/7. There was a pleasing set of results at A-level in 2006 with all students achieving A–D grades.

The department is particularly pleased with the Year 9 GCSE taster courses which comprise termly rotation between the four art specialisms. Students have a different GCSE-based project to complete each term which allows them to select the right GCSE options in term five.

Jennifer Watts has taken the position of Acting Head of Department and the staff roles have evolved: Colin Procter is leading Post-16 art subjects, Jane Cockroft is leading Key Stage 4 and Kate Willoughby is leading Key Stage 3.

Business studies

This year there has been a change of leadership with the departure of Nicola Krywyszyn and the appointment of Rachel Kay as Head of Business Studies and Peter Wilkinson as second in department. The team of five teachers have had a successful year and, in addition to classroom activities, students have also met representatives from industry as well as visiting local businesses. One of the challenges of the year was seeing through the introduction of three new courses into Year 13. The first cohort of A-level Applied Business, new specification A-level Travel and Tourism and A-level Economics students will complete their courses in June this year.

We are looking forward to developing the business curriculum further by introducing a degree module in Enterprise in conjunction with the University of Northampton. This will provide students with the opportunity to have a taste of degree-level study while developing both their knowledge and skills.

Design technology

Design technology had a good year with excellent exam results, new textiles equipment and success in several competitions. The provision of new sewing machines meant that they could launch textile courses at Key Stage 3 and a module in Year 9. The department hopes to implement a textiles based GCSE from September 2007. The department are also running after school clubs in textiles, electronics and model flying.

Students successfully took part in competitions such as the Engineering in Education scheme, the F1 in schools competition and the Schools Model Flying National Championships and GCSE results this year were the highest ever with 98% of students achieving grades A*–C for the Product Design course and 100% achieving grades A*–C in GCSE Electronic Products. A-level results were excellent also with all students passing and 60% at A/B grades.

English

At the start of 2005/6, six new members of staff joined the department. This added to the mentoring load of the Head of Department as, in effect, half the department were trainee teachers. In addition two of the most experienced members of staff went on maternity leave during the year.

However 51% of GCSE English literature students were awarded an A*/A grading and Chris Arch-Jones gained one of the top five marks in GCSE English literature in the country, the third year that a Brooke Weston student had achieved this. All students passed their Post-16 English courses.

During 2005/6 we implemented the GCSE Induction programme in Year 9 following on from completing Key Stage 3 at the end of Year 8. This allowed all students to commence a GCSE in media studies in January and a group of fast track students to embark upon their GCSEs in English language. The early indications from this group show that the majority of these students are on target to achieve an A*/A.

Humanities

The first cohort of humanities students to take the new pilot hybrid geography GCSE, which has a vocational element, completed it this summer. The department also launched new courses in Year 9 to introduce students to GCSE type work in history, geography and religious studies so that they could make more informed choices in their GCSE options. In Year 9 religious studies became part of the Period One course, where it is taught by a humanities specialist in conjunction with the tutor. The department's commitment to extending student experience outside the classroom continued with trips to the Natural History Museum, Stoke Bruerne Canal museum, plus a Sixth Form geography residential to Snowdonia. The department laptops were upgraded, the video players were also upgraded to play DVDs and another projector and screen were added to one of the classrooms.

The external examination results were pleasing. At A2 level all subjects delivered by the department achieved a 100% pass rate and there was an increase in the percentage of A and B grades in history, geography and sociology. The new GCSE geography results were good, at 90% A*–C, while the small cohort of students entered for GCSE religious studies achieved 100% A*/A grades which was especially pleasing as they had been taught the subject as a twilight course.

ICT

The department managed to secure a 100% pass rate in GNVQ and secure some good grades in Post-16 courses despite staffing problems. This academic year was the last time students could be registered for the very successful GNVQ ICT course. Over the past six years, the department has secured a 100% pass rate on this qualification with a full cohort of students. Students from both Years 8 and 9 will complete this course in May 2007. The department was actively involved with two of the largest awarding bodies in the UK to develop a new replacement qualification – initially DiDA with Edexcel and the revised OCR Nationals in ICT; the latter being implemented with Year 8 students from September 2006.

During the 2005/6 academic year, a large number of students embarked on Post-16 ICT courses. With 46 students opting for AS ICT, this was the department's largest ever cohort. Over a third of these students achieved an A grade for their coursework unit. In Year 13, 19 students carried on to study for the full A2 qualification. The BTEC eBusiness course was another success. The department was visited by one of Edexcel's external verifiers and passed National Standards Sampling with flying colours.

Maths

The differentiated curriculum, using a thematic approach in Key Stage 3 has again proved successful. The department achieved an average SAT score of 6.6, the highest gained even when Key Stage 3 was taught in three years. Year 9 students had the opportunity to study GCSE introduction courses which concentrated on core skills.

Some students started their GCSE course, which will be taken a year ahead of time. GCSE results were impressive this summer with 90% of students gaining a grade C or above, and 38% gaining an A or A*. These, again, were the best results that the department has ever attained.

Post-16 courses continue to be well subscribed, with 60 students embarking on the AS course. Results have been good, 30% gaining an A grade and an overall pass rate of 93%. The Further Mathematics course continues to thrive despite a declining national trend, and we will continue to use our links with Warwick University to promote the course.

Modern Languages

The past year has been one of steady progress in Modern Languages with pass rates at GCSE reaching 79% in Spanish, 94% in German and an unprecedented 100% in French. Nearly 70% of students opted to continue learning a modern language in Key Stage 4 which goes against the worrying national trend that has seen students giving up languages in increasing numbers at the end of Key Stage 3, now that the government has decreed that languages should be an optional subject at GCSE. We currently have 18 students studying languages at AS and nine at A2 level, which still compares very favourably with other Sixth Forms.

Over the past year we have run a day-trip to Boulogne for the whole of Year 7, a day trip to Aachen to visit the Christmas market and a very successful work experience week in France for A-level students.

Through the provision of taster courses in Years 8 and 9 we have now increased the choice of languages available to children in Key Stage 3 and have a growing number of students who are learning two modern languages. We have increased the range of languages offered by the College in that students can now study either Spanish, French or German in Year 7, with the possibility of picking up a second language in Year 8. We have also started an experimental programme in teaching Chinese language and culture, recognising the growing importance of China within the world's economy. Taster classes are offered in Year 7 as well as in Years 12 and 13. Our hope is that this will grow and develop over the next few years.

Music

The music department is introducing a new course at Key Stage 4 level, the BTEC First Certificate in Music Technology. This gives working and practical knowledge of the music industry and studio production as we have made links with a professional working recording studio. The department also launched a new course in Year 9 to introduce students to GCSE and BTEC-type work covering performing, listening and composing as well as music technology and the music industry.

ICT provision has vastly improved with 25 new Dell computers each with its own mixing desk, USB controller keyboard and new music software. The range of instruments for classroom use was also extended to include a class set of tuned percussion instruments and keyboards.

The department maintained 100% A*–C pass rate at GCSE with 43% of students achieving A/A* grade and 57% achieving a B grade. The department achieved a 100% pass in terms of the A-level music course, of which there was only one student who achieved a B grade, and the BTEC National Award.

During the year the instrumental co-ordinator, Mr Simon Chalk, took up a post elsewhere and his duties have been absorbed into the workload of the two remaining staff.

Mr Andrew Renshaw also left Brooke Weston due to promotion and so Miss Amelia Cole has taken the position of Acting Head of Department. Mr Steven Duguid joined in September 2006 as teacher of music and will be embarking on a PGCE course to become a fully qualified teacher.

PH&F (Sports)

Brooke Weston provides a dynamic environment for all students, facilitating opportunities across a large range of vocational and academic disciplines. The concept is simple; seeking to open up opportunities to all. Activities include traditional sports such as rugby, football, hockey, cricket, athletics and swimming. More unconventional activities, such as BMXing and skateboarding are also being introduced to cater for those may not be viewed as 'traditional' athletes. In addition wheelchair tennis is another discipline which is to be found at Brooke Weston as champion player, Dermot Bailey, attends the College and is encouraged by the sports staff.

As well as running a wide range of out of hours sports clubs and activities the College supports sporting endeavours in the community. Recently, the College was involved in the Corby Games, a local initiative to promote sports in the run-up to the 2012 Olympic games.

Science

The department was strengthened this year by the appointment of Paul Mitchell who joined us in January 2006 from Australia. In term five 2006 Sarah Williams started her training and in September 2006 the science staff was augmented by Luke Claydon and Jennifer Morrison. The Key Stage 3 course continues to be a success, both in terms of popularity with the students and results achieved, maintaining the same level of achievement as the three-year course. Year 7 students again visited the National Space Centre in Leicester and had a very rewarding day, particularly in completing the mission in the Challenger Centre.

The high standard of results at Key Stage 4 was maintained with the chemistry results being particularly outstanding. The new GCSE science course started this year and is being studied by Year 9 and 10 students and development of this course continues. Year 10 students following the Applied Science course all achieved their level 1 and 2 First Aid certificates awarded by the St. John Ambulance service.

A-level results in chemistry and physics continue to be good. The first set of AS results for the new biology course was encouraging and suggests that results for A2 biology will improve still further next year.

Open University short courses at undergraduate level were also introduced, mainly in science-based courses. A total of 33 Year 12 students enrolled and 11 have already passed. The remaining students receive their results at the end of December. This achievement will give these students a considerable advantage when applying to university, since it demonstrates their ability to carry out independent learning at this level.

Library

The success of the Newman Library was illustrated when it was shortlisted for the Northamptonshire School Library Award 2006/7. Its collection of books and resources has increased to 14,300 and book borrowing has gone up by 73% compared to the same period last year. We now have 40 wireless networked laptops which have been issued a staggering 14,297 times this year. Along with other resources, the total borrowing for the year was 23,209 items by staff and students who visited the Library 61,603 times.

The Library has been classed as 'excellent in promoting reading' by Northamptonshire Learning Resources in Education (Advisory Report August 2006). The annual Book Week has become an important fixture in the College calendar and there are regular events throughout the year to encourage staff and students to read, such as author visits and reading groups. The students use the online catalogue efficiently via the 80 fixed computers and aforementioned laptops and there is a strong Library presence on the website.

The Library continues to go from strength to strength, in terms of ICT facilities, the breadth of student reading and their participation in literacy-based activities, all of which have been recognised by external bodies.

Restaurant

The restaurant has been refurbished this year at a cost of £100,000, giving students and staff improved facilities. The project, which took 18 months in the planning stages, took specialist contractors two weeks to install during the 2005/6 summer holidays, under the supervision of Vice Principal, Stuart Williams.