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Elfed High School

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Elfed High School
Address
Map
Mill Lane

CH7 3HQ

Wales
Information
MottoExcellent Learning For Every Day
Established1954
Local authorityFlintshire
OfstedReports
HeadteacherRosemary A Jones
Staff60
Gender[Not Applicable]
Enrollment750
LanguageEnglish
Websitehttp://www.elfedhs.co.uk

Elfed High School is a high school on Mill Lane in Buckley, Flintshire, in northeast Wales.

Admissions

The student population around 600. It is a predominantly English speaking school, but the Welsh language and ethos is integrated throughout the broad ranging curriculum offered to students. The Elfed is maintained by the Flintshire Local Education Authority.

History

Opened in 1954, the school was named after Hywel Elfed Lewis 1860-1953, the renowned bard and scholar who served as Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales from 1924 to 1928. In 1967 it became a Senior Comprehensive, serving a wide catchment area, including Buckley, Hawarden, Mynydd Isa, Saltney, Caergwrle and Hope. The school became fully comprehensive in 1973, serving the community of Buckley, Drury and surrounding areas. Students from outside the normal catchment area who choose to attend the Elfed use public transport. The vast majority of students use bicycles or walk to school.

From September 2015 the Elfed was re-categorized 11-16.

Set in over 30 acres of grounds, students are provided with many opportunities to participate in both curricular and extra-curricular activities.

The school has a reputation for providing wide-ranging curriculum options, including vocational subjects, through its work with a number of different partner organisations. Its stated aim is to be an outstanding learning community, reaching out to parents and adult learners as part of the Flintshire Local Education Authority programme of community learning. The school’s ethos, which is built on 'respect, honesty, integrity, high aspirations and self belief', recognises that all students have talent and the potential to be successful, regardless of their ability or background.

It is proud of its ambition for every student to succeed and has outstanding facilities for students with additional needs, including those with exceptional ability or talent. Although the school is in a predominantly English speaking community and Welsh is the 'second language'; the Welsh language and culture are embedded in school life. There are excellent facilities for teaching and learning, including computer suites, workshops, a floodlit full sized all-weather pitch, football and rugby pitches, recently refurbished gymnasia and indoor swimming pool. Theatre Elfed is one of the largest such facilities in the County and is used for a variety of community events.

Academic performance

Ysgol Uwchradd Elfed High School is an outstanding learning community with very high standards of student attainment and achievement. In 2009-2010, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13 and 2013-14 the school exceeded attendance and academic targets. The percentage of students achieving the Core Subject Indicator (English, Maths and Science) at the end of both Key Stage 3 (Years 7 to 9) and Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11) has increased significantly in recent years and is on par with the best schools in Wales.
The Key Stage 4 (15- and 16-year-olds) prime indicator of student performance, the Level 2+ Threshold (minimum of five A* to C GCSEs including English and Mathematics), is one of the best in Wales at 81%. Similarly, other results are outstanding when compared with Local Authority, Wales and similar schools: Level 2 Threshold (minimum of five A* to C GCSEs)is 89% and Level 1 Threshold (minimum of five A* to G GCSEs) is 100%, meaning that all students, of every ability, attained at least five GCSEs for the last two years. Both Mathematics and English results are consistently strong at 87% A* to C and 85% A* to C respectively. In 2014 the 'contextual added value' achieved by the school, that is the actual performance of 15-16 year olds compared to their predicted performance on entry to the school, was ranked first for North Wales Secondary Schools and second in Wales overall. Only schools with considerably fewer 'disadvantaged' students have slightly better exam results than the Elfed. When the school's percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals is factored in, the results are the best in Wales. Staff and governors place a high priority on ensuring that every student, from whatever background and whatever ability, achieve their potential.

In a visit to look at the work of the school in November 2014 the Minister of Education and Skills, Mr Huw Lewis AM, said that, "If every school in the country was like the Elfed I would have nothing to worry about. Wales would have the best education outcomes in the World."

The latest Estyn Inspection, in February 2015, endorsed the school's achievements with nine 'Excellents' and six 'Goods', noting that performance over the last three years has been excellent and that prospects for improvement are also excellent. The School Improvement Category for quality of provision is 'Green', the top level that can be awarded by the North Wales Consortium Challenge Advisor and Local Authority.

Elfed High School has an excellent record of ensuring student progress into Further and Higher Education Institutions as well as recruitment into full-time employment.

The school has a strong tradition of developing students' social, communication and teamworking skills. Students are encouraged and supported to benefit from opportunities to take part in the many extra-curricular clubs and activities such as sport, music, debating, exchange visits and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. The school's debating teams have a tradition of outstanding performance, having successfully represented the region, Wales and the UK in national and international competitions. The school Sports Council has a strong track record of promoting participation in sport and other activities, recognized by Sport Wales in a best practice case study. In recent years the school has figured in a number of best practice case studies produced by Estyn, Welsh Government, Fischer Family Trust and others in several diverse areas of provision. Estyn have invited the Headteacher and others to share experience of the improvement 'journey'.

Students are very proactive and have organised many successful charity fundraising events such as a concert in aid of Breast Cancer Research. The School Council has a significant influence on the culture of the school and has successfully applied for the funding of a variety of projects such as a cycle store and puffin crossing.
The Associate Pupil Governors and the School Councillors also play a part in influencing the Governing Body's strategic planning. Many students take part and succeed in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

The support of governors, parents and carers are fundamental to the school’s success, working together with the students, teachers and support staff and partner primary schools to create an outstanding learning community.
[1]

Alumni

The Elfed

References

  1. ^ See Flintshire#Schools.
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