WHIS is a not-for-profit state school delivered in partnership with: Dame Alice Owens School Watford Grammar School for

r Boys Watford Grammar School for Girls Queen Elizabeth School, Barnet Mount Grace School The Wroxham Primary School

Our Founding Principles

Unashamedly academic We believe in the unique power of a rigorous academic education to shape engaged, articulate children who want to make the most of life. Our ambitious curriculum will balance depth and breadth, with stretching targets for learning languages and science taught as three separate subjects.

Shaping emotionally resilient children

Every aspect of our school environment will be designed to encourage students to grow into respectful, responsible and motivated young people. We will provide focused pastoral care to help pupils drive their own academic progress, and offer support and guidance whenever it is needed.

Strengthening our community

Our vision is for a local school that allows children to preserve and develop the bonds they have formed with friends from primary school and the communities in which they live. We will draw upon the great diversity and aspiration found in Londons patchwork of neighbourhoods to encourage ambition and a global perspective in our pupils. To support the community which supports us, we will make our school premises available as a hub for learning, creativity and competition, every day of the week.

Delivering our vision

Our team
The West Hampstead International School campaign was formed when a group of local parents identified a shared concern regarding the emerging lack of school places in the area. The campaign is led by Dr Clare Craig, Consultant Hospital Doctor and CEO of Thanks Doctor; Rob Marshall, a financial analyst and governor at a West Hampstead primary school; Shay Manuel, a family support worker in Kilburn; and Jo Disson, a government social researcher. The West Hampstead International School will enjoy the full support of the Advanced Learning Alliance (ALA), a group of outstanding schools based in North London and Hertfordshire, including Dame Alice Owens and Watford Boys and Girls Grammar Schools. The ALA schools will provide staff, resources, training, technology and expertise to help ensure the successful delivery of an ambitious programme of study and enrichment.

We will offer
Excellent teaching and learning
With the support of exceptional teachers from our partner schools, we will deliver a rigorous academic curriculum designed to inspire a lifelong love of learning, including: A specialism in languages, supported by international links and powerful technological learning aids A creative, evidence-based approach to teaching in both joint and single-sex classes and in sets according to academic ability A healthy balance between the teaching of critical thinking and core knowledge Science taught as three subjects.

Enrichment and pastoral care

We want to instil in our students a passion for life, and a strong sense of respect for themselves and for others, by offering: A specialism in music, one of many enrichment activities to engage and invigorate pupils A vibrant, caring community with frequent mentoring from teachers, pupils past and present, and figures from industry and academia Strict discipline to help develop a keen sense of responsibility and politeness engagement with our Thoughtful community through projects, support for home languages, and creative use of our public space.

When and where?

In May 2014 we will apply to the Department for Education. Our target is to open and admit Reception and Year 7 classes in September 2015. We have identified potential locations around the railway tracks near to the West Hampstead transport interchange.

Heres where you come in

To give our school and your child the best chance, please fill in the A4 form included in this prospectus, or go to www.westhampsteadinternational.org and follow the link to sign up now.

Learning comes first

The right environment
At The West Hampstead International School we will adopt a creative but evidence-based approach to teaching in single-sex groups and in sets according to ability. Studies show that, at different stages in their development, boys and girls can benefit from being taught in single-sex groups, with a positive impact on concentration levels and class participation. In addition, single-sex groups have shown a reduction in the tendency to choose subject specialisms in line with gender stereotypes. To offer our pupils the best possible learning environment, The West Hampstead International School will adopt a diamond approach to gender grouping. Boys and girls will be taught in mixed classes at primary and Sixth Form, and taught separately for core academic subjects during Key Stages 3 & 4. For the rest of the school day, including during enrichment classes such as music, and at assembly and break times, all pupils will be together.

Assessment
Regular and detailed assessment is a key factor in the remarkable success of our partner schools in the Advanced Learning Alliance (ALA). From the day we open, our staff will benefit from the ALAs established processes and systems. Teachers will be able to track and analyse the progress of students, and ensure that they are consistently stretched and supported. These systems will also form the basis for regular open dialogue between teacher, pupil and parent, helping students to understand their goals.

Creativity
Our pupils will be given every opportunity to build powers of self-expression. We want to develop lively imaginations because this will lead to innovation and independent thought. We want to teach our children the joy of working creatively, and encourage them to appreciate the creativity of others. Throughout primary and secondary school, children will undertake creative writing classes as part of their literacy programme. In addition to our specialism in music, students will enjoy a variety of creative opportunities including art, drama and community-based projects.

A curriculum balancing breadth and depth

We believe that an effective teaching style emphasises both content and technique. We will give our students a broad knowledge base, allowing them to develop cultural literacy and a context for their learning. Our curriculum will relate closely to the National Curriculum, and students will work towards GCSEs and A-levels. In keeping with our high academic aims, students will study science as three separate subjects. All pupils will study Spanish throughout primary level, with an introduction to Latin in Year 7 and further language options thereafter.

The Advanced Learning Alliance is all about sharing best practice to deliver consistently outstanding teaching. Dr Alan Davison, Headteacher, Dame Alice Owens School

Our specialisms

A supportive framework
We believe passionately in helping our pupils to become emotionally resilient young people. We will not look to protect our students from failure by denying that it has happened: instead, we will promote a supportive community which cheers second attempts, and encourages children to put themselves forward in the classroom without fear of humiliation.

House system and student families

Each child will belong to a small house group within the school. They will represent their house in music, sport and drama competitions, and the system will encourage pupils to build relationships with students of different ages. Every student will have two named school siblings in each year group, with older students taking a role in helping younger siblings to feel welcome and to enjoy school life.

Role models and mentors International perspective

WHIS will have a languages specialism and links with schools overseas. In this way, we hope to prepare students for life in our shrinking world by teaching them about other countries and cultures. We will seek to join one of the recognised international school groups, which provide curriculum support and access to a network of schools with a shared ethos.

Languages as a catalyst for success

Learning a foreign language is not just a way to gain additional qualifications it develops a concrete and demonstrable life skill. As well as being highly valued by employers, a widely spoken second language brings cultural awareness, social skills, and the opportunity to travel or work abroad. All students will aim for two GCSEs or equivalent in modern or ancient languages. Our youngest students will enjoy the precious opportunity to learn a language early in life, with Spanish lessons from their very first year. For students joining at secondary level, the Year 7 curriculum will include intensive Spanish coaching so that, as soon as they are ready, children can embark on ambitious bilingual programmes such as Spanish through Geography. In this way, we will bring WHIS students the proven benefits of language learning for mental development.

Our students will benefit from various forms of mentoring and peer group structures: Academic mentoring from form tutors, encouraging each child to discuss their objectives and take ownership of their academic career Teaching in school assemblies, including stories of unlikely heroes and appearances from alumni and other role models from industry and society Behavioural mentoring, helping children to respect their peers, their teachers and their learning environment.

Girls and boys

We believe our diamond school approach promotes the best of both worlds for girls and for boys. From age 11 to 16, they will enjoy the proven benefits of single-sex teaching for concentration, self-confidence and aspiration. Then during much of the school day, and throughout primary and Sixth Form, boys and girls will spend time together, learning sensitivity and respectfulness.

Music to inspire and engage

Children learn best when they are fully engaged in school, and music and drama will form a vital part of our enrichment curriculum. North London benefits from several highly successful initiatives that have demonstrated the extraordinary capacity of music to inspire a love of learning in children of all backgrounds. In partnership with the Camden Music Service, we will deliver a wide range of options for small and large group tuition, with an emphasis on live performance at every opportunity in order to build confidence and powers of selfexpression.

Special Educational Needs English as an additional language

We think our school should reflect the diversity of our city and so, as well as intensive English tuition, we will offer teaching and support in home languages for those students who speak English as their second tongue. We believe these children will embrace their existing bilingualism as an advantage and as a catalyst to academic attainment. The schools special needs provision will be driven by our inclusive philosophy. There will be members of staff dedicated to identifying special educational needs at an early stage. These staff will be responsible for enabling teachers to support those with special needs in mainstream lessons and, where necessary, for providing specialist intervention.

Equipped for life

Responsibility
We want all our pupils to realise that they are responsible for their future, and that only through effort will they succeed. We believe that academic success follows when children are able to articulate their objectives and take ownership of their school career. From their first day, pupils will also be taught the value of supporting the community by taking charge of the organisation of school and house events. Children will be entrusted with responsibility for the upkeep and decoration of common areas such as their house rooms.

Leadership and competition

We will ensure that a full afternoon per week is dedicated to sport, allowing students access to excellent facilities. PE classes will provide exercise and will teach the benefits of healthy living. Children will have the opportunity to engage in a variety of competitive team sports in house groupings, learning the importance of teamwork and leadership.

Engaged and articulate

We want our students to engage with the world around them its people and its institutions. So as well as offering a broad curriculum that gives pupils the knowledge and perspective to think for themselves, we will hold regular debates and public speaking competitions. In order to reinforce the role of core knowledge in our curriculum, we will also hold house quiz events.

The School should be a microcosm of what we would like society to be: a collection of caring, motivated, hardworking and happy people who are capable of living together harmoniously while recognising and respecting each others differences. Dame Helen Hyde, Headteacher, Watford Grammar School for Girls

Discipline and behaviour

The West Hampstead International School will create a calm classroom environment that allows students to focus on learning. We will expect all children to be punctual, wear smart school uniform, and treat teachers and classmates with courtesy. Senior staff members and behavioural mentors will deal with disruptive pupils outside the classroom. In a culture founded on building trust and self-restraint, students will be given important roles in the organisation of the school. Our mentoring plans will help students to acquire a sense of respect for themselves and their peers. Through the small house system and a programme of alumni visits, children will be inspired by positive role models and develop a sense of pride in their school.

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Our primary school

The West Hampstead International School will open with 60 Reception places. Our primary and secondary schools will share the same vision and values, reflected in a common objective: to build a safe, supportive environment where children are happy and engaged, allowing their creative and academic gifts to flourish.

Breadth and rigour

We have high aspirations for our young people, and will deliver this vision through excellent and enthusiastic teaching of a broad curriculum in a safe, disciplined environment. As our students will come from a multitude of ethnic and linguistic backgrounds, we will focus on developing competence and confidence in spoken language. During Early Years, our teachers will balance academic, social and physical development, preparing children for the diligence and precision we will bring to learning in later years. Across the year groups, we will ensure that children have grasped important skills before moving on to the next stage. Children will be trusted to set the pace of their learning, and will be motivated by the satisfaction of their own success.

Creativity
School is not only about academic achievement. It is also about developing powers of selfexpression during our childrens formative years. We want our students to enjoy going to WHIS because it will help them to achieve more. Children are naturally creative, and our teachers will promote a classroom culture that thrives on this, with strategies designed to spark new ideas and a sense of wonder. Our lessons will aim for a healthy mix of order and adventure. Music will play a key role throughout the school, and children will be provided with plentiful opportunities to learn an instrument and to perform for friends and family. A broad range of after-school clubs will allow children to develop interests and hobbies such as choir, cookery and drama.

Continuity
Children who join us from the very beginning will enjoy the full benefit of our stimulating, supportive ethos throughout their school career. They will be well prepared for the advantages of our ambitious languages programme, studying Spanish from Reception class onwards. In Year 6, pupils will get a taste for the next stage of their education by spending lesson and enrichment time with pupils and teachers from the secondary school.

I am dedicated to developing approaches to teaching and learning that do not rely on determinist beliefs about ability. I believe that the most effective school is one where individuality and difference are celebrated and everyone is valued. Dame Alison Peacock, Headteacher, The Wroxham School

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Community
Continuity breeds success
At the heart of our vision is a neighbourhood school where groups of children from the excellent local primaries can move on to secondary school together. Research has shown that disruption can damage childrens academic progress, and that students thrive when they can enjoy the support of friends and familiar peers. WHIS primary students will benefit from the continuity of a smooth progression to secondary school, but we are equally keen to ensure that pupils arriving in Year 7 from other local schools will settle in happily. To aid this transition, we will forge strong relationships with nearby primaries, and get to know parents and pupils before their start with us.

Giving back
We want our school to be woven into the fabric of the area, and our students will take on regular neighbourhood outreach work to teach them the value of being involved with the community. As the beneficiaries of precious taxpayer money, we feel that our free school has a moral obligation to make the most of its amenities. So we will strive for innovative ways in which to open up our physical premises as a base for community and educational activities:

Hosting local language tutors and schools Running and hosting community services such as youth clubs, film and book clubs, cookery and textiles classes Hosting community sports clubs.

Parents and carers

Supportive parents and carers will be key to our success, and we believe that family and school have a mutual obligation to support each childs educational career. We expect parents to reinforce the importance of education by ensuring their child completes homework and attends on time every day. Parents will be able to view and monitor their childs academic and extra-curricular progress online and to have termly meetings with teachers or subject leaders.

Next steps
We will apply to the Department for Education in May 2014, with a target of opening to admit Reception and Year 7 classes in September 2015. We urgently need your support. Before May 2014, we require written signatures of support from the parents of children who will attend our school. To give our school and your child the best chance, please fill in the A4 form included in this prospectus, or go to www.westhampsteadinternational.org and follow the link to sign up now.

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THE WEST HAMPSTEAD

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Be a part of it
We urgently need your support. Before May 2014, we require written signatures of support from the parents of children who will attend our school. To give our school and your child the best chance, please fill in the A4 form included in this prospectus, or go to www.westhampsteadinternational.org and follow the link to sign up now.

Contact Us
www.westhampsteadinternational.org info@westhampsteadinternational.org