HONYWOOD SCHOOL

Honywood are an oversubscribed comprehensive school serving more than 1, 000 pupils aged 11-16. Pupils at our school can expect the most challenging learning experiences. We expect our pupils to become independent, mature, empowered learners, able to make excellent decisions about the lives they lead whilst at our school, as well as learning how to be happy and successful in the lives they will lead on leaving us. We thus design learning to achieve this aim.

When inspected by OFSTED in 2006 and then again in March 2009 we were graded as outstanding – one of the very best schools in the country. In 2009 our inspector commented:

‘[The] clear vision of how the school should be is fundamental to its success. The organisation of the school is derived from a fundamental consideration of what will work best, so there are some unusual features.’

At Honywood we do not strive to fit in with how things are normally done as to be so average is not in our DNA. We focus all our efforts on analysing what we do well and ensuring it continues, whilst showing a determination to always seek more effective ways of encouraging our pupils to learn, however successful we are adjudged to be. Our dynamic school continually improves as a result of this drive.

In September 2005 we began life as Honywood Community Science School following a successful bid for specialist status in October 2004. One outcome from the bid was the creation of six new science laboratories. When Science provision was inspected in March 2008 it was also judged to be outstanding. Our inspector noted:

“Standards are well above national average and achievement is outstanding at Key Stage 3 and 4.”

We also consistently invest in other learning resources. Such investment has provided us with excellent ICT suites, a superb Learning Resource Centre, interactive whiteboards in every classroom and most recently a superb new Dance / Expressive Arts facility.