Welcome to Pensby High School for Girls

I feel immensely proud to be able to welcome you to Pensby High School for Girls, a Business & Enterprise and Science Specialist College.

Our last three consecutive OFSTED reports have described the school as outstanding. Our most recent inspection in May 2009 speaks for itself and starts by saying ‘Pensby High School is an outstanding school. It is an excellent place for students to learn’.

The school has a reputation for expecting the highest standards at all times and individual achievement in academic, extra-curricular, sporting, expressive arts and in other areas is a particular strength. This is based on a system of praise and rewards and all students are encouraged to work to their full potential and become caring, responsible citizens. Our school has an excellent reputation in the community. We expect high standards of behaviour outside as well as inside school. Relationships between staff and pupils and between pupils with each other are built on care and mutual respect. It is therefore no surprise that OFSTED said ‘This is a school where every student truly does matter and is shown in the excellent quality of care and support they receive’.

Pensby High School for Girls is committed to providing the best possible education for all our students and we believe our relationship with parents is critical in achieving this goal. The home-school partnership is crucial to our students’ successes and regular assessment and targets are issued to ensure parents are kept up to date with progress. Regular newsletters, special evenings and events are used to highlight pupils’ successes and achievements.

The school provides a very wide range of opportunities both academic and through a variety of clubs and activities. All students follow the full range of National Curriculum subjects and almost every pupil gains 8 to 10 GCSE pass grades. Students have the opportunity to follow the three separate Sciences as well as two Modern Foreign Languages. Other courses include more vocational subjects and the school is actively engaged in planning for the new Diplomas. There is a vibrant Sixth Form, run jointly with the adjoining Boys’ School, which offers a full range of Advanced GCE courses as well as a wide range of vocational/applied courses including Diplomas. Students are able to mix and match these courses to their particular needs.

The school is an inclusive community and in 2009 OFSTED concluded ‘Care and support is very strong for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and other vulnerable students, enabling them to make good progress’. The care, guidance and support of all students guide our every step and OFSTED again agreed that this was outstanding and continued by saying that ‘The staff know their students’ needs and personalities so that they can provide accurately diagnosed and effective support to nip any potential problems in the bud.’

The school’s facilities have been improved and a new block of six teaching rooms, Science laboratory, ICT suite and a large resource library opened in September 2008. A joint community sports facility including an artificial pitch, netball courts, sports hall and other areas was opened in 2006. The whole school has a wireless network as well as 7 hard wired ICT suites and each faculty has a set of portable laptops. All teaching rooms have data projectors and network links giving access to the internet and many have interactive whiteboards.

These facilities along with 8 Science laboratories, drama studio and subject specialist rooms and above all an exceptionally qualified and dedicated staff (teaching and non-teaching) will ensure that your daughter/ward receives the very best education whilst enjoying her time at this school.

I hope that this prospectus, our website and the OFSTED report give you a flavour of Pensby High School for Girls. I would urge you to come and see the school for yourself and meet the staff as they are the people, along with the students, that make the school so successful.

There will be an Open Evening in the autumn term but you are welcome to visit the school during a normal working day. Please ring me for an appointment if you wish to do so and I will ensure that you are welcomed by myself or a senior member of staff.

Yours sincerely

Pat Russell

Headteacher