Ursuline High School

[EduCativ]

Ursuline High School, Wimbledon is a voluntary-aided, comprehensive high school for Roman Catholic girls from 11-18. Under the Trusteeship of the Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark. The school has moved through several phases during its history, from a small private school to a grammar school and on to become the successful comprehensive school it is today. Ursuline High School, Wimbledon was founded from Forest Gate in 1892 when four nuns came to establish a tiny school in a private house in Worple Road. In the beginning, there were three pupils, now there are 1360.
Our school has been serving the local community by providing education for Catholic girls for over 100 years. From being a private boarding school, it became a voluntary-aided grammar school in 1944 and a 13-18 comprehensive school in 1968. The standards achieved in academic work and all aspects of the life of young people have been outstanding. The school is fully comprehensive, both academically and socially, and enjoys a strong and supportive community life. In September 2002 the High School became a sixth-form entry 11-19 comprehensive secondary school. Ursuline Sixth Form and Wimbledon College have worked in partnership since 1986 and the joint Sixth Form has over 600 students.
Our curriculum is carefully designed to make sure it meets the needs of all our students with an excellent range of options both GCSE and A-Level. Students enjoy school and appreciate its strong community feels and the care and guidance provided to support their personal development. Our school motto is Serviam - I will serve and the service of others is at the heart of our ethos and chaplaincy work. As a Catholic school, we have a rich liturgical life, and students have a strong interest and commitment to social justice issues. We value parents' contributions and aim to ensure they are supported and involved fully in helping their daughters make progress and take decisions about their future.
At Ursuline High School we have a dedicated and committed Governor team. As these Governors can be a part of important decisions of the school Ursuline makes sure that they follow council guidelines meaning no possibilities on conflicts or biased decisions occur.
Each member of staff or the governing body should ensure that, before they become involved in making a decision, or participate in a discussion or authorizes any transaction on any matter, there are no conflicts of interests that, in the opinion of a fair-minded and informed observer, would suggest a real possibility of bias. In the interests of transparency and accountability, members of school staff and the governing body are required to register in advance interests that are capable of causing conflicts. In addition, about specific decisions, disclosure should be made of any interests that might conflict with their duties.
Ursuline High School is a voluntary aided school in the Diocese of Southwark. It is in the trusteeship of the Diocese. The school is conducted by its governing body as part of the Catholic Church under its Trust Deed and Instrument of Government and seeks at all times to be a witness to Jesus Christ. The school exists primarily to serve the Catholic community and Catholic children always have priority of admission. However, the Governing Body welcomes all applications, particularly from those of other denominations and faiths who support the religious ethos of the school.
Girls transferring from Year 6 at Primary School to Year 7 at Secondary School must do so through the London-wide Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme. All applicants must submit the Common Application Form (CAF) to the girl’s Local Authority, as well as submitting the Supplementary Information Form (SIF) directly to the School. If an applicant names the school on the CAF but the school does not receive the SIF, the application will only be ranked against the final 'Other applicants' category. The admission of pupils with an EHC Plan is dealt with by a completely separate procedure. The procedure is integral to the making and maintaining of statements and EHC plans by the pupil’s home local authority. Details of this separate procedure are set out in the SEND code of practice.
Parents of children who have not been offered a place at the school may ask for their child’s name to be placed on a waiting list. The waiting list will be operated using the same admissions criteria listed above. Placing a child’s name on the waiting list does not guarantee that a place will become available. This does not prevent parents from exercising their right to appeal against the decision not to offer a place. The Waiting List will be maintained until the end of August 2018. Parents, who wish their daughter’s name to remain on the list from September 2018, must inform the Admissions Officer in writing or by email. A new list will commence in September 2018. It is possible that when a child is directed under the local authority’s fair access protocol they will take precedence over some members of that faith.
The school offers a structured program of career advice at each stage of the students’ development delivered through our Personal and Social Health Education program. We have a careers team based in the library to also offer guidance. We aim to create pathways for each student allowing for flexibility, market forces, and the employer demands of the economy. There is independent advice that is readily accessible to parents. Advice on apprenticeships is given by an independent consultant. We invite career speakers in to address the students each term on a range of career pathways.

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