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Bishop Douglass School Finchley is a high-achieving, academic school. It fosters a culture where every student is challenged to fulfill their potential. Schools want to ensure that all students have the opportunities they need to exceed expectations within a disciplined learning environment. As a Catholic community, it strives to uphold strong spiritual and moral values, both in and outside the classroom. Its philosophy is inclusive and each person is valued and academic excellence encouraged it to stretch its most able and support those with special and additional needs. By choosing Bishop Douglass School, your son or daughter will be enrolled in a school with a strong tradition and embedded practice. Impressive progress is made by students across all stages of the curriculum. We offer a clear progression pathway from 11 to 19 years and the vast majority of leavers progress to a top University. Catholic ethos ensures that every young person is valued as a unique individual. The most recent Westminster Diocese inspection states that “The overall effectiveness of religious education in developing the students’ religious literacy is outstanding” and “Staff at all levels strive to ensure that students flourish and grow into responsible adults, ready to take their place in the world and confident in expressing Christian values in their daily lives.” They have a strong pastoral system as well as a full program of enrichment activities. The school has a wide range and quality of opportunities available to the students in activities such as music, sport, drama, chess, debating clubs, and travel experiences. A major strength of school teaching is the genuine determination of staff to be ‘the best they can be in line with the school’s mission statement. The collaborative and supportive approach to planning, alongside robust monitoring, evaluation, and the professional development of staff, all contribute to sustaining excellent day-to-day teaching. A wide range of resources is carefully matched to students’ needs so that deep learning is characteristic of work in class. Schools subscribe to various online providers including ‘SAM learning’ and ‘MyMaths’ which are accessible to our students from home. Pace, challenge, and skillful questioning are consistent features in encouraging the students to think critically and develop their numeracy and literacy. Students are taught in sensibly sizes classes – grouped as appropriate, according to ability, aptitude, or interest – to ensure that the individual’s learning needs can be met. Well-considered homework, supplemented by challenge tasks, is relentlessly pursued by both staff and students to consolidate and advance learning. The teaching is stimulating and teachers ensure that students understand how to learn best. Teachers recognize that children learn in various ways and so we strive to use approaches, techniques, and technologies which will maximize progress for all. The work of teachers and subject departments is kept under regular review so that they can be sure that students are getting the best opportunities for success. Bishop Douglass School encourages the teachers to keep up to date with developments in the subject area and the school curriculum. Bishop Douglass School has a comprehensive extracurricular program that enables growth and development beyond the classroom program and enriches our broad curriculum supporting learning at all levels. View full school