High Baseline Data (HBD) Students

Aim

The Kingsmead motto is ‘practise to perfect’ in order that every student will be able to access a university course or professional career. This is especially significant for our HBD students, who come with the highest expectations and will compete for places on the most selective university courses.

How do we identify HBD?

There are 2 ways students can be identified as HBD, one is based on primary school SATS, the other is based on assessments at Kingsmead. Students are classified as HBD if they:

achieve a score of more than 110 in either Maths or Reading KS2 SATS (From 2016)
achieve a KS2 SATS average of 5 or more (pre- 2016)
achieve exceptional results in school assessments (at the discretion of their HOY)

In the classroom

Kingsmead is committed to raising the achievement and attainment of all students. Research shows that where the highest expectations are made of HBD students, learning and achievement improve for all students. All students, including HBD students, are entitled to an appropriate and challenging education.

Like all our students, HBD students have individual learning needs. At Kingsmead we recognise these individual needs and the importance of providing a personalised curriculum. As teachers we recognise that many of our students are HBD and we endeavour to foster a climate of challenge which extends their abilities, allowing them to achieve their potential.

At Kingsmead we believe that the most effective way to develop HBD students is through excellent teaching and learning. We are committed to ensuring that HBD students are continually challenged in their learning, they meet demanding curriculum targets and that they achieve the highest grades in public examinations. We expect students who are identified as HBD to excel in the classroom and beyond the boundaries of Kingsmead through extra-curricular activities.

Beyond the classroom

We feel it is vital for our all our students to enjoy a full and rounded education and this means encouraging them to take part in the many clubs and extra-curricular opportunities on offer to explore and develop their talents. For example, talented musicians are able to have additional music lessons and take part in our concerts, performing in bands or one of the many other groups that practise regularly and perform together in school. The drama department offers many opportunities for both writing and performing in plays and musicals and our able sports students can compete in a whole range of sports

We have strong links with a number of universities and as we encourage our HBD students to aspire to attending the top universities, we reinforce this by taking them on university day trips to Oxbridge and Russell Group universities so that they can experience university life for themselves. Through our alumni network, we provide frequent opportunities for current students to meet their predecessors who have successfully followed a path through higher education and are establishing themselves in rewarding careers, for example at careers-focused societies in year 12 or at workshops on drop down days.

What do we expect for our HBD students?

We expect our HBD pupils to make outstanding progress, starting in key stage 3 (years 7 and 8) where achievement is tracked against an ambitious flight path. By the end of key stage 4 (years 9,10 and 11) we expect them to achieve high numbers of grades 8 or 9 across a broad range of subjects including Ebacc subjects and their choice of creative or specialised subjects. We expect them to succeed at high grades in their choice of 3 or 4 A levels in 6th Form which will allow them access to the most selective universities. We have an excellent record of helping students to fulfil their potential and progress to study at prestigious universities in the UK and overseas.

Summary of what we expect from HBD students

To be keen readers
To be confident speakers (speak out challenge/debate mate/student council/Head boy & girl)
To ask questions! To have an opinion!
To be able to accept responsibility and develop leadership skills
To have a broad range of interests e.g. play a musical instrument, to be involved in a sporting activity (rounded individuals/to have a passion for something)
To secure relevant work experience placements in year 10 and beyond
To apply to highly selective universities and specialist institutions
To produce high quality homework, completing stretch and challenge activities where appropriate

Assessment, tracking and targeting

Close attention is paid to the progress of our HBD students. Frequent, differentiated assessments track progress and trigger targeted interventions where underachievement is noted.

HBD students from disadvantaged backgrounds

We help students and families to overcome any socio-economic and cultural barriers to attending further and higher education. Some of our HBD students come from homes where no parent or close relative has either experienced, or expects, progression to university. Using the PPG (pupil premium grant), Kingsmead positively discriminates and engages proactively with the parents or carers of these students. Students are provided with curriculum provision, access to cultural and social activity and personalised support (eg with UCAS) to support social mobility.

As a parent, what can I do to support my child?

There are many practical steps that you can take to support and nurture your child, for example by encouraging him/her to:

Use the local library and the internet as learning and research resources
Visit museums, science centres, nature reserves and art galleries
Watch educational and current affairs programmes such as the news, wildlife/nature programmes and documentaries, and discuss them
Read a quality national newspaper
Discuss and debate topics, such as politics, the environment and the media
Discuss homework and schoolwork
Take part in extra-curricular activities
Take an active part in family decision-making
Listen to different types of music
Read for pleasure, including demanding/challenging books
Take regular physical exercise
Socialise and relax in between work and learn to ‘switch off’.

You can also support your child by:

Providing suitable learning resources such as books, encyclopaedias, magazines, computer software etc.
Organising day trips and visits to places of cultural, historical and educational interest
Building cultural experiences, trips and excursions into family holidays.

Who should parents contact in school?

Parents sometimes need to contact the school: if things are not going well; to seek advice; or to obtain more information in order to better support their child. The following key personnel should be contacted

The subject teacher or LDD for subject-specific questions
The HOY for questions relating to student well being