In leading Twyford CofE High School, my aim is to sustain an intellectually vibrant community which is true to its Christian identity whilst being inclusive and looking outward to the world. Twyford is a school characterised by high academic standards and a disciplined approach to study, but also a place where curiosity, creativity and community service are central to every child's experience. We are wholly committed to supporting the holistic development of students and promoting a positive approach to self-awareness and self-regulation as a core element of wellbeing.
Twyford CofE High School is part of Twyford Church of England Academies Trust and our curriculum has been designed to support students of all abilities to be ambitious in their progression through school and on to future pathways. We offer an extensive extra-curricular programme which extends the school day and sustains breadth beyond taught courses and exam syllabuses. Teachers are very aware of the needs of students with SEND and care is taken to ensure access to the curriculum for these students. 6.6% of students in years 7-11 have EHC plans and there is an additionally resourced provision specialising in the support of Speech and Language development / ASD students.
Careful thought has been given to the design of the Curriculum, ensuring all students complete a full NC KS3 programme and are encouraged to take facilitating subjects amongst their course choices at GCSE. The ambition of the school’s approach takes into account experience of progression pathways at post-16 and post-18. The school is very proud of achieving a 100% progression rate, with no students falling into the NEET category (Not in Education, Employment or Training) at post-16. This is thanks to a well-developed approach to Careers, Information, Advice and Guidance which closely aligns with the Pastoral Programme designed to deliver PSHE within the context of the strongly articulated Christian values of the school (see Ethos and Vision tab above).
Twyford is a comprehensive school with a roll of just over 1600, including a Sixth Form of approximately 600 students. The sixth form offers a wide range of A-Levels however, as part of the Twyford CofE Academies Trust, students also have the option of progressing to a technical T-level curriculum, majoring on Digital Production, Design and Development or Laboratory Science at its partner school Ada Lovelace.
Support with college applications, including some taster sessions, are arranged from Year 10 onwards for students wishing to study other specialist subjects. The majority of students from the sixth form progress to university taking a wide range of routes including competitive courses such as Medicine and Engineering at Oxbridge and top Russell group universities. We are equally proud of the students from our successful creative and technical post-16 offer (Music & Music Tech/Graphic Design/Art/Photography/Film and Drama) who go on to practical courses and training places in the creative industries.
Mrs Karen Barrie
Headteacher
History
Twyford became a church School in 1981, when the London Borough of Ealing sold the premises to the London Diocesan Board.
The present School came into being largely as a result of a determined campaign by a group of local parents, a number of whom are still involved in supporting the School.
In its 2012 Ofsted Inspection Twyford was praised as being an Outstanding School, at which the pastoral support and monitoring, the relationships between staff and students and the leadership of the school are all excellent.
Developing Twyford to be the outstanding school it is today has been a great joy. The Twyford Trust takes as its motto: ‘I have come that you should have life and life in all its fullness’.
The text is taken from John chapter 10 verse 10 and from this the Trust has created the 10:10 Ethic which is the principle that informs all Trust schools – irrespective of their different individual identities, intakes or admission criteria.
We believe that there are three Core Values in our 10:10 Ethic:
- All individuals have God-given gifts which they can develop for the good of others
- All individuals do bad things sometimes but that it is not acceptable to believe that anyone has to stay in a ‘bad place’
- All individuals can find their valued place within community
The 10:10 Ethic is also often articulated as having the following positive disciplines:
- Know yourself
- Be an agent for good
- Understand weakness
- Accept Support
- Engage Fully
- Stretch
At Twyford we wish to instil a love of learning. The curriculum is broad and balanced. The core subjects of Mathematics, English and Science provide a very secure foundation for progress. With each intake of new Year 7 students we aim to build immediately on their achievements at Key Stage 2. Setting in Maths, Science and Languages starts in Year 7 and in other subjects in Year 8. As students move up the school, their available options become increasingly varied.
Our language curriculum is very well developed - at KS3 students study either French or Spanish with able linguists (half the year group) also studying Latin. In Year 8, more able linguists are offered German as a second modern foreign language. All students are then encouraged to study at least one Modern Language at GCSE (they choose from French, German or Spanish). Many take more than one language at GCSE and some elect to study Latin as an extra subject. At KS3 pupils have the opportunity to take part in a wide variety of trips to Normandy, Madrid, Black Forest and Verulamium. At KS4 the school organises trips to Barcelona and Paris and at KS5 students are supported to arrange bespoke exchange visits with students in France, Spain and Germany. In addition, our teachers have developed privileged links with primary schools across the borough and help to train teachers to teach French and Latin at KS2.
All students take ICT, History, Geography, Music, Drama, PE, Art and Religious Education. Religious Education GCSE is taken one year in advance of other subjects and our success rate in this subject is particularly high.
All students have ICT lessons and use computers as a learning tool in many subjects. A full programme of Personal, Social and Health Education and Citizenship is also followed by all students.
As a Specialist Music College Twyford has a well established reputation throughout the local community. In 2011 it has been the lead partner within the newly established Ealing Music Partnership providing support with the development of ensemble music and music teaching across the Borough. Twyford's extensive programme of over 20 extra curricular ensembles has led to collaborations with BBC Songs of Praise, The World Service, The English Chamber Orchestra, The Mayor of London, St Paul's Cathedral, Ealing Youth Orchestra, The Royal Opera House, The Royal Albert Hall, Jazz FM, Trinity College, Streetaction, Inspire-works and Music for Youth. More recently the school organised and hosted the Ealing Youth Music Prom in association with Ealing Youth Music and amazing event featuring acts of over 500 students from 17 different schools across the borough.
The Arts have a very high profile at the school. In Drama and Music students learn confidence in performance which enriches their ability to learn in all other subjects. The school also has an excellent reputation for a wide range of sports. PE lessons cover Netball, Gymnastics, Dance, Football, Hockey, Basketball, Cricket, Rugby and Athletics; with each sport entering teams into borough competitions.
