1. The Crossley Heath School
2011-2012
Providing a World Class Education
Building on Tradition
Looking to the Future
The Crossley Heath School
Savile Park, Halifax HX3 0HG
Telephone: 01422 360272 • Fax: 01422 349099
email: admin@crossleyheath.org.uk
website: www.crossleyheath.calderdale.sch.uk

2. welcome
We would like to extend a very warm welcome to you
and hope that, on reading this brochure, you begin to feel
some of the warmth and friendliness you are bound to
experience on a personal visit to our school.
At Crossley Heath we have tremendous ambition for
everyone who learns here. With staff, students, parents,
governors and the wider community supporting one
another, we are confident that the wide range of
opportunities on offer encourages the achievement of
both individual and collective goals.
The school holds an important place in this community.
We are proud of our strong traditions and values, which
we strive to maintain. However, do not let the School’s
19th century external façade fool you. We are forward
looking, innovative, creative, constantly evolving and
provide first class 21st century education. We have the
highest aspirations for our students and aim to equip
them with the personal skills they will need in order to be
successful in a rapidly changing global environment.
The aims of the school may be summed up in the single
phrase ‘World Class Education’. Being a selective school,
we recruit young people who have already demonstrated
success in terms of academic achievement. We strive to
maintain an ethos in which every individual is encouraged
to develop his or her particular talents in a caring and
supportive environment and to enjoy himself or herself at
the same time.
The Crossley Heath School continues to go from strength
to strength, annually receiving public recognition for
the outstanding performance of its students on a range
of fronts including academic, sporting, music, debating,
enterprise, student voice and so on. Ofsted judged the
school to be outstanding in just about every aspect in
February 2011. However, we are already focussing on
improving provision even further.
Other than outstanding inspection reports, our various
successes have included the School’s selection as a High
Performing Specialist School (June 2007); the Sports
Council’s prestigious ‘Sportsmark’, achieved in 1998, 2001
and 2004; the Artsmark award gained in 2005 and 2009;
the Healthy Schools and International Schools awards
in 2007; the Gold Cultural Diversity Award in 2009; the
Careers Education, Information and Guidance Award in
2010, the Careers Information Standard in 2009 and 2011,
Gold Inclusion Award and repeated Investor in People
Awards. A second specialism in Leadership Development
was awarded to the school in April 2007 and we are one
of a small number of schools with a specific focus on
leadership development for staff and students at every
level. This year we have been invited to become a Leading
Edge school.
However, the positive and unique atmosphere of Crossley
Heath is best experienced first hand.Visitors to the school
are often heard to comment ‘It just feels right’! We do
hope you will come and visit us soon.

3. Supporting
Care, guidance and support of students is
of paramount importance to us. The school
fosters an atmosphere in which staff, students
and parents work together to ensure students
receive an excellent educational experience.
The school’s ethos is one of inclusion. Students
feel valued and supported in developing the
confidence, talents and skills to reach their
full potential and achieve excellence within
and beyond the classroom. The Gold Inclusion
Quality Mark reflects our commitment
to providing for individual needs within a
supportive and yet challenging environment.
When students enter our school they are
placed in a house tutor group under the care
of a tutor who will remain with them as they
progress through school. This pastoral system
supports excellent relationships between
students, staff and parents, providing support,
care and guidance to all individuals within the
group.
All students are members of one of four
Houses (Kings, Queens, Porter and Savile).
Ofsted 2011
Alongside the Tutor, a House Achievement
“Very positive relationships between staff and students are evident.”
Leader cares for the welfare of the students as
well as monitoring their academic progress, and
introducing strategies for intervention where
appropriate.
Our safe-guarding procedures are rigorous and
effective and we prioritise the safety of your
child by monitoring attendance and contacting
parents in cases of uninformed absences. All
staff are thoroughly trained in safe-guarding and
child protection matters.
Within school we foster a
culture of respect for each
other. Students support one
another and, consequently,
incidents of bullying are rare.
However, we recognise that
young people can, and do, face
issues which make life tough
for them; our level of support
is outstanding and we always
go the extra mile for all our
students.

4. Developing Contributing
The Crossley Heath School is a healthy school and Students are encouraged to make a positive
we develop student confidence in making healthy contribution to charitable events of a local, national
lifestyle choices. We promote healthy eating and and international nature. Last year, for example, they
support this in the dining room by offering a range include local charities such as the Laura Crane and
of healthy options – pasta, jacket potatoes, salads Forget Me Not Trusts to raising money for LEPRA,
and fruit. All dietary needs are catered for. Operational Christmas Child and Jeans for Genes
Day, along with contributing to the earthquake
We have a school nurse who provides day to day fund in Japan. The Committee raised over £6000
support for our students in addition to a Primary for charity last year. An East meets West Fashion
Care Trust nurse offering weekly confidential drop- Show held last year brought many members of the
in sessions for students needing advice. community together to raise money for Haiti.
Students are offered a wide range of sporting Our students contribute to the local community
activities both in the curriculum and out of school in a variety of ways from enrichment activities,
hours. The House System is particularly strong volunteering in the local community, to taking part
within the school providing challenge throughout in the Junior Sports Leader Award and helping in
the year in a series of competitions for all age the local primary schools. The School Ambassadors
groups. These include: Drama, Music, Swimming, represent the school at many events and annually
Debating, Hockey, Netball, Rugby, Cricket, Tennis, take part in the national Holocaust Memorial
Athletics and also effort in the classroom. Students’ event, sharing their experiences from their visit to
contributions are recognised by the award of House Auschwitz.
points and colours.
Students contribute actively to the external
Healthy lifestyles are promoted through the PHSCE community including participation in the LA plan for
programme and we deliver an informative Summer Schools, completion of a high profile Urban
and sensitive SRE programme. Community Leadership Scheme, standing for Youth
Parliament, taking part in the Model United Nations
The opening of a new sports hall in 2010 event and contributing to the planning of the new
has enabled pupils to take part in an even library in King Cross.
greater range of sporting activities with
options such as cheerleading, dodgeball and The school values
indoor cricket nets being offered as extra- students’ contribution
curricular sports. to school life. Students
take an active part in staff
As a reflection to our commitment interviews, submission
in promoting healthy choices, we are of awards and bids,
designated as a ‘Healthy School’. welcome special guests
and assist with the smooth
running of all school
events generally. Student
committees help develop
the success of our school
VLE (now recognised
nationally as being one of
the best in the country)
and The Zone, which is the
Work Related Learning/
Careers site for students.
Ofsted 2011
“Students show initiative, accept responsibility
and understand and respect each other’s differences.”

5. Discovering
We aim to prepare our students for adult life
in the business and commercial world. Our
Careers Co-ordinator works closely with the
Connexions Advisor who provides individual
careers interviews and guidance. Throughout
Key Stages 3 and 4 there is a comprehensive
programme of careers guidance. Pupils are
encouraged to develop their enterprise skills
through the curriculum and the various extra-
curricular activities they engage in. There is
a dedicated area of the Learning Resources
Centre where students can access careers
information and students also have access to
‘The Zone’ which is an area of the VLE aimed
at providing information on Higher Education,
Careers and Work Experience as well as
providing very useful links to other valuable
resources. All students in Year 11 enjoy work
experience for one week in an establishment
of their choice, for which help and support
is offered. We also have an active programme
of guest speakers and employers visiting the
school to talk to students in all key stages. The
school has gained both the Quality Information
and Quality Standards Awards for Careers
Education in recognition of the high standard Ofsted 2011
of information, advice and guidance available “The outstanding curriculum
for our students. makes a significant contribution
to students’ attainment and their
All year 9 students undertake an Entry Level personal outcomes.”
Business Enterprise course which culminates in
an Enterprise Day in June. Enterprise Days are
also offered to year 10 and 12 students.
Students of Business Studies take part in the
Young Enterprise Scheme, running their own
companies. The wide range of activities also
includes putting on events such as plays or
concerts in aid of charity.
Students are encouraged to develop the
skills which will contribute to their success
in the global world of the 21st century both
within the classroom and beyond. The school
provides opportunities for international
experiences through its rich menu of trips
and visits; enables students to reach out into
the surrounding community through its school
events, to forge links with businesses, other
schools and local groups and develop their
personal, academic and leadership potential.

6. Leading
Crossley Heath is a Leadership Partner School and a National Support School. We are firmly
committed to raising student achievement through development of high quality leadership in staff
and students.
Students are encouraged to develop their leadership skills by taking on one of the many positions of
responsibility within school – these include School Officials, Charity Representatives, Ambassadors,
Student Voice Co-ordinators and Zone Committee members to name a few.
Student Voice is strong within the school. Students observe lessons and give feedback to teachers,
lead in assemblies and participate in Governor meetings, committees and working groups. Students
are also learning partners for departments, working closely with the department leader to offer
feedback on lessons from a student perspective.
There is a very active Student Council within school comprising of student representatives from all
year groups. We also organize an annual Student Voice Conference hosted by Huddersfield University
which provides a showcase of excellent student voice work in Crossley Heath and our partner
school.
Raising achievement is at the heart of everything we do. Every one of our students is unique and has
individual needs and talents. We actively encourage them to have the highest aspirations and develop
self-confidence in order to be successful and realise their hopes, dreams and ambitions.
Our curriculum enables all students to develop academic, aesthetic, cultural and sporting interests,
an appreciation of global issues and the capacity to contribute to the development of society.
We provide a learning environment and opportunities for personal and professional development,
which allow and encourage all staff to make a full contribution to the school.
‘Our overall aim is to provide a
WORLD CLASS education’
W e offer a wealth of opportunities and experiences through local and international partnerships.
O ur students, given ownership and responsibility, become leaders.
R espect for the value and worth of each person is at the heart of all that we do.
L earning and personalisation underpin the curriculum, which is designed to optimise individual...
D evelopment and Achievement
C lear vision and effective collaboration...
L eads to high quality leadership and ever increasing levels of...
A ttainment and rates of progress resulting...
S uccess for ALL in a...
Ofsted 2011
S chool which is OUTSTANDING (Ofsted: February 2011) “Students have very positive attitudes to school
and to their work and their excellent behaviour is
a key factor in their successful learning.”

7. Achieving
We believe that students who are happy at school
will be successful in the widest sense of the term.
At Crossley Heath we aim to provide our students
with a broad curriculum which will stimulate
and challenge all students to achieve to their full
potential. With the introduction of more personal
pathways through the curriculum from Year 8, all
students will follow a programme tailored to their
needs. For some this will mean early entry to
examination courses.
Academic standards are high. In 2010 the proportion
of Year 11 students achieving five or more GCSE
grades A*-C was 98% with 62% of all grades being A
or A*. Results at A level are amongst the best in the
country. Further data can be found in the inserts in
this prospectus.
Nearly every area of curriculum activity is
reflected in the school’s range of extra-curricular
opportunities. The school operates teams at all
age levels in Rugby Union, Cross Country, Cricket,
Athletics, Hockey and Netball. Rugby tours to Wales
are an annual event and trips are arranged further
afield such as Canada and Australia and for Netball
as far as Gibraltar. There is also the opportunity
for students to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh
Award at Bronze, Silver and Gold level.
Musical activities include choirs, an orchestra, a wind
band and smaller ensembles, all of which perform
in and outside of school. A range of individual
instrumental tuition is also
available. Other opportunities
for creative and expressive arts
permeate the curriculum and the
annual Arts Evening is a perfect
showcase for the range of talent
and skill within school.
The school provides ample
opportunity for all students
to participate in a very active
programme of trips, visits and
exchanges. More information
can be found in the inserts in
this prospectus. The fostering
of international awareness Ofsted 2011
supported by the extensive range
“The Crossley Heath School is an outstanding school. Achievement
of tours abroad is recognised
within the International Schools is excellent and students are provided with outstanding care, guidance
Award. and support which gives a very secure foundation for their academic
and personal development.”

8. Language College
Our Language specialism enables us to work extensively with DVD to share practice across Calderdale. In addition the school
the local community. The Languages Centre provides language regularly opens its doors to budding linguists through its Year 5
learning opportunities for students, adults and families Fun with Languages Day and Languages Summer School.
from the local community outside of normal school hours. With regard to our own students, they have access to a
Furthermore, the Modern Foreign Languages Department has wider choice of languages to study. Spanish, French and German
taken a leading role in implementing the National Strategy are all embedded on the timetable. Chinese, Italian and Urdu are
for Languages with its extensive work with primary partner also available as enrichment subjects. We have established new
schools. Crossley Heath teachers (and students) work international links and there are now many opportunities to visit
alongside colleagues and pupils in primary schools to support different countries and experience different cultures. Students
language learning at Key Stage 2. Alongside this Crossley Heath also have the benefit of native-speaking assistants from France,
has delivered school-based training sessions and produced a Germany, Spain and China.