Wellsway School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wellsway School was established in 1971, by amalgamating Keynsham Grammar School and Wellsway County Secondary School both of which opened on a shared site in the mid-fifties. Further developments have taken place on the school site including a new art block, drama studio, science labs, Sixth Form areas, Staff Centre, Languages Building, an extension to Technology and recently the artificial turf pitch. Planning permission for a new Community Sports Centre has also been granted.
The vast majority of the students of Wellsway School live in Keynsham and Saltford or the surrounding villages. There are 1360 students aged between 11 and 18 (280 in sixth form), and 84 members of the teaching staff and 36 support staff.
Students are well motivated and self-disciplined. All in Years 7-11 wear school uniform and high standards in all aspects of school life are expected and academic performance is exceptionally good.
The Sixth Form has grown significantly during the past few years and although the majority of students go on to university, over 60% of Year 11 stay on from Year 11 and from other schools to participate in A and AS Level courses which are now well established. With around 280 students and 24 A and AS Level courses it is the largest Sixth Form in Bath and North East Somerset.
Support is given by the Governing Body which takes a keen interest in the school and offers expertise in a variety of fields. Parents, too, serve the school well by encouraging their children in their studies, offering practical help in the maintenance of the building and grounds, supporting school events in large numbers and participating in the activities of the flourishing 'Friends of Wellsway' PTA which each year raises several thousands of pounds to enrich the school.
Wellsway is renowned for extra-curricular activities including sport, music and drama where it has achieved widespread success. Students represent the district, county or region in various sports, with many school teams playing in the evenings or at weekends. Concerts and the School Production are also a regular feature of school life.
Wellsway has extensive links with the local community and with Europe. The careers and work experience programmes benefit from the good relations established with businesses in the immediate area and in Bath and Bristol. Students are encouraged to participate in charity events supporting local, national and international charities. Visits to France and Germany are well developed and throughout the year students have the opportunity to participate in educational visits to venues in the UK and abroad. There are close working relationships with partner primary schools and with other local secondary schools, with extensive collaborative work being undertaken.
Wellsway has enjoyed glowing reports from Sportsmark Gold (three times), OFSTED (twice), the Investors in People standard (three times), the Investors in Careers award and the Healthy Schools Award. It is, therefore, an invigorating and exciting school in which to work and there are opportunities to contribute in many ways. We are all committed to the central purpose of our work which is teaching and learning but we are also keen to improve by taking on new ideas and new people and look forward to an exciting future.
