Technology College
In 1998 Bicester Community College gained Specialist School status as a Technology College, and met the criteria for redesignation in 2001 and 2005. The College has strong links with local businesses and training providers, three secondary schools, 16 primary schools, a special school, and local Adult Continuing Education. The College works closely with its sponsors, and their input and support is extremely important.
Technology College status brings in funding to develop excellence across the whole curriculum but particularly in D&T, ICT, Maths and Science. In 2006 the College became a member of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust’s ‘Most Improved Schools Club’ and, in Autumn 2007, received a letter of congratulation from the Trust for the significant improvement in its GCSE results. The College is also involved in the Trust’s ‘Raising Achievement Transforming Learning’ programme, which provides additional funding for targeted projects within the school.
As part of its Technology College status, the College organises a variety of community activities for people of all age ranges. These include Saturday Workshops for adults and young people, a Mind and Body Project for elderly members of the community, ‘Dads and Lads’ (a men’s health project), School Force mornings (where students, staff, parents and community members work together to maintain the College grounds), Children’s University activities, and a Business Links programme.
The College also works closely with its partner primary and secondary schools. The School Sports Coordinator programme, with our local primary partners, gives leadership opportunities for students on the Junior Sports Leadership and the Community Sports Leadership Awards. Years 4 and 5 pupils are invited to specialist subject masterclasses on the College’s Enrichment Days. The College’s Advanced Skills Teacher (AST) in ICT provides training and support for colleagues in partner schools.
As a Technology College, Bicester Community College will provide:
- an outstanding Technology Resource Centre which will meet the challenging needs of the 21st Century;
- an Open Learning Centre of Excellence which will enable and promote life-long learning;
- services as the hub of an intranet of knowledge and information, including the family of schools, local businesses and adult education.
A Learning School
- We, in collaboration with our primary/secondary partners and early years groups, will use our expertise and resources to meet the needs of individuals, and to raise expectations and standards of attainment.
- We will provide courses for families to improve literacy and numeracy for children and adults.
- We will raise standards of achievement throughout the curriculum and support our family of schools in providing learning opportunities for the area as a whole.
A Family School
- We will use our links with families through local partnerships, the Parent Council and parent governors, to involve children of all ages and abilities in Technology, Science and Mathematics courses and extra-curricular enrichment.
- We will support our students as they learn at home, and will provide opportunities for developing ICT, numeracy and literacy skills outside normal school hours and during the holidays.
- We will enable parents to support their children’s learning by providing learning opportunities for all the family both at school and at home through e mail, extranet links, and online technology.
A Community School
- We will share our resources and expertise with the family of schools and with the wider community, exploiting technology to further our links with Higher and Further Education Colleges, and to provide new opportunities for The Cooper School and our Adult Education Centre.
- We will use our links with local firms and sponsors to ensure that vocational courses meet local needs and that students’ experience of learning fits them to work in an increasingly technological and scientific age.
- We will develop the Key Skills required by local businesses and industry and provide resources for training. We will be the centre of technological training and skills-based learning for all who live and work here.
