The Netherhall School
The Netherhall School has been offering high quality education in Cambridge for over 145 years and boasts a strong recent track record of exceeding national performance targets and expectations.
Netherhall School has developed and grown since it welcomed its first student on the 9 January 1871 and has adapted constantly to the needs of the community and the changing demands and ethos of the educational sector. The history of the school encompasses being a grammar school, a comprehensive school in 1974, a Foundation school and now an Academy. For many years it was the only school in Cambridge that offered a 6th Form and, still today, is the only school based Sixth Form offering A Levels.
In February 2016, Netherhall School became an Academy, joining with Bottisham Village College, to become part of the Bottisham Multi Academy Trust. Bottisham Village College has an Ofsted rating of Outstanding in all areas and the alliance allows the sharing of good and outstanding practices and to share experiences and strengths which are only gained with time. On the 1st September 2016, the trust grew to four schools with the addition of Sawston Village College and Bassingbourn Village College, two high performing schools just outside Cambridge. At the same time, the name of the trust changed to ‘Anglian Learning’; this has brought increased opportunities for collaboration and career development.
Our examination results over recent years have been excellent with A level results in excess of targets and GCSE results well above national benchmarks. Our Progress 8 score was +0.1 in 2018 which, given the inclusive nature of the school: schools in Cambridgeshire do not permanently exclude students. The Ofsted Inspection in December 2015 commented that “Disadvantaged pupils achieved particularly well based on the same measure and attained significantly higher than similar pupils nationally.”
Our Students
Netherhall School is set on the outskirts of Cambridge and serves both the City and the surrounding rural villages. As a result, student admissions are from a diverse range of backgrounds
We want all of our students to feel happy and secure. We have a well-developed pastoral care system and staff genuinely care about the students as individuals. We encourage students to assume and enjoy responsibility as Duty Students and through our Student Ambassador and Leadership schemes. Our highly skilled staff work closely with students, monitoring their progress to ensure they achieve their potential. There is an excellent student volunteer peer-counsellor scheme and students are encouraged to play an active part in the running of the school through the School Councils. We understand that students need a range of skills and opportunities to fulfil their potential and therefore encourage students to undertake a full range of extra curriculum activities in addition to the educational requirements. Staff give their time freely to run a very broad range of activities from the traditional sports and drama to Warhammer Club and Language Leaders.
The Ofsted report of June 2014 which gave a rating of Good for student behaviour: “The behaviour of students is good. Most parents that responded to the on-line questionnaire and took part in school surveys indicate that the school manages behaviour well.”
Many of our students choose to stay at Netherhall for seven years, progressing from Year 7 through to our highly successful sixth form, The Oakes College, Cambridge. The centre has an excellent reputation in the City of Cambridge and beyond and many students join us from other schools for their post-16 studies. We have an impressive track record in placing students in Higher Education, including Oxbridge and in employment.
In 2018 the A levels qualifications gained by students were impressive with 30% of grades at A* – B; 57% A* – C and 93% A* – E.
Our staff
We recognise and value the skills, knowledge and expertise of all our staff and are committed to supporting their professional development. To this end, we have a vibrant and varied Continual Professional Development programme, which is personalised each year to support both our main school priorities and the individual needs of staff. This programme includes opportunities to share excellent practice between colleagues as well as drawing on external expertise. Cross collaboration between other local schools and schools in the Trust is also encouraged so that best practice is formulated.
Our staff-room is a vibrant, sociable and supportive atmosphere. We enjoy school events such as concerts or staff socials and there is very little ‘standing on ceremony’.
Staff give freely of their time to the broad extra-curricular programme which includes sports, music, drama and a host of trips, exchanges, clubs and other activities. There is a blend of youth and experience among the staff and newcomers have always commented on the warm welcome they have received.
Leadership Team
Mr Chris Tooley Principal
Mr Richard Wilson Deputy Principal
Mr Daniel Berry Deputy Principal
Mr Steve Lewis Assistant Principal
Mrs Nikky Parker Assistant Principal
Mr Tom Hunter Assistant Principal
Mr Chris Woods Assistant Principal
Mr Karim Marsaoui Assistant Principal & Head of Oakes College (6th form)
Mr Dan Carlson Raising Standards Leader
Miss Helen Parfect Director of Learning
Cross Site Roles
One of the benefits of being a member of a larger Trust is that certain staff with particular skills can be utilised by all the schools within the Trust. The Trust has and is developing a structure which ensures that all schools within the Trust are fully supported in key areas:
Ms Charity Main – Finance Director (from January 2019)
Mr Richard Mayer – ICT Director
Mrs Claudine Bateman – Head of Operations
Ms Kathryn Oliver – Director of HR
Partnership with Parents
We are a warm and welcoming community which places a high importance on
working with families and getting to know each of our students as individuals. We engage with parents through a variety of mediums; parental internet, regular newsletters, Parents’ Evenings, written progress reports as well as individual responses to queries. We are keen to engage parents from all backgrounds and to adopt strategies which will enable us to communicate better with all parents regarding their child’s progress and development.
The Parents and Friends of The Netherhall School (PFNS; or Puffins!) meet regularly to put on school events but also to provide the stakeholder feedback so vital to continuing and deepening relationships.
Equal Opportunities
Netherhall School is an Equal Opportunities employer.