Saint Cecilia’s, Wandsworth Church of England School is a co-educational voluntary-aided comprehensive school for pupils aged 11–18 years in the Diocese of Southwark. Its Anglican foundation is reflected in the composition of its Governing Body.
It opened in September 2003 with 150 pupils in Year 7 and has increased year on year as the school has grown; numbers will stabilise at approximately 900 pupils, including the Sixth Form, by 2009. Each school day includes a corporate act of Christian worship; regular celebrations of Holy Communion are held, at which attendance is voluntary.
The school opened on a portion of the site once home to Wandsworth Boys’ Secondary School. The new school, however, has been purpose-built for the twenty-first century and comprises state-of-the-art facilities, including specialist accommodation for the teaching of music, the subject in which the school specialises.
The school name reflects the historic link with Wandsworth Boys’ Secondary School and identifies both its Church of England foundation and its aspiration for excellence in the teaching of music. Saint Cecilia is the patron saint of music.
The aims of the school
In order to fulfil its Mission Statement, the school seeks:
-
To promote the highest standards of academic achievement, motivation and self discipline in all pupils
-
To ensure that high quality teaching and learning characterises the delivery of the National Curriculum and Religious Education, especially the teaching of Music
-
To encourage each individual child to develop her or his talents to the full
-
To ensure that everyone is treated equally and with respect
-
To develop in pupils an awareness and appreciation of spiritual and moral values and attitudes
-
To help pupils develop creative, lively and critically enquiring minds and the ability to question and discuss rationally
-
To help pupils understand, and so be tolerant of, those from other races, religions and cultures
-
To help pupils understand what it means to live in a democratic society
-
To promote an awareness of our place in, dependency on and respect for the world environment
At Saint Cecilia’s, Wandsworth we believe that pupils should enjoy and learn from their everyday experiences, both in and out of school, valuing their school days as part of a process of lifelong learning. Fulfilment grows from a sense of personal achievement and pupils are given the opportunity to participate in a wide range of educational and recreational activities, including decision-making which affects the development of their school. Teaching is organised to enable pupils to work individually as well as in groups, co-operatively and well as competitively. Assessment of pupils’ work accentuates positive achievement as well as providing direction for future improvement.