St Wilfrid's Catholic High School, North Featherstone

St Wilfrid's Catholic High School is a mixed secondary school and sixth form with academy status located in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England. It has Vocational specialisms.

St Wilfrid's Catholic High School, A Voluntary Academy
Location
Cutsyke Road Featherstone , West Yorkshire , WF7 6BD England
Coordinates	53.69670°N 1.36317°W / 53.69670; -1.36317
Information
Type	Academy
Motto	Fidem Servavi (I have kept the faith)
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Established	1963
School board	Bishop Konstant Catholic Academy Trust
Local authority	City of Wakefield
Department for Education URN	138951 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Chair of Governors	Karen Gayles[1]
Headteacher	Philip Dore
Staff	318
Age	11 to 18
Enrolment	1,525 pupils[2]
Houses	Briant, Clitherow, Fisher, Gwynn, Howard, Kirby, More, Newman, Postgate and Ward
Colour(s)	Blue and Gold
Website	www.st-wilfrids.bkcat.co.uk

School history and overview

St Wilfrid's was opened in 1963. In 1998, St Wilfrid's became a Language College^[3] which offered six languages including French, Spanish, German, Russian, Italian and Japanese. These courses have been discontinued in a bid to reduce costs.

The most recent OfSTED^[4] and Section 48 Religious Education^[5] inspection which identified the school as "friendly school where pupils are supported by caring staff who are focused on helping them to succeed".^[6] St. Wilfrid's was awarded a second specialism as a Vocational specialist college which came into effect in September 2006. Courses on offer to pupils include: Health & Social care, Travel and Tourism, Performing Arts (Dance, Singing and Drama), IT for Practitioners, NVQ in European languages, NVQ Hairdressing, CISCO IT networking and Construction.

The school became an academy in November 2012. The school had its 50th birthday celebration in October 2013.

The school has had various leadership, uniform and management issues in the past.^[7][8][9]

The school has launched a theatrical production every year for approximately 20 years; the plays and musicals always draw in audiences of local families and the parents of pupils. The most recent of these productions was "Musicals Through the Ages" which was performed on 7 and 8 February 2023. They also have a "St Wilfrid's Day" once per year (stopped during the Coronavirus Pandemic, later resumed since 2022 as normal) to celebrate and gather students together.

Awards

The school has achieved several national awards including the Schools Curriculum Award, Sportsmark Award, the School Achievement Award given in 2002 and 2003 for outstanding improvements in GCSE results. The Arts Council Artsmark Silver award, the British Council International School Award for outstanding global links, the Ramseys Award given to the school with the best global video-conferencing facilities and programme, as well as the Investors in People Award recognising excellence in training and development for all teaching and non-teaching staff have also been earned.^[2] In February 2007 the school was awarded the Arts Council Artsmark Gold award. In 2021 the school was awarded again for their effort to help the climate and make the school more eco friendly.

Vocational specialisms

In 2006 the school was awarded a second specialism as a Vocational College. Vocational specialism means that the school offers a distinctive range of courses that provide opportunities for pupils to gain qualifications. All vocational courses follow a curriculum developed by exam boards with the help of employers. Wherever possible, links to the world of employment are emphasised; this may be visiting speakers, work placements, visits or real work. This means that in most cases pupils will be occupationally competent to carry out a job in their chosen career.

A-Level and BTEC available courses

^[10]

• Biology (A Level)
• Business (A Level)
• Chemistry (A Level)
• English Language (A Level)
• English Literature (A Level)
• Extended Project (A Level)
• Fine Art (A Level)
• Geography (A Level)
• History (A Level)
• Mathematics (A Level)
• Further Mathematics (A Level)
• Media (A Level)
• Photography (A Level)
• Physical Education (A Level)
• Physics (A Level)
• Psychology (A Level)
• Religious Studies (A Level)
• Sociology (A Level)
• Health and Social Care (BTEC Extended Diploma)
• Applied Sciences (BTEC Extended Certificate and Diploma)

Language curriculum

The curriculum includes three languages, French, German and Spanish, two of which are taught at key stage 3 as first and second languages. In key stage 4 the department teaches three languages at GCSE level.

NVQ level 1 language units qualification was introduced into the teaching of the department in September 2005. NVQ Level 2 qualifications were introduced in September 2006.

At A2 level, French, German, Spanish and Italian are no longer taught.