This is a purpose-built comprehensive school of 994 boys and girls. The school serves the needs of young people of all abilities in Irlam and Cadishead within the 11-18 age range. Applications for entry last year totalled 210.

Parents have the right to express a preference for the school at which they wish to have their child educated. Local Education Authorities must try to meet that wish. Parents who are refused a place have the right to appeal.

The Authority's policy is that each High School has a group of associated primary schools and that children normally transfer to a county or controlled high school from the associated primary school. The group of primary schools associated with this school are:

High Schools have an obligation to admit up to their standard number. The standard number for this school is 240.

From everybody's point of view the easier we can smooth the transition from primary to secondary school the better.
There already exists a strong bond between Irlam and Cadishead Community High School and its linked primary schools. We make it a priority to visit the primary schools regularly to show our future parents and children what we offer. Children from the primary schools will have the opportunity to visit the High School several times prior to them coming in September. Parents are also invited to see us at work - again all that is needed is a telephone call to make the arrangements.

Our staff visit all the primary schools during the Summer Term to meet the children, their teachers and the Headteacher. All parents of the children coming to us in September are invited into the High School to find out about the things their child will be doing, where their tutor room is and perhaps most important of all, to meet their child's form tutor. There is also an opportunity to view the school uniform and to purchase a School jacket sweater, and tie.

ICCHS works with each child to realise their full potential. We are a learning community whose aspirations for the future of our students are based on traditional values. We accept only the best from both our staff and students, who learn from each other and strive for continual improvement. We aim high and celebrate our successes.

We believe in trust, tolerance and respect and that by valuing others and our environment we learn to value ourselves. Our aim is to produce healthy, happy, well-rounded successful individuals who:

• have a positive self image and are capable of fulfilling their aspirations.
• are able to form good relationships based on trust and respect.
• are actually concerned about others.
• are able to make wise choices and lead a healthy lifestyle.
• are able to become responsible adults.

At ICCHS we recognise that no two children are the same. We believe that all students should have access to a broad curriculum at both Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 so they can develop a wide range of basic skills, knowledge and understanding on which they can build when they are adults.

The school's curricular policy is expressed through its aims and objectives as approved by the Governing Body. Curricular Aims

1. To give all pupils equal entitlement to all areas of the curriculum.
2. To provide opportunities for all pupils to achieve their highest possible standards of attainment.
3. To enable pupils to follow broad, balanced and relevant programmes of study which will equip them to play an active role in society.
4. To create a whole school policy for assessment which will include participation by pupils, be comprehensible to parents and meet the needs of employers and further education.
5. To encourage the development of the whole person and an awareness of the community and the environment.

Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8, 9)
We have 25 one hour lessons per week which we believe both stretch and stimulate students of all abilities. Students are taught a wide range of National Curriculum subjects including a modern foreign language. Technology subjects operate on a carousel system which helps to ensure breadth and informs in Key Stage 4.
At the beginning of Year 9 students embark upon GNVQ ICT courses either full or double award. Detailed programmes of study are available from the school.

Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11)
At key Stage 4, core subjects are supplemented by a range of exciting options, enabling students to work to their strengths and aspirations. All students study English language and literature, maths and science RE, ICT, PE, PSHE, and Citizenship.

Careers Education and citizenship are integral parts of the P.S.H.E. programme. All pupils in the Upper School have an opportunity for work experience.

We want your child to achieve their personal best, whatever their abilities. The school participates in the "Excellence in Cities" initiative, and as such it operates an extensive Gifted and Talented programme.
A deputy head teacher leads a dedicated and hardworking team including a designated SENCO and learning support staff, mostly within mainstream classes, for those students who need specific help to achieve their full potential.

The subject of sex and reproduction is dealt with as part of National Curriculum Science during the first three years. This is a factual course dealing with the scientific detail.
Sex education is an integral part of the P.S.H.E. course studied throughout the five years. The aim is to educate within a family context.
Sexuality and morality are studied together and pupils have an opportunity to discuss their feelings. Part of the course involves single sex groups but usually lessons are taught in mixed groups.
In the first three years friendship forms an important theme. Puberty and adolescence are explored and discussed. In Year 10 responsibilities are examined and in Year 11 parenthood is discussed. Family planning is studied as part of this topic.
Pupils who study Child Development as an option in the Upper School will also deal with aspects of the subject.
Parents have a legal right to withdraw their children from lessons involving Sex Education other than National Curriculum Science lessons.

Religious Education classes and assemblies are non-denominational in character and it is the customary practice for all children to attend. However, where parents feel that attendance may prejudice the religious teaching they wish their child to receive, alternative arrangements can be made.

Regular attendance is essential if the most is to be made of educational opportunities. We encourage full attendance by awarding Certificates to pupils for each full year of attendance. Over the years a number of pupils have achieved a special certificate for five years full attendance.

If your child must be absent from school for half a day or more, please supply a note of explanation to school; forms are provided in the back of our School Planner. This ensures that the absence is with your knowledge and that the reason is legitimate. For medical/dental appointments, the appointment card or note should be shown to the form tutor or key stage manager. Any absence without an explanation from parents is counted as 'truancy'/unauthorised under regulations from the DfES.

While we recognise that some parents have difficulty in arranging family holidays during the school holiday periods, we nevertheless must ask you to avoid disrupting your child's education by withdrawing them from school unless there are exceptional circumstances. If the family holiday must be taken during term time, pupil leave of absence can be obtained for not more than two weeks in any year by writing to the Headteacher.

Daily checks are made on absentees and in certain cases the Educational Welfare Officer and/or School Inclusion Officer may be asked to call at the home if the reason for the absence is unknown to us or if the amount of absence is excessive. Many parents telephone or write to the school to inform us of their child's sickness and this means that the Educational Welfare Officer or School Inclusion Officer may not need to call.

From time to time some children may truant from school. We view this offense seriously and truants are punished by having to make up the lost time after school. We seek your earnest co-operation if you suspect truancy of which there is a very low incidence in the school because of our constant vigilance.

The school places great store on punctuality and we work to encourage it in our pupils as an important part of self discipline and of the discipline of the school.

Frequent/persistent lateness will result in detention.

We spend a great deal of time getting to know the strengths and capabilities of your child, even before they arrive at ICCHS. We have excellent links with our primary schools and value their assessments. All children in Year 6 are invited to spend a day at ICCHS during the Summer term to see the school at work. In Year 7 students are given the opportunity to attend a 2 day residential experience, to help them get to know their new friends.

Your child will be allocated a tutor who will, in most cases, stay with them throughout their time at school. They will share your aspirations, getting to know both you and your child well. Because of this, they will often be the first point of contact at school.

Your child's tutor will set clear and appropriate targets and will monitor their progress. Strengths and weaknesses are identified and support provided in response to need. Parents are kept informed of their child's progress through the annual parents consultation evening, progress reports and student review days via the student planner.

We expect our students to work hard both at school and at home to achieve their potential, and we value the contribution of parents in the education of their child. It is important that all students develop the capacity to work and learn on their own. Homework therefore, is set regularly in all subjects. Parents are asked to look at their child's student planner on a weekly basis and to sign it to show they have read it. This is an important means of communication between home and school.

Our strong code of conduct ensures a purposeful, stimulating, secure and happy environment. Students are excepted to behave with consideration for themselves, each other and their environment. We deal swiftly with bullying of any kind.

Our students should be proud to wear their school uniform at all times, and by so doing display a strong sense of belonging to ICCHS.

We prepare your child for life beyond ICCHS in a variety of stimulating ways, including a work experience programme in Year 10. Students receive careers guidance from the Connexions Service and their form tutor. Our strong industry and business links allow students to benefit from quality placements.

We encourage students to visit all post 16 providers and work closely with our main partners to arrange taster sessions on campus.

We believe that a school should be at the centre of the community it serves. As such, we encourage our parents and members of the wider community to become actively involved in life at ICCHS.

ICCHS has a fine sporting tradition, which can be accessed by the wider community. Our facilities include extensive playing fields a gymnasium and sports hall. We believe that participation in a variety of sporting activities also develops generic skills such as loyalty, team building, trust, a sense of achievement and self esteem, as well as an awareness of health-related issues.

We offer a wide variety of extra-curricular activities which we encourage students to participate in. In addition to these, many subjects offer extra classes, both within the curriculum and after school, in the form of clubs. Students also have the opportunity to benefit from a range of trips and visits both at home and abroad.

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