Specialist College

As a specialist college we aim to increase exam results for our pupils in all subject areas and expect to excel in the areas of science, maths and languages. These subjects are now achieving their best results in the history of the school, and are helping to spearhead approaches which are raising attainment across the school. We offer a range of courses at KS4 and can tailor these to meet the individual needs of every child. Our emphasis on science and languages means that Hillside is better placed than many other schools to meet the requirements of the new English Baccalaureate. Being a specialist college is not just about exam results. We have a full programme of events and activities for the whole community, not just pupils of Hillside.

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As International School’s award holders we take our specialist college international links very seriously. We have worked with a school in Poland, had visiting students from Spain, video conferenced our link school in India and have hosted the International maths conference for the last two years. This conference has seen pupils from Holland and France working closely with our pupils to develop their maths understanding, as well as making new friends.

 The specialist college works very closely with the wider community to build and nurture good relationships. We provide a range of community activities including: Family badminton, Zumba, Spanish lessons and a successful ‘Silver Surfers’ ICT group which is helping older people gain confidence using computers and other new media. We also offer a range of science transition activities with our local primary schools and other joint science and maths projects. We work to instil a sense of ownership in our pupils, of the local facilities; including the local park. Pupils are working with our neighbours in Derby Park to make the park a safer and cleaner place.

We organise a minimum of three Family Learning Evenings each year. These have a science, maths or languages theme and are very well attended. Previous themes have included: Science is Cool – fun with liquid nitrogen, Stargazing live – with an inflatable planetarium, Maths puzzles and games, and an indoor treasure hunt evening which was very well attended. We hosted a wonderful summer Spanish night which included tapas, sangria and salsa dancing. To give parents the opportunity to take part in our Specialist Week we held a Diwali evening. Families learned about the Hindu festival and even made their own fireworks. We had traditional Indian cakes and sweets and sampled a range of Indian teas.

As a science college we thought it important to be aware of the impact of our school on the environment. We decided to become an Eco-school in 2006 and have achieved the bronze and silver awards. We have also received two Groundwork trust awards for our work in this area. Our Eco-club has also worked hard to improve the gardens at Oxford House sheltered housing by weeding the flower beds and planting summer bedding plants. This has led to the group winning a local Crimebusters award. We have had several pupils shortlisted for Sefton’s Eco-champion and one pupil actually won the overall award in 2010.

Every year we have a cross curricular specialist week based around a common science/maths/languages theme. Since our designation we have investigated: Enterprising activities, Earth & Space, the Environment, the history of sugar production in Liverpool, Our World and most recently India. The pupils work on a range of extended tasks across fours days which, culminate in beautiful display material as evidence of the high level of learning taking place. This year’s theme will be The Olympics.