Introduction
Rokeby is a happy school with good relationships between students and students and between students and the staff. It is also a busy and exciting school committed to high standards in achievement and behaviour.
We see the fact that our students come from many backgrounds and many cultures from all over the world as a positive asset. This same multi-culturalism is reflected in our staff many of which have joined us from Europe, Africa, Australasia, South America and Asia.
What unites us all is the determination to ensure that every student will achieve his best at Rokeby and go on to take advantage of the many opportunities that exist for educated people in twenty first century Britain.
We also hope that he will gain an education in a broader sense and will develop interests outside the academic curriculum. We are here to give him the help, support and encouragement that he will need.
Back To TopKeeping Parents and Carers Informed
One of our priorities at Rokeby is to ensure that parents and carers are kept properly informed of their son's progress in clear and simple language.
Mid-way through the autumn and spring terms we hold Academic Review Days. These are for students and their parents/carers to come into school and review progress and set targets for improvement.
We also hold an annual consultation evening for each year group, when parents and carers are given the opportunity to meet with individual subject teachers. This is an important event in our calendar and we hope that all parents/carers are able to attend.
Throughout the year we also hold a series of Curriculum evenings. Each focuses on one or two subjects, such as Mathematics and Humanities, with the aim of helping parents and carers to understand what and how students are learning in school and how they can be supported with homework outside of school.
Back To TopDare to be the Best
All students are encouraged to work hard and do their best at Rokeby. To help them achieve this we maintain a careful check on each individual's progress. Students who demonstrate high standards of effort, progress or attainment receive merits and certificates throughout each term. Should any student's work or behaviour slip below the acceptable standard, parents and carers will be asked to come into school to discuss how we can work together to address the problem/s.
Teachers regularly assess each student's work and students are also given regular opportunities to make their own self-assessment of their progress. All this careful monitoring enables students and their teachers to realise promptly if an individual is not performing to the best of his capabilities.
Each November we have an awards evening when the achievements of recent
leavers from year 11 are rewarded in a formal ceremony with an invited
guest speaker. In July we hold another awards evening to recognise the
achievements of students throughout years 7 to 10. Parents and carers are
invited to both evenings so that they can share in the celebrations.
Aiming High
We encourage our students to aim high and make the best of their abilities. With hard work and the support of the entire staff, at Rokeby all students can achieve their personal challenges.
Students have access to supervised study facilities before and after school. All students in years 7 to 11 remain on site at lunchtime and there are additional areas set aside for study at this time.
Back To TopTaking Responsibility
To encourage student involvement in the running of the school, there is a Student Council. Here boys can voice their opinions and make suggestions for improvements and changes in aspects of school life.
In years 9 and 11, students may be invited to apply to become a prefect. If successful, they perform a variety of duties ranging from showing visitors around the school to mentoring younger students. Prefects act as exemplary ambassadors for the school.
Year 9 and 10 students have the opportunity to become sports mentors. They receive training to equip them with the skills needed to run basketball, football and cricket sessions for other students at lunchtimes.
The team of lunch monitors support the lunchtime supervisors in and around the dining hall. They work to make sure that all students can enjoy their lunch in a calm and orderly atmosphere.
Representatives from the school council, the sports mentors and the prefects come together as the Student Leadership Group (SLG). This group represents the student body and the chair and vice chair have a regular seat alongside the Headteacher and her leadership team.
Back To TopHigh Standards
We expect all our students at Rokeby to behave well and follow the respect policy. Students are helped to learn how to take personal responsibility for their own actions. Students work towards having an excellent record of attendance and punctuality. There is a friendly atmosphere at the school based upon trust and co-operation and staff are supportive of students.
Back To TopReligious Education
Religious Studies are part of the school curriculum but do not include instruction in any particular religion. As a multi-cultural school we recognise that each student will continue in their own cultural and religious tradition. Our school community comprises many faiths and many cultures. We believe that by learning together we come to understand, enjoy and respect each other and learn how to be good citizens in a multi-cultural, multi-faith society.
Back To TopWider Interests
Although we concentrate on the core curriculum of subjects, Rokeby encourages students to develop an interest in a wide range of subjects and activities.
Rokeby has an excellent reputation for sport. All the popular team games are encouraged at Rokeby including basketball, badminton, football, rugby and cricket. Ex-students have achieved great success at professional level. Currently there are ex-Rokeby students playing football for Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth, Millwall and Peterborough. Our rugby performance is strong too and we have, in recent years, developed close links with the East London Rugby Club.
Rokeby has also earned a reputation for excellence in basketball. We have provided players for the England team at both senior and junior levels and several students have won scholarships to colleges in America.
Rokeby is not just a team game school; if an individual has an interest in a sport of his own choice then he is encouraged to develop it. In the past year alone cycling, weight training, handball and rowing have all been added to the curriculum with outside coaches giving advice.
The arts: Drama, Music, Art and Dance, play an increasingly important part at Rokeby. There are many opportunities for students to take part in curricular and extra curricular groups and projects including choir, animation workshops and borough productions.
Back To TopMoving On
In year 9 all boys take the level 1 or 2 Personal Finance qualification through mathematics and in year 11 all students study for the level 1 or 2 Preparing for Work Certificate. Both of these courses help to ensure that all students across the ability range leave equipped with the skills needed to access a wide range of educational, vocational and employment opportunities.
The vast majority of students at Rokeby go on to further education at a wide variety of educational institutions and then, if they have the potential and desire, to university.
In 2008, students went on to more than 15 different institutions including NewVIc, Havering Sixth Form, Seven Kings Sixth Form and George Monoux College. For each of the past two years the highest achieving student in year 11 has won a full scholarship to the sixth form of The City of London Boys School.
A measure of our success is in the number of students who regularly come back to thank staff for their time and support.
