Technology College Specialism
Beaumont Hill School was first awarded TC status in 2000. This was the result of a joint bid submitted with Abbey Hill Special School in Stockton. The 2 schools worked together in partnership and submitted one of the first successful special school bids.
In 2003 the SSAT acknowledged that both schools were well enough established to continue to provide high quality technology teaching, excellent resourcing and the community partnerships independently.
Through are consistently high standards and performance as a specialist Technology College we became a HPSS (high performing specialist school). In 2003 and were invited to take on second specialism - Applied learning .
BHS has since entered into a Hard Federation with two other mainstream schools with the development of the Education Village Darlington and that brought ever expanding community partnerships and opportunities plus the strength of become an associate college together with Haughton Community School specialist Arts College.
As a Technology College Beaumont Hill school has a distinctive character which reflects our specialism and is embedded in our school culture and values.
Our focus is on raising attainment in the key specialist subjects of Design & Technology, Science and Mathematics contributing to whole school improvement through innovative approaches to teaching and learning, particularly through the use of new learning opportunities and technologies to develop and share good practice across the curriculum.
The curriculum offers a strong innovative and learning culture which is creative, scientific, technological and enterprising and has an applied learning focus. Strong links are also made between the science, mathematics and design & technology subjects through extended learning opportunities such as focused study weeks such as Food fortnight and our annual summer schools.
Specialist plans and targets have a strong community focus which aims to build and extend partnerships with the local community, further education providers and industry to support the technological curriculum opportunities for students learning such as Darlington and Houghall Colleges, Cummins engineering and Ochis restaurant.
We provide a range of enrichment and applied learning opportunities in the specialist subjects to improve engagement and extend learning for our students and others in the community. Examples of this are our after school clubs such as the Good life club and opportunities for working on design challenges with local businesses during specialist study weeks such as Full on Futures.
We aim to make effective use of ICT to raise standards and enhance the quality of teaching and learning in design & technology, science and mathematics and the whole curriculum. We have recently had an article published by D&T association showing how our students have embraced the skills of digital film making to support achievements their KS4 accreditation.
Appropriate KS4 courses in both vocational and traditional areas of D&T, Maths and Science are available to all students in the Village. All BHS students follow personalized learning pathways in at least one area of D&T plus Maths Science and ICT. Study groups include students from HCS who benefit from the personalised learning pathways provided.
As a specialist Technology college we ensure every pupil has access to their Cooking Entitlement and acquires the skills to cook simple nutritious dishes from basic ingredients both in their own schools and in their families of schools.
Post 16 students often continue study a technology related area facilitate at a local FE college or if they chose to stay on at school they have continue to have access to high quality learning opportunities and outcomes in specialist subjects with a vocational focus working in the context of school, its wider community including local businesses, employers and FE providers.