Blackfen School – Raising Aspirations, Releasing Potential

How can we sum up our school on one page? Blackfen School is successful for so many reasons.

Firstly we aim to live out the true meaning of our motto every day. That’s not just students but staff as well. In 2018, 61% of students in year 11 achieved five or more GCSE 9-4/A*-C grades, including at least a 4 in English and a 4 in Mathematics. At A level in 2018 100% of the grades were A*-E with 41% at A*-B and 83% at A*-C.  Similarly high levels were achieved in Level 3 BTEC qualifications. The levels of progress made by Blackfen students are above the national average. Our most recent Ofsted (March 2016) graded us a good school. However that doesn’t tell the whole story. We believe in partnerships and collaboration both within the teaching and associate staff and also with the students. This gives Blackfen a unique ethos where all strive for excellence but in a completely supportive environment. Many staff, new to the school, comments on the way that the school is somewhere teachers can teach and students can learn.  

Secondly, Blackfen believes in the need to have a Growth Mindset. That success is down to hard work and effort not some notion of innate talent or that intelligence is fixed at the age of 11. This philosophy lies at the heart of everything we do. We encourage staff, students and parents to look at learning and life in this way. There is no such thing at Blackfen as ‘I can’t do X or Y’ only I will get better if I persevere.

Thirdly, Blackfen School creates an atmosphere of mutual respect between all members of our community. This is evident when one first visits the school. Student surveys consistently point to the relationships between staff and students as the best quality of Blackfen. We believe we are a happy school and consider this to play a vital part in the success of our students.

This all leads to the fact that the school is oversubscribed with most students living within a two miles radius. We have a rapidly developing Sixth Form which offers a range of qualifications across a range of subjects. We have a vertical tutoring system which further develops the community feeling of the school and offer excellent teaching facilities.

How can we sum the school on one page? We can’t. Come and visit us and see what we mean.

If you are inspired to join us please complete the relevant application form and return this to vacancies@blackfen.bexley.sch.uk