Location

Hextable is a village to the North of Swanley in the Sevenoaks District of Kent. The village was originally an agricultural centre but, in recent years, has been greatly expanded as a dormitory village, providing a convenient commuting point for North West Kent and London. Hextable is a small village within an area of outstanding natural beauty. Within the village there is designated park space and a heritage centre. 

The village is situated conveniently near the M25, allowing easy access to all major London airports. The Bluewater shopping centre is 15 minutes away.  Swanley Centre is 5 minutes away with access to supermarkets, banks and chemists and a market on Wednesdays. Dartford town centre is 10 minutes away, providing a Saturday market and a large variety of shops, including banks, building societies, supermarkets and fashion.

The village has three churches:

• Anglican - St Peter's, part of the united benefice with St Paul’s, Swanley Village
• Methodist
• Pentecostal

Notably, there are no public houses within the village due to restrictions placed by former landowners in the area.

Hextable Dance

Hextable Dance, Kent's Dance Development Centre, is a performing arts facility set in the grounds of Hextable School.



The centre offers high quality facilities including dance and drama studios, an ICT suite and sound recording studio. The distinctive exterior design of the building is matched by the highly specified interior.

The centre aims to be a true community resource and is available for use by local and regional arts organisations. The interaction between local amateur and visiting professional groups will encourage new creative opportunities for the performing arts in North Kent and beyond.

Link to Hextable Dance website

Secondary Education in the Area

Within the immediate local area there are four Grammar Schools and the Leigh/Longfield Academy. 

At Hextable, five forms are admitted into each Year 7. The students come from a wide area around Hextable. The current school role is 780.

Specialisation

In May 2009 the school was redesignated as a Specialist School in Performing Arts confirming our commitment to the specialism. Performing Arts has always been a particular strength of the school and Specialist status allows us to build on this. All students in Key Stage 3 study Dance, Drama and Music, and many choose to continue with these studies in Key Stage 4.

The partnership with Hextable Dance has enabled our students to have access to state of the art facilities. Both Dance and Drama are taught within Hextable Dance. 

OFSTED Report

The school recently underwent a full Ofsted Inspection. The school was judged to be satisfactory, with many good points highlighted during the inspection:

“the headteacher leads the school well and is working effectively with a good governing body to raise standards”

“the majority of pupils enjoy school and mix well socially”

“pupils participate well in extra curricular activities, especially in sport, and increasingly in the specialist performing arts”

“learners are well cared for”

A copy of Hextable School’s report is available on here.

 

Organisation

There is a Leadership Team of five and a Senior Management Team of 5, each responsible for a Learning Community. The curriculum is organised into five key areas of learning, with Directors of Learning being responsible for pastoral care and academic achievement for those students within their Learning Community. The school adopts a vertical tutoring structure.

The school recognises its staff as its most valuable asset and is fully committed to their continuing professional development and support. New staff to the school are given a comprehensive induction programme and are linked to another member of the school who can offer them support. The Business and Community Director is responsible for Human Resources within the school. 

Staff often take part in activities, eg bowling outings, and socialise together.

Student Support

We have an excellent pastoral support structure within school. Directors of Learning and Student Support Managers work hard to ensure that all students are supported in achieving their potential.

Premises

The school opened in 1974 and is situated within the green belt. The school stands in beautiful grounds and has an extensive playing field which leads onto New Barn Park in Swanley. The school has excellent ICT facilities and all classrooms have interactive whiteboards or wireless projection facilities.

Partnership Working

The school is part of the WHS Partnership. This includes Wilmington Enterprise College, Wilmington Boys and Girls Grammar, Swanley and Hextable Schools. All schools are working together to improve the opportunities for young people within the area.

The school works with Wilmington Enterprise College and Swanley Technology College to offer innovative vocational opportunities for students aged 14 to 19.

Hextable School works with a number of partners to develop innovative and exciting projects that enhance the experience for our students.

Equal Opportunities

This school is an equal opportunities employer. Applicants will be asked to disclose any convictions. All posts are subject to a satisfactory Criminal Records Bureau Check and satisfactory List 99 check prior to effective start date.

General

This information is supplied to potential applicants for posts at Hextable School. Specific vacancy information will be supplied to the applicants on enquiry. If further details are required before submitting an application please do not hesitate to call the Business and Community Director or Headteacher.