Student and Staff Views
What do our students think of our school?
"I think what makes Copleston so special is the unique teaching style and approach, where teachers get to know their students and assist them based on their own personal strengths and weaknesses, not just teaching the class as a collective. The staff are always really positive and try to uplift both the student's grades and spirits, encouraging us to strive further and achieve more. The school also focuses on nurturing students and helping to make us the best versions of ourselves we can be, training us to be polite, resilient, understanding individuals that can contribute more in society." - Year 12 student
“The teachers and cooking staff are so unbelievably friendly and helpful it is a genuine joy to go to school.” - Year 12 student
"The teachers are exceptional and help so much during lesson as well as giving up lots of their time to give specific support in revision or one on one sessions." - Year 13 Student
“The community at Copleston makes it a really special place, all the staff are so supportive and the school provides lots of opportunities that allow you to get closer to your peers.” – Year 12 student
"The atmosphere is positive and the students are friendly." - Year 13 student
Copleston offers a variety of enriching and helpful after school revision sessions for in exam years. They give out useful booklets and talk through key exam skills and content information. I value them immensely and truly believe that they will be key to my exam success. Copleston’s reward system ensures that all students can be recognised by members of staff and their peers for their positive attitude, actions and behaviour. I think that the system is incredibly beneficial to students, as it boosts self esteem and encourages a better school community as a whole. Copleston has a wide range of facilities to cater for every need, and I personally believe that a lot of thought, time and effort goes into the maintenance and upkeep of these. – Year 11 student
“I am a prefect in Copleston, which I have had a lot of fun doing when it comes to managing student leaders, attending events and helping younger students. Being a prefect involves being responsible, reliable and hardworking which would be perfect for anyone who is confident. The best thing about being a prefect is wearing a special jumper with your name on it!” – Year 11 student
Revision sessions are helpful when not knowing what to be revising for GCSEs. They go over topics that you wouldn’t be going over again in class and give you the opportunity to revise them. – Year 11 student
"Exam skills sessions really helped me to get on top of my revision during Year 11. Having teachers go through topics helped me to learn to break down my revision and focus on topics in a different way by working up to answering exam questions. Teachers are always happy to help you work through problems in class or provide extra support outside of lessons if you're struggling. Leading up to my exams my teachers were great with letting me come in and go through topics I didn't understand with them.” – Year 12 student
I was involved in the Student Leader programme as a student prefect. I think it is crucial for these programmes to teach you important leadership skills and great empathy skills. I am now a part of Team Six and excited to help the school further in more advanced projects. – Year 12 student
"I felt really supported from the school about my choices. Now I'm here, they are still giving us loads of resources to help... There's nothing to worry about!" Year 9 view on the Year 8 Pathways process
I feel more interested now because I am achieving and learning things I enjoy. – Year 9 student on choosing their option subjects
"Pathways helped me to choose subjects which I now really enjoy doing and am interested in." – Year 9 student
When choosing my GCSE options, I was given a lot of advice and guidance from teachers, to help me pick which subjects were best. - Year 9 Student
"I am very excited about aiming towards my dream job through GCSE. Getting help through tough decisions makes me feel ready to take a big step forward. I am looking forward to my options and getting help from teachers." Year 8, about to begin the Pathways process
The taster sessions for Sixth Form have been amazing and really give you a preview of what the lessons would be like at A-level. I also really enjoy the revision sessions in form and after school as it doesn’t feel like you're putting in any extra time or effort but you are and it’s really effective. – Year 11 student
“I am part of the school netball team and Tanzanite dance club and both of these groups really make you feel like you’re part of a team, especially when you’re performing in a show or playing in a match.” – Year 11 student
Copleston Sixth Form gave me the chance to travel to Iceland in 2023 and although not being a Geography A level student, the Sixth Form branched across both year groups making this an accessible trip to the whole student body which I was really grateful for! Especially knowing that this was some of my peers' first time leaving the country, making it a fantastic opportunity to explore the natural world and different cultures. – Year 13 student
"I went on the 2023 trip to Spain. Being able to have the opportunity to speak to the local Spanish people really helped me to develop my skills in the language and improved my confidence for the speaking exam later in the year. Trips are a great way to see the subjects you take from a different perspective and gain a greater understanding from having a practical experience with it. I think they are a very important part as it provides a very memorable experience and helps ignite a passion for your subject.” – Year 12 student
Every lesson at Copleston feels different as you learn something new all the time, even if they are linked. The lessons are great and the teachers want to help you achieve your highest potential even if you find a lesson difficult. - Year 7 student
"When I come to school, I feel welcome and happy. The food is good, the staff are nice and you will always feel included, and although it may be hard at the start and homework will be tricky at times, as you settle down you will enjoy it." Zac, Year 7
Copleston is different to other schools because it is extremely welcoming, all the teachers are lovely and they are always there to help you when you need it. It is also different in the way that people think it is a really sporty school but also has a very strong Music department. All of the sports facilities are amazing. The range of clubs at lunch and after school is amazing as well. The places to get food are incredible and the range of different kinds of food each day is nice too. Coming to Copleston is a joy. Bailey-Rae, Year 7
"The teachers at Copleston are always willing to help if you need it, and give really good advice on how to revise for a test, especially my Science teacher who recommended I make flash cards which helped me remember all the things I was struggling on for the test." Iszabella, Year 7
The teachers are very nice and always try to make the lessons interesting. Hanna, Year 7
"When I first joined, I was worried I would struggle with classes and homework but all of my teachers provide really good support if I get stuck on anything, making me happy when I go to school. The homework may seem hard, but the teachers and the school make it easy." Amber, Year 7
In PE we do loads of different sports such as football, basketball, rugby and much more. Lessons are very good. We do cool science experiments. Lunch and break are very good because you can get very nice food. All teachers make the lessons fun and exciting for all kids. You get 5 minutes to get from one class to another which is loads of time. You also have people to take you to class in the first few days. You also have timetables so you know where you are going. During lunch and break, you can basically go anywhere except buildings. You do not need to worry about high school because once the first day is done, it will be fine. Ryley, Year 7
"When I first joined this school, all of the staff were so friendly and I felt like I was a part of this school immediately, and making a lot of new friends as well." Year 7 student
The Leaders of Learning and Safeguarding team are so helpful and caring. Dillon, Year 7
"The school has really great teachers and staff and is overall an amazing learning environment." Year 7 student
Copleston is a very good school. The teachers help you if needed in lessons...The teachers greet you at the door every morning and they greet you when you go into lesson. The school has lots of places to get food. Cheesy chips are AMAZING!!! Aubrey-Jai, Year 7
"I never see anyone unhappy at Copleston. Everyone is always absorbed in their lessons and having fun at break and lunch. We always learn something new in our lessons and we never get bored. Plus if we ever struggle in a lesson, there is plenty of help given." Alfie, Year 7
I like that all the teachers greet you at the door. It almost makes you want to come to school more often, and the lunch ladies are very friendly and are willing to help. Year 7 student
"At lunch/break, the staff are very helpful because of their great energy and willingness to help out. This includes everyone who works outside on a break or lunch, no matter the time. Energetic teachers are also so amazing for learning." Oakley, Year 7
The Tech workshops are mazing, with so many amazing tools that help so much. Along with this, the Tech teachers are also amazing, letting you have almost complete control with the decorations on your crafts, such as adding glitter to your picture frame and putting a wooden racing car onto your holder. As well as the other things I said, the wode range of after school and lunchtime clubs is gigantic., so there is a club for everyone like science club, book club, rock climbing club and more. All of these clubs are free of charge. The variety of different sports we do in PE is great - rugby, football, fitness and more. The help with IT is the best I've known, and the Science experiments are fun and happen every two to three lessons of Science. The experiments range from touching a pig lungs in Biology, to making fire extinguisher foam in Chemistry, while using paper and paper clips to make helicopters in Physics. The Drama and Performing Arts lessons are so fun, with doing scenes from Aladdin and The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. As well as this, all the teachers are the best! Our LRC at Copleston is super, with a wide variety of books, with new ones arriving constantly it feels like, as well as a book vending machine, along with laptops and computers for fun and homework. The librarian is really kind and helpful. Connor, Year 7
What is it like to work at Copleston?
“Copleston has an extremely welcoming staff which has made it very easy to settle in since joining in September 2023. The students are polite, courteous and eager to learn - this makes the job enjoyable and means that I can concentrate on the learning that is taking place in the classroom and not on poor behaviour. There is a high level of support from other department heads, the Leaders of Learning and senior leadership, all of whom often pop into the classroom to check that all is well with behaviour. This is a great place to work and I would whole-heartedly recommend it.” – Mrs Quintero-Hunt, Head of Faculty, Business and Economics
The senior leadership team is supportive. The students are polite and hardworking. I have felt so welcomed to the school, starting as a temporary member of staff during the pandemic. Becoming a permanent member of staff was really pleasing. – Miss Parnell, Teacher of Humanities
“School 100% supportive during illness, letting me concentrate on my recovery and making my return to school very stress-free.” – Copleston Staff
I joined in September 2023 and since then I have found all staff that I have come into contact with are supportive, helpful and friendly. The English team are always available for questions [and] have spent time guiding me through aspects of the school or my new role as KS4 Coordinator.
I have also found that everyone supports the behaviour policy in the school from regular drop-ins by SMT, my line manager or KS Leads within the department. There is a real sense of everyone being on the same page when managing behaviour in such a large school, which for me is a rewarding experience. - Mrs Rashid, English teacher and KS4 Coordinator
"Copleston is my second home - hence why I have worked here for 22 years! It is an incredibly supportive place to work and to be for both staff and students. My own children have gone, and are going, through the school and I can't thank my colleagues enough for the support and excellent teaching they gave which helped my eldest daughter achieve superb GCSE results, including 5 at grade 9." - Mrs Keats, Director of English
I have been teaching at Copleston for 8 years and I firmly believe you could not find a more supportive school to work at. Everyone here wants the best outcomes for our students and we work collaboratively every single day to achieve this. - Copleston Staff
"I love the 'family feel' about the whole school - a real feeling of community which is evident from the moment you walk into the school to the time you walk out again." - Mrs Rudland, Pastoral Admin Support
