Curriculum

The curriculum is devised with reference to the needs and abilities of our students. It seeks to challenge all students, and emphasis is placed on each one making the maximum amount of progress possible in the development of literacy and numeracy skills. 

Exams & Learning

In Year 11, the school offers a wide range of exam options at both GCSE and BTEC level, a sample of which can be viewed here. Every effort is made to try and give students a broad and appropriate choice of options. There is much consultation with both parents and child to make sure that a good choice is made which leaves doors open for future study or careers.

A central part of what we do is to encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning. Every student is unique and we therefore plan learning on an individual basis. Study skills are an integral part of our curriculum and teaching. Students are taught how to carry out a task and how to generalise a new skill, to enable them to become independent learners.

School Day & School Week

The school day and week are planned in such a way as to give ample time for pupils to organise themselves for the next lesson. For most of our children regular time is also assigned each week for one-to-one tuition, which takes place in the Grove. 

A strong feature of the school is Friday afternoon ‘activity’ time for all students. This enables everyone, including those who travel from greater distances, to take part in educational areas of interest that would otherwise be scheduled outside of school hours.

Many children love the opportunity to take part in an activity of their own choosing. Individual sports such as Taekwando, kick boxing, mountain biking, golf, climbing wall, sailing and horse riding are very popular, as are the rock band, model making and cookery.

The choice is extensive and changes each term. As well as providing an opportunity to indulge in extra-curricular studies, pupils learn team skills in an enjoyable setting. They also discover talents of which they were unaware and in which they have the opportunity to excel, which helps to build up their self-esteem.

R&R

On most days students have ’review and response time’. This is an opportunity for the form tutor to work with individuals or small groups to support their learning and individual study skills. (This time is also used for basic organisational teaching e.g. ensuring that a pupil knows what homework has been set and that they have packed the right books to take home.)