¡
THE ACADEMIC ORGANISATION OF THE SCHOOL
The school has six classes in each of the first five years. There is a substantial Sixth Form of 240 students. In recent years pressure on places has grown so intense that the school has opened extra classes in the lower forms. The six houses are maintained but five students from each house make up a seventh teaching group called "Technicolour" as the six house colours are represented in that group.
For academic purposes the students are placed in heterogeneous groups which are balanced not only by academic ability but also according to sex, race, sporting and musical talents, and in the first year at least, the ESF primary school which they attended. Teaching in most subjects takes place in such mixed ability groups to the end of the Fifth Form. The exceptions to this are French which broadly bands children at the end of Form 1, Mathematics which does the same at the end of Form 2 and English which follows suit in Form 4.
In the first three years students follow a broadly based and extensive common curriculum. In years four and five students pursue their core subjects and selected options. The core consists of English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Games and a weekly tutor period or form period. Students opt for an additional five subjects which are pursued until the end of Fifth form when the General Certificate of Secondary Education Examinations are sat.
In the Sixth form students have a broad choice of GCE Advanced and Advanced/Supplementary levels, GCSE Mature courses, a Business Education Course and a core of General Studies. Specific details of all these courses are available in the three relevant brochures: the 'Junior Curriculum Booklet', 'Options' which deals with years four and five and the 'Sixth Form Brochure'.
The academic life of the school is organised along departmental lines. The departmental organisation is one of the strengths of the school in that it permits groups of fiercely committed specialists to enthuse about their subject to groups of children who often find it difficult to resist the enthusiasm of their teachers.
A Junior History Class.
CDT Design and Communication.
Page 120Page 121
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.