Curriculum Organisation in Lower School
On arrival at the school each pupil is allocated to a tutor group under the specific care of a group tutor. During the first year (year 7) pupils are taught in their tutor groups. Then setting is introduced in English, Welsh, French, Humanities, Mathematics and Science in Year 8. Pupils study the core and foundation subjects laid down in the National Curriculum. This comprises, the core subjects, English, Mathematics, and Science plus Geography, History, RE, Music, Art, Technology, French, Welsh and P.E.
Detailed Programmes of Study and Attainment Targets are laid down for all subjects studied. Talented linguists will have the opportunity of taking Spanish in Year 9 in addition to Welsh and French. The Humanities GCSE course starts half-way through Year 9. Detail course content for each year is listed in a booklet sent to parents early in the academic year. National Standard Assessment Tests (SATS) in English, Mathematics & Science will be taken at the end of Key stage 3 (end of Year 9).
Children with specific learning difficulties are provided with specialist help either through support within their teaching group, backed up by individual tuition, or in small groups in the designated unit. Every attempt is made to provide each pupil with access to the full curriculum. We test all pupils in Years 7 and again in Year 10 to identify each child's potential against which judgements can be made about their progress.
Individual pupils with the highest academic potential are provided with additional challenges and where appropriate follow an accelerated programme of study. This may entail working in a group of able pupils from a variety of year groups who are withdrawn from lessons for several hours of intensive collaborative work each week. However we organise curriculum enrichment experiences for pupils of all abilities.
Curriculum Organisation in Upper school
The National Curriculum limits the choice in Years 10 and 11, but safeguards breadth and balance in each student's programme. In the compulsory elements there will be some choice in the modules followed. The options allow pupils to take up a new subject such as Business Studies, Information and Communications Technology, and Drama.There are opportunities for able students to take GCSE's a year early and in some cases to begin AS work in Year 11.
It is envisaged that almost all pupils will follow courses leading to GCSE examinations. 100% of pupils were entered for the final examinations in 2007. In addition to the compulsory subjects of English, Mathematics, Double Science, Humanities, Personal & Social Education & Games, each student is required to choose one subject from each of these option groups:
- Group 1
- French
- Welsh
- Information Technology
- Group 2
- Art
- Design Technology (Product Design)
- Design Technology (Resistant Materials)
- Food Technology
- Information Technology
- Music
- Group 3
- Business Studies
- Drama
- Food Technology
- Physical Education
- Spanish
- Textiles
RE is taught as a separate element within the Humanities GCSE course. The two top sets will be given an opportunity to gain 3 GCSE grades in Biology, Physics & Chemistry in the time allocated to other pupils for Dual Award Science [2 GCSEs]. Able linguists can achieve higher grades in Welsh and French in a reduced time slot which incorporates the 1 hour of compulsory Welsh. All those following the GCSE half course in Welsh will complete this course at the end of Year 10 (results in 2003 & 2004 were excellent).
The majority of pupils will take Humanities GCSE a year early and gain an additional GCSE in History or Geography at the end of Year 11. Many students will be given an opportunity to take GCSE Statistics during the course of Year 10. | 
