"As a result of the good teaching most pupils make at least good progress in their learning and for some it is outstanding"
Ofsted January 2010
"The currciulum has a very positive impact on pupil's personal development, encouraging growth in confidence, self-esteem, independnet thinking and readiness for the next stage in life"
Ofsted January 2010
Secondary Curriculum
The secondary school opened in September 2005. Currently Year 7- 11 classes enjoy a full secondary curriculum taught be secondary teaching specialists. All the teaching staff have a track record of examination and teaching excellence in the state sector.
Senior school can accept admissions into Years 7-10 for September 2010.
Academic Ethos
Small class sizes enable pupils to make rapid progress and become enthusiastic and independent learners.
School expects a high degree of personal motivation and a commitment to educational endeavour. Although not academically selective, the high pupil teacher ratio allows every child to receive the individual teacher feedback and one to one guidance to ensure academic success.
Pupils are expected to give 100% effort at all times. They make good progress as a result.
Current Developments
The school is committed to address every pupil's educational requirements individually.
We intend to continue to expand on our core academic provision while creating more linguistic, artistic and expressive options for children with particular talents in these areas.
We are particulary interested in the development of accelerated learning teaching techniques. The school has children who qualify for registration with NAGTY (National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth) and is providing enriched curriculum opportunities for gifted children. Mr Philips is the Gifted and Talented Co-ordinator for the school.
This academic year the Gifted and Talented programme has been enhanced. Gifted pupils are allocated a mentor from the teaching staff, who meets with each individual on a weekly basis, to review their individual progress, interests, workload, strengths and weaknesses. Each pupil receives guidance on managing the heavy demands on their time and the mentor can modify the balance of the learning being undertaken to tailor it to the individual pupils needs.
Gifted and talented pupils from January 2009 will also be drawn to together as a group within curriculum time. This lesson will focus on critical thinking skills, philosophy and learning material intended to stretch and challenge this group of pupils.
A package of support systems are also being developed to extend into the extra-curricular programme. This includes but is not limited to, a masterclass programme.
A limited bursary system has been introduced for Gifted and Talented pupils that can meet the academic criteria set.
The Core Curriculum
A strong academic curriculum is delivered in the traditional disciplines of Maths, Science, Modern Foreign Languages, Humanities and English. Standards are high and expectations of pupil challenging.
School has made a strong commitment to the teaching of seperate sciences as part of the core curriculum in KS3 and KS4. It is delivered as Chemistry, Biology and Physics from Year 7 all of which are compulsary at GCSE.
Languages
All pupils are taught French and Spanish in Years 7-9 and have the option to continue with these at GCSE level. Additional GCSE languages are available as a twighlight session.
Year 10 GCSE Options September 2009
The Year 10 GCSE options selected by pupils for next year are:
Maths, Statistics, English Language and English Literature, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, Ancient History, Geography, Economics, Physical Education, Graphics and French.
Mathematics
This academic year the Year 9 class have made such good progress that all pupils have been entereed for GCSE mathematics this year. This is due to their hard work and excellent individual progress. The class itself has a full spread of ability including gifted pupils to the less able, with a full spread imbetween however no pupil is expected to achieve less than a grade C.
The class have also picked up a statistics examination this year as an extra, for fun!
Humanities
The humanities subjects,(History and Geography and RE) broadly follow the National Curriculum. Pupils have the option to agree a GCSE specication. Modernw World History, Medicine through Time and, Ancient History have been selected by different year groups in recent years.
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November 2009 - Year 8 River Study (River Douglas)
 
Performing Arts
Music is an area where the school has begun to build up greater specialist teaching and 'state of the art' ICT resources. Music is compulsary in Year 7-9, and supported by a strong drama tradition and the availability of an good range of private instrumental tution. All pupils can learn Keyboard and percussion. Tuition for all Brass instruments, guitar, woodwind, percussion and strings are available in school.
Performances are an important part of school life. Musical and dramatic productions take place in the Autumn and Spring Terms.
During the Autimn Term 2009 the secondary and primary pupils are putting on the their innivative version of Cinderella.
Sporting Opportunities
The school PE facilities are subject to a programme of rapid development. Specialist sports coaching is used for most of the activities, including swimming, dance, gymnastics, cricket, football, hockey, basket ball, netball, athletics and outdoor pursuits.
Supporting Talented Athletes
The school is working with the National Governing Bodies of more than one sport to promote elite fitness and training programmes. Although geared specifically to the national fencing development programme (CPP) this can be adapted to other sporting disciplines. School can support the educational needs of talented athletes who require a more flexible approach in order to fulfill their training and competition commitments.
PE and the extra-curricular programme
Secondary PE has been timetabled as a whole school session this year. Pupils are grouped by ability and from Year 8 can follow the GCSE PE programme enabling talented pupils to potentially obtain early GCSE accreditation.
The school has a strong tradition of outdoor pursuits and expedition training which eventually feeds into the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme in Year 9.
Fencing is a compulsary discipline in school and taught by a specialist Fencing Master. Pupils are taught to fence with the foil in primary school (from Year 2 onwards) before selecting their preferred weapon in senior school.
Sports clubs run throughout the school week with specialist activity camps during holidays. Karate is a new after school club activity introduced this year and is taught by a sixth dan instructor. Thai boxing, yoga and running clubs run during or after school.
Uptake of Secondary and Primary Places for September 2010
We are still accepting admissions into Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 for September 2010. Primary admission is available in all years for September 2010.
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