Curriculum

Key Stage 3:

The school operates a conventional Key Stage 3 curriculum, but with an integrated skills based approach in Year 7. There are strong collaborative arrangements with our feeder Primary Schools – the primary Liason Senior tutor teaches Technology in the primary schools and is chair of Governors in one primary school. We undertake much of the Year 6 Science at Bradford Crescent site and put up to two days specialist Music support into Key Stages 1 and 2. There are also linked arrangements for ICT Clubs, Out of Hours NOF funded, Arts opportunities and Summer Schools in Literacy and Sport.

Last year 7 students also went back to one of the primary schools and helped year six students with homework.

There is an emerging Gifted & Talented scheme with one off activities and a growing commitment to the University of the First Age. At the end of Key Stage 3, students undertake a variety of activities and since 2004, this also embraced a week joint work with two local 11-16 schools. The school has secured a short term DfES Gifted and Talented grant to promote partnerships.

Key Stage 4:

No two years are the same. Each year we review the abilities of our students and try to fit a curriculum to their needs. There is a pattern of provision that generally enables the more able to access a wide range of GCSE options with the least able having a core, but with limited options and more skill focused courses. We also operate individually tailored courses for particular students and use the LEAs Impact Scheme. There is a strong move to offer more vocational courses. These began in September 2004 and have extended each year since. We are also collaborating with other schools in the centre of Durham to offer more choice in their options.

Group sizes at Key Stage 4 tend to be small – this is a characteristic of both Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4, with average group sizes being about twenty. A bonus of seven staff is put into the Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 curriculum from post 16 provision.

SEN Provision

The SENCO has a team of eight Learning Support Assistants. Their work is mostly provided through in class support, but there is a small amount of individual withdrawal and small group work. The impact this small team makes is impressive.

The Learning Support Facility

The school is evolving a support scheme for students with challenging behaviour. The facility provides withdrawal and in class support for behaviour difficulties and students who are marginalized by emotional issues, persistent absence, refusal to attend. The work is varied and likely to expand. We have a strong desire to move to a “one-stop” facility that integrates SEN, behaviour and emotional support with LEA services.

Resources

Our current Options Brochure can be downloaded from HERE