Our Programme of Education

At admission we aim to create an individualised programme of education that is suited to each student’s needs and interests through negotiation and discussion with the family. Subjects will be chosen from the following list and will be dependent on vacancies and courses available at the time. If changes to the timetable become necessary, for whatever reason, these will be made at the start of each new half term or term. A copy of the timetable will be sent home.

Qualifications and Accreditations

The subjects listed (right) can lead to the following qualifications and accreditations:

• Arts Award
• Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC)
• Certificate of Personal Education (COPE)
• Duke of Edinburgh Award
• General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)
• Entry Level Certificate
• Adult Literacy and Numeracy Level 1 & 2 (ALAN)
• Unit Award Scheme

All of our students in Year 10 and 11 are encouraged to study for and take part in a variety of public examinations, courses and assessments allowing them to gain qualifications and accreditations in their chosen subjects. Some of our students’ who have special educational needs may be entitled to individual access arrangements. These special educational needs could include; difficulty with communication and interaction, cognition and learning or have sensory and physical needs or behavioural, emotional and social needs. Students’ will be assessed by independent Educational Psychologists’ or Specialised Teachers who will establish if a child requires help during an examination.

Support for the student during an examination could come in the form of; reading, writing, staying focused, having rest breaks, extra time and modified papers. This is a way of making sure that learning, sitting public examinations and gaining qualifications is available to all. During the summer examinations period in 2009, over 90% of our Year 10 and 11 students sat and passed at least one public examination.

Assessment and Reporting

Students will be assessed in the core subjects of Maths and English at the Individual Action Plan meeting (IAP) held with their Link Tutor following the admission interview. This will help support their learning and the Link Tutor will also discuss their individual needs to help them stay on task. Progress in both learning and behaviour will be continually and informally assessed and monitored by all staff, and parents / carers will be informed if there are any concerns.

Students will attend, with their parents / carers, an Individual Action Plan (IAP) meeting with the Link Tutor on admission and also at the beginning of each term to review and set their targets as outlined in the Home School Agreement. Reports for each student will be sent home at the end of every term. Subject Teachers will comment on students’ achievement, behaviour and progress and will note any other relevant information. A mark will be given for effort and attainment and a National Curriculum Level will also be recorded for that subject.