Upper School- Years 10-11

The Upper School aims to provide a safe and supportive learning environment to ensure every pupil has the opportunity to achieve their full academic and wider potential. Pupils are given great opportunities, are set high expectations and given greater responsibility for their own learning in an environment which is both positive and productive. A close working partnership operates between pupils, parents and teachers. Working together, we encourage, challenge and target support to pupils to provide outstanding care at this crucial time in their development.

We aim to develop pupils into impressive young adults.  We aim to develop our pupils academically and as well-rounded individuals, who are prepared for a much wider range of choices and challenges. This can measured from the many great activities taking place within the Upper School to enrich their potential in later life: Duke of Edinburgh, Sports leaders, Careers fairs, Enterprise days, Interview experience, The Crypt Enrichment Challenge to name but a few. Many are linked into the school’s historic, vibrant and competitive House system which also operates with an extensive range of team and individual sporting events.

Pupils begin their preparation in Year 9, studying a wide range of academic subjects, together with Learn to learn, PE and Games and during the course of the year come to understand thoroughly the content and approach of each subject. This aims to help students make informed, guided choices for their GCSE subjects.

All pupils in Year 10 are entered for GCSE examinations, with examinations taking place at the end of Year 11. Top set Maths students also study GCSE Further Maths. For students who find GCSE’s more challenging they are supported in their studies with Staff and 6th Form Mentors, as well as Target Groups to provide extra time and tutoring where needed.

Pupils study 9 GCSE subjects, with the most able offered the opportunity to study for additional courses (such as Further Mathematics).

The subjects that all pupils take are:
English Language, English Literature, Mathematics,
The three Sciences or combined science.

Additionally students choose either three or four subjects from the list below:

Art and Design
Business Studies   
DT- Resistant Materials
Drama
French
German
Geography 
History 
Computing
Music 
Sports Studies
Philosophy and Ethics

Non-examined courses:

Physical Education    Games
Learning to Learn (in Year 11) Personal Education

We encourage pupils to consider EBacc when choosing subjects to support future UCAS applications, if pupils aspire to study at Russell Group or Oxbridge Universities.

The majority of the pupils then continue into the Sixth Form which also then gives them the opportunity to learn and work in a co-educational setting.

Year 11 Information Evening 9^th February 2017

Y11 Information Evening	Y11 English Language	Y11 English Literature	Y11 Science	Y11 Maths

KS4 Passport to Employability

In Key Stage Four we benefit from working closely with GFutures, a local Enterprise Partnership to develop the KS4 Passport to Employability. GFutures accredits the programme to enhance its status and offers an extensive range of activities to develop specific employability skills. It is hoped that through the Passport to Employability students will have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of these skills and topics but more importantly be able to demonstrate these skills through a variety of activities, challenges and reflections throughout Key Stage 4. By establishing an award within Key Stage 4 it is also hoped that as a school we will show continuity and progression into Key Stage 5 where the Employability Award is already in place.