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 of their GCSE subjects. GCSE courses begin in Year 9 in Science, RE, IT and Citizenship.
All pupils in Year 10 are entered for GCSE examinations, with examinations taking place in Year 10 and Year 11 depending on the individual examination specification. Top set Maths students also study GCSE statistics and some have the option to take IGCSE Further Maths. Top set Physics students will be doing ICE IGCSE Physics as well as GCSE Physics. Gifted and Talented students in English, Maths, Music, RE and Science begin AS Level knowledge and skills work towards the end of Year 11. Some students who find GCSE’s more challenging, our supported in their studies with Staff and 6th Form Mentors, as well as Target Groups to give extra time and tutoring where needed.
Pupils usually choose to study 11 GCSE subjects. The subjects that all pupils take are:
English Language English Literature Methods In Mathematics
Application in Mathematics Physics Chemistry Biology
Additionally students choose four subjects from the list below:
Art and Design Business Studies DT- Graphic Products
DT- Resistant Materials Drama French
Geography German History
IT Latin Music
Religious Studies Spanish Sports Studies
Non-examined courses:
Physical Education Games
Learning to Learn (in Year 11) Personal Education ( Some students to gain accreditation with a Citizenship GCSE)
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.
