Organisation

Year 7

Upon admission to the school the children are placed in groups, three of which will consist mainly of fluent Welsh speakers and learners. The year group is divided into two bands in a number of subject areas to enable us to deliver the timetable. These groups form Personal and Social Education (PSE) Groups and Registration Groups, each one with a Tutor. The children remain in the same groups for lessons in a number of the subjects offered . There is some setting during the year, for example in Mathematics, Science and Technology etc. Pupils leave their teaching groups to form sets according to their ability, potential and experience.

Subjects Offered

Welsh, English, Mathematics, French , Information Technology, Art, Music, Geography, History, Religious Education, Science, Design Technology, Physical Education and Games; Personal and Social Education (PSE) e.g. Drama, Dance, Health Education and Citizenship.

Remedial Education

The “Success Maker” programme is time-tabled for 3 periods as part of a package of new initiatives which have been introduced in order to improve literacy e.g. the Fast Forward Group. Parents are consulted before any decision is taken.

Special Education

This is an integrated part of mainstream education. There is one teaching group where additional pupil support is provided as specified in the school policy on providing for special educational needs. The size of this group is restricted to provide maximum individual attention.

Year 8

The same pattern is followed as in Year 7 except that children are in sets for French, Mathematics, Science, Technology and Welsh. There are PSE modules as in Year 7.

Year 9

Subjects offered

Every child follows a course in the following Departments: Mathematics, English, Welsh, Modern Foreign Languages, Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), Geography, History and Religious Education, Music, Art, Design Technology, Physical Education and Games, PSE Modules (Drama, Health, Information Technology, Citizenship and Careers).

Remedial Education

There are separate groups for remedial education in Mathematics, Science and English. The number of children in these groups is limited to a maximum of 15.

Special Education

The same provision as for the two previous years. Classroom support is provided within the resources of the school.

The Curriculum 11 – 16

The school tries to provide for each pupil a curriculum that ensures a balance between the 11 curriculum areas as suggested by the National Curriculum and those cross-curricular elements such as Personal and Social Education. Support is provided, within the resources of the school, for those pupils who have learning difficulties.

Curriculum Pattern

Outlined below is the curriculum pattern operated within this school:

Years 10 & 11

Key Stage 4 / National Curriculum: Years 10 & 11

At the end of Year 9 pupils are given an opportunity to choose a combination of subjects leading, over two years, to public examination by the Welsh Joint Education Committee and in some cases by other examination boards. Pupils should select subjects in consultation with parents and teachers, and with the knowledge that admission to courses is always dependent upon pupil uptake (10 minimum), the pupil's ability, potential and previous efforts and on the school's resources to meet the demands.

The vast majority of the pupils will sit GCSE examinations but a few pupils will sit the Entry Level Qualification (ELQ) exam or NVQ offered in partnership with Coleg Menai, the decision taken in line with academic attainment and vocational pathway.

14 – 19 Learning Pathway

The school has invested heavily in developing a broad and relevant curriculum which responds to the needs and aspirations of its pupils and consequently is well placed to respond to the 14 – 19 Learning Pathways agenda. Some of the alternative / vocational pathways are provided through partnership arrangements with other local educational establishments.

Provision includes:

Life Skills (ASDAN), Child Care, Catering, I.C.T., Vehicle Maintenance, Business, Hair and Beauty, Construction, Duke of Edinburgh Award, Health and Social Care, Leisure and Tourism, Applied Science, Outdoor Activities and Performance and Dance.

At different times during the five years the Core will include Religious Education / Moral /Counselling/ Careers / Health Education / Sex Education / Leisure and Physical Education / Experience of Business and Enterprise / Care of Home and Family/ Community and Environmental Awareness/ Study Skills and Key Skills and all the other areas which are appropriate to the personal/Social Field. Skills such as Computer and Technological awareness will be available for everybody.

The skills developed in certain areas are used to reinforce other areas of experience. For instance, the personal/ moral elements in the fields of Language and Humanities are emphasised, and Fine Art and Design make a valuable contribution to ensure effective technology teaching.

Remedial Education

There are separate groups for remedial education in Mathematics, Science and English. The number of pupils in these groups is limited to a maximum of 15.

Special Education

The same provision as in earlier years but there is little classroom support.

Years 12 & 13 (the Sixth Form)

It is important that years 7-11 form a basis not only for "AS/A" level courses but also for specific vocational courses such as the Advanced Vocational and Key Skill Courses. Once more, in years 12 and 13 the personal core is important and shows progression from years 7-11, giving opportunities to develop Key Skills and for counselling. It also provides an opportunity to link more academic courses with courses containing a vocational , or cross-curricular element.

During Year 11 pupils are informed of the advanced level courses which will be available in Year 12. The provision in September 2007 is as follows:

AS courses:

• Applied Science
• German
• Art and Design
• History
• Biology
• Law
• Business Studies
• Mathematics with Statistics or Mechanics
• Chemistry
• Government and Politics
• Design & Technology
• Music
• Drama & Theatre Studies
• Physical Education
• English
• Physics
• French
• Psychology
• Further Mathematics
• Sociology
• Geography
• Welsh (Second Language)

Advanced Vocational courses:

• Information Technology
• Travel and Tourism