Penley, North Wales
01948 830291
Penley, North Wales
01948 830291
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On arrival at the school each pupil is allocated to a tutor group under the specific care of a group tutor. During the first year (year 7) pupils are mostly taught in their tutor groups. Then setting is introduced in most subjects in Year 8. Pupils study the core and foundation subjects laid down in the National Curriculum. This comprises, the core subjects, English, Mathematics, and Science plus Geography, History, RE, Music, Art, Technology, French, Welsh and P.E.
Detailed Programmes of Study and Attainment Targets are laid down for all subjects studied. Talented linguists will have the opportunity of taking Welsh and French. The Humanities GCSE course starts half-way through Year 9. Detail course content for each year is listed in a booklet sent to parents early in the academic year. National Standard Assessment Tests (SATS) are no longer taken by schools in Wales. Detailed teacher assessment is carried out to help guide pupils, parents and teachers about the best options to take in year 10 and 11.
Children with specific learning difficulties are provided with specialist help either through support within their teaching group, backed up by individual tuition, or in small groups in the designated unit. Every attempt is made to provide each pupil with access to the full curriculum. We test all pupils in Years 7 and again in Year 10 to identify each child's potential against which judgements can be made about their progress.
Individual pupils with the highest academic potential are provided with additional challenges and where appropriate follow an accelerated programme of study. This may entail working in a group of able pupils from a variety of year groups who are withdrawn from lessons for several hours of intensive collaborative work each week. However we organise curriculum enrichment experiences for pupils of all abilities.
The National Curriculum limits the choice in Years 10 and 11, but safeguards breadth and balance in each student's programme. In the compulsory elements there will be some choice in the modules followed. The options allow pupils to take up a new subject such as Business Studies, Information and Communications Technology, and Drama. Some GCSEs are taken by most pupils in year 10, but the majority of the GCSE examinations will take place during year 11.
It is envisaged that almost all pupils will follow courses leading to GCSE examinations. In addition to the compulsory subjects of English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, Personal & Social Education & Games, each pupil can also study some subjects of their choice including the following:
RE is taught as a separate GCSE course. Some pupils choose to study Biology, Chemistry and Physics as separate subjects instead of GCSE Science courses. Able linguists can achieve higher grades in Welsh and French in a reduced time slot which incorporates the 1 hour of compulsory Welsh. All those following the GCSE half course in Welsh will complete this course at the end of Year 10.
This is a summary of the prospectus for secondary school pupils but the full prospectus can be requested from the school office. For the higher education prospectus view the Sixth Form Prospectus