The Curriculum
We offer an innovative, far ranging and balanced curriculum structured through three broad curriculum areas – International and Cultural Studies; Language, the Creative Arts and Media; and Science, Maths and Technology. These represent the school’s vision of three centres of excellence, building on our success as a Language College. Internationalism is a key dimension of our work and we were pleased to have been given the Full International Schools Award in 2009.
We aim to personalise learning in a number of ways including a wide range of challenging and relevant choices from 14-19. We are part of the Kingswood Partnership and one of a few schools nationally to be offering all 14 Diplomas in:
- Business, Administration and Finance
- Construction and the Built Environment
- Creative and Media
- Engineering
- Environmental and Land-Based Studies
- Hair and Beauty Studies
- Hospitality
- Information Technology
- Manufacturing and Product Design
- Public Services
- Retail Business
- Society, Health and Development
- Sport and Active Leisure
- Travel and Tourism
Our detailed assessment and tracking of individual students ensures that teachers are fully aware of students’ needs and abilities. In year 7 students are grouped appropriately according to ability in maths and then from year 8 in science and modern languages.
At Key Stage 3 we have developed an innovative and personalised approach through the ‘Personal Development Curriculum’ (PDC). Students are taught by dedicated teams of teachers who get to know them well. An integrated curriculum focuses upon communication skills, global awareness, ‘learning to learn’ and social and emotional skills. At KS4 the PDC incorporates personal, social and health education; global citizenship; information, advice and guidance; a project and functional skills. Our aim is to prepare students to communicate with confidence, understand the social world and to learn successfully in the 21st century. Across the school, these basic skills are further developed during the 35 minute daily tutor period when students follow structured programmes to develop their functional skills.
International and cultural studies
This area of the curriculum aims to broaden students’ horizons through studying the humanities and modern languages. History, geography, religious studies, two or more languages and experiences of international and citizenship education form the core curriculum at KS3. From KS4 students can choose from a range of subjects including Diplomas in Business Administration and Finance and Society, Health and Development and GCSEs in geography, history, philosophy and ethics, psychology and sociology. All students take one GCSE in a modern foreign language and many students take two.
We build links across subject areas through students’ use of the school’s excellent ICT facilities to undertake research and to work on joint projects with schools in other countries. Our extensive range of visitors includes staff from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan and Taiwan, who not only offer students additional language experiences, but enhance the curriculum in many exciting ways by adding a living international dimension to our work.
The Language College
Our work as a specialist language college since 1996, has focused upon a diversity of modern languages, internationalism, languages across the curriculum, and work with our partner schools. We set challenging targets for students in modern languages from year 7 to year 11. All students at KS3 experience 2 foreign languages, the most able experience 3 and they continue to study at least one language to GCSE level. Fast-track students are able to take one GCSE in year 10 and a second in year 11. Students of all ages have exciting opportunities for educational visits and joint projects with partner schools in Europe and beyond. We are proud to have won the British Council International Award for languages across the curriculum as well as national awards for our creative use of languages software.
Focus on the curriculum
Students are set at least one piece of homework in each subject each week. They record this in their
planners, and we do ask that parents support us by ensuring that homework is completed. Much
extended learning is facilitated through the SBL and Kingswood Partnership websites.
"We are proud to have won the British Council International Award for languages across the curriculum as well as national awards for our creative use of languages software."
