Organisation and Curriculum
Specialist facilities include:
- Nine laboratories (8 for Science and 1 for Mathematics)
- A Drama Studio, a Music Suite and a Media Studies Centre
- An Art and Technology Area comprising a large open plan Art Room, an Art/Technology Room and 3 multi-material workshops together with a Computer Aided Design area, linked to the main curriculum network and with full Internet access.
- Four fully networked computer rooms, fully updated in September 2004 with Windows XP, Microsoft Office Professional and Internet access for all students.
- A fully equipped Learning Resource Centre with Internet access which is open before and after school.
- A sports complex, including a Sports Hall, Gymnasium, Fitness Centre, football, rugby and hockey pitches, tennis and netball courts and other outdoor facilities.
Hearing Impaired Unit
The school has the only Unit in the Borough for hearing impaired children of secondary age. The Unit caters for a small group of children who have some hearing loss but who have sufficient communication skills to enable them to benefit from integration within the main school. We have two fully trained Teachers of the deaf and four communicators. In addition many staff have either started or obtained British Sign Language qualifications.
Years 7 to 9
On admission to the school students are arranged into balanced, mixed ability Form groups. During the first three year they remain in these Form groups for a large part of their timetable. However, grouping into sets, based on ability in a subject, occurs for Mathematics and Modern Languages.
The aim, during the first three years, is to provide a balanced programme which lays a firm foundation for the courses in Years 10 and 11 which lead to public examinations. The subjects currently taught in the first three years are as follows.
Year 10 and 11
During the Spring Term of Year 9 students are introduced, through the Key Stage Four Transition Booklet, to the Curriculum for Years 10 and 11. Currently our programmed incorporates the compulsory National Curriculum core of:
All students follow the GCSE English Literature course, plus GCSE Business and Communications Technology (ICT) and Religious Studies GCSE.
In addition, three option subjects are chosen by each subject. These are guided choices to ensure a balanced programme. The following subjects are available:
Students have the opportunity ro achieve grades in 10 GCSE subjects. However, due to our extensive Gifted and Talented programme and our system of Fast Track, there are some students who achieve more than 10 GCSEs. In the same way, some students follow a reduced timetable in years 10 and 11 with a programme of work experience and college placement to meet their particular educational needs.
Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) includes Study Skills, Health Education, Personal and Social Development and Careers Education. The emphasis of Careers Education in years 10 and 11 is to give realistic educational and vocational aims. Throughout the two years, visitors from commerce and industry are invited to the school and in year 10 Work Experience placements are arranged for all students through the Havering Business and Educational Partnership.
Homework
All students are required to do homework, which is seen as essential to their educational progress at every stage in their school career. The school has a homework policy, publishes a homework timetable and provides every student with a Student Planner which contains a Homework Diary.
More Able Students Programme
For students of exceptional ability opportunities to access special course and activities are provided, and the school is actively increasing its provision for the most able. Students are fast tracked and encouraged to take GCSEs early, particularly in Mathematics, English and Media Studies. We run an annual Summer School for the more able students and students are encouraged to become members of the National Gifted and Talented Academy.
Learning Support
It is school policy to identify all those students with particular special educational needs and provide additional curriculum resources or experiences to extend their performance and capabilities.
For some students, who may experience difficulties with academic work, this may mean extra support in the classroom or withdrawal for intensive staff input. Our Inclusion Manager monitors (with members of the Special Needs Team) individual programmes for students to meet their identified needs.
In all cases of special need, close contact with parents and carers is an essential part of our policy.
Religious Education and Collective Worship
The scheme of work for Religious Education followed in the school is in accordance with the agreed syllabus for Religious Education which has been adopted by the Havering Local Education Authority. Parents have the right to withdraw their child from acts of Collective Worship or Religious Educaton and must let the Head Teacher know if they wish to do so.