 | The Curriculum |
The curriculum is designed to meet the ever changing demands placed upon it by Government, industry, the assessment system and our view of what we want from it to help students succeed. We are currently considering the introduction of General National Vocational Qualification (GNVQ) courses, particularly in Business Studies and Modern Languages. We fell we have achieved a balance of academic, vocational, technological and recreational courses to help students prepare for the 21st Century.
AIMS
We are committed to ensuring that the curriculum achieves the following:
- develops the confidence of students using basic skills: literacy, numeracy and oracy
- provides all students with an opportunity to develop data-handling and word processing skills using computers (develops I.T. skills)
- ensures that students recognise that we live in a multi-cultural, multi-racial and multi-faith world in which respect and tolerance are underpinning values of great importance; tested only by words and actions
- creates opportunities to develop the talents of youngsters to the full, diagnoses and addresses weaknesses and supports quality learning
- determines that the number of “life chances” are maximised in terms of career and education opportunities after 16 years of age
ORGANISATION
Our curriculum is a broad, balanced, relevant and coherent set of courses managed by four teams of staff organised into Faculties, as shown below
| Faculties | Subjects |
| EXPRESSIVE ARTS | English Language, English Literature, Drama, Art and Physical Education |
| APPLIED MATHEMATICS | Mathematics, Business Studies and Information Technology |
| SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | Balanced Science (including Physics, Biology and Chemistry), Design Technology, CDT and Home Economics |
| SOCIAL & CULTURAL STUDIES | History, Geography, Religious Studies, Humanities, French and Spanish |
To help students make the transition from Junior School to Secondary School, we have increased the number of teachers to reduce class sizes and help support success. This helps develop relationships and allows staff to make more accurate assessments of youngsters.
A core curriculum including English, Mathematics, Science, P.E., Technology, Modern Languages, Humanities and Expressive Arts is offered in Years 7, 8 and 9, but in Year 10, students have the chance to choose courses. These course choices are shown in Appendix A.
Banding and setting in many core subjects helps students achieve at the right pace.
MEETING INDIVIDUAL NEEDS
A close Partnership and working relationship between school and home is important. Gifted children are targeted at an early stage. Those students who arrive in Year 7 with learning difficulties are given the extra support they need. Parents are invited to help their children as much as possible and given helpful advice on how best to achieve this. Please ask for our free “Success Pack”. Students are monitored and assessed and findings are reported to parents regularly.
Gifted students are set tasks appropriate to their ability and extension materials are provided. They are encouraged, as are all students, to derive pride from their achievements and to strive to maintain high standards.
We are legally required to quote the number of statemented students in school and the number in 1994-95 was 10. There is a very active “Learning Support” team and sensitive, committed teaching assistants focus on the needs of each youngster.
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
The school offers a wide range of activities, beyond the times of “the school day”. Students visit sites of educational interest, complete surveys, go to the theatre, make music, play sports, and enjoy the variety of clubs which operate before and after school. A “Breakfast Club” (8.00 - 8.25am) has been started, and is proving popular.
The following clubs and activities operate throughout the year:
- Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
- Sports Clubs and matches
- Modern Languages Club
- Technology Club
- Music and Choir Practices
- Computer Club
- Gardening Club
- Library and Homework Club
- Mathematics and Science 'clinics'
- Drama Group
- Internet club
- E-mail club
- Pen friends
plus other groups which meet less frequently.
POST 16 EDUCATION AND THE FRYERNS COMMUNITY SCHOOL 'SIXTH FORM'
As an 11-16 school, we have no “sixth form” (Years 12 and 13) on our site. We do however regard our close links with local colleges, especially Basildon Tertiary College, as very important in ensuring that the students get on to the most appropriate Post 16 courses. We want to prepare students for furthering their education, which helps create an expectation amongst youngsters that they can “go on” and achieve higher qualifications. In that sense, we do have a sixth form, and we encourage growing numbers to become members of if it is genuinely in their best interests.
COUNSELLING AND GUIDANCE
Form tutors counsel students and establish “action plans”. Close contact with home is given a priority and appropriate guidance is given to students whenever important decisions need to be reached. Faculties now manage year groups, and in principle each Form Tutor stays with the form group throughout the student’s life in school unless there is an academic or pastoral problem which prevents this.
