Curriculum Overview

Every student is entitled to a broad curriculum, which meets his individual learning needs.  Importantly, it is recognised that whilst much of what is taught is laid down within the National Curriculum, it is vital to develop skills, which will be needed for a lifetime of learning.  These skills will equip your son to enter a competitive job market and will give him a framework in which to make use of freedom to make the right choices about his life.

At Key Stage 3 students follow courses in: English, Mathematics, Science, Religious Education, Technology, Information Technology, Geography, History, Modern Languages, Art, Music, Drama and PE.

At Key Stage 4 students follow a common core of English, Mathematics, Science RE, PE and PSHE.  In addition, all students choose three optional subjects including a range of vocational courses, which take place off the college site.

A broad range of relevant learning opportunities is offered at both Key Stage 3 and 4, which aim to enable:

• The development of full academic potential
• Support for the development of literacy, numeracy and ICT skills
  
• The development of the skills needed to continue learning independently as an adult.
• The development of a team spirit

Students learn successfully when teaching and learning is aimed to meet their needs, by recognising the strengths of individuals whilst supporting them in making progress in their weaker areas.  The framework for learning at Saint George is such that students can be placed in different teaching groups for different subjects.  We aim to use the information passed to the college from feeder schools to identify where help is needed to improve literacy and numeracy skills. Learning Support Assistants are used to help students in the classroom. There is a good programme of activities for students who are able or talented in particular subjects.  Our Integrated Studies programme supports students with particular difficulties in Literacy and Numeracy.

For some students, Spanish is on offer as well as French from Year 8.
 

At Key Stage 4 we have developed good links with Itchen, City and Eastleigh College to run vocational access courses.  We also make good use of the Thornhill Skills Centre.

Personalising the curriculum is essential for continued success and achievement, enabling every student to progress and meet their full potential.

Assessment

Successful learning, in which students make the best progress, is possible when there is good communication about the extent to which suitable academic potential is being achieved by your son.

Saint George has developed a good system of monitoring student progress, which uses:

• Information from the feeder school
• External tests – SATs results
• Teacher’s professional judgement through teacher assessments
  

This system enables clear targets to be set for each individual above expected progress throughout Key Stage 3 and 4.  Every subject sets a minimum and a challenge grade each year,which iss to be reached by the end of the academic year.  As far as possible, personalised learning programmes are arranged which meet the individual needs of the student, recognising and rewarding achievement.  Importantly, it is also possible to identify students who are giving cause for concern.  Parents are kept fully informed of progress each term with assessment sheets giving information on effort, current performance and targets.  It is our aim to target students who are under performing and work with parents to help their son overcome the problems limiting his progress.   Parents are kept informed about their son’s potential and how help can be given at home.

Parents have the opportunity to meet with their son’s tutors three times a year at Mentoring Days and once a year with teachers at Parents’ Evenings.  On all of these occasions, parents are informed of their son’s current progress and performance.

Extra Curricular Activities

For students whose talents are sporting, there are a many clubs both in and out of college hours.  The college is proud of its sporting record, and the number of boys who not only represent the college, but the District and County in rugby, football, cricket and athletics. 

There are also a number of other clubs students can join.  For example, the Science department encourages the students to enjoy the awe and wonder of science, through a range of extra-curricular activities, and our Special Needs Department runs a study club after school four nights a week. 

For students who wish to learn musical instruments, peripatetic lessons are available.  Students are encouraged to continue learning instruments taken up in junior school.  There are many opportunities to perform in college events.

Students throughout the college are able to take advantage of well-organised trips, some of which involve travel abroad. The History department runs an annual Battlefields Trip in November, and the PE department offers a ski trip.  The English department also run theatre visits and reward trips are held for each year group three times a year.