Senior Section Curriculum

Academic 

Year 7

The curriculum is designed to provide a continuous thread of learning and skills to the pupils who have come up from our Junior Section.  However, since there is a 50% increase in pupils into the Senior Section, the curriculum also aims to embrace these new pupils.  Maths and English are set according to ability in order to ensure appropriate progression. Setting in French and Latin allows new pupils to find their feet in these unfamiliar subjects. Other subjects are taught in mixed ability form groups.

The following subjects are studied:

• English
• Mathematics
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• History
• Geography
• Religious Studies
• Music
• Art
• Design Technology
• French
• Drama
• Latin
• ICT
• PE
• Games

Years 8 and 9

The curriculum is essentially the same as in Year 7.  However, four more foreign languages are offered; in order to study these subjects with sufficient lesson time, pupils select one subject from each of the following groups :

Group 1: French (3 sets), Drama

Group 2: Latin (3 sets), Art

Group 3: Spanish, German, Welsh, Classical Greek (Year 9 only), Design Technology

Group 4: Art, DT, Drama

A fast track Music GCSE course is taught to able musicians from Year 9.  These pupils are able to sit the GCSE exam in Year 10.

Pupils begin the Mathematics GCSE course when they are ready.  Many pupils will sit their first GCSE module tests in Year 9 and able mathematicians will complete the GCSE in Year 10.  These pupils will be able to sit the FSMQ (Free-Standing Mathematics qualification) and AS level Mathematics in Year 11.

Years 10 and 11

Option choices for GCSE subjects are made in Year 9 after detailed discussion with pupils and parents. Four subjects are chosen in addition to the core curriculum. The option groups are drawn up in response to the pupils' choices, a process that allows great flexibility to meet pupils' needs.

Core Curriculum:

70% of pupils sit the three separate science GCSEs.  Others sit the two combined science GCSEs.

Maths and Music GCSE may be taken at the end of Year10.

GCSE Option subjects:

The Cathedral School teaches pupils with a diversity of talents, not all academic.  It is often the success of the pupils that have struggled most to achieve their GCSE grades that provide most satisfaction and joy on results day.  In accordance with the ethos of the school, we encourage all pupils to keep up their other interests throughout Year 11, be they musical or sporting, in order to retain a sense of balance and perspective.  The discipline and time-management skills acquired through participation in music and sport undoubtedly have a positive effect on academic work too.

Pastoral Care

All pupils in the Senior Section are registered every morning and afternoon by their Form Tutor.  In addition, there is one designated form period of twenty minutes every Monday morning.  The Form Tutor is the first and most important link between home life and the School.  Form Tutors get to know their pupils, their likes and dislikes, their interests and their foibles.   They monitor the pupils' progress through weekly review of the Homework Diary and keep an eye on the activities done outside the classroom.  Form Tutors write an overview of the pupils' general progress at the top of each report, but they also contact parents directly whenever the need arises.

Minor disciplinary matters are dealt with by the Form Tutor.  More serious concerns are passed on to the Section Tutor.  There are two Section Tutors who deal with Years 7 - 9, and two for Years 10 - 11.  The Section Tutors have an overview of all pupils in these years.  They conduct year group assemblies and are active in shaping the identity of pupils as they progress through our School.  At times they monitor individual pupils who are in need of extra support.  They also liaise with the Deputy Head in the rare circumstances when we have to detain a pupil after School or at the weekend.

The work of the Section Tutors is complemented and supported by the Assistant Chaplain and the Child Protection Officer.  So however great or small a problem is, our pupils have a variety of teachers they can approach and problems can be dealt with at the appropriate level.  Whatever an individual is doing academically or in the co-curricular domain, their progress is being monitored effectively.

Co-curricular activities

At the Cathedral School we believe in holistic education:  pupils think of education in the broadest possible terms, they see the links between the different subjects and between all that we do here, between School and the outside world. 

An integral part of this approach to education is the range of co-curricular activities we offer.  These take place for an hour after School, and pupils sign up for them at the end of the previous term.  They are based around the specialist knowledge and interests of our teachers.  No charge is normally made.

For Michaelmas Term 2008 the following activities will be offered in the Senior Section:

• Classics Club
• Drama Production
• History Film Club
• Life Drawing
• Micro Biology Club
• Physics Club
• Archaeology
• Chess Club
• Community Service
• Craft Club
• Cross stitch
• Debating Society
• Eco Schools Award
• Fantasy Football/ICT
• Film Club
• Global Rock Challenge
• Judo
• Making Cuddly Animals
• Publishing Club
• Squash
• Yoga/Pilates
• Rugby training
• Netball