Senior School Curriculum
Curriculum
The year 9 curriculum offers, in equal measure, challenge and experiment, breadth and extension, and a certain amount of essential consolidation. In addition to the usual academic subjects, Clayesmore has developed a Personal and Social Philosophy syllabus that encompasses religion and spirituality, health and social issues, citizenship, financial awareness, and careers. This begins in year 9 and extends through into higher year groups.
The GCSE option system allows considerable flexibility: Physics, Chemistry and Biology can be taken as separate subjects, for example, and German, French, Spanish and Latin are all available. In the Sixth Form, all the standard subjects are on offer and over a 1000 different combinations are possible. See Sixth Form for a full list of A-level subjects on offer at the moment.
Clayesmore has long believed in doing its utmost for pupils from a wide ability range and is well recognised for the success achieved with pupils of all abilities. Results at A-level and at GCSE are impressive. We celebrate success at all levels of achievement, of course, with our academic high fliers gaining places in top universities, but also, and crucially so, we are equally thrilled by the success of those who have struggled to overcome a learning difficulty and graduate from Clayesmore having achieved results beyond anything they dreamed possible.
A fluid setting system allows us to organise pupils according to their ability in a range of core subjects, with our ‘able pupils’ policy ensuring that those who are especially talented in particular areas can be fully challenged. Similarly, the acclaimed Learning Support Centre helps to ensure that we meet the needs of pupils who need support. Anyone with a learning difficulty, such as dyslexia or dyspraxia, that makes school work a struggle, will have an individual programme drawn up that suits them best and allows time for the extra teaching required.
Clayesmore has invested very substantially in its academic facilities in recent times. You will be aware of bright, cheerful, spacious new classrooms and laboratories for many subjects, and a ready availability of ICT equipment for both pupils and teaching staff. An ambitious development plan is in place to ensure that we continue to enrich the teaching and learning experience in a lively and stimulating way.
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