The Curriculum Policy

A Summary

The curriculum is considered to be the main vehicle for the realisation of the Aims and Objectives of the school.  In formulating the curriculum policy, the school has always attempted to steer a middle course between prescription and individual choice, with the balance moving progressively from the former to the latter as the pupils proceed through the school.  The rationale of prescription is founded on the premise that there are certain skills and bodies of knowledge which, it is felt, must be transmitted to all pupils throughout the entire course of their school careers and others to which they must be introduced and with which they must become acquainted, but which they may ultimately decide they do not wish to pursue.  Insistence on the element of choice is founded on the acknowledgement of the very real differences in pupils' interests, aptitudes and abilities and on the realisation that it is not the business of an educational institution to restrict unnecessarily the individual who wishes to specialise in areas of particular interest to him or her.  However, the constraints of the common curriculum restrict the number of optional subjects that pupils can choose. 

When considering the totality of the curriculum it is important not to ignore the vital role played by the extensive extra-curricular programme on offer in the school.  This is seen as an essential element in the process of widening and broadening horizons and of developing in some cases, or offsetting in others, the predominantly academic ethos which the mainstream curriculum is deemed to promote. 

The curriculum is under constant review by the Senior Executive and all Heads of Department provide advice and information to the Leadership Team. 

External qualifications for pupils of compulsory school age 

The external qualifications for which courses of study are provided for pupils of compulsory school age are GCSEs. 

Syllabuses associated with the above qualifications 

The syllabuses associated with these qualifications are determined by the Assessment and Qualification Alliance (AQA) and the Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA). The subjects offered by these boards are as follows: 

AQA:                French; Spanish; PE. 

CCEA:             Additional Mathematics; Mathematics; Art and Design; Business Studies; English; English Literature; Geography; History; Home Economics; Information and Communication Technology (ICT); Music; Religious Studies; Science (Double Award); Technology and Design. 

External qualifications for pupils over compulsory school age 

The external qualifications offered to pupils over compulsory school age are GCE ‘A/S’ and 'A' levels.  Syllabuses associated with these qualifications are determined by AQA, CCEA and EDEXCEL. The ‘A’ level subjects offered by the various examining boards are: 

AQA:                Biology; Business Studies; Computing; Physics; Psychology; PE. 

CCEA:             Art and Design; English Literature; French; Geography; Home Economics; Mathematics; Religious Education; Spanish. 

EDEXCEL       Chemistry; History; Technology and Design. 

All AS level subjects are modular and are taken with the same boards as ‘A2’ levels. 

Careers Education and Work Experience for pupils 

Careers Education is provided in three ways: 

(i)      By formal timetabling of career lessons for pupils in all years.         
(ii)     Through subject areas (as a cross-curricular theme).         
(iii)    Through support services which include visiting speakers, industrial and educational visits and the Training and Employment Agency, which offers both testing and interviews for all senior pupils.  Pupils in Year 14 are also given the opportunity of mock interviews conducted by panels of professional people with a wide range of experience and expertise. 

In addition, pupils have access to the careers suite.  The careers staff are readily available to give support, advice and guidance. All pupils in the senior school have the opportunity of one week's work experience in Year 13.  Following interviews, pupils who find difficulty in obtaining a placement are given support by the careers staff.

Work experience is an integral part of the careers programme and reports from employers are used in the pupils' records of achievement. A system of counselling and profiling ensures that every pupil on completion of Key Stage 4 has a fully documented and authenticated National Record of Achievement.  This will be updated in Year 14 before the pupils leave school. 

Complaints in connection with the Curriculum 

Any complaint about the curriculum provided by the school should be made in writing to the Principal who will consult with the Senior Executive and the Board of Governors if necessary.  If the problem remains unresolved, parents have the right to appeal to a curriculum complaints tribunal set up by the North-Eastern Education and Library Board.