Academic Life at LOGS - The Senior School

Senior School Curriculum

In the Senior part of the School pupils follow a broad programme until the end of Year 9, when choices need to be made for GCSE. In these initial years nearly 20 subjects are studied ensuring that pupils enjoy a wide educational experience.

Pupils learn Science separately as Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Obvious cross-curricular themes are pursued between the three separate Subject elements but by sticking to the three distinct subjects pupils are clearer as to whether they should choose all three, or two, or possibly one science at GCSE.

Separate Sciences at GCSE ensures that the extension paper material is covered and provides for a smoother transition to AS work in the Sixth Form.

Pupils in Year 7 are introduced to French, Spanish and German although, for those pupils where three modern languages would be too great a challenge, learning support may replace one or possibly two of the choices.

Strong linguists can then pursue all three Languages through to GCSE, and beyond - but for others the decision on the preferred two that they wish to focus on is made in Years 8 and 9.

At the end of Year 9, pupils choose the subjects that they wish to continue with and the only compulsory subjects that must be studied at GCSE are English Language and English Literature along with Maths. Beyond these we try to give the widest choice possible.

By exposing pupils to the full array of subjects, pupils can opt with a greater understanding of what each subject involves and be clearer on whether they have the aptitude to be successful. Option blocks for the timetable are not predetermined but constructed annually to fit the preferences of the pupils.

We do set pupils when the academic range suggests that this will be beneficial to the pupils. The need to set is most acute in Maths and Modern Languages, but we certainly do not stream our pupils and movement between sets occurs regularly as individual pupils develop in confidence and become clearer on which learning strategy works best for them.

Adapting our curriculum so that it suits a pupil’s individual needs will always be considered and discussed with parents.

Flexibility is built into our arrangements so that those pupils that require accelerated programmes and those that require learning support can both be accommodated.

read on for the Sixth Form pages