Curriculum

Akeley Wood Senior School is committed to the provision of a broad and balanced curriculum, informed by the national curriculum, but reflecting, at the same time, the particular abilities, aptitudes and aspirations of our own pupils. This policy aims to ensure that all pupils have an equal access to that curriculum, and that the quality of their learning experience leads to a consistently high level of involvement and achievement.

Akeley Wood Senior School aims to help every individual to fulfil his or her academic potential. This is achieved through skilled, dedicated and enthusiastic teaching in small classes, differentiating the expectation and (as far as possible) the work for each child as appropriate. For some A grades will be the goal; for others achieving five C grades at GCSE will be a triumph. The bright must be challenged; those who struggle academically must be given all possible help maybe through remedial tuition. We recognize that parents have different ambitions for their sons and daughters and we want to work with them - as long as in our professional opinion it is in the best interests of the child to do so.

Most importantly, the school believes in the education of the whole child. It is our job to discover and nurture each pupil's abilities, wherever they may lie. So Music, Art, Drama and Physical Education (for example) all play an important part in school life, both as part of the curriculum and as activities outside the curriculum. Some children will succeed more in these areas than in the academic life and the confidence thus gained will be carried back into the classroom. So there is no hierarchy of value as far as subjects are concerned. The value is the value to the child.

A small number of pupils with minor difficulties work happily in the mainstream classes and receive extra specialist tuition. In addition to their teaching role, the SEN staff encourage pupils in all their work, helping them to overcome any problems which they may encounter in their lessons.

The Tutorial Programme caters for those with specific learning needs. Here pupils work in much smaller classes under the guidance of specialist teachers and assistants. This allows them to build up their skills and confidence in a relaxed but challenging environment, while enjoying the wider social life and all the opportunities of the wider school.