Index
SCHOOL ORGANISATION AND STRUCTURE
Lower School - This section of the School takes pupils aged 10 to 13 years old (Class Years 6, 7, 8 and 9). Whilst the pupils have access to the National Curriculum, a great emphasis is still placed upon them improving their skills in Mathematics and English. Following an assessment of their educational needs, each child is offered their own individualised programmes of work in these subject areas. All pupils are assessed at the end of Key Stages 2 and 3 using the National Curriculum Standard Assessment Tests. In Addition, pupils have reading and spelling ages regularly assessed.There are seven Class groups containing upon average 10 pupils. Admission to any particular Class is determined mainly by age.
The school day is as follows:-
09.00 a.m. - 10.30 Registration / Classwork
10.30 a.m. - 10.45 Break
10.45a.m. - 12.15 Classwork
12.15 p.m. - 13.10 Lunch
13.10 p.m. - 14.30 Classwork
14.30 p.m. - 14.45 Break
14.45 p.m. - 15.30 Classwork
15.30 p.m. - End of school day
However, it should be noted that the school closes at 2.45 p.m. every Friday.
Although all of the pupils who attend St. Nicholas School experience a range of learning difficulties, the curriculum offered by the school does meet the requirements of the National Curriculum. The subjects offered to all pupils include the following:-
English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, Modern Foreign Language, Art, Physical Education, Craft Design Technology, Information Technology, Personal and Social Education, Careers Education and Guidance, and Religious Education.
The following comments should be noted about particular curriculum areas:-
In these areas, the good teacher/pupil ratio ensures that class groups are small and that each child can be given much individual attention. Each child's needs are diagnosed and assessed and appropriate programmes of work in the basic subject areas are devised to suit his Good record keeping by Class Teachers ensures that a child's progress is charted and that the effectiveness of his individual programme is regularly evaluated.
a. Science: Science is a major area of the National Curriculum and as such pupils take it in every year of their schooling. It is a very practical subject where teachers try to apply much information so that pupils can see its use in everyday life. All three of the science disciplines are covered; Biology, Physics and Chemistry along with scientific investigations. Pupil’s progress is assessed at the end of each topic. In the upper school they work towards the Welsh Board Science Examination, a nationally accredited scheme. We are also endeavouring to introduce a University of London Science Examination for pupils who are capable of progressing to a higher level.
b. Information Technology: Information Technology is delivered through discrete lessons. The pupils learn about word processing, databases and desk top publishing and then apply these skills to other curriculum areas as appropriate. The school has invested in a seven station mini-network, linked to the internet, to support the delivery of I.T. This facility is also used extensively in the evening as well. Through the National Grid for Learning we will be making use of the internet as a teaching resourse.
c. Religious Education: The school is not affiliated to a particular religious denomination. However, this very important area of a child's development is covered by an agreed syllabus devised by the Local Education Authority. Under Section 9 of the 1988 Education Act, parents do have the right to withdraw their son from acts of religious worship. If this is the case then the parent should write formally to the Headteacher requesting that their son should not attend acts of religious worship and their views will be respected by the school.
d. Personal, Health and Social Education: developing routine attitudes within all pupils towards matters such as the need for good personal hygiene and dress, social awareness, healthy eating habits, the need to keep fit, etc, is an essential aspect of the school's work. During school time these areas are covered by an agreed syllabus devised by the School. Much follow-up work is achieved by the Care and Teaching Staff working with the pupils in the residential situation.
If any parent wishes to withdraw their son from sex education lessons then they have the right to do so. If this is the case then the parent should write formally to the Headteacher requesting that their son should not attend sex education lessons and their views will be respected by the school.
In sex education, factual information about the physical aspects of sex, though important, is not more important than consideration of the qualities of the values, standards and the exercise of personal responsibility as they affect individuals and the community at large. In its approach to sex education, the School recognises that this important area has to have a wider purpose than the acquisition of knowledge and must also be concerned with the development of attitudes and values within all its pupils leading to behaviour based on responsible decision making.
Sex education is taught as an integral part of the Personal, Social and Health Education programme following guide-lines devised by the Local Education Authority, the School Governors and the Staff of the school.
e. The curriculum contains other subject areas designed to promote each child's general knowledge, imagination, use of language, physical development and awareness of moral values. The areas specified are: Home Economics, Physical Education, Swimming and Games, Art and Craft, Craft Design Technology, Rural Studies, Outdoor Pursuits, Hobbies and Leisure Pursuits, Music Appreciation.
In Years 10 and 11 the pupils are introduced into carefully organised School Leaving and Work Experience Programmes with an emphasis placed on the following areas:-
a. School based activities: There are a range of school based activities in which progress in the basic, and other subjects, is maintained. However, more emphasis is placed upon the pupils being introduced to the many issues they will have to face in their transition from school to adult working life. All pupils in the Upper School are placed on A.E.B. Courses in Literacy and Numeracy and the Youth Award Scheme. Upon leaving School each pupil is presented with his own Record of Achievements Folder which summarises all of the achievements made by the pupil whilst at School.
b. Work Experience: Students will be placed with different employers whilst in their last year at school. During their Work Experience placements all pupils are properly insured and their progress is closely monitored by the Careers Teacher. As far as possible the third Work Experience is home-based. Towards the end of their final year it is possible to make a realistic judgement based upon the Work Experience Reports as to what is appropriate for each pupil upon leaving School.
c. Social Skills and independent training: Where appropriate some pupils will need to be trained in particular skills to enable them to cope better with the transition from School to adult life. The use of public transport, handling money, use of the telephone are particular examples of such skills.
d. Liaising with the Specialist Careers Officers: It is the school's aim to ensure that all of its pupils are appropriately placed upon leaving school. Open employment may not always be the most suitable option for a particular pupil and parents may need to be informed of other options available for their sons. Parents are invited to school during the final year to discuss their son's school leaving and employment prospects with the Specialist Careers Officer, the Careers Teacher, and the Headteacher.
e. Special Needs Classroom Assistants: Special Needs Classroom Assistants are a very important resource within St. Nicholas. Their work involves supporting pupils through extracting them from class, working on a one to one basis, or working with them as part of a whole class group. They also act as Keyworkers to day pupils, providing a regular point of contact for their parents. The role of one SNCA, Mrs. Richardson, is to listen to boys read on a one to one basis. Mrs. Richardson has built up a large amount of resources and expertise in the area of reading. Mrs. Richardson sees pupils throughout the school on a planned programme basis.
f. Homework: As from the beginning of the 1999/2000 Academic Year the school will endeavour to introduce opportunities for its pupils to undertake Homework. Those pupils who wish to do homework will be encouraged to do so and it is hoped that over time more and more boys will wish to undertake extra study after school. It is considered that the introduction of homework has to be introduced sensitively to the pupils given that many of them have quite negative educational experiences in previous schools and their attitudes towards learning are often poor as a consequence. By introducing homework gradually it is hoped that for many of our pupils the undertaking of homework will be seen by the pupils in a much more positive light and will help them to achieve better educational standards for themselves.
g. Complaints regarding Aspects of the Curriculum: If a parent wishes to complain about any aspect of the curriculum then they have the right to do so under Section 23 of the 1988 Education Act. Parents wishing to complain should write to the Chairman of Governors giving details of their complaint. This matter would be referred to the Governors Curriculum Sub-Committee who will in turn bring it to the attention of the Headteacher and relevant members of staff. The curriculum Sub-Committee will contact the parents regarding the outcome of their investigation and if needs be will meet with the parents in order to resolve matters.
EXTRA ACTIVITIES
1. Charging and Remissions Policy for School Activities - Section 107 of the Education Reform Act 1988
The Governors of the School have agreed that the charging and remissions policy should be in accordance with the Policy Statement issued by the Surrey Education Authority.
Stated briefly, this means that when school visits are being planned, parents may wish to pay a voluntary contribution towards the cost of any such journey though there is no requirement that parents have to pay. Where any family is in receipt of Income support or Family Credit, no voluntary contribution will be required. However, it must be pointed out that for any school visit to take place sufficient funding must be available. If the school cannot afford the cost of any visit it then reserves the right to cancel it.
Copies of the Authority's Statement may be obtained from the Headteacher.
2. Extra Curricular and Outdoor Pursuits - For many years the School has been involved in a variety of programmes embodying many and varied recreational and educational activities, all designed to increase each boy's capacity for enjoyment, his social skills, his self-confidence and self-esteem. The School Benevolent Fund often gives considerable financial assistance to such activities. Parents are asked to back up the School's endeavour and encourage their boys to take part as appropriate in activities such as camping, canoeing, sailing, hiking, competitive football, etc.
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