COLLEGE POLICIES

CURRICULUM POLICY

General Guidelines

Fine Arts College is committed to providing the foundation of learning necessary for students to enter higher education and the professional world.

In the fifth form the curriculum is intended to provide students with a foundation in the core curriculum of Maths and English to gain skills in speaking, listening, literacy and numeracy. This is supplemented by a wide range of other subjects. All students of compulsory school age receive a full time supervised education. A Personal Tutor looks after the pastoral and academic wellbeing of students and the personal development of students is encouraged talks given by outside experts on a range of issues including law and order, health and social protection and cultural development.

The sixth form curriculum provides students with the opportunity to study from a wide range of A level subjects and the college endeavours not to limit subject combinations thereby allowing students to study their preferred subjects.

All students are monitored over the term with subject tutor reports. For A level students the reports are every fortnight, and the GCSE students have reports written every week. All students receive a grade out of 6 from each subject tutor. If any students receive a grade 4 or below, then a letter is sent home to the prospective parents expressing the tutors concerns for students progress. If the students progress does not improve then parents are asked into the college to discuss the issues.

The Fifth Form

The college is committed to providing students of a compulsory school age with a broad and balanced curriculum including educational visits and regular sport and leisure activities.

All students in fifth form take the English Baccalaureate, unless specifically requested otherwise. The English Baccalaureate measure is recognised where pupils have secured a C grade or higher across a core of academic subjects – English Language, English Literature mathematics, history or geography, the sciences and a language. In addition to the five expected baccalaureate subjects students are encourage to take up to 4 other subjects from a wide selection encompassing the arts, humanities, or additional languages and sciences.

A list of all GCSE subjects and information on the courses is on the college website to help parents and students to make an informed choice. Subject choices are also discussed with the head of department either in the summer term before entry or at the beginning of the academic year.

The Sixth Form

All students are encouraged to take four AS level subjects in the first year and most students will drop one subject in the final year of study.

Students may choose any subject offered in the course outlines booklet and there is no restriction on subject combinations.

Advice is given to all students entering the sixth form about subject choices to help them make informed decisions. New students are invited to open days to gain an understanding of the A level subjects offered by talking to relevant tutors. They also discuss subject choices with the Principals at interview and at further meetings if necessary. Current GCSE students are invited to meet the Principals during the Spring term before sixth form entry to discuss A level subjects.

A list of subjects offered at A level and information on the courses can be found on the college website and in the course outlines booklet.

There are excellent opportunities for cultural development through a varied programme of extracurricular visits and talks in college, London and abroad.

This policy is reviewed annually and is available for inspection by staff or parents at any time on application to the Principal.