Curriculum Overview - Phase 2
KS4 marks a step change for students in their academic studies. Having made their option choices in Year 9, students will take their first steps into GCSE subjects.
Every member of the TAL community is driven to improve every single day. This drive and a culture of excellence brings staff and students together, with a shared mission of success.
During the last three years of study students have been exploring different ideas, disciplines and opportunities. These opportunities have allowed students to build key skills, knowledge and experiences. All the hard work in Years 7, 8 and 9 will be utilised and built upon in Year 10. Staff and students will explore the links between Year 10 topics and those studied in KS3. Building on links, staff will guide students through the challenge and rigour of GCSE content.
Our KS4 provision, entitled Prep offers three different ways in which students are further supported to be successful and gain outstanding qualifications:
Morning Prep
Our Morning Prep sessions are underpinned by the latest research around information retention. During Term 1 of Year 10 students learn how to craft appropriate and effective revision resources. Students then spend subsequent terms crafting relevant revision resources for each of their subjects that they can use during the session, at home and during Private Prep should they wish to attend. These sessions are silent, purposeful and structured. As with all learning experiences at TAL, Morning Prep has bespoke high quality booklets. Team Leaders deliver the sessions.
Prep+
A further key, and compulsory, strand of our Prep programme is Prep+ which offers small, individualised tutoring by subject experts. Students are selected based on common misconceptions, and invited to bespoke study sessions after school with a subject expert. This may be their class teacher, or another teacher of the subject within the faculty. Prep+ is a key intervention which is likely to last for one term for a particular subject. Should a student make the intended progress, they will have completed their intervention in that subject. However, if a student does not make the desired progress, they may be invited to attend a further intervention in that subject. Students may be invited to a number of different interventions in one term, depending on the subjects we feel they can make quick, supported progress in. We ask all parents/carers support Prep+. Students are aware that they will receive a C3 if they do not attend their session.
Private Prep
Every day our students can access a supervised revision space in the library. Students are provided with snacks and drinks. Students can access laptops and computers as well as free revision resources for their use during the session, such as flash cards, highlighters and pens. Private Prep allows students to revise quietly, alone or in groups, without distractions of screens or siblings.
Moving into Year 11 sees another step change, students and staff will be looking towards external examinations. In the build up to exams, subject experts will walk and talk students through key exam skills and revision strategies. Developing students’ resilience and independence, ensuring they are ready for any challenge.
