KEY STAGE ONE - Infant and Junior Department
In the Reception class, the curriculum is based on the Foundation Stage of the National curriculum. This is covered in six areas of learning, which provides a holistic educational approach appropriate to the younger child's development. These six areas are:-
· Personal, social and emotional development · Communication, language and literacy · Mathematical development · Knowledge and understanding of the world · Physical development · Creative development
These are largely taught via themes throughout the term. The main themes for the Michaelmas Term, for example, are 'ourselves' and 'colour, shape and pattern'.
Years 1 and 2 follow the National Curriculum with enrichment. Literacy and numeracy are taught daily in discrete classes. Each class also follows its own science topics, and cover foundation subjects in a two year rolling programme.
Music, swimming and French are taught by specialist teachers. Specialist teaching areas used are the ICT centre and sports facilities, including a dance studio.
The pupils are tested at the end of key stage 1.
KEY STAGE TWO - Infant and Junior Department
Years 3 to 6 are taught largely by their own classteacher. The core curriculum - literacy, numeracy and science are generally taught by their own classteacher. A yearly programme for the foundation subjects is followed. A more holistic approach has been adopted, with the history, geography and RE schemes of work being linked together with art, where possible, to enable the delivery of a more experiential and stimulating curriculum.
Music and French are taught by specialist teachers, and the juniors also have access to specialist teaching areas, such as the sports facilities, Learning Resource Centre and the ICT centre. All pupils have a weekly skills lesson in the ICT centre and extra sessions are booked to enhance learning in other subjects. Each class has a PC and there are also five laptop computers in the Infant and Junior Department.
The pupils are tested at the end of key stage 2, and other years take the optional tests. Years 3-6 also take the NFER CAT tests to aid assessment for the Kent 11+ Test.
KEY STAGE THREE - The First, Second and Third Forms
Year 7 and 8 is taught in two forms, but setting has been made possible in Mathematics and Languages.
In Year 9 pupils are divided into three groups: for Mathematics, English, Science and Languages, these will be sets based on aptitude and ability, but for other subjects the groups are parallel and of mixed ability.
KEY STAGE FOUR - The Fourth and Fifth Forms
For pupils entering Year 10, the aim is to provide a wide range of courses, which will meet the needs of our pupils, whatever their interests, career aims or ability.
All Year 10 pupils have lessons in English (including English Literature) and Mathematics. The rest of the subjects are divided into six option blocks from which, with advice and guidance from home and the College, pupils choose an appropriate and well-balanced course. It is worth emphasising that this is not the same as a pupil choosing the subjects they want to study or are interested in, but rather what is educationally sound.
It can be seen from the option blocks outlined below that there is a wide range of choice. Please note that only one subject may be chosen from each block.
The curriculum in Key Stage 4 permits pupils to take up to 9 GCSEs.
The GCSE option choices can be viewed in greater detail by going to the Options Page.
The courses are also explained in more detail in the GCSE brochure. To request a copy of this brochure please contact the registrar@dovercollege.org.uk
Post 16 - The Sixth Form
In the Sixth Form there is no core component in the Curriculum. The usual course for a pupil joining the Lower Sixth is four subjects at Advanced Subsidiary level, of which three will be taken to Advanced (A2) level in the Upper Sixth, this being the target for entry to Higher Education.
All pupils will develop their key skills (Communication, Use of ICT and Dealing with Number) through their AS or A level. Again, with considerable help and advice from home and College, pupils select subjects to create an appropriate and educationally sound course.
Pupils choose four subjects, only one from any given block. Three of these may be linked in some way, but the fourth should be a contrast to the others. It is our aim to provide an appropriate course for all our pupils: at times we are asked to make minor amendments to this pattern to accommodate a particular combination. Any such request must be made to the Director of Studies before the timetable is drawn up (at the start of the Summer Term).
From September 2006, Drama* will be taught outside the blocks which means that everyone can take part.
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