All Saints aims to provide all our pupils with a broad, balanced

education offering them every opportunity to develop their

potential to the full. High standards of academic work are

expected and homework is compulsory.

Lower School (Key Stage 3)

For the first three years all pupils follow a common curriculum

which includes Religious Education, English, Mathematics,

Science, French, Geography, History, Technology, Art, Music,

Physical Education and Information Technology. German is also

available for the most linguistically able.

Upper School (Key Stage 4)

The curriculum in Years 10 and 11 is in accordance with the

National Curriculum and consists of a common core of Religious

Education, English, Mathematics, Science, French, Technology,

History or Geography and Physical Education. A further two

subject options can be chosen after consultation between parents,

pupils and teachers. The range of option subjects include Music,

Art, Physical Education, Business Studies, Information Technology

and Italian. It is expected that pupils study full G.C.S.E.

courses. The new and emerging G.C.S.E. short course is being

developed in specific subject areas and will only be offered if

they enhance the breadth and balance of the curriculum.

It is expected that all pupils will enter for external

examinations. The General Certificate of Secondary Education

(G.C.S.E.) is the common examination for Year 11 pupils.

Throughout the school there is an emphasis on academic success

and the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of school life.

In addition cross curricular courses in Careers Education, Health

Education, Information Technology, Citizenship, Educational and

Industrial understanding, Personal and Social Education and

Education in personal Relationships are provided for all pupils

within a coherent framework. Two weeks work experience is also

a core element of the Year 11 curriculum.

Sixth Form

We are the only school in Tameside that is able to offer an 11-18 education

to all our pupils. The Sixth form curriculum

provides an extensive range of academic and vocational courses.

These are outlined on a separate insert.

Homework

Homework is an important part of learning. Pupils must develop

the habit of private study to support their classwork. Pupils

are given a homework timetable. Homework is set each night

according to the age, ability and aptitude of the pupil. Parents

play an important role in supporting and encouraging their

children to study at home.

Grouping of Pupils

In partnership with our parents we want the best for all our

pupils. To accomplish this, new pupils are placed into tutor

groups of approximately 25 pupils. We ensure they have friends

from their primary schools but also introduce them to pupils from

other primary schools.

Whilst these tutor groups will remain stable throughout the

pupils' school career they will only form the subject teaching

groups for the first term. At the end of the first term subject

attainment groups will be determined by a range of assessment

procedures and in consultation with parents.

The management of pupil learning together with the use of

appropriate teaching methodology is more focused in the

attainment groups to serve the ability and aptitude of each pupil

by ensuring they achieve their maximum potential.

Special Educational Needs

We do everything we can to make sure that the talents of all our

pupils are recognised. One of the Senior Staff, together with

the Special Needs Co-ordinator and her assistant, share the

responsibility for the diagnosis, identification and resourcing

of our gifted pupils. Our emphasis on Primary-Secondary

continuity enables us to plan in advance and deliver the

enrichment programmes required to meet the needs of our gifted

pupils.

Specialist teachers have the responsibility for identifying

pupils' learning problems and for organising compensatory help

which continues throughout the whole curriculum. Various

strategies are employed to solve learning problems, e.g. the use

of withdrawal, in-class support and the preparation of individual

programmes pupils in need. The Special Needs staff continually

involve and update parents on the performance of their children.

A great emphasis is placed on providing help with basic English

and Mathematics. The school also has strong links with Tameside

Support Services and utilises their resource when and where

appropriate.

Extra Curricular Activities

In addition to the normal school curriculum there is a range out

of school activities providing additional opportunities for the

pursuit of individual interests. The list of activities is being

continually extended and includes the following, Sports

(Badminton, football, netball, cricket, basketball, athletics,

tennis, rugby), Music provides (orchestra, brass band, swing

band, choir). A growing number of pupils are currently receiving

instrumental tuition in Brass, piano, clarinet and guitar. The

English Department coordinate a whole school musical production

every other year. The Science club, Art club, Information

Technology user group and the Public Speaking group all

contributed to the rich diversity of our curriculum.‘

Parents are asked to encourage their children, where it is

possible to take advantage of these activities. No child is

allowed to stay behind after school without first obtaining

parents permission. It is the responsibility of the pupil to

inform parents in advance of any delay in arriving home because

of an extra curricular activity.

There are also organised school trips which include theatre

visits, geographical and historical fieldwork and journeys abroad

organised by the Modern Foreign Language Department. All pupils

have the opportunity to visit a Retreat Centre, usually a day

visit in Lower School and a residential course in the Upper

School and Sixth Form.