Ethos
We believe that the non-selective ethos of Bury Lawn means that all children can benefit from the individual care and attention the school provides. Our aim is to bring out the best in each of our pupils, wherever their particular talents may lie. The Senior School curriculum is designed to ensure that this becomes a reality and is intended to provide an ongoing and flexible response to the changing needs of the individual.
Years 7 - 9 (age 11 - 13)
The Senior School curriculum begins in Year 7 when the children move across from the Primary School to an environment specifically created to ease a child's transition into the Senior School. Here pupils are still taught by their form teacher for the majority of the subjects, but move to specialist areas for IT, art, French and science, thereby exploring the novelties of Senior School life from the familiarity of a classroom base.
From Year 7, pupils are taught in groups according to ability although these may well change depending on the individuals needs. All pupils follow a broad curriculum, embracing mathematics, English (including literature), geography, history, information technology, food technology, art and design, music, drama, games and PE and personal, social and health education (PSHE). A general science course taught by specialists in Years 7 to 8 leads to the separate sciences in Year 9. All children study at least one modern foreign language with the possibility of French, German and Spanish along with Latin for the more linguistically able.
In short, we aim to provide a curriculum which equips all of our pupils with the kind of knowledge, skills and confidence which will enable them to make the most of their talents at GCSE and beyond.
GCSE Years 10 - 11 (age 14 - 16)
The majority of our students study 9 GCSEs but the number and the subjects pursued depend very much on the individual's capabilities and inclinations. We aim to tailor our programme towards these variables and GCSE option groups are created on the basis of student and parental discussion. This enables the majority of students to follow the programme of their choice, remembering that maths, English and science must be included.
As a result, some pupils may well sit some of their examinations a year early after 'fast track' courses whilst others may follow fewer courses or spread them over a longer period. All students who wish to enter for GCSE examinations, whatever their abilities, may do so.
During their GCSE years, pupils will also receive guidance on preparation for public examinations, careers and their options for Sixth Form and further education.
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