Parents Centre

Year 9 (Key Stage 3)

Students entering Year 9 are placed in parallel Tutor Groups and follow a 76 period two week timetable.

Most of these subjects are taught in mixed ability groups, but some, for example Mathematics, are taught in sets. In Year 9 all students study French and have a ‘taster’ of both German and Spanish.

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Years 10 & 11 (Key Stage 4)

 

There are two components to the KS4 curriculum:

CORE
All students study a core of:

English	Core Science
Mathematics	ICT
Religious Education

Mathematics and Core Science are taught as separate lessons with formal assessment leading to GCSEs in these subjects. All students follow a course leading to GCSE English Language. Students who have exhibited a flair for English Language in Y10 will also have the opportunity to follow a course in GCSE English Literature to run alongside their English Language course in Y11.

ICT is also taught as a separate lesson with formal assessment leading to a BTEC Diploma in ICT. Physical Education and Religious Education are also delivered in the core but as non-examined courses. Students who wish to obtain a formal qualification in these subjects can opt to choose the GCSE/BTEC courses in these subjects as part of their entitlement choices.

During their 2-year Key Stage 4 course all students have curriculum time for:

Citizenship	Careers Education
Sex Education	Work-related learning
	Five days enterprise experience

All students have two Tutorial lessons per timetable cycle.

Entitlements

Students have the opportunity to select from a range of subjects. We believe this gives opportunity for a broad and balanced educational experience for all our students. There are a range of subjects to choose from. We offer vocational subjects as well as what may be called more ‘traditional’ academic and practical subjects. Many students prefer and enjoy the vocational subjects – they see them as being more relevant to the world of work and their career aspiration. Others like the assessment route of vocational courses, as there is much more emphasis on coursework and a lot less emphasis on examinations in determining the final grade. Both the traditional and vocational courses we offer at Astley Community High School provide good progression routes into the Sixth Form and then onto Higher Education.

All the examined Key Stage 4 courses we offer are either GCSEs or have a GCSE equivalent value. The PATHWAY your child follows will influence the number of GCSEs (or equivalents) your child could obtain.

In addition to the core curriculum, students choose three further subjects from a range of options:

Sport or PE	Certificate Business	Diploma Business
Certificate Travel and Tourism	Diploma Travel and Tourism	3rd Science
Child Development	Applied Health and Social Care	Food Technology
Product Design	History	Geography
RE	Certificate Art and Design	Fine Art or Diploma Art and Design
French	Certificate Performing Arts

Unless stated all courses are GCSE's.

Sixth Form – Years 12 and 13

University funding 2009 -10, information for students and parents.

Our Sixth form is large and successful and we are proud of the depth of success that our students enjoy. We are also joined by a number of students from other schools. We provide a range of courses for those wishing to undertake further study after GCSE. The Sixth Form Prospectus is available from the school. The precise number of courses on offer varies slightly from year to year according to demand by students. However, the range normally includes:

1. BTEC First Diplomas These are specialised one-year courses and are equivalent to 4 GCSEs grade “C” or above. We currently offer these courses in:
   Public Services
   Business
   Construction
   Health and Social Care
   ICT
   Sport
   Travel and Tourism
   
   
2. BTEC National Award and BTEC National Certificates These are two year A-level equivalent courses and we offer them in:
   Travel and Tourism
   Public Services
   Business
   IT
   Sport
   
   
3. Applied GCE's - these are two year vocational A-levels. We currently offer courses in:
   
   Health & Social Care (Single/ Double Award)
   
   
4. AS and A2 Courses
   
   

   Art & Design: Unendorsed	Music
   Art: Graphics	Art: Fine Art
   Art: Textiles	Art: Photography (AS only)
   Physics	Physical Education (A Level )
   Psychology	Biology
   Religious Studies	Chemistry
   Critical Thinking (AS only)	English Language
   English Literature	Geography
   Health & Social Care (Single/ Double Award)	History
   Mathematics	Further Maths
   Media Studies	Modern Foreign Languages

Life in the Sixth Form is vibrant and challenging. In addition to academic study there is a high degree of participation by Sixth formers in all walks of life in the school, ranging from giving assistance to younger students in some lessons to contributing to a lively programme of social events. Following Sixth Form, most of our students proceed to Further or Higher Education and then, often, into highly successful careers in the world of work.

For further information about courses in Years 12 and 13, please contact the Director of Sixth Form. (Tel. No. 0191 2371505.)


Extra Curricular and Enrichment Opportunities

In addition to the opportunities available via the courses being studied in school, we offer a wide range of enrichment activities to help students to broaden their experience and fulfil their potential. In recent years these have included:

• Skiing trip to the Alps
• Sixth Form study visits to New York
• School Council
• Duke of Edinburgh and Asdan Award Schemes
• History trips to London, Paris, First World War sites in France, Eden Camp
• Media Studies visit to Disneyland, Paris
• A number of pupil rock bands
• Year 9 visit to Milkhope activity centre
• Kielder activity weekends
• Theatre and gallery visits
• Activities week during the summer term
• Community voluntary work in partnership schools
• Residential fieldcourses
• French department visit to Normandy
• Sixth Form participation in Young Enterprise Scheme
• Youth Club
• Full range of sports teams
• Whole school charity events
• International Youth Camp in Turkey
• Pupil participation in Tall Ships Race
• Summer school activities
Participation in local and national competitions e.g. National Winners of ProShare 2005

Astley, as part of the Seaton Valley Partnership of Schools now, has achieved the Core Offer for Extended Services provision

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Sixth Form

Click the below link for information on our aims to support Sixth Form students. Sixth Form Vision

"Astley community High School have worked hard to engage parents in their children’s education providing excellent advice and resources"
Gordon Brown, MP, Prime Minister.

"As the world of education and employment is ever changing it is vital that students are fully informed in order to make the correct choices regarding their learning.

The Sixth Form at Astley Community High School builds upon the pathways that students have followed in Year 11 and provides a wide range of courses at BTEC, AS and A2 Level.

All courses are delivered by highly qualified staff, alongside a pastoral team to oversee students’ well-being whilst in the Sixth form.

We also expect students to participate in a range of community and school based activities in order to broaden their role within the school and their wider skills.

By combining academic excellence with a strong community commitment Astley Sixth Form Students will enter the world of Higher Education or employment equipped for success.

Please take the time to consider your options carefully and discuss your thoughts with staff."
Peter Thomas, Director of Post-16 Studies

At the end of year 11, for the first time, you have real choice about what you are going to do with your life… continue study in school or college, employments training or apprenticeship?

The final decision about what you will do, and where you will do it, is extremely important and will take most of you a considerable period of time before things are finalised.

The increasing majority of our Year 11 students return as Year 12 students because they believe Astley offers them the best opportunity to maximise their potential academically, to develop socially as a young adult… and to enjoy themselves.

Over the coming months, staff, co-ordinated by Mr Thomas as Director of Post 16 will explain in more detail about the opportunities available to students in the Sixth Form at Astley Community High School… I hope you will be one of them!
Ian G Knight, Head Teacher


Our Sixth form is large and successful and we are proud that our staying on rate is in excess of 62%. We are also joined by a number of students from other schools. We provide a range of courses for those wishing to undertake further study after GCSE. The Sixth Form Prospectus is available from the school. The precise number of courses on offer varies slightly from year to year according to demand by students.  

Further information about our aims for Sixth form can be found through the link to our vision statement below.
Sixth Form Vision

AS and A2 Courses

Life in the Sixth Form is vibrant and challenging. In addition to academic study there is a high degree of participation by Sixth formers in all walks of life in the school, ranging from giving assistance to younger students in some lessons to contributing to a lively programme of social events. Following Sixth Form, most of our students proceed to Further or Higher Education and then, often into highly successful careers in the world of work. For further information about courses in Years 12 and 13, please contact, Mr Thomas (Head of Sixth Form) at the school.

 

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