Policy and Procedures for curriculum concessions for students
First – Third Year
All students at St George’s College are expected to follow the full curriculum up to and including the Third Year. This will enable them to experience a broad balance and range of subjects prior to selecting those they wish to opt for, in addition to the core subjects, at GCSE level.
GCSE (Fourth and Fifth Year)
The expectation is that students take a minimum of ten GCSEs in total. These will consist of the core subjects of English, English Literature, Religious Studies, Mathematics and Double Award Science (as a minimum) plus four options - one of which must be a Language.
A Level (Sixth Form)
The majority of students are expected to select three subjects to study at A Level, along with the EPQ. Some students who have a strong set of GCSE results, will opt for four A Levels – and may also complete an EPQ.
Concessions
• There may be a very small number of students with an additional learning need (ALN) for whom the study of a language to GCSE level could be problematic, this would have already been highlighted by the MFL Department. In such cases, parents may request that this expectation be waivered, and another subject be selected instead. Requests should be made to Mrs Medhurst – Head of Academic Support - who will liaise with the Head of Year, Head of Modern Languages and Deputy Head Academic, before a decision is reached.
• There may also be exceptional circumstances preventing a student from being able to follow the full expected curriculum at a particular level of study. Such circumstances are:
-- When a student is suffering from a significant medical/mental health issue certified by a specialist;
-- When a student has significant pastoral issues that have been notified to pastoral staff at the College;
-- When a student has significant additional learning needs/special educational needs and/or disabilities (ALN/SEND) that the Head of Academic Support is fully aware of.
Procedures for granting concessions
Requests/Advice for curriculum concessions for students who meet the criteria above, may be raised by staff and/or parents. Each student’s circumstance(s) will be reviewed very carefully by the relevant staff. In reviewing each request, the student’s current academic performance and all other relevant data will be measured against their baseline assessments forecasting their potential. Where it is felt that it would be in that student’s best interests to follow a reduced curriculum, concessions will be granted.
In the case of students opting for GCSE subjects, requests/advice should be made in advance of the two-year courses. Should a situation arise mid-way through the GCSE course, the student will be expected to continue with the course until the end of the Fourth Year. No concessions will be granted during the Fifth Year, except if there has been a significant change of circumstance regarding a particular student.
When a concession has been granted, the College will offer academic support where necessary. Students who are permitted to opt for one fewer subject at GCSE will not have study periods (except in exceptional circumstances approved by the SLT of the College) nor will they be permitted to do their homework. Instead, a programme of literacy, numeracy and science support sessions will take the place of the option subject not selected. These will be delivered by predominantly the Academic Support Department. These will be compulsory and will be designed to support students across all subjects