A broad and balanced secondary curriculum encompassing expressive and creative arts, music, languages, sports and technology alongside humanities, sciences, English and mathematics prepares students well for the next stage of their lives. Find out more by clicking on the icons below.
Year 7 to Year 9 Students aged 11 to 14
By Year 7 the transition to a fully timetabled curriculum taught by specialists has been completed, although the range of subjects covered remains constant, enabling students to build on their experience in the previous Key Stages. In Year 7 students are asked to undertake the study of an additional Modern Foreign Language so they can explore their linguistic capabilities to a fuller extent. They will then be able to make an informed choice as to whether they are going to be a one or two foreign languages student at KS4 and beyond. Year 7, 8 & 9 students have a choice of French, Bahasa Malaysia, German, Spanish and Mandarin. One other development is in Science, which is separated into the three parent disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics from Year 7 onwards.
Year 10 to Year 11 Students aged 14 to 16
All students entering Year 10 at the Alice Smith School will study for GCSEs in mathematics, English language, English literature and two sciences. In addition they must make five further subjects choices from a range of around 20 options we offer.
• One of these five choices must be a Modern Foreign Language • One choice may be the non‐examined subject, Learning to Learn
Accelerated Courses
• Two of the six science sets will follow an accelerated course leading to three GCSEs in the separate science (biology, chemistry and physics). The time allocation for this will be the same as that for Double Award Science. • Students who have taken GCSE in Malay or Mandarin in Year 9 and choose to follow these subjects in Year 10 & 11 will follow accelerated courses leading towards AS level Mandarin and a post GCSE language and culture course in Malay
The standard GCSE offer for an Alice Smith student is 10 GCSEs; however by following the Learning to Learn course this may be reduced to 9 or by following the accelerated course in science could be increased to 11.
A broad and balanced curriculum The compulsory core of English, maths, science and at least one modern foreign language is designed to ensure that all GCSE students at the Alice Smith School follow a broad and balanced curriculum in Years 10 and 11. We would advise that students look to maintain breadth, by choosing a wide variety of subjects when making the final four selections. There are however no further restrictions in choice at this stage and students should make their selection based on their interests, ability and, if they already have a clear career plan, their future study and career.
The Sixth Form at the Alice Smith School is a very special place indeed. It is an honour to welcome students into what will be one of the most challenging, and rewarding, eras of student life. The Sixth Form at Alice Smith is undergoing a huge transition to commensurate with the changes in the real world, to present our students with an educational provision that will prepare them fully for their own individual futures.
Educational development is moving at an incredible pace and Alice Smith aims to keep ahead of it with the new Sixth Form Centre and with innovative curriculum changes, keeping us at the forefront of 21st century education. Our students will be at the centre of this modernisation, creating a superb balance of academic and personal growth, placing them ideally for future study or entering the world of work.
The new Sixth Form Centre will be a dynamic workplace, uniting different learning environments to provide our students with the variety of study areas that they may need. Collaborative learning will be encouraged in a collegiate atmosphere of team work between staff and students. The complete integration of ICT in the Centre will enable diversity and research driven learning. There will be areas for independent learning and group work, for relaxing and for reflection, all backed by underlying principles suitable for young adults of today.
It is my intention that development of all aspects of young adults will drive our new initiatives. With mutual respect and the key concept of responsibility, we are dedicated to challenging and rewarding the learning, and committed to fulfilling the potential of every individual. Through academic mentoring and under the careful eye of tutors, overseen by the Sixth Form Leadership Team, each and every student will have the opportunity to develop into a mature and focussed adult ready to take their place in the world beyond school.
Outside of the classroom there are many areas of challenge and reward open to the students. From the extensive sporting facilities to the international work behind the MUN, the opportunities are vast. It is abundantly clear that grades alone will not secure places at top universities and the extra curricula program is an integral part of individual development. Community projects, both home and abroad, are an important step to developing a sense of self-worth and ‘giving back’, certainly an ethos worthy of development. All students are encouraged to extend themselves and use these opportunities to build other aspects of their life, creating fully rounded members of the adult community with as much choice ahead of them as possible.
It is a truism that what you get out of an organisation is a reflection of what you put in. I urge every Sixth Former to dedicate themselves to the two years they have here, committing themselves with determination to filling their school lives, contributing fully to all aspects of the Alice Smith Sixth Form to create for themselves, and others, a unique and rewarding experience.
