Academic > Educational Course > Overview
The School is divided as follows:
| LOWER SCHOOL | ||
| Year 1 : IIIrd form | introductory year. | 13 subjects studied |
| Year 2 : Second Year | preparation for GCSE year; 'early' GCSEs are taken by some. | 9 or 10 subjects studied |
| MIDDLE SCHOOL | ||
| Year 3 : Third Year | main GCSE year, and preparation for Sixth Form. | 9 or 10 subjects studied |
| UPPER SCHOOL | ||
| Year 4 : Lower VIth | first year of A Level courses; AS Levels. | 4 subjects studied |
| Year 5 : Upper VIth | A2 (second year of A Level courses); A Levels. AEA Level and STEP papers. | 4 or 3 subjects studied |
Boys follow the general pattern of three years to GCSE. In the second year some subjects are setted. Boys in the higher Maths and French sets take the GCSE exams 'early', at the end of the Second Year. Thereafter such boys continue with AS work in those subjects or, in the case of French, may exchange their French studies for Italian in which GCSE is attempted in one year. Each boy chooses his GCSE subject options during the Novi year in discussion with his Housemaster and parents, and the banding/setting of many subjects enables each to work at an appropriate pace towards his GCSEs, which must include English, Maths, a Modern Language and either three separate Sciences or Double Award Science.
All Lower School boys follow a course in Information Systems which leads to attaining the 'European Computer Driving Licence' qualification. In addition there are courses in Divinity, Personal and Social Education, PE and Health Education. In the Middle School these courses will be replaced by a “Seminar” programme covering elements of ethics, current affairs, citizenship and thinking skills.
For admission to the Sixth Form, a boy must have attained six GCSE passes at grade B or above. Almost every boy achieves good enough GCSEs to qualify him to begin a normal two-year course to Advanced Level; indeed the average grade achieved is an A. Four subjects are studied to AS Level in the LVIth and three or four are taken through to the full A Level by the end of the UVIth. Some of particularly high ability may take AEA (Advanced Extension Award) Level exams in addition to A Levels in one or two of their subjects. Entry for Higher Education courses (Degrees and Diplomas) is dependent on A Level grades achieved. This is the case for Oxford and Cambridge too, though some Cambridge Colleges may also require particular grades in AEA Level or in their own STEP Mathematics exams which are taken alongside A Levels. In addition, Colleges at both these universities frequently require applicants to sit special tests (typically of one hour duration) when they attend for interview, while applicants for History, Medicine or Veterinary Science are required to sit a longer test paper in November before going up for interview. All Universities allow applications after A Level, but such applications necessitate - and can interfere with - a 'Gap' year between school and University.
A Curriculum Review Group keeps all aspects of the School's academic life under regular review, in consultation with the Heads of Departments and Housemasters. The details in this booklet will change in response not only to the school's own development but also to the educational policies of the Government. Boys and parents are kept informed of the choices open to them at the appropriate times through brochures and Parents' Evenings.
Throughout the first three years, Preps are set on a schedule of three for most evenings including Saturdays, taking about one and a half hours in all for the Third Forms but becoming longer and more open-ended as GCSE approaches.
The school's timetable is based not on the 6-day calendar week but on a 10-day rotating cycle. Among other benefits, this allows teaching time to be divided more appropriately between subjects - particularly up to GCSE - and it also distributes the low spots of the week more equitably.
The 10 days are lettered A-K (omitting I): A,C,E,G,J are whole school days and so occur on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays throughout the year, and B,D,F,H,K, are half-days (no afternoon school) occurring on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays. Preps are assigned to the cyclical days.
Only the academic timetable is affected by this cycle: all other facets of school life function normally around it, based on the calendar week. Games occur on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons.
The 2 afternoon periods are early throughout the year on Mondays, late on Wednesdays, and vary on Fridays when they are in the late afternoon during the winter months, and early in the summer months.
During Pursuits Periods, from 2.00-2.45 pm on Mondays and Fridays, academic departments are open to all boys who would like help or advice in any subject.