Curriculum
As a Catholic school, the curriculum at Notre Dame is inspired by the teachings of the Gospel, taking into account the requirements of the Department For Education, Local Authority, and the Catholic Diocese of Southwark.
At Notre Dame, we endeavour to ensure that all pupils have access to the Curriculum. The work is planned to take account of progression and continuity. We are opposed to any form of discrimination on grounds of race, gender, ability or disability.
Religious Education is at the heart of our Curriculum. It is rooted in three aspects: teaching, worship and moral values.
At Notre Dame we aim to motivate and challenge each pupil to reach her potential and to be ready to move onto her next stage of education. Our work is based on the National Curriculum, the Core and the Foundation Subjects.
At Notre Dame we aim to motivate and challenge each pupil to reach her potential.
In delivering the Curriculum, we realise that it is essential for each child to experience different methods of learning through the effective use of a range of printed and practical materials including the use of ICT. Some of these learning skills are addressed through a whole class approach / small groups, and individual work. Within the class our children are grouped according to their abilities, with work differentiated to meet all pupils' talents, skills and abilities. Our learning activities are supported by the use of specialist teachers – SEN, EMAG, Learning Support Assistant, Student Support Assistants, outside agents and the voluntary involvement of parents.
Children study all subjects in the National Curriculum. These include Mathematics, Literacy, Science, ICT (Information and technology skills), History, Geography, Art, Design Technology, Music, Physical Education, Religious Education and Personal, Social and Health Education combined with Citizenship. Wherever possible, children are encouraged to explore thematic links between curriculum areas.
Overview of subjects
In Years 7, 8 and 9 students follow a broad and balanced curriculum:
|
English |
Physical Education |
Art & Design |
|
Mathematics |
Computing |
Geography |
|
Science |
Spanish |
History |
|
Religious Education |
Drama KS3 |
Music KS3 |
|
|
Design & Technology |
|
In Years 10 and 11 all students study the following subjects:
|
English Language |
Science (Trilogy) or Triple Science (Physics, Chemistry and Biology) | French, German, Spanish or Portuguese |
|
English Literature |
Mathematics | Religious Studies |
|
|
Physical Education |
In addition they also have the choice of studying two or three of the following subjects to GCSE level:
| History
|
Art | Sports Studies |
| Geography | Performing Arts | ICT |
| Child Development | Food Technology | Textiles Technology |
| Computing |
Notre Dame is committed to keeping teaching groups as small as possible and in most classes there are approximately 26 students.
Contact
If a parent has a serious concern about the school curriculum or related matters, the parent should, in the first instance, contact Ms Jackie Foley, MIS Manager, to arrange a discussion about their concern:
If the parent is dissatisfied with the outcome of the discussion the parent may then submit a formal complaint to the Headteacher. This must be done in writing, stating that it is a formal complaint, clearly specifying its nature.
A detailed set of procedures to deal with formal complaints is available on request from the school.
