About Albany

Assembly

All pupils attend at least two assemblies per week and these are taken by the Headteacher, Senior Staff, Head of Year, a member of staff or pupils themselves. The Hall is used for a separate formal Year Assembly each week with Senior Staff and, in addition, pupils in each year group will have a Year Assembly taken by the appropriate Head of Year each week. Other forms of daily collective worship are taken in smaller groups, for example, Tutor Groups. Visiting speakers are also sometimes invited to address pupils.

Following the Education Reform Act, the assemblies are " mainly of a broadly Christian character".

Religious Education

All pupils are taught RE for 1 hour per week at both key stages. At K53 the school follows the locally agreed SACRE syllabus which covers a wide range of themes. At K54 RE covers a broader spectrum of religious and moral issues. Parents may withdraw their child from all or part of RE or Religious Worship by notifying school in writing in advance.

Homework is an important and valued element of the curriculum.

It encourages pupils to practice skills learned in the classroom as well as helping them to pursue their own interests and become independent learners. All pupils have a homework timetable. The amount of homework increases as pupils progress through the school. Pupils record homework in planners which are checked and signed weekly by parents and form tutors.

We also have an after school homework club in the library where pupils can use all the facilities and receive help from a member of staff.

We have a structured system of awards and prizes for all pupils, recognising achievements both in and out of the classroom.

We believe in celebrating and rewarding our pupils' achievements on a regular basis  through celebration assemblies and presentation evenings.


The Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9)

Pupils study English, maths and science as sole subjects, with literacy and numeracy underpinning the whole curriculum.

They also study art. design technology, geography, history, information computer technology. modern foreign language. music, physical education, religious education and citizenship. personal health and social education.

Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11)

All pupils study for GCSEs in English language. English literature, maths and science. There are additional subjects to be chosen from including design technology, modern foreign languages, geography, history, drama, music, art, PE and business studies.

Pupils are given the opportunity to follow vocational GCSEs in engineering, leisure and tourism, ICT and health and social care, all of which are double awards.

Pupils continue with citizenship. personal health and social education, religious education and physical education in years 10 and 11.

There is an effective, rigorous monitoring and assessment system of pupil progress through which we set targets and raise standards. This involves pupils. parents and staff.