SENIOR SCHOOL

The Learning Support Department optimises the learning potential of all our students including those pupils with particular learning needs: those with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD), those for whom English is an additional language and those who are exceptionally academically able.

Our aim is for each student to become an independently active learner and to benefit from all areas of the curriculum, at the same time as tackling and progressively mastering the intricacies of the spoken and written language and number system.

We work in partnership with parents and house-staff to enable each student to achieve her very best at school. Our priority is teaching and learning and we promote a whole school approach to supporting students as individual learners.

SpLD

We liaise with the mainstream teaching staff to meet the needs of students with SpLD in their classrooms. They are actively encouraged to look beyond mechanical errors in writing and difficulties with organisation to assess the underlying quality of work produced by all students. Setting, where applied, is according to ability not disability.

We have high expectations for each student to reach her intellectual and academic potential. We understand the 'gift of dyslexia' and recognise the unique talents of students with SpLD. We focus on strengths and developing strategies to overcome weaknesses. We nurture confidence and self-esteem and encourage skills and natural abilities. We motivate students towards independence in learning.

Mathematics

Some students may experience difficulties with numbers and Mathematics and we have specialist teachers who work with these students to improve their numeracy and support the Mathematics curriculum.

Exceptionally Academically Able

There are a variety of challenging activities for Exceptionally Academically Able Students including a Critical Thinking Club for students in Key Stage 3 and a Critical Thinking Course for students in Key Stage 4 and the Sixth Form. Model United Nations is just one of the huge variety of extra-curricular activities organised by mainstream staff ranging from sport to music to debating which stretch and broaden the learning experience for all our students.

Teaching and Learning

Teaching within the department is multi-sensory, cumulative and flexible according to continuous informal assessment of the needs of the individual student. Each lesson covers a variety of activities and considers the learner's strengths and learning styles. We ensure that students know how they learn and encourage them to develop their own successful strategies to overcome difficulties.

We are constantly exploring new teaching ideas, methods and materials to ensure that every student has access to the best and most successful resources. We are aware of new trends and initiatives and where appropriate ensure that they are implemented alongside traditional methods.

All students may benefit from the expert help available in the Learning Support Department by undertaking short courses in for example: essay writing skills, reading comprehension, speed-reading or revision techniques. We organise any examination concessions that are appropriate.