Learning

Higham Lane School provides a wide range of opportunities for all students with a broad, balanced curriculum. A variety of teaching techniques and class groupings are used within the School to ensure continuity and progression for all students.
There are 30 lessons a week, organised into 5 days with 6 periods of 50 minutes and on Wednesday, a single period of approximately 40-45 minutes, with an earlier finish at 3.10pm.

YEARS 7, 8 & 9 (Key Stage 3)
The subjects for KS3 are English, Mathematics, Science, Art, Geography, History, ICT, Modern Foreign Languages, Music, Physical Education, Religious Education and Technology.

HEALTH EDUCATION is covered by a cross-curricular approach in Science, Physical Education, Technology and Citizenship & Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) periods. Careers Education is delivered within the Citizenship & PSHE course in collaboration with Connexions.

In the Spring Term, Year 9 students decide which option subjects they will study to examination level in Years 10 and 11. Full details of the choices offered are contained in the School's Options Booklet. English, Mathematics, Modern Foreign Languages and Humanities are settled in Key Stage 3(KS3). At the end of Year 9, students take KS3 National Curriculum tests called S.A.T.S. in English, Mathematics and Science.

YEARS 10 & 11 (Key Stage 4)
The curriculum for Key Stage 4(KS4) aims to offer broad balanced education for all students but with some scope for specialism. There is a core of English, Mathematics, Science, Technology, Physical Education, Religious Education and Citizenship & Personal, Social and Health Education. Most students take a Short Course G.C.S.E. examination in R.E. Careers Education is delivered within the Citizenship & PSHE course, in collaboration with Connexions.

Option subjects include GCSEs in Art, Applied Business Studies, Business Studies, Drama, Food Technology, French, Spanish, German, Geography, Graphics, History, Music, PE, Resistant Materials and Textiles.

ENGLISH
Students are taught in settled ability groups. They follow an integrated course leading to two G.C.S.E. qualifications in English and English Literature. Some students are entered for the Certificate of Achievement in English.

MATHEMATICS
Students are taught in sets. More able mathematicians in Year 10 are entered for G.C.S.E. Mathematics a year early and then follow a course in Statistics and free standing Mathematics qualification (equivalent to A-level standard) for examination at the end of Year 11. Assessment is by a combination of coursework and examination.

SCIENCE
Students are taught Co-ordinated Science in settled ability groups, with two periods a week for each specialism in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Assessment is by a combination of coursework and examination. The course leads to two or three G.C.S.E. qualifications.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION
The aim of the P.E. Department is to promote the philosophy of "Sport for All". Students are given as wide a range of experience of different sporting activities as possible. The School has a sports hall, a gymnasium and a fitness centre. The two school halls are also used for P.E. activities. There are two sports fields, one on the School site and one across Higham Lane on Ambleside, and a number of tennis and netball courts. All these facilities are heavily-used by community groups.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Higham Lane School is non-denominational and the Religious Education syllabus encompasses a study of world religions, so it is customary for all parents to allow their children to take part in these lessons. Parents have the right to withdraw their child from R.E. lessons, by applying to the Headteacher. We would ask parents who do withdraw their child to ensure that work of an appropriate nature is provided for that period of time each week.

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
The school offers over 70 extra curricular activities every week, before school, during lunchtimes and after school, from School Gardening Club to Netball.