Learning Area
Every girl who enters Sarah Bonnell should be aiming high, because we will have high expectations of her. By providing a broad and balanced curriculum and high quality teaching, we expect our students to build on their achievements from primary school and fulfil their potential. We encourage the professional development of our staff, thus enabling the school to stay at the forefront of educational progress.
Sarah Bonnell supports Newham's Inclusive Education Policy. We believe that the most effective way of ensuring that students have access to their National Curriculum entitlement is to support them in mainstream lessons, with additional support for specific difficulties. This work is carried out by the Access and Inclusion learning area, which includes learning support teachers in English as an Additional Language Specialists.
In the same way we believe we must provide challenging learning experiences for students of all abilities, especially students with a particular gift or talent, whether it be academic, sporting or social. They have the right to be stretched and thereby develop their potential to the utmost. To this end, the school has a Gifted and Talented Co-ordinator whose task involves monitoring the progress of these girls. There are numerous cross-borough projects in which these students are involved.
We understand the value of providing a broad and balanced education for all students, which will enable them to develop as well-rounded adults. Our learning week is presently divided into 25 one hour periods. All teaching is informed by the government's Secondary Strategy, which is aimed at improving teaching and learning.
Key Stage 3
On entering the school the girls are placed in one of eight mixed ability forms, and they are taught in these groups or in sets according to the requirements of different subjects.
Here at Sarah Bonnell we follow the National Curriculum. All students take courses in the following subjects:
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Modern Languages
- PE
- ICT
- Art
- Drama
- Geography
- History
- Music
- PSHRE (Physical, Social, Health, and Religious Education)
- Technology
Geography, History and PSHRE are taught together as Humanities in year 7. Students in Year 7 also follow a Learning for Life course. The language available may change slightly from year to year, but it is our intention that students will study two languages, and they will have a choice over one of them. At present we offer:
- French
- Chinese
- German
- Italian
- Urdu
- Spanish
- Bengali
We also offer several extra curricular languages such as Yoruba and Arabic.
Key Stage 4
The Key Stage 4 curriculum is regularly evaluated. As a Language College all girls study at least one language. Students study the core subjects of:
- English
- Mathematics
- Religious Education
- Science
- A Language
- ICT
In addition to these subjects, girls take courses in PE and PSHRE. Our students are also prepared for an OCR course in Information Technology. Students then choose 3 courses from a range of subjects:
- Additional Science
- Child Development and the Family
- Drama
- Fine Art
- Food Technology
- Geography
- Graphic Design
- Graphic Products
- History
- Music
- PE
- Resistant Materials
- Statistics
- Textiles
Our religious education curriculum is based on Newham's agreed syllabus, which has been ratified by Newham Council, local teachers and representatives of all the major faiths and denominations. It ensures that our students gain an understanding of all world religions.