Academic Journey 2024-25

THE ACADEMIC JOURNEY AT TEDDIES

CONTENTS

The Academic Approach at Teddies

3 5 6 7 8 9

Working Together

Prep

Super Curriculum

The Shell Curriculum (Year 9) Fourth Form Choices (years 10–11)

Sixth Form Choices

11 13 14

The Library

University, Higher Education and Careers

THE ACADEMIC APPROACH AT ST EDWARD’S

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We have put together this booklet to give you an overview of how pupils are guided through the academic stages at Teddies – which exams they will take, where they can find support and how parents and guardians are involved. We have high expectations and encourage our pupils to put their time and best efforts into their learning – so that they achieve the success of which we know they are capable. We ask for your support in doing so, by encouraging your children and sharing our belief that they can succeed. School life, however, is of course a balance – and alongside our considered approach to academic fulfilment, we run an outstanding programme of co-curricular activities where children also flourish and learn outside the classroom. Housemistresses, Housemasters, Matrons, Tutors and the entire staff at Teddies are there to support your children in all aspects of school life, not only the academic ones.

We hope you are as excited as we are to see your children flourish at Teddies over the next few years.

David Flower Sub-Warden Academic

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Reporting Points in the Shell Year

During the academic year, parents and guardians are kept informed about pupils’ academic progress at specific formal reporting points.

Autumn Term

Late September Late October

In person Parents’ Meeting

Grade Card – Approach to Learning (effort) only Mid to late November In-Class Testing. All preparation covered within normal prep and lessons. December Report (including reporting of the In-Class Tests) Spring Term

January

GCSE/Pathways and Perspectives options presentation

February

Online Parents’ Meetings

Late February

GCSE/Pathways and Perspectives options deadline

March

Grade Card

Summer Term

May June

Grade Card

End of Year Exams. Some preparation will be required over the preceding Exeat (half term) holiday.

Late June

End of Year Report

The full list of dates for these points and for all year groups is available on our website.

FULL SCHEDULE

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WORKING TOGETHER

At Teddies, we approach teaching our pupils as a collaborative endeavour – between teachers, pupils, Tutors, the House teams and parents. Our senior academic team sets the curriculum for each year, within the parameters of the national curriculum and examination boards. We run a two week timetable, with all subjects spread over weeks A and B. Teachers carefully plan lessons and how best to deliver the contents of the courses. Timetabled prep is set to help pupils prepare for lessons and consolidate learning. Teachers make additional time outside the timetable for pupils to seek help in any area of study. Pupils are expected to engage with their lessons – taking notes, asking questions and contributing to classroom activities and discussions – and should put as much effort into completing prep as they do into the classroom. Tutors are members of the academic staff who have specific responsibility for groups of pupils within Houses. Tutors will talk to pupils regularly about academic work and ambitions. Pupils can also turn to their Housemaster or Housemistress, Matron and other Tutors in the House for help. With around eight academic Tutors in each House, there is usually a subject expert to help. We ask parents to support their children and us by asking their daughters and sons about their work and engaging with their progress.

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PREP

Prep is work set by teachers for pupils to complete on their own and outside lessons. It helps pupils to understand better the material they have already learnt in class and also helps them to develop skills by learning for themselves material which will be covered in further depth in subsequent lessons.

Pupils have a prep diary in which they should note down the prep set and the date it is required by.

There is a prep schedule to ensure prep is set evenly across the fortnight timetable so that pupils will be able to keep up with the work set, as well as have time to engage in extra-curricular activities. In boarding Houses, pupils do their prep between 7pm and 9pm – so there is plenty of time to get it all finished. Prep is a quiet time in Houses when pupils can focus on their work and restrictions are imposed on pupils’ laptops so that there are fewer distractions. All boarding pupils will do prep in this time and day pupils are also welcome to stay.

Pupils are encouraged to ask each other and House staff for help if they need it and to do their best in the time available.

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THE SUPER CURRICULUM

We have recently expanded the Super Curriculum programme at Teddies, which is designed to broaden pupils’ academic horizons. It includes talks and workshops, run by leading academics and experts in their fields, and inspiring trips. The Super Curriculum at Teddies is constantly developing to allow our pupils to pursue scholarship and excellence outside the specific subject curriculums of GCSEs, A Levels and the IB. It seeks to develop pupils’ academic prowess, and to instil a real passion and excitement for learning within Teddies.

THE SUPER CURRICULUM

For our full programme of current Super Curriculum events, see our website.

AT TEDDIES AUTUMN TERM 2024

Please do ask your children which opportunities they have taken advantage of – in the Shell a target of at least one a term would be a good start – Academic Scholars are expected to attend more!

THE SUPER CURRICULUM

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THE SHELL CURRICULUM

Study Skills and Learning Support We start the Shell Curriculum by recapping essential building blocks to ensure all pupils have the right knowledge and the confidence to move swiftly on to the more stretching material covered in the curriculum. Following this period of consolidation, pupils will be stretched and challenged over the year so that they are ready to begin the GCSE and Pathways and Perspectives courses in the Fourth Form. For more details about the Shell Curriculum, see the full guide on our website. In addition to the subject based curriculum, pupils spend time with Tutors and in Wellbeing lessons learning about how to learn and improving their study skills. Tutors will also review pupils’ reports over the year and help their tutees to recognise and address any difficulties highlighted by teachers. Our Learning Support Department screens all pupils in the Shell year for learning needs and supports both pupils and staff in helping to identify needs and strategies to meet any challenges. Pupils and parents can also approach Learning Support independently to ask for guidance on anything from help with improving organisational skills right through to arranging formal assessments for specific diagnoses.

THE SHELL CURRICULUM

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FOURTH FORM CHOICES

During the Spring Term in the Shell (Year 9), pupils choose their courses for the Fourth and Fifth Forms (Years 10–11). Teddies pupils take GCSEs, both core and optional subjects, and can take our bespoke additional accredited qualifications, Pathways and Perspectives. The table below summarises the choices:

EVERYONE TAKES ALL OF THESE English Language GCSE World Literature GCSE

Maths GCSE

Science (Double or Triple) GCSE

MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGE – CHOOSE ONE French GCSE Spanish GCSE

German GCSE

OPTIONS – CHOOSE FOUR

Ancient Greek GCSE

History GCSE

Ancient World Perspective

Jewellery & Entrepreneurship Pathway

Art Pathway

Latin GCSE Music GCSE

Ceramics GCSE

Computer Science GCSE

Music Technology & Popular Music Pathway Theology, Philosophy & Ethics (RS) GCSE

Design & Entrepreneurship Pathway

Drama Pathway Geography GCSE

Spanish GCSE

Sports Science Pathway Sustainability Pathway

German GCSE

Most pupils take eight to eleven GCSEs and up to two courses from the Pathways and Perspectives programme. Pathways and Perspectives are rigorous courses which have an emphasis on academic stretch, collaborative working and innovation, allowing pupils to follow their passions.

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GCSES AND PATHWAYS AND PERSPECTIVES

How pupils choose their subjects

Pupils and parents are guided through the process for deciding which GCSEs and Pathways and Perspectives to take in the Spring Term of the Shell year.

January

Presentation to all pupils explaining the options from the Sub-Warden Academic and the Head of Academic Transition

Late January

Presentations to parents about subject choices – in person at the start of the Leave Weekend and subsequently online

Tutors discuss options with individual pupils

Late February

Pupils submit final GCSE/P&P choices

We recommend putting aside time during Leave Weekends and the holidays to discuss choices with pupils.

A full guide to choosing GCSEs and Pathways and Perspectives is on our website.

FOURTH FORM CHOICES

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SIXTH FORM CHOICES

During the Fifth Form at Teddies, pupils decide whether to study A Levels or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma for the Sixth Form years.

The table below summarises the key difference between A Levels and the IB Diploma.

A LEVEL COURSE Three or four subjects that inspire

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE COURSE An opportunity to study a broad range of subjects, three in greater depth Six subjects are studied – three at higher level, three at standard level

Normally three subjects are studied

A fourth A Level may be taken in Further Maths or Ancient Greek and, with permission from the Sub-Warden Academic, in other subjects A Level pupils taking three subjects also complete an Extended Project Qualification (finished in the Lower Sixth Year)

English, Maths, a science, a humanity and a language are studied

In addition, there are the following three compulsory components • Theory of Knowledge • The Extended Essay • Creativity, Activity & Service At least 20% of every subject is assessed internally, some subjects are 100% coursework

Coursework for A Levels varies considerably, from none in many disciplines to over 50% for some of the arts and creative subjects

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A LEVELS AND IB DIPLOMA

How pupils choose their subjects

Pupils and parents are guided through the process for deciding which course to study at Sixth Form during the Autumn and Spring Terms of the Fifth Form.

Early October

House-by-house visits from two members of the Academic Team

Tutors discuss options with individual pupils

Early November

Presentation to parents about subject choices, including an online session for any parents preferring to attend remotely

Late November

Initial subject submission by pupils (to include both A Level and IB options, indicating the preferred route)

Early January

GCSE trial exams, followed by predicted grades issued

Late January

Online Parents’ Meetings with subject teachers

Tutors further discuss options with individual pupils

Late February

Pupils submit final subject choices, (to include either A Level or IB options)

We recommend putting aside time during Leave Weekends and the holidays to discuss choices with pupils.

A full guide to choosing A Level and IB courses is on our website.

SIXTH FORM CHOICES

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THE LIBRARY

The Library Team supports pupils throughout their time at Teddies, starting with an induction to the Library for the Shells. The Team’s mission is to make the Library somewhere pupils want to be so that later when they have to be there, they feel comfortable and confident – and Sixth Formers often talk about the Roe Reading Room in the Library as one of their favourite places at Teddies. Our Head Librarian, Sarah Eldred, regularly meets classes in Shell, Fourth and Fifth Forms to teach research skills including referencing, most especially in Pathways and Perspectives lessons, where research and reflection is an integral part of the core module. In the Sixth Form, Ms Eldred meets with all pupils when they undertake their Extended Essay (IB) or Extended Project Qualification (A Level) and teaches them how to build upon the skills learnt in the younger years including formally citing, referencing and formatting information to a university standard. In support of Time to Read (ring fenced time when all pupils and Tutors read together), pupils are very much encouraged to visit the Library regularly and request books or seek recommendations in person or from our online guides. For some of the Library’s recent publications, scan the QR codes opposite.

THE LIBRARY MAGAZINE

ACADEMIC RESEARCH BOOKLET

TIME TO READ BOOKLISTS

TEDDIES STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS

SIXTH FORM RECOMMENDED READING

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Just as we help pupils decide on which qualifications to take at school, we guide pupils to make the best choices for their next steps. From the very start pupils are encouraged to begin thinking about their futures – what inspires them, how they might fulfil any aspirations and the practical steps to the next stage. Similarly, our Higher Education and Careers team engages pupils early in their time at Teddies to discuss which subjects to take for university courses, other further education and for their career aspirations. In the Lower Sixth, the team further helps pupils with their research, provides opportunities for discussion with experts and tutors and prepares them to write a good Personal Statement. Pupils in the Upper Sixth continue to receive support and guidance when making choices based on their offers. We have a specific Elite Universities programme for pupils aiming for Imperial, UCL, Oxbridge, Ivy League and other highly competitive destinations, where pupils are given expert advice on the process and routes to success in their applications. UNIVERSITY, HIGHER EDUCATION AND CAREERS

HIGHER EDUCATION

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VI S IT ST EDWARD’S

St Edward’s School, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 7NN stedwardsoxford.org

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Registered Charity No: 309681

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