subject information
Arts Faculty
The Arts Faculty combines the departments of ART, MUSIC and DRAMA. All departments teach all students in KS3 for 2 hours in the two weeks cycle of lessons. All departments teach practical skills in their subject, basing outcomes on the National Curriculum for Art and Music and the English statements and Arts Council levels for Drama.
At KS4 all departments teach mixed ability groups using the AQA examinations for full course GCSE results after 2 years. In Art all students submit a minimum of 2 practical coursework projects, one being set by AQA; in Music performing and composing coursework is 80% of the final grade, and in Drama performing coursework is 60% of the final grade, with formal examinations in the summer of Year 11.
At KS5 all departments teach Year 12 and 13 students following the AQA exam board for Art and Music and Welsh exam board for Drama. All art students submit practical coursework projects, one being set by AQA; in Music performing and composing coursework is a significant portion of grades - 70% at AS, and in Drama performing coursework is 50% of the final A2 grade, with formal examinations in the summer of Year 12 and 13.
The Faculty jointly organise concerts in school throughout the year, and are planning a large scale production for the Summer of 2009. Throughout the year students from the Music department perform in the community raising money for charity.
The Music department has over 100 students enjoying extra curricular music tuition from a dedicated group of peripatetic staff, who also support performances in and out of school. Lessons are charged but heavily subsidised by the school.
The drama department run an extra curricular drama club which is attended by approximately 50 pupils. The drama club is open to any age or ability and often showcase their work at the concerts.
All departments support KS4 and 5 students in the completion of coursework after school, and hold extra curricular clubs at lunchtimes and after school for all pupils.
Business / ICT Faculty
The aim of the Business/ICT Faculty is to make learning as enjoyable and as effective as we can. We have a variety of courses that students can study to enable them to achieve their potential. At Key Stage 3 the students learn how to apply ICT skills in order to solve every day problems. At Key Stage 4 students study National ICT Level 2, which allows them to take a more engaging, practical approach to learning and assessment. Units of study include ICT Skills for Business, Creating Computer Graphics and Webpage creation. The Faculty also offers National Business Level 2, which again allows students to take a more engaging approach to their learning. Units of study include Investigating Business and Marketing for Business.
At post 16, the Faculty offers AS and A Level Applied Business and ICT. In addition, National Level 2 Travel and Tourism is available to study.
Design & Technology Faculty
The Design and Technology Faculty is situated in a purpose built unit which contains 11 practical rooms to cover all aspects of Technology including Food, Textiles, Graphics, Engineering, Electronics and Resistant Materials. All rooms have ICT facilities and included in the Photography department is a fully equipped Dark Room.
Within the faculty we also deliver vocational courses including Health and Social Care and Child Care courses, and we hope to deliver the Society, Health and Development Diploma from 2010.
All subjects are delivered to Key Stage 5 and the students benefit from having a Sixth Form study area and Learning Resource Centre in the building.
As a Technology College we pride ourselves on the fact that all curriculum areas are taught by specialised teachers who have excellent subject knowledge.
English and Media Faculty
This faculty teaches all pupils at Key Stage 3 & 4 and many pupils study three subjects at Key Stage 4. Almost all pupils study English Language and English Literature and many study Media Studies as well. We are a large and successful department which develops staff and students alike. Many opt for our A Level subjects such as English Literature, English Language & Literature, Media Studies and Film Studies. This is an obvious reflection on the variety and relevance of lessons these students have experienced earlier in their career. We value opinions, we believe that every student has something valuable to offer and that the way this is expressed matters a great deal.
Humanities Faculty
The aim of the Humanities Faculty is to help students make sense of the amazing world we live in, its history and its people. In Key Stage 3 students study Humanities through three separate, but related subjects; Geography, History and Religious Studies. In Geography we explore global issues, environmental issues and ask students to become global citizens by exploring their place in the world. In History we explore ways in which the past has helped shape cultures, identities and attitudes and values today. In R.E. we ask challenging questions about the meaning and purpose of life. We aim to have exciting lessons, rich in resources and sometimes involving work outside the classroom.
At Key Stage 4, Students choose one or more GCSE course in the three subjects which build on what they have learnt at Key Stage 3. At post 16 we again offer the three subjects along with Psychology at A Level.
Maths Faculty
The Mathematics Faculty aims to help students fulfil their potential in Maths whilst also enjoying the subject. We use a wide range of teaching and learning styles and work hard to ensure that lessons are stimulating. Almost all students take GCSE Maths in Year 11 but we also offer an Entry Level qualification for students who find the subject very difficult. Post 16 we offer AS and A2 Maths which includes the opportunity to study either Mechanics or Statistics. GCSE resit is also offered.
All students have access to MyMaths.co.uk to support individual learning.
We have a Maths Club each week for Years 7-9 where students can get some extra help with homework, log on to MyMaths or play mathematical games.
Modern Foreign Languages Faculty
We teach French, German and Spanish in the Modern Foreign Languages Faculty. We have fully qualified and experienced teachers, and indeed native speakers, in all three languages. This is a multilingual group of colleagues which includes Austrian, Belgian, Danish-German, Portuguese and Spanish nationals. Our students currently learn two foreign languages in Year 7; some will continue with two into Years 8 and 9, other students will one for these two years. We offer GCSE, AS and A2 qualifications in Years 10 to 13, and the results overall are extremely good, some students continuing into undergraduate courses in Modern Languages. The current team is very keen to maintain our tradition of taking students on foreign residential trips, and we do so at least twice a year, typically to Paris and Normandy, Berlin, the Rhine/Moselle valleys and Schleswig Holstein, Madrid and the Barcelona region. We believe in a communicative methodology with lessons conducted in the foreign language wherever possible. As forward-looking and innovative practitioners we seek to embrace ICT developments within school and incorporate them into our teaching. In a typical one-hour lesson students will do a variety of activities, and students who work hard enjoy their languages lessons.
Physical Education Faculty
The Kimberley School Physical Education Faculty seeks to offer a broad and balanced curriculum which meets the needs of the individual student. We recognise the importance of skill development but want the students to succeed in all facets of the subject e.g. coaching, umpiring. We have recently introduced leadership and sport education courses into KS4 which gives the students the opportunity to learn independently as well as developing life skills and alternative qualifications.
To complement our curriculum we offer a wide ranging programme of extra curricular activities. Students (boys & girls) have the chance to represent school teams in football, hockey, basketball, table tennis, netball (girls only), athletics, rounders, cricket, dri triathalon, swimming but also the opportunity to play other sports recreationally such as trampolining, dance, indoor rowing and gymnastics. We are proud of our sporting traditions and look to build on them over the coming years. Over the last few years we have had great deal of individual success in the area/county; currently we are the Year 7 girls five a side County football champions and the Broxtowe Year 9 boys X Country champions. We have a strong, student led, cheer leading squad who compete annually.
We encourage all students to adopt a healthy lifestyle and take advantage of the wide range of opportunities at our School. Whatever level of ability you are The Kimberley School PE Department offers you the chance to shine.
Science Faculty
The aim of the Science Faculty is to make learning Science as enjoyable and effective as we can. We have a Science Club that runs every week in Year 7 and a large variety of courses that students can study to enable them to achieve their potential. in Key Stage 3 the students learn about 'Science Through The Ages', starting with Egyptian Science in Year 7, Medieval Science in Year 8 and Modern Science in Year 9. At GCSE level there are a combination of courses depending upon the ability and interest of the students - each course includes Biology, Chemistry and Physics e.g. in Year 10 - GCSE Science, Separate Sciences (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) or Science Plus (Introductory Level Science) and in Year 11 Additional Ccience, Additional Applied Science, BTEC Science and Separate Sciences. We also have a range of courses at post 16 level - A levels in Biology, Chemistry and Physics and a new Level 3 BTEC course in Forensics Science starting in September 2009.