| Religious
Education The
1988 Education Reform Act requires that all students shall
take part in a daily act of collective worship and that
religious education shall be given in every school. If
the parent of any student attending a school requests
that the student be excused from religious worship or
instruction then he or she shall be excused until the
request is withdrawn. Requests for withdrawal should be
made to the Headteacher. In
certain circumstances a student excused religious instruction
can receive it outside school provided that it is of a
kind not given in the school. Parents interested in this
provision should write to the Chair of the Governing
Body.
Special Educational Needs
The Special Educational Needs
Policy of the school takes careful account of the Code
of Practice 2001 and the Special Needs and Disability
Act 2001. It reflects the school's belief that all students
have skills, talents and abilities and recognises that
the school has a responsibility to develop these to the
full. The aims of the policy are :
Gifted and Talented Students
The needs of gifted and talented
students are met through a combination of strategies.
These include the setting arrangements employed by some
departments, differentiated learning assignments, after-school
workshops and a gifted and talented activities.
Careers Education and Guidance/Work Experience
Careers Education and Guidance
is an integral part of the school's Personal, Social and
Health Education curriculum and is undertaken by all students
in the 11 - 19 age range. During Years 7, 8 and 9 (Key
Stage 3) emphasis is placed on students acquiring greater
knowledge of themselves, the decision making process and
exploration of careers. This process is related to the
preparation for curriculum choices for Key Stage 4. Key
Stage 3 Careers Education culminates with a "14+
Curriculum Options" Programme. All Year 9 students
have an individual options interview. Full use is made
of Careers Information computer software programmes. As
a consequence of a recent government initiative, Year
9 students will have entitlement to enhanced Careers Education
and Guidance. This entitlement is arranged for schools
by the Connexions Advice and Guidance Service. The Careers Education and Guidance
programme for Years 10/11, Key Stage 4, is aimed at identifying
students' skills and interests and linking these to the
world of work. The Year 10 programme is centred
around a Work Experience Project in which all students
undertake a two week placement in local industry. This
scheme has operated for many years at Queensmead. The
aim of the work experience at this stage, in addition
to facilitating personal and social development, is to
give students an initial experience of the disciplines
of work. Year 11 Careers Education centres
around students making a Personal Action Plan (PAP) which
is reviewed and updated throughout the year. Included
in the programme for the year are: obtaining job information,
diagnostic group talks, industry involvement in interview
techniques, letters of application and personal interviews
by both the School and the Connexions Advice and Guidance
Service to assist the transition into further education
or work. Personal Action Planning, PAP,
discussed and negotiated following individual student
interviews, is also a central component of the Years 12/13
Careers Education programme. To help prepare students
for the transition into work or higher education, their
PAP includes work shadowing, visits to Higher Education
Conferences and Careers Fairs, attending University Open
Days, and personal interviews with the Connexions Advice
and Guidance Service.
Sex Education
Queensmead's Sex Education Policy
ensures that :
Parents may ask that their
child be withdrawn from Sex Education with the exception
of those elements that have to be taught as part of the
National Curriculum. There is no right of withdrawal from
the National Curriculum.
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