Sports Curriculum

Sedgefield’s innovative performance PE curriculum enables all students to have the opportunity to study an accredited Sports Award. Pupils are allocated to a gold, silver or bronze PE pathway. All students undertake a Junior Sports Leadership Award as well as a BTEC or Double Award GCSE qualification as part of this pathway. Others can opt for BTEC Dance or the Young Apprenticeship.

Students are able to pursue a wide range of sports including courses in mountain biking and the Duke of Edinburgh Award. As a sports college we ensure that leadership development is the key focus.

The key characteristics of successful sportsmen and women pervade all areas of our school and students are encouraged to develop their personal skills of self-discipline, perseverance and teamwork as well as to hold high aspirations for their own achievement. This is embedded across the whole curriculum through the development of ‘Habits of Mind’ for success.

Individual Needs/Special Educational Needs

Every student is an individual, and we provide several programmes to help where necessary, including:

· The Gifted & Talented programme for outstanding individuals

· The special educational needs department to support students who have learning, physical or behavioural
needs. This is located in purpose designed areas such as ‘The Base’ which provides individual learning programmes but also delivered through in class support.

· Out-of-hours revision programmes for students preparing for examinations

· A team of mentors available for individual students

· A trained Student Counsellor available for any help and guidance

Learning Support Assistants work alongside teachers in classrooms and give extra help where necessary.
Our on-site farm offers a variety of opportunities for individual learning plans and supports inclusion.

• MANY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

• The college moved to brand new £18m accommodation in January 2011. As would be expected this has provided staff and students with exceptional facilities and great scope for creative teaching and effective learning. As a sports college some of our most impressive facilities are of a sporting nature, including a six court sports hall, dance studio, third generation football pitch, Astro turf pitches, Floodlit tennis courts, 20 acres of playing fields and a fitness suite equipped with the latest fitness machines. In addition, the college has excellent facilities for Creative and Performing Arts with numerous music practice rooms, a recording studio, a dedicated performance area and 2D and 3D Art spaces. Other areas of note are the highly equipped Design and Technology areas and the Science area. The college is extremely rich in ICT equipment with all students having access to a PC or laptop should they wish to use one, and teachers having use of the latest interactive technology in all teaching spaces.
  The college is rare in that it also has its own working farm with pigs, sheeps, goats, chickens, etc! as well as a large horticulture area. The experience of being involved in looking after animals and plants helps students to develop an appreciation of life and the environment. This facility provides an important educational resource for the College.
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  Students also benefit from having access to exceptional dining facilities which provide many tasty yet healthy eating options all served in attractive surroundings. The building and its resources provide numerous opportunities for students to get involved in activities outside of timetabled lessons. As would be expected of a sports college, students can take part in many different activities depending upon their sporting interest. Whilst outside of sport the Creative and Performing Arts are very popular, with students getting involved in school productions, bands and sculpture amongst other things. Equally as popular are our Science and Farm clubs.
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  The college does of course offer students a range of opportunities to take part in educational visits both locally and on the continent.

• FURTHER AFIELD

• There is a wide range of educational visits, field work and enrichment activities. Students from Year 10 upwards regularly visit local firms and businesses. Links are also established with schools in Bangladesh and Assam.

OUR LINKS WITH THE COMMUNITY

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  We are proud of our extensive links with the community. Our Community Association facility is open seven days a week from 5:30pm onwards, where members of the community can partake in various activities.
  
  We also have strong links with local schools, colleges and businesses and regularly welcome representatives of the community into college to enhance student learning.
  

OUTSTANDING FACILITIES

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• Unlike most schools in the Country, Sedgefield Community College has its own farm and garden unit. The experience of being involved in looking after animals and plants helps students to develop an appreciation of life and the environment. This facility provides an important educational resource for the College.
  
  Extensive multiplay floodlit facility. Floodlit tennis courts, 20 acres of playing fields, sports hall and fully equipped multigym.
  
  Purpose built theatre used for drama and dance.
  
  Library Centre with ICT Support.
  
  Excellent ‘Full Sized’ 3rd Generation Floodlit Football Pitch

A POSITIVE PARTNERSHIP



• We value our close relationship with parents at the college and we encourage parents to get to know the student’s form tutor and other staff. We hold regular parents eveningsand keep in touch using the student planner and reports. We encourage parents to contact the college at any time if they have concerns or queries. Similarly, the college will contact parents whenever necessary, for example, in the event of unofficial absence. Parents are welcome to visit at any time.

 

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION


Religious Education and Collective Worship is provided for all students. R.E. at Sedgefield Community College follows the agreed syllabus for the LEA.

The Standing Council on Religious Education (SACRE) , a local body made up of representations from faith groups, teachers and the LEA, advise on RE and Collective Worship issues.

All locally agreed syllabuses reflect that the religious traditions in Great Britain are mainly Christian, whilst taking into account of the teaching and practices of other principal religions represented in Great Britain, such as Islam and Judaism

Parents have the ability to withdraw their children from RE and Acts of Collective Worship should they wish to. The decision is normally based on philosophical grounds.