Upper School

Among the distinctive features of our Upper School are small teaching groups, high quality pastoral care both in and out of class, and excellent relationships between staff and students. These help to foster an environment conducive to effective learning.

In Years 9, 10 and 11 students study a guided pathway combination of GCSE courses and our own BCS (Bradford Christian School) courses. Individual student guidance on a suitable balance of courses is delivered through a lengthy options process between school, student and parents. This process uses a holistic view of the student’s academic back story based on both CAT, SAT and ongoing EDSM assessment, as well as taking into account a developing understanding of a student’s next steps post 16.

BCS GCSE Course Booklet (PDF)

In Upper School, we aim to create a relaxed but focused environment in which our students can grow into the people God wants them to be, without fear, anxiety or undue negative peer pressure.

Ofsted 2018 comments that:

At times, teaching within the school is quite simply inspirational. Teachers’ deep knowledge and passion for their subject ignites pupils’ thirst for knowledge, which is a delight to observe.

Teachers know their pupils exceptionally well and the school’s new approach to assessment means that all pupils have their achievements carefully monitored. Leaders involve parents in this process, so that they can support their children at home. This brings about improvements in pupils’ progress across the curriculum.

The strong Christian ethos and a carefully mapped out personal and social curriculum ensures that this is a truly inclusive school. Pupils are valued for who they are, and the contributions they make. As a result, pupils flourish, behave well and share positive attitudes to their learning in this happy school.

Extra Curricular Content

Overseas Trips

We have been able to develop a programme with year 9 and 10 being offered trips abroad. We plan for these to be to Berlin one year and Spain the next.

Service Week

Upper School students are encouraged to think of others ahead of themselves, and as part of this, tackle part in service projects during the last week of the school year

Careers

Our Careers programme runs across school, with an escalating focus in Upper School, as we work to prepare our students for their next steps after Y11, both in terms of the immediate next step to post 16 provision, but also how this fits into a wider but developing understanding of God’s call on their lives in terms of future careers.

Details of this can be found in our Careers Policy.

Helpful careers web pages:

https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork

https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/

School Year 2022/23 - Autumn Term

Upper School

September - Y9Y10 Christian Perspectives Topic focussing on a careers based personality test, and time to explore career opportunities that flow out of that

September - Careers Fair at Elland Rd by Skills Yorkshire (Cancelled this year)

October - Y11 Christian Perspectives explore post 16 opportunities

Week beginning 31 Oct - Y10 on Work Experience placements

December - Y11 Christian Perspectives focus on applications and interviews

Middle School

October 2022- Middle School Music Topic. Making a living out of playing music [guest speaker] Interested in Music; Why not study it at University? [guest speaker]

Feb - Y8 to Y9 Options Evening, part of the process of engaging students with their curriculum choices for next year.

March - Parent Options Preferences sent in via google form.

May - guest speaker: let me tell you about my job. Working for a Charity [representative of Christians Against Poverty]

Primary School

September - All about me topic: What do I want to be when I grow up? Looked at different options of careers for when they are older.
Talking about the different jobs that parents/grandparents do and comparing them.

October - Harvest festival: Visit from the vicar from the local church, talk to children about what they do and what they like about their job.

School Year 2022/23 - Spring Term

Upper School

14 March - Akeel Hussain, our Careers Advisor, with introductory session to Y9Y10, and one to one interviews confirming post 16 steps with each Y11 student

Y9Y10 experience a number of visitors talking about their career, with a focus on how their GCSE qualifications supported this, and the reality of how their plans from their own Y9Y10 worked out.

January - Mrs Coleman, parent of Y9Y10 student

February - Mrs Moon, ex member of staff

April - Rev Milne, Vicar of

May - Suzanne Walton, former High Sheriff of Yorkshire

Primary School

Spring 1 - Our Local Area-People who help us-police, nurses, bin men, vets, teachers,
Canal and river trust-People who work on the canals and look after the locks and waterways.

Spring 2 - Trip to the garden centre-talk about people who work there and the jobs they need to do to look after the plants.

PSHE- Topic focusing on work-local illustrator visit to speak to Years 1-4.

School Year 2022/23 - Summer Term

Upper School

April - Y9 prepare for Work Experience in Finance and Christian Perspectives lessons

April - Parents and Y9 students source work experience placement

June - Work Experience forms submission deadline. Safety and compliance checks arranged by school

One distinctive of our Upper School is our Christian Perspectives course in which, alongside assemblies and daily devotions, we explore a range of Christian and other views to some key issues of society as well as consideration of wider personal and social education areas .

Pupils are encouraged to be responsible and reflective and to show respect for others of different beliefs and of none. As a result, pupils are respectful and supportive of one another.

Admissions

We take admission applications until December of year 9 of a student’s career and are considered carefully by our Senior Leadership Team. Applications after this point are considered in unique and exceptional circumstances. A covering letter may be required alongside applications to Upper School.

Admissions