Greenfields Upper Senior School is the equivalent of Year Groups 10 to 13 in the English state school system. The age range of students in this section of the school is normally 14 to 18. The Upper Senior School years are amongst the most important in a student’s career.

In this part of the school he or she gains official qualifications such as General Certificates of Secondary Education (GCSEs) or Advanced Subsidiary or Advanced Levels (A Levels), as well as many other Key Skills or Entry Level qualifications.

GCSE forms a major part of the school’s delivery to its students. Greenfields aims for each student undertaking GCSEs not only to pass each subject but also to achieve the highest possible results – not for status, but because this demonstrates an understanding of the material sufficient not only to pass external examinations in the subject, but also to apply it to life.

The approach we take is to encourage students to love what they are doing. Homework is important. At Greenfields we believe that education and the application of knowledge should be something that occurs in life, not just at school.

Adding Value in the Upper Seniors

Greenfields is about adding educational value to any given student. In the Upper Seniors we service and educate two very different areas: one is an academic class designed for those doing GCSEs and going on to study A levels in some cases; the other is a specialist class, constructed around students’ particular interests and career intentions.

Greenfields Academic Class

The academic class services the student who wishes to do the regular programme of GCSEs on their way to college, university and so on, or a student who has a set job or career path or university in mind requiring specific GCSEs or other academic qualifications.

This is also the class for those who require a good grounding in GCSEs but who are not yet sure what they want to do in life.

Greenfields offers a full and adequate range of subjects which give a broad and rounded academic education in addition to sport and some other extracurricular activities. GCSEs include English and English Literature, Maths, ICT, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, History, Geography, Art, Drama, Sport, Business Studies and Music.

Examination results are published in the summer of each year. It is expected that students should routinely perform at an A/B grade.

The GCSE classes are made up of two year groups, Seniors 4 (First year GCSE, Year 10) and Seniors 5 (Second year GCSE, Year 11).

The curriculum for these classes is a student’s chosen GCSE subjects, each of which has its own specification based on the National Curriculum. Each GCSE subject is delivered by a specialist teacher.

The product of this two year course is a Greenfields Academic Graduate who would leave the school or move on to engage with our Sixth Form programme.

Greenfields Specialist Class

The specialist class is very different in its approach.

Students taking this class are often already on a different path from the academic one. Here Greenfields is catering for the needs and interests of those who excel in or are interested in other fields such as art or drama, or who plan to go into a family business and who do not need more than a basic grounding in certain subjects. These students have chosen a career which does not require the standard GCSE examinations in order to succeed in it.

These students develop and enhance the basics which anyone would need in the outside world in order to do well, including English, Maths and Science. We also offer a variety of subjects which will complement their future careers. Students receive individual programmes within the subjects available per timetable. They work at their own speed in these classes.

Certain key subjects are arranged so that when particular levels are reached they can be entered for external Key Skills examinations of which there are several levels and which can be taken at several points throughout the year.

This class as a whole is geared towards individual success.

This class is also ideal for the student coming to Greenfields from a different country for whom English is a second language, and who is needing to be able to study in English. Students who complete our English as a Foreign Language programme automatically move into this class where we continue to bring up their academic standards so that we can work with their intentions and career goals. Some move forward on a vocational path, taking the Key Skills examinations; others will pass entry tests and thereby enter the GCSE class.

Work experience also fits in here. Different kinds of career options can be offered so that students get hands-on experience with something that aligns with their goals. The product of this class is a Greenfields Specialist Graduate.