Super Curriculur
Aureus School runs a Super Curricular programme to support individuals to stretch, enhance and push themselves towards their ambitious career and life goals. We believe that our students have specific strengths to develop and where these are exceptional, they should be fostered and encouraged in special ways. Our Super Curricular provision includes personalised trips and visits and entry to national competitions and events. An example of such programmes includes the renowned The Brilliant Club. This is where students on this programme are provided with tutoring from PHD students, work on an extended project qualification and visit Russell Group universities to raise awareness of future possibilities. Aureus School will also continue to enter The Magistrates’ Mock Trial competition, GLF Debating Competition and highlight and signpost events and competitions across the UK. Our lessons also provide a scholars’ task to ensure stretch and challenge is embedded into all lessons. Teachers aim for all students to be guided and supported into extending their learning beyond the specifications of their courses. A bespoke programme of visits is also offered for our students to enrich their learning experiences. and a forum for Parents and Carers to engage with the Super Curricular Lead, thus working together to nurture all children’s full potential.
Scarab Beetles, Mummies and the Oxford Spires
How do we identify Super Curriculur students?
At Aureus, the More Able are identified using a mixture of this process:
- Completion of our internal Cognitive Ability Tests (CATs) and/or GL Assessments in English and Mathematics
- Analysis of KS2 entry data - if a student has attained a high scaled score in English and Mathematics they are identified as More Able/High Prior Attainers
- Ongoing attainment/teacher assessment - if students continue to exceed attainment levels appropriate to their age
- Ongoing assessment in subjects outside of the core subjects may lead to More Able status in a particular subject
We support the Super Curriculur in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to, the following:
In class differentiation/personalisation
Our quality first teaching pledge applies to students of all abilities. It is an expectation that we will aim high with the content of our curriculum and ensure it is accessible and challenging for all. Lessons will include:
- Variety of questioning
- Providing relevant, engaging, learning opportunities and interesting stimuli
- Higher order and abstract thinking (e.g. handling ambiguity and paradox)
- Problem solving and enquiry
- Tier 3 vocabulary explicitly taught and high quality oracy modelled and applied
- Independent work and self-study
- Development of metacognitive practices
- Transfer of knowledge across disciplines
- Challenge options are flagged up to students using the challenge symbol
- High quality feedback focused on how to achieve ambitious targets.
- Reading Lists
- Signposting opportunities for students to develop their knowledge further through independent study
Extended Learning and Personal Development
With an enormous range of extended learning activities already available, there are plenty of opportunities to develop high prior attainers’ skills, using cross-curricular disciplines.
Careers Education
We work with external organisations to ensure that students have a clear focus on their destination after Aureus. Professionals from local and national organisations are invited to speak to students in assemblies to explore their career pathways and explain their roles, particularly in the ‘STEAM’ subject portfolio. Each year we will create opportunities for students to visit or access Higher Education Institutions.
Provision of leadership opportunities
Students are encouraged and supported to participate a number of leadership roles. The Student Council is a position to aspire to and students have to rise to the challenge of representing the student body. Leadership roles may be offered in a range of disciplines - Sport, Design, STEAM and Languages will require different sets of skills.
Our Future Politicians Take a Trip to Parliament
Super Curriculur Programme
The progress and development of the Super Curriculur students is an ongoing research field at Aureus. A carefully designed programme of assessment, intervention and evaluation enables staff to ensure that progress is on track for the More Able. These interventions can take the form of one-to-one progress checks, mentoring, the completion of a Scholars Passport (being updated for 2020-2021) and extra-curricular opportunities for debate and discussion.
GCSE Students visit the Sociology Department at Oxford University
Brilliant Students Graduate with Brilliant Results
