CURRICULUM POLICY AT GIDEA PARK COLLEGE

ART AND DESIGN  

AIM :-

To develop and stimulate the creativity and imagination of pupils. To provide visual, tactile and sensory experiences enabling children to make their own interpretation of the world around them, using colour, form, texture and pattern to express what they see.

Through art activities they learn to make informed judgements relating to aesthetic and practical decisions so they may become actively involved in shaping environments.

They should also explore and interpret works of artists, craftsmen and designers, both in contemporary and earlier times and from all cultures, thus they should acquire understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the visual arts.

ENGLISH

 AIM:-

The teaching of English, in all aspects, is of paramount importance. It is the policy of the school to ensure that every pupil learns to express her/himself clearly in both spoken and written English. It is believed that this subject determines the ultimate level of success attained by our pupils in later life and therefore it holds a prime position in our Curriculum. All elements of the National Curriculum are covered, as laid out in the LCP material used throughout the school.

GEOGRAPHY

AIM :-

To develop a knowledge and understanding of place on a local, regional and global scale, of the interconnections between places, of the significance of location, of human and physical environments, of people/environment relationships, and of the causes and consequences of change.

HISTORY

AIM :-

To develop children's awareness of the past upon which their lives are founded. To introduce them to what is involved in understanding and interpreting the past and what they can learn from it.

LATIN

AIM :-

To introduce those pupils moving on to Public Schools at 11+ to the Latin language, its vocabulary and basic grammar so that they are not disadvantaged when joining year groups from other Preparatory Schools which have already received a basic introduction.

MATHS

AIM :-

That children are able to gain the basic skills in all areas of the subject to enable them to become confident and competent in using their mathematical knowledge in mental and mechanical calculations and be able to apply such knowledge in problem solving and in every day life situations.

MUSIC

AIM :

To introduce children to different styles of music and to form their own opinions about musical quality.

As an integral part of culture, past and present, it should provide opportunities for all pupils to share musical experiences, to understand an relate to others forging important links between home, school and the wider world.

The teaching of music develops pupils' listening skills and should enable personal expression, reflection and emotional development.

Finally, it should encourage active involvement in music making, both individual and communal and increase both self discipline and creativity.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

AIM :-

At Gidea Park College physical education is viewed as an integral part of our curriculum. Each pupil should develop his/her physical competence and confidence and use these to perform in a range of activities.

Physical Education provides opportunities for pupils to be creative, competitive and to face up to challenges as individuals and in groups and teams.

It is hoped that it promotes positive attitudes towards active and healthy lifestyles.

P.S.H.E AND CITIZENSHIP

AIM :-

To allow children, within the classroom environment, to discuss issues relating to personal relationships, community involvement and political awareness.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

AIM :-

Within our diverse community we develop the children's understanding of the similarities between the teachings of the World's major faiths without compromising the beliefs fostered within their homes.

However, as stated in our Prospectus, and later emphasised during interviews, the School has a close connection with our Parish Church . We hold an annual Carol Service there and the Vicar regularly conducts School Assemblies.

VERBAL REASONING

AIM :-

To introduce and encourage the habit of approaching problem solving in an accurate, speedy and logical manner in order to ensure those pupils entered for selection procedures are well equipped to do so.

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

Gidea Park College Limited works in partnership with the Registering Local Authority and other agencies in the protection of children.

The College child protection policy ensures there is a framework to provide such protection to children who attend the College who may be suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm.

Underlying our concern for child protection are the beliefs that:-

•  Children have a right to grow up in a warm, loving and caring environment and to expect physical care (food, warmth, clothing, shelter) emotional security and encouragement to develop their potential.

•  Patents/carers have a right to expect recognition of the importance of their role. They are charged with the responsibility of ensuring children's expectations are met and should expect support from society in carrying out their duties and to participate in all decisions affecting the future of their children.

•  Society has a duty to protect children where it is felt the parents/carers of children are not offering them the basic protection they require. Where there is conflict of interest the needs of the children must be clearly paramount.

College staff are in a unique position to contribute towards the protection of children, they have direct contact with the children as they enter into full time formal education and are able to observe them in their interaction with their parents/carers and other adults and children.

Gidea Park College Limited recognises that staff may be anxious about their ability to maintain the good relationships they have with the parents/carers if they take any action that might appear to betray their trust. Nevertheless staff must accept that, the welfare of the child is paramount. Thus principal is enshrined in law in Section 1 of the Children Act 1989.

There are four categories commonly used in the identification of child abuse:

PHYSICAL ABUSE : actual or likely physical injury to a child, or failure to prevent physical injury for suffering) to a child including deliberate poisoning, suffocation and Munchausen's Syndrome by proxy.

NEGLECT : the persistence or severe neglect of child, or the failure to protect a child from exposure to any kind of danger, including cold and starvation, or extreme failure to carry out important aspects of care, resulting in significant impairment of the child's health or development, including non-organic failure to thrive.

EMOTIONAL ABUSE : actual or likely severe adverse effect on the emotional and behavioural development of a child caused by persistent or severe emotional ill treatment or rejection. All abuse involves some form of emotional ill treatment. This category should be used where it is the main or sole form of abuse.

SEXUAL ABUSE : actual or likely sexual exploitation of a child or adolescent. The child may be dependent and/or developmentally immature. Warning signs could be physical or psychological. E.g. physical signs could include injuries and bruising to the genital/anal areas, or infections in the same area, while psychological signs could include a child whose play indicates sexual knowledge beyond his/her years.

As College staff members you should:

•  Treat all concerns seriously.

•  Where there is suspected or actual abuse, report your concern to the Headmistress. This includes any allegation about a staff member.

•  Trust you own professional judgement: if you are concerned about a child, other professionals will almost certainly be concerned.

•  Report earlier rather than later: most serious incidents of child abuse started with comparatively minor incidents that were not noticed or not reported.

As the Headmistress, when concerns are brought to your attention you should:

•  Maintain full factual record which must be kept confidential( in a sealed envelope, locked in a drawer or filling cabinet)

•  Ensure the records are accurate, complete and include:

•  injuries/concerns/issues, observed.

•  the alleged abuse

•  the explanations offered

•  messages both received and given, by whom, dated and in what circumstances

•  child's full details

•  family details

Making the referral

•  Inform the Headmistress who in turn must immediately inform the Local Authority

•  Refer directly to the Local Authority Child Protection Investigation team, the duty social worker and/or the Registration Officer, or, to the Police if the child is suffering or is likely to suffer significant harm.

•  Keep a record of whom you spoke to in making the referral

Remember al all times the welfare of the child is paramount. Co not attempt to interrogate a child, it is important to listen but not to ask questions which may suggest to a child what the answer should be.

Treat all allegations of sexual abuse seriously; reassure a child that they have done the correct thing by telling you.

Do not betray a child's trust.

Gidea Park College Limited works in partnership with parents/carers and works hard to encourage open communication between all parties involved in the care of a child.

Where possible, parents/carers would be advised by the Headmistress, supported by another member of staff, of the need to make a referral to the Local Authority and of the concerns for their child, this will then give parents/carers an opportunity to respond to your concerns.

If however, you have significant, definite concerns, it is more helpful to any subsequent investigation to inform the Local Authority first, because if because if parents/carers are alerted they may pressurise the child not to tell of the alleged abuse which in turn could hinder any subsequent investigation.

The investigating agency will advise who will talk to parents/carers during any investigation.

Allegation against a staff member

If an allegation has been made against a member of staff, the Headmistress must manage this in the same way as already outlined for external allegations and concerns. If the allegation is against the Headmistress then the Directors must report it.

The Headmistress, on being informed of the allegation, may suspend the member of staff, after consultation with the Directors and with the support of the Directors without prejudice following personnel procedure pending an investigation.

CHILD PROTECTION PROCEDURES

•  All staff are to be issued with the Child Protection Procedure as part of their induction process.

•  The College has a copy of the London Borough of Havering Child Protection Procedure readily available to staff and staff will be asked to read these as part of their induction process.

•  The Headmistress will ensure that all staff directly involved in working with the children receive training in child protection.

•  Due to the long hours that a child may spend at the College, it is possible that staff may be the first to be aware of any signs that give cause for concern. If a child shows signs of possible physical or sexual abuse, for example through speech, unexplained bruising, or actions or knowledge inappropriate to their age and development, the Headmistress should be informed and careful record kept on file.

•  If there is evidence for serious concern about a child, the Headmistress will, with the parents' knowledge, inform either a duty social worker or where relevant the social worker assigned to a family. The Headmistress must explain to the parent that this is normal practice in such circumstances.

•  The Headmistress will liaise with parents and all appropriate professionals involved in child protection case.

•  College staff are not to conduct a specific physical examination of a child without the parent being informed and without their express permission. The Headmistress should always be present.

•  College staff should not question a child at length over the cause or extent or any injuries/abuse they may have received, or suggest ways in which an injury/suspected abuse may have been caused.

•  In the event of a case conference taking place, the Headmistress will attend. Records of any incident along with details of subsequent events should be made available to the case conference.

•  Staff must respect confidentiality at all times. Possible child protection cases are not to be discussed with other members of staff other than when necessary as part of the review process.

Confidentiality is particularly important in relation to other parents and professionals.