Communication from the Headteacher.

A successful school has unique characteristics and processes, which help children, learn at high levels. It is expected that all children will learn at least the essential knowledge, concepts and skill needed so that they can be successful at the next level the next year.

The seven common correlates include: Clear school mission, high expectations for success, instructional leadership, opportunity to learn and time on task, safe orderly environment, positive home-school relations, and frequent monitoring of student progress.

The academic courses are designed to be followed for two years (Years 10 and 11), leading to National Curriculum Key Stage 4 IGCSE examinations. The curriculum is divided into Core Subjects, taken by all students, and Optional Subjects, chosen by each student on the basis of one subject from each of the option groups.The academic courses are designed to be followed for two years (Years 10 and 11), leading to National Curriculum Key Stage 4 IGCSE examinations. The curriculum is divided into Core Subjects, taken by all students, and Optional Subjects, chosen by each student on the basis of one subject from each of the option groups.

The St Anthony's College teachers approach is in collaboration and mentoring our students. We provide a challenging and integrated curriculum, and tasks are set that are suitable for all levels of students.

Teachers work together in a shared sense of purpose and contribute to the overall school goals and environment. The school's curriculum should not be ever changing but a steady element in a long term goal of helping students gain the knowledge they will need to succeed in school and life.

Knowing what to teach and providing adequate time to teach are essential for effective instruction, consequently the daily timetable must balance issues of increasing curricular demands with the instructional time available. For a high percentage of this time, students are actively engaged in whole class or large group, teacher directed, planned learning activities. Organised Learning Development Days are planned to enhance the curriculum.

At St Anthony's College we try to eliminate undesirable behaviour, and teach students the necessary behaviours to make the school 'safe and orderly'. Desirable behaviours would include 'cooperative team learning, respect for human diversity, and an appreciation of democratic values'. Teachers are expected to model these desirable behaviours.

If children see parents valuing education, they will also value it. When this happens, the children settle down and become serious learners achieving positive results. It is therefore important to strengthen the parent-child-school relationship.

Frequent monitoring of student progress is essential, and the results of the assessments are used to improve the individual student performances, and help to improve the curriculum as a whole. Interim assessments will provide a periodic tool to highlight learning opportunities and suggest corrective actions. Feedback from interim assessments will provide specific indicators, and help us, as teachers to know more about the root causes of students' misunderstanding of a learning objective. With this information the teacher will be able to adjust instruction to meet the students' learning needs more effectively, and discuss with parents.

It is my aim to try to implement these correlates at St Anthony's College. As an education centre we will be able to teach students, regardless of their backgrounds; connect with the families of all students; improve the working environment and professional status of nursery through to year 13 teachers and administrators, and provide the assessment needed to guide students' learning and the assurance that students are performing to the highest level of expectation.