At St Michael’s we have a large number of pupils with a highly academic profile. All pupils follow the same curriculum and the challenging but achievable targets are personal to the individual child regardless of which teaching group they are placed in.
Years 8-11
Teaching groups based on academic ability (a combination of raw SAT results, where available, and Cognitive Ability Test scores) will be identified with a single letter S, A, I, N, M, C, H, E from Year 8 to Year 11. This applies to English, Maths, Science, Humanities (RE, Geography, and History) and Modern Foreign Languages.
Mixed ability teaching groups have been created alphabetically in these subjects: Art, Design & Technology, Food Preparation & Nutrition, PE and Textiles. These groupings are identified by two letters VF, VJ, VP, VQ, VR, VW, GF, GJ, GP, GQ, GR and GW.
Year 7
Pupils are placed into teaching groups according to cognitive ability tests and key stage 2 scaled scores (SATS). Groups are identified with a single letter F, L, O, U, R, I, S, H. This applies to English, humanities (RE, geography, and history) and modern foreign languages. Pupils in groups F and L performed exceptionally well, and both groups are of equivalent academic ability. Pupils placed in groups O, U, R, I, and S also achieved very strong results and are taught in mixed groups, with pupils in S having scored slightly lower in either English or maths. Pupils placed in group H are in a smaller class and are pupils we feel are most likely to benefit from additional support in one or more areas.
Maths and science are linear groups 1-8 according to ability, and are called MS1, MS2 etc. Pupils have been placed in these groups, again based on CATs and SATS, but also with reference to the maths baseline assessment.
Mixed ability teaching groups have been created in these subjects: art, design & technology, food preparation & nutrition, PE, textiles, information and computing, performing arts and ‘CaSE’ (character and spiritual education) classes. These groupings are identified by two letters VF, VJ, VP, VQ, VR, VW, GF, GJ, GP, GQ, GR and GW