Learning and Teaching

High Tunstall aims to provide the highest quality learning opportunities for all of our students within a learning community where we are all constantly in pursuit of excellence. We have a committed and dedicated staff who are constantly evaluating and developing their skills in order to support and develop our students’ learning. We keep up to date with, evaluate, and then introduce the best of new and innovative practice in order to further enhance the learning experiences of our students. These include Accelerated Learning, Assessment for Learning, Learning2Learn,Thinking Skills and Assertive Mentoring.   The learning and teaching is delivered through, and supported by, our broad, balanced and relevant curriculum. This curriculum enables our students to develop knowledge, experience, understanding, independence and moral awareness so that they can become active participants in, and contributors to, society.   Our curriculum also supports our students in achieving the five outcomes set out in Every Child Matters. These are to be healthy, to enjoy and achieve, to be safe, to make a positive contribution and to achieve economic well-being.   All students, in both Key Stages, are taught in a variety of mixed ability and setted classes. Fischer Family Trust data, external test data, internal tests and teacher assessments are used to place students in suitable classes. Individual progress of all students is monitored regularly and carefully so that movement between classes will take place when it is appropriate. At the end of Key Stage 3 (Year 9), in addition to the National Tests (S.A.T.s) in English, Maths, Science, and ICT, students receive teacher assessments for all of their subjects.   All students in Key Stage 4 are allocated to one of three ‘Pathways’, currently Red, Yellow and Green, according to their abilities, aptitudes and needs. All students follow a common core curriculum. In addition, students on the Red Pathway study French or German, History or Geography and two subjects chosen from a range of options. Students on the Yellow Pathway study Humanities, one vocationally-related double-option subject and one subject chose from a range of options. Students on the Green Pathway study Creative Arts and one vocationally-related subject. All students have the opportunity to be entered for public examinations at the end of Year 11. Most students will be entered for GCSE in English (Language and Literature), Mathematics, Science and up to seven other subjects.   As a Specialist Science College, we have additional resources to improve the education we offer to our students, particularly in Science and Mathematics.  Our specialist status has enabled us to refurbish most of our laboratories and to provide two further specialist ICT rooms for use by students. Students also benefit from being offered additional courses such as BTEC Land  and Environment, Applied Science and Additional Mathematics and through Science enrichment activities and cross-curricular events.   Activities that extend learning beyond the classroom such as GAT activities, sports, fieldwork, visits and creative arts also make a vital contribution to our students’ learning.   Independent learning (homework) makes a vital contribution to learning beyond the classroom and developing the crucial skills of independent learning. To facilitate this, the use of College facilities outside of lesson times such as homework clubs and revision classes are strongly encouraged.