The Curriculum at St. Michael’s

In St. Michael’s we aim to provide a challenging and enriching learning environment which will help develop each student to the best of their intellectual ability. We strive to guide the educational experience of the young people in our school, so that they will become independent learners with the ability to set their own targets and make informed judgements. We aim to ensure that they will be able to take their place as responsible decision makers within society confident in their own capabilities and sensitive to the needs of others. We provide a wide ranging curriculum encompassing applied and general courses, practical and skills based subjects. In addition, the curriculum offered extends beyond the classroom into a broad spectrum of activities which are available to students after normal school hours.

Timetable
St. Michael’s operates a two week timetable. The first week is referred to as Blue Week and the second week as Yellow Week. The school day begins with a 10-minute registration session and thereafter each student will have 8 40-minute teaching periods.  We have a short break of 15 minutes at 10.25 a.m. and two lunch breaks, the first (senior lunch) at 12.00 noon and the second (junior lunch) at 12.40 p.m.

Subjects provided at Key Stage 4 (Years 11-12)
It is envisaged that students will take a compulsory core and a range of optional subjects.
Most students will take nine subjects for GCSE. 

Compulsory Core

• Religious Studies
• English Language
• Mathematics
• Learning for Life & Work
• A minimum of one Science from Biology, Chemistry or Physics
• One Modern Language from French, Irish or Spanish

Three further subjects will then be chosen from the Optional Subject list.

Optional Subjects on offer (Subject to demand and timetable restrictions)

On the basis of initial baseline testing suitable students will be entered for a tenth GCSE, this will be Additional Mathematics.
 
Again on the basis of baseline testing, those students who would benefit from additional support in English and Mathematics will be entered for eight GCSEs. For this cohort, choice of a modern language will not be part of the compulsory core but a language can still be chosen as one of the three choices from the Optional subject list. 
 
All students are timetabled for four periods of PE and two periods of Personal and Social Education per fortnight.  In addition, in Year 11 students receive one period of Careers Education and Guidance per fortnight while those in Year 12 receive two periods.

Post-16 Curriculum
Over a number of years, St. Michael’s has worked hard to broaden choices at Post-16 by introducing additional subjects at AS and A2 including a number of Applied subjects.
 
The great majority of students who complete their GCSE course at St. Michael’s obtain excellent grades, meet the criteria for entry into Sixth Form (cf. Admissions Policy) and return to St. Michael’s.  In addition, a small number of other students are normally able to join St. Michael’s at 16+ to choose from the extensive range of courses which we now offer.
 
In addition to the compulsory choice of three examination subjects, Year 13 students who achieve 6 or more grade As at GCSE are encouraged to study a fourth AS from the wide selection provided.  It is also possible to study a fifth AS if AS Critical Thinking or AS Law are chosen from the list of Enrichment subjects. These two subjects are delivered in collaboration with Lurgan College.
 
Each student’s choice of course is based on personal choice, professional advice from the subject teachers and/or Heads of Department regarding his/her suitability and competence to pursue specific courses, and Career Guidance on the implications of subject choices for the future.  A wise choice of course and subject is essential and is a key factor in students enjoying their studies, taking responsibility for their own work and becoming successful independent learners.
 
The opportunity of pursuing A Level, of specialising in Applied courses or of mixing and matching from the General A level and Applied A level options provides students with the flexibility of tailoring a course to exactly match their needs, interests, and strengths.

‘A’ Levels on offer in Sixth Form include: