Curricular provision is a significant strength of the school. The school provides an extensive range of learning experiences that meets the needs of all pupils exceptionally well. This has a substantial impact on pupil standards and wellbeing. The school is a highly inclusive and caring community. It provides outstanding support for pupils’ wellbeing, which contributes considerably to pupils’ high standards and strong spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development.
Culture and Ethos: Strong behavior management processes are integral to success for pupils at Fitzalan and we adopt a restorative approach across the school to embed positive relationships between pupils and between pupils and staff. Our discipline system is based on a clear process of rewards and sanctions.
In Fitzalan, curriculum provision is designed to be flexible, challenging, and individual. Pupils are grouped by ability and a literacy focus is embedded into the timetable structure. In Key Stage 3, the express sets study Latin, other groups have literacy lessons, the special needs and buffer groups have additional basic reading lessons and the timetable for new to English pupils delivers the national curriculum around English acquisition. In Key Stages 4 and 5 a wide variety of options are available, which include partnership options with other institutions. An early entry in core subjects is available for the ablest pupils.
Outstanding and good teaching and learning is our priority. We have a robust system of departmental review, and individual departments use regular peer observations to share best practices and develop consistently high-quality teaching and learning across all lessons. By improving the involvement of pupils in the planning and delivery of learning we aim to ensure that lesson plans are adapted to fit the needs of pupils and ensure that learning progresses in every lesson. All departments are also improving differentiation within lessons so that every pupil has the opportunity to reach their full potential. High-quality CPD is a feature of our school and Fitzalan is one of a small number of schools selected to be a HUB School for teaching and learning in the Central South Consortium. Fitzalan is also an NQT base school for the region.
