Inspiring and challenging our learners to be the best they can be
At Ysgol Y Grango we aim to inspire a love of lifelong learning by offering a broad and balanced curriculum which meets the needs of all our learners.
We are continually refining, modifying and implementing, a curriculum, to inspire and challenge our learners, academically, socially and physically to be the best they can be.
An innovative curriculum
All learners are encouraged to take ownership and ACT to make the most of the opportunities afforded to them through a knowledge rich and innovative curriculum.
Learners are actively encouraged to develop the skills, knowledge, and experiences as part of the continuum of learning in order to be informed, responsible citizens in a global community. We support our learners to be proud of their achievements and to be able to lead fulfilling lives.
The options process
During Year 9, students will experience the Options process, whereby they will select the subjects they would like to study in the Upper School, and to be assessed for their GCSE examinations or equivalent courses.
Support and advice will be made available by our experienced staff, and an Options Evening will take place to offer guidance for students and parents to make informed decisions as to their next phase of study. We offer a full range of GCSE subjects including vocational courses in collaboration with other providers across the Wrexham area.
Lower School – Years 7,8 & 9
At Ysgol Y Grango, time is allocated to each subject across the curriculum to allow the appropriate depth of study.
In addition, all learners have a planned PSHE lesson once per week, delivered as a collapsed lesson. This is in addition to the timetabled PSHE lessons that are timetabled in Years 7 and 8. The school also runs a nurture programme where identified learners access an alternative timetable based on the needs of the individual.
Year 7 and 8 are organised into 4 mixed ability groups. Each group has a spread of RADY, gender and ability. In Year 9 learners are placed in sets according to ability.
Lower School Timetable
The school operates a two-weekly timetable cycle. All lessons are one hour in duration.
| Subjects | Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Maths | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Science | 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Geography | 3 | 3 | |
| History | 3 | 3 | |
| Religious Studies | 3 | 3 | |
| Humanities | 7 | ||
| French | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Welsh | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| PSHE | 1 | 1 | |
| DT / Food & Nutrition | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Art | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Expressive Arts | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| PE | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| ICT | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Upper School – Years 10 & 11
The learners choose 3 subjects from the list below as part of the options process. These subjects are allocated 5 lessons per fortnight.
- Art and Design
- Business
- Digital Photography
- Drama
- French
- Food and Nutrition
- Geography
- History
- Sweet
- Physical Education
- Product Design
- Religious Education
- Expressive Pathways
- Outdoor Learning
Upper School Classes
Classes will only run if a sufficient number of learners opt for that subject. The courses Sweet, Expressive Pathways and Outdoor Learning are classed as our foundation courses which are tailored to specific learners.
Some learners choose to attend a college course in place of one of the options. The courses currently on offer include: Hair and Beauty, Construction, Engineering, Performing Arts, Business, Public Services, Health and Social Care, Computer Science, Hospitality and Catering.
In English, Maths, Science and Welsh the learners are placed into sets according to ability. All learners study Welsh. Most learners follow this to GCSE level, with many of these at Level 2. For a few learners sometimes a lower-level course is more appropriate. This can be incidental Welsh combined with a Level 1 Agored in Welsh Culture.
Upper School Timetable
The school operates a two-weekly timetable cycle. All lessons are one hour in duration.
| Subjects | Year 10 | Year 11 |
|---|---|---|
| English | 8 | 8 |
| Maths | 8 | 8 |
| Science | 10 | 10 |
| PSHE | 1 (collapsed) | 1 (collapsed) |
| PE | 2 | 2 |
| Skills Challenge | Collapsed days over the year | Collapsed days over the year |
| Welsh | 5 | 5 |
| Equality and Diversity | 2 | 2 |
| Chosen Subject 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Chosen Subject 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Chosen Subject 3 | 5 | 5 |
Curriculum for Wales
From September 2024, students in the Lower School (Years 7, 8 and 9) now experience the new Curriculum for Wales (CFW). The new curriculum is at the forefront of education in Wales.
At Ysgol y Grango, following extensive engagement from all stakeholders, we have formulated our CFW vision “Inspiring ACTions – Fulfilling Lives” to represent a collective commitment in the power of education to transform young people’s life chances. We have visually presented our new curriculum using the icon landmark of The Stiwt Theatre. We aim to build a community of learners with the highest aspirations, underpinned by the four core purposes which will empower them to become:
- ambitious, capable learners, ready to learn throughout their lives
- enterprising, creative contributors, ready to play a full part in life and work
- ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world
- healthy, confident individuals, ready to lead fulfilling lives as valued members of society.
Areas of Learning
The Curriculum for Wales has six Areas of Learning and Experience:
- Expressive Arts
- Humanities
- Mathematics and Numeracy
- Health and Wellbeing
- Languages, Literacy and Communication
- Science and Technology
The curriculum will also include:
- Human rights
- Diversity and respecting differences
- Experience and skills for careers and the workplace
- Learning about local, national and international contexts
- Developmentally appropriate relationships and sex education.
