Literacy

Special Educational Needs

St Ivo School believes that all students should have full access to the curriculum, whatever their ability. Students entering St Ivo in September with particular learning needs are first identified by close liaison with primary schools. The Special Educational Needs Department spends considerable time during Year 6 working with future students. On admission to the school, new Year 7 students are given the London Reading Test in English lessons. The results of this test are then passed on to the relevant subject staff, pastoral staff and Deputy Head. In addition, a register of all students with special needs throughout the school is circulated to all teaching staff in early September.

Some students require additional support to ensure their access to the school's curriculum. In practice, no curriculum area is denied support. This may take the form of teacher, learning support assistant and sixth form support. The management of special needs emphasises integration rather than segregation, with access to both formal and informal opportunities for learning support.

Withdrawal from mainstream lessons is only operated on a very limited basis, in line with County policy. The aim is to provide a flexible system which can respond and adapt to the changing needs of staff and students. In order to achieve this, each department has a named contact person who is the link with a named member of the Special Educational Needs Department. This flexibility is extended to all areas of student support, whether special needs, welfare or behaviour.

In some circumstances it may be necessary to work with a student on an individual basis, while in other situations a group may be seen as the most appropriate format.

Gifted and Talented Students

St Ivo is a comprehensive school catering for the full range of abilities. As an inclusive school, we seek to enable each student to achieve their full potential, across the curriculum, and through extra curricular activities. However, we do recognise that there are some students who have a particular gift in one discipline, or talent in a range of different areas, such as sport, music or drama. Some may be advanced in their social development, demonstrating exceptional leadership skills or other qualities.

St Ivo refuses to accept mediocrity, having constantly high standards which are set according to each individual�s needs. In the classroom we aim to challenge our gifted and talented students by differentiated teaching extension activities and provision of development tasks that go beyond the classroom. Students are encouraged to pursue their own areas of interest, to compete in local and national competitions, to strive for excellence in all of their achievements. Similarly, departments offer various opportunities for extension to students across the age range. All new entrants to the school are closely but discreetly monitored and parents/carers are invited to actively engage in discussion with the school, so they can have a share in our high expectations of their children.

Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant Team (EMAG)