Our Strategy

As a small school, a key aspect of the school’s vision and ethos is its inclusivity in the broadest sense. The fundamental expectation is that students and staff will work together to fulfil their potential with respect and compassion for others.

The focus for students in Years 7 and 8 is the transition from primary to secondary school and to experience a broad and balanced curriculum across a range of subjects. The broad range of subjects offered at KS3 provide the skills, knowledge and cultural capital students need to succeed in life in the 21st century. Project Based Learning will play a key part in developing students’ questioning, research, analysis and presentation skills. This, together with a strong foundation in English, Maths and Science aims to help students understand how their experiences fit into the past, present and future of the world around them.

Year 9 will be a year with purpose: Specifically, to enable students to understand their personal strengths, develop their character and learn skills that will enhance their employability and their contribution to society. The overarching objective for Year 9 is to enable students to make appropriate choices for KS4 having developed skills, abilities, additional qualifications and confidence through engagement with an ambitious, diverse academic and pastoral curriculum.

Years 10 and 11 will equip students for their lives beyond The Swanage School. The students will be supported to work hard and effectively on subjects that are relevant to their personal aspirations. ranging from local employment specialties such as tourism, hospitality, and creative media to national and international opportunities such as science and technology. Our strong creative arts offer enables a large proportion of the student body in all year groups to be actively involved in producing shows and displays that enhance their confidence and the reputation of the school. All students will have a clear career pathway mapped which has been developed through the years to enable our students to move on to a range of different destinations, with each student making an active choice about which path is suitable for them.