Library Resource Centre The Library was re-developed in 2001 into a bright, welcoming and modern Environment for Learning. The Centre is open at breaks, lunchtimes and after school for homework, research, browsing, loans and internet access. Installed are 12 networked computers, soon to be increased to 24 machines and a stand alone catalogue system that can be researched by pupils. The Centre stocks over 20,000 items, including : books, magazines, tapes, CD Roms, resource files and careers information which pupils can access. This busy but quiet working environment used by over 100 pupils a day.

Activities The school provides for a variety of interests outside normal school hours. These include: Branksome Backpackers: The "Branksome Backpackers" walking club arranges outings throughout the year. Walks of about 7 miles are organised in a variety of areas: Lakes, Dales, and Moors. These walks usually take place every fourth Sunday during the term. Sports Trips: Trips to major local and national sporting events are arranged where there is a particular interest. Music: The school band, rock group and choirs rehearse throughout the year to perform in various school concerts and events. Pupils are regularly invited to perform in a variety of locations in Darlington and the North East. A major whole school production usually takes place during the latter half of the school year. Study Visits : Study visits abroad are offered on a regular basis to pupils eg. Normandy Battlefields. Other Excursions : Theatre visits are arranged, including the visits to London's West End. The annual visit to the pantomime at the Civic Theatre has become a feature over the last few years. Pupils have the opportunity to attend the Ullswater Outward Bound School for residential courses. Lightwater Valley/Flamingoland are also popular annual outings. Youth Club: In addition to school activities the Youth Centre (adjacent to the school) organises a full programme of activities for the differing requirements of the 11-16 age group. Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme: Pupils have the opportunity to participate in the award scheme from the beginning of Year 10. Pupils are able to gain both their Bronze and Silver Awards while at Branksome. Ex pupils can also return to complete their Gold Award. Young Enterprise : Year 10 pupils can gain great satisfaction and an insight into the world of business by getting involved in this highly successful group.

Art Branksome School provides an extensive range of cultural experiences and opportunities throughout the year. The wide variety of work undertaken encompasses many aspects of the curriculum with much of the work being carried out on an extra-curricular basis. The programme offers pupils the opportunity for active participation as well as appreciation of the Arts. In 2003 the school was awarded the nationally recognised Artsmark Quality Standard for its work in this aspect of education Recent events and initiatives have included: visits to museums theatre and cinema visits participation in writing, poetry and public speaking competitions. school musical productions working with the local community in providing Art classes and staging community exhibitions. establishing a 'Writers' group' involvement in local cultural festivals staging major school exhibitions and Open Evenings artist in residence projects. provision of a Youth Theatre course tutored by The English Shakespeare Company

Physical Education and Sports Aims To promote the acquisition of a wide range of physical skills from a comprehensive range of physical activities and allow each child to experience a sense of achievement and enjoyment. To develop an awareness of the aesthetic qualities of sport both as a spectator and as a participant. To encourage good sportsmanship, fair play and a desire to aim for high standards of technique and effort. To promote high standards of dress, good health, personal cleanliness and the benefits to be derived from physical well-being. Through the many varied physical activities to promote in the child a sense of social awareness and group responsibility. To introduce the pupils to a wide range of physical activities to enable them to make an informed choice to pursue an active and purposeful life in the post-school years. Activities Athletics, Gymnastics, Softball, Badminton, Health Related Fitness, Table-Tennis, Basketball, Hockey, Tennis, Cricket, Netball, Trampolining, Cross Country Running, Orienteering Swimming, Dance, Rounders, Volleyball, Football, Rugby Union Outdoor Education. Facilities Branksome School enjoys very good facilities for sport: extensive playing fields netball/tennis courts a swimming pool a gymnasium a health related fitness suite a large hall which is designed to convert to a Physical Education teaching area an outdoor basketball court Staffing All our P.E staff are very enthusiastic subject teachers. In addition they hold a variety of additional coaching qualifications covering many of the activities undertaken within school. Community Links The school enjoys links with the local area, including: Darlington RA Darlington College of Technology Dolphin Centre Darlington Cricket Club Mowden Park RFC Darlington FC

Careers Careers Education at Branksome School aims to develop an awareness of the varied career opportunities available at post 16 and give appropriate guidance and information to students. The school has a dedicated and well stocked Careers Library and works closely with the Connexions Service, local Further Education Colleges, employers and Training Agencies to provide the best possible guidance to pupils. Information Technology is used extensively to develop the students practical career skills of research, writing CVs, letters of application etc. Careers guidance begins in Year 7 and is taught through to Year 11 as an integral and specific part of the school's Personal and Social, Health and Citizenship Education programme. Students who have specific educational needs have access to specialist guidance where required. Students have the opportunity to visit centres of further and higher education such as Darlington College of Technology, Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College and Teesside University. Many students also visit the large local training agencies such as South West Durham. Pupils have individual interviews with the Connexions Service in Year 11 and are also offered the opportunity for guidance interviews with the Connexions Service in years 9 and 10. All students in Year 10 take part in a weeks Work Experience during the Summer Term.

Religious Education Religious Studies is taught throughout the school from year 7 to year 11. We have introduced the Darlington Agreed Syllabus which was launched in September 2003. Legally Christianity must be studied in more detail than other religions - in Branksome it is taught alongside Judaism and Islam. An emphasis is placed upon what everyone can learn from any religion as well as learning about the religion itself. Tolerance for the views of others and a willingness to debate rationally in a balanced way is considered very important. All students in Years 10 and 11 study a short Course GCSE in which a range of moral and ethical issues are discussed. Religious Studies Full Course GCSE is also offered to all students as part of the options process, which extends the range of issues debated in the short course.

Sex and Relationships Education Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) is firmly rooted in the Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education provided for pupils. Aspects of the programme are also delivered in Science and Religious Studies. The school nurse plays a vital role in the delivery of the programme, the organisation of special events like the Sex Education Roadshow and by providing information and individual drop-in sessions for young people. The objective of SRE is to help and support young people through their physical, moral and emotional development. They need to learn to respect themselves and others as they move through adolescence to adulthood. Effective SRE is essential if pupils are to develop the necessary attitudes, values, personal and social skills, knowledge and understanding to make informed decisions about their lives. The Governing Body is involved in the development of the programme and a named Governor takes responsibility for this area of the curriculum. Parents have the right to withdraw their children from aspects of SRE. The school believes that it is vital that young people access accurate information delivered in a sensitive way in order to make informed decisions. We would urge parents to discuss concerns and obtain accurate information about the programme before taking the decision to withdraw their child from SRE.

Homework Children need to learn to organise their time and to plan their own work. One way in which they do this is through homework. Pupils at Branksome School are expected to complete a variety of types of relevant homework on a regular basis as a way of extending and reinforcing class work. Homework will be set for all pupils from Years 7 to 11. The quantity and difficulty of work will be differentiated and may include for example, individual research, completion of exercises, preliminary drafting, writing up of reports, practical assignments and learning for tests. Homework will be set out in all subjects of the curriculum and each departmental policy statement will include a section on homework. Heads of Department are responsible for ensuring that relevant homework is set in appropriate quantities. Younger children may well be given short pieces of work which are largely teacher-directed, but older children should be able to plan and complete pieces of work in consultation with their teachers. Indeed, coursework in many GCSE subjects depends heavily on planning and execution of large modules of work. As with all schoolwork, homework should be produced to deadlines, attractively presented and of the highest possible quality. This year we have introduced Pupil Planners for all pupils to support them in organisng their work.