Beechwood

Welcome to Beechwood!

Beechwood is a mixed KS 3/4 class with pupils ranging from 13-14 years old. In Beechwood, we aim to deliver a stimulating and exciting curriculum, tailored to meet the needs of each individual member of the class.

Our activities continue to be centered around developing pupils’ communication and independence skills and we encourage all of our pupils to make a meaningful contribution to school life according to their interests and abilities. Our lessons are highly differentiated and we make use of a wide range of individualised resources to make learning fun!

Literacy within KS3 and KS4 is delivered in ability groups rather than class groups and teachers continue to use aspects of the Balanced Literacy approach to develop pupils’ reading and writing.

In Numeracy, we begin to move towards functional Maths, where we promote mathematical thinking and transferable skills rather than rote learning. Pupils also cover Maths that is useful in everyday situations and the world of work.

Alongside functional literacy and mathematics, the development of independence, life skills along with appropriate skills for the world of work receive increasing focus for all pupils as they move throughout the upper school. Pupils engage in work related learning as part of Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) and careers skills development also features in all other areas of the curriculum.

Pupils in Beechwood class regularly access facilities within our local community, for example the Leatherhead and Dorking Gymnastics Club, local shops and the swimming pool at Dorking Sports Centre.

In preparation for life beyond Woodlands, we also place a high emphasis on developing pupils’ understanding and awareness of safety within school and the wider community including road safety, stranger danger and online safety.