School Life
Key Stage 3
In Belfast Model School for Girls we understand that talent and capability are only the starting point. We believe that effort and determination are key to success.
We encourage our students to embrace a growth mindset. We know that intelligence can be developed. We help our students to become resilient and persistent learners who embrace challenges and who see failure as an opportunity to learn. We strive and work hard together to ensure ‘Achievement for All’.
In Year 8 - 10 students are banded to underpin our school motto of ‘Achievement for All’.
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• At the start of Year 8 students will be placed in streamed learning pathways based on their academic ability on entry to the school and follow a broad and balanced curriculum of subjects.
• Cognitive ability testing, progress in English and Mathematics scores are used to support information sent by their primary school and helps us to meet the needs of each student effectively and efficiently from the outset.
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• The express stream are grammar stream students and students with special educational needs (SEND) will receive additional bespoke support. Each stream is constructed to allow teachers to stretch and challenge all students, so they make continuous progress in their learning.
• Placement in a stream is fluid and not fixed. Streaming continues until the end of Year 10 and continuous periodic assessment testing throughout Key Stage 3 is closely monitored and reviewed giving students the opportunity to move from one stream to another.
Subjects in Year 8
*Please note: Students in the Access Group will have additional English literacy time in place of a Modern Foreign Language.
Art
Careers
Drama
English
Geography
Home Economics
History
Digital Technologies
Learning for Life and Work
Maths
Music
Physical Education
Religious Education
Science
Spanish*
Technology
The Access Group
The Access Group is a form group made up of those students who we know, for a wide variety of reasons, will need most support with their transfer to post-primary school.
This group will have the same specialist teacher for a significant part of their week - for English, Maths, Drama, RE, Literacy and Numeracy - with a focus on the knowledge, skills, competencies and wellbeing needs required to be successful at post-primary school.
Form Groups
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​The Form Tutor is a parent’s first point of contact
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Form Groups and Teaching Groups are the same for most subjects
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Form Groups and Teaching Groups are all-ability and follow the same learning programme