Curriculum

Through studying Computing or Computer Science at De La Salle, students will develop cognitive and complex problem-solving skills, including a practical working knowledge of algorithms to solve real-world problems. Computational thinking and reasoning skills are highly valued for future employment.

De La Salle offers a wide range of extra-curricular Computing Science activities. These include Lego Mindstorms, Python and Java programming and HTML & CSS website development. Our department includes two specialist Computer Science teachers who provide a breadth of teaching and training experience, both within school and professional work place environments.

Key Stage 3

In Years 7 and 8, students develop basic algorithms and their own applications using a graphical based environment and are introduced to text-based languages, including Python. Students also use HTML and CSS to produce a website. All students further enhance their digital skills through studying relevant technology issues, and enhancing creativity and data management skills through a range of ICT applications.

GCSE

In Years 9, 10 and 11, students have the option to study GCSE Computer Science. Python, Java and HTML are the predominant languages used in the examination. Students follow the Eduqas specification.

In Years 9, 10 and 11, those students who are in the Y cohort follow a mandatory course in iGCSE IT. This recognises the importance and value placed on developing experiential and theoretic knowledge of Information Technology to prepare for the work place. Within this course students will learn Microsoft Office and Adobe applications, and develop an understanding of the implication of technology in society, including social, economic and ethical uses.  Students follow the Cambridge iGCSE specification.

Sixth Form

In Year 12, students have the opportunity to study BTEC IT, a vocational course that provides a breadth of knowledge and skills to support a wide range of post-18 choices.  Students study the design, creation, testing and evaluation of a relational database system to manage information through an external examination. Students will also explore how businesses use social media to promote their products and services. Students will then implement social media activities for a business to meet requirements. This unit is assessed internally through a portfolio.

In Year 13 students have the opportunity to study an extended certificate in BTEC IT.  Students investigate website development principles. They will design and develop a website using scripting languages, this unit is assessed internally through a portfolio. Students will also study the role of computer systems and the implications of their use in personal and professional situations. This is assessed as a synoptically external examination.

The Design and Technology Department at De La Salle College delivers a relevant practical based curriculum focusing on engaging the students by doing activities in the workshop, which works to reinforce the theoretical elements of the course. The students cover all areas of resistant materials, from understanding woods metals and plastics, to understanding modern and smart materials.

We deliver these through projects which are both realistic and authentic, tackling some of the major issues facing the world, from understanding about using sustainable materials in design to delivering solutions to sanitation issues in developing countries. The departments schemes of work have been recognised nationally as outstanding and the outcomes from each individual student reflect this.

Our goal for every student who takes this subject is to become independent learners with a thirst for knowledge an understanding of the environmental impacts of design with an ability to be creative in order to offer solutions and ideas to some of the world’s biggest problems.

Our GCSE numbers are the largest outside of the core subjects clearly demonstrating the relevance of the subject here at De La Salle. Our students at every ability, 

The staff within the department are friendly and very enthusiastic about the subject, we aim to support the enjoyment of Design Technology in any way we can. We do this by running clubs and support sessions. Currently we have a Year 7 STEM club entitled, ‘Survive a Zombie Apocalypse’. The students engage in small projects at lunch times. At Key Stage 4, our Year 11 students have a support group 3 evenings a week allowing students the time and space to realise their final designs for their coursework.

Drama offers the opportunity to develop expression, creativity and a passion for the Arts, and its popularity and importance reflects the powerful impact this subject has on self-confidence, soft-skill development and general dispositions to learning.

De La Salle’s bespoke drama studio, housed in the Stanley block, is an excellent resource for showcasing GCSE practical work as well as small-scale drama club productions. The department also takes advantage of some of our fantastic local venues, such as Jersey Arts Centre, to stage our school productions and showcasing opportunities.

The number of boys opting to take GCSE Drama has grown considerably over the years and their commitment and enthusiasm has led to excellent progress and outcomes by the end of Year 11.

The course is largely practical and the department aims to establish an approach whereby the boys have a strong understanding of the performance skills necessary to excel. As these become embedded, students are able to reflect on their own work and the work of others, assessing areas of strength as well as areas to improve.  Regular practice of the three coursework components; individual monologue, group scripted performance and group devised performance allow for continual growth.  This reflective approach also aims to help students with the written element of the exam in which they are required to approach a text considering all aspects of theatre making – performance, directorial and technical. Specialist practitioners, such as lighting or set designers, are invited to come and talk to the boys and regular theatre trips also help with this area of their learning.

Drama, is, by nature, a multi-faceted subject.  As well as developing performance skills, students learn how to work creatively with one another and develop confidence through performing in front of their peers. They gain knowledge and understanding of dramatic texts as well as the ability to stage these texts practically. Finally, it may enable the boys to relate to one another and the world in entirely new ways!

Studying English at De La Salle is a vibrant, challenging and stimulating experience where students of all abilities can thrive. Our English teachers bring a wealth of experience and we offer a rich and wide-ranging curriculum to ignite a passion in the study of English.

All students study both English Language and Literature and we encourage independent reading to support progress in both areas. During Key Stage Three, students enjoy one lesson a week dedicated to reading in our Learning Resources Centre. During these early years, students are also introduced to key literary figures, movements, time periods and skills to ensure a breadth of knowledge and understand. Learning at Key Stage Four builds on the rich knowledge acquired over Years 7 and 8 and students become focused on developing personal interpretations of a range of texts and refining the skills required to be a fruitful English student.

A Level English Literature needs no introduction: it is seen as an asset both by universities and employers. A successful candidate will have the ability to write fluently and at length, in conjunction with making confident and independent judgements about what they have read and heard. They will also have the ability to formulate a persuasive argument to support a personal view or to empathise with the views of others, and will develop their study skills, demonstrating organisational and interpersonal skills that are so valued within English academia.

The English Department at De La Salle has an outstanding record of positive outcomes for both GCSE and A Level students and we have a reputation for ensuring students are able to achieve to their highest potential.  

Geography helps pupils to make sense of their surroundings and to gain a better appreciation and understanding of the variety of physical and human conditions on the Earth’s surface. It is of direct relevance to their own lives and the community in which they live.

Here at De La Salle we focus on life in Jersey as well as the wider world. We hope to nurture responsible global citizens who can examine current social, economic, political and environmental issues, who are able to realise their place in the global village. By studying Geography, it enables pupils to appreciate the significance of people’s beliefs, attitudes and values and develop a better understanding of those relationships and issues which have a geographical dimension.

Geography is taught throughout Years 7 and 8, and large numbers of students study towards GCSE and towards A level as a popular Option choice.

Our History department aims to cultivate a love of history throughout the school. We believe that you can only really understand the world we live in today, if you know and comprehend our history.

We encourage a culture of enquiry as the best historians are the ones who are least afraid to ask questions or to challenge established ideas. From Year Six to Year Thirteen, our courses develop skills including information handling and analysis, effective use of sources and presentation of ideas.

The content encompasses recent British history through the inter war years, the Cold War and industrialisation as well as more distant history in our in depth study of the Normans, castles and the Tudors. Our study of the American West allows students to look beyond British history. Through these topics, our students learn to engage with key issues such as conflict, understand what drives change and how the past influences the present. Our combination of comprehensive study guides and careful support and tracking enables student to fulfil their potential in a most important and interesting subject.

De La Salle College has a track record for producing passionate and successful young historians, many of whom have chosen to pursue their studies into the sixth form and beyond. History is offered as an A level course, and explores a wide variety of studies including society, specific events, the influence of key individuals, the impact of choices and factors that contribute to those choices.

Our teaching pedagogy has been developed over the last 15 years in order to fully explain Mathematics through first principles and to avoid teaching through tricks. The De La Salle Maths department exposes all students to all areas of the curriculum, using careful direct instruction and a pedagogy which encourages students to ‘act out’ and interpret symbolic form in a consistent manner, developing deeper thinkers and empowering our boys as mathematicians.

We invite parents to our Maths Curriculum talks every year to share in our successful pedagogy and to help explain how school and home can work together to help the students achieve.

Breeding a culture of success…

We have seen a significant impact on grades with outstanding GCSE outcomes at all ability levels and up to a quarter of students in the sixth form opting to study Maths at A level.

All students are taught the GCSE Foundation and Higher content. We always aim to remove the ceiling of expected performance. Our students, at every ability, are exceeding expectations and adopting a ‘can do’ approach to their Mathematics studies. Homework is set on a rotational basis using Dr Frost Maths and our own bespoke practice papers, and Maths club is available from Tuesday to Friday mornings and Tuesday and Thursday after school to help with independent study and completion of our challenging homework assignments.

Our specialist language teachers provide a wealth of experience and knowledge, teaching a range of Modern Foreign Languages. The passion for languages that our staff communicate to students is designed to encourage a life-long pursuit of language learning. We take students beyond the traditional curriculum, inspiring students to immerse themselves within foreign language and culture and to take advantage of the wealth of additional opportunities offered within the department.

Students can access a range of trips to a variety of destinations including; the Normandy Landing Beaches in conjunction with our RS and History departments; St Malo involving structured exploration of Intra-Muros and opportunities to practise their communication skills with restauranteurs and shop keepers; Toledo or Granada in Spain to develop Spanish speaking skills with native teachers and to take part in activities designed for cultural enrichment.

KEY STAGE 3

All students in Years 7 and 8 are taught French within ability groupings. We also expose all students to taster sessions of Spanish in each academic year of Key Stage 3. Our lessons promote an understanding and awareness of the grammatical structure of language, an everyday use of the target language in all classroom activities and routines, and the ability to use acquired skills, knowledge and understanding creatively to enhance reading and listening comprehension and reading and writing skills.

KEY STAGE 4

Studying a Modern Foreign Language is highly recommended as a means to improve cognitive functioning, an understanding of other cultures and comparative ethics, and a working knowledge on the path to developing fluency in a chosen foreign language. Nevertheless, it is not compulsory, particularly as GCSE demands good aural and oral ability, strong memorisation skills and excellent general communication and problem-solving skills.

Students in Year 9 can choose to study one language or a combination of French, Spanish and Portuguese at De La Salle. All of these options assess student ability in the four key disciplines of Listening, Speaking, Writing and Reading. Each of these languages can be studied at Foundation or Higher tiers of entry, according to the route which will suit the individual needs of each learner.

INDEPENDENT STUDY AND RESULTS

All students are set a weekly learning homework, designed to develop memorisation skills and a working knowledge of the target language, and a written or comprehension task, designed to provide each student with bespoke feedback and targets for improvement.

Students are also provided with an account on the Language Perfect website, which enhances and facilitates language acquisition. Regular and consistent use of the site continues to have a tangible impact on the progress the students are making. Students in Years 10 and 11 are also able to complete wider independent study and to augment listening skills using the Kerboodle website.

Results across the MFL department at GCSE are consistently high and exceed Minimum Expected Grade standards. Many of our students continue to study languages in the sixth form by accessing our sixth form Consortium of Colleges.

Our Music department is vibrant and inclusive and we aim for all students to enjoy and experience music both in lessons and as part of an extra-curricular programme. Music is recognised as a means to develop skills and cognitive function and it encourages creativity and expression, develops self-discipline and -confidence, independence, tolerance of others and collaboration.

At Key Stage 3, students receive weekly lessons and will:

• Perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians.
• Learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have access to performance opportunities outside the curriculum.
• Understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated through the inter-related dimensions of pitch, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.

Assessment in Music across all year groups is split between; Performing; Creating (Composition); and Appraising (Listening). Outside of the classroom, students can be involved in a host of extracurricular activities including the school choir, a samba and drum club and The De La Salle Concert Band, all of which have performed at many events across the Island outside of the College. The department also has many specialist peripatetic instrumental teachers and students have the opportunity to learn a wide range of instruments including the trumpet, trombone, tenor horn, clarinet, saxophone, drums, guitar, ukulele and bass guitar.

Music is available as an option subject for GCSE. Following the OCR specification, students will broaden their musical interest and skill, learn how to communicate effectively as musicians and develop their awareness of musical genres, instruments and approaches to composition and performance. Practical music making and performing makes up 60% of the GCSE qualification. This includes a solo and ensemble performance, in addition to two original compositions. The remaining 40% is gained through a listening and appraising exam based on 4 areas of study; the concerto through time, rhythms of the world, film music and the conventions of pop music (1950’s-present day). GCSE students are also expected to perform at special events and concerts throughout the year and regular revision and composing sessions are after school to ensure students are realizing their full musical potential.

Many of our musicians pursue post-16 studies in Music and Music Technology through the sixth form by accessing our Consortium of Sixth Form Colleges.

Our students enjoy significant and varied sporting opportunities with our large range of on-site indoor facilities, abundant access to outdoor facilities at De La Salle and across the Island, and dedicated staff with a plethora of experience and expertise.

SPORTS Programmes and Teams

De La Salle, Jersey provides an extensive Sports Programme in line with the school’s tradition of providing a broad and holistic education.  De La Salle seeks to provide ‘sport for all, whilst striving for excellence’. All students are encouraged to experience a full range of sporting activities and we aim to promote achievement, progress and excellence, whilst at the same time fostering the development of self-confidence in every child.

After school each day as part of the extracurricular programme, students have the opportunity to take part in different sports training activities. A huge breadth of sports are on offer and range from individual activities to the more traditional team sports. Through these activities, students learn the value of being physically active and develop positive personal and social attitudes.

Joining a sports team is a great way to make new friends, travel and have lots of fun. Students also learn about the importance of teamwork, discipline, how to face a new challenge and learning about themselves as individuals and leaders.

De La Salle, Jersey is proud of its sports teams who compete both within Jersey and throughout the UK, Channel Islands and Malta, represented at U12, U13, U14, U15, U16 and U18 levels in Football, Rugby, Cricket, Badminton and Squash. We also have outstanding achievers in a huge variety of other individual sports, including trampolining, table tennis and swimming and triathlon.

KEY STAGE 3 CURRICULUM

De La Salle, Jersey has over 10 experienced and motivated coaches involved in the coaching and preparation of our sports teams for their participation in competitive events across the year. Our staffing enables all students in Years 7 and 8 to benefit from 4 lessons of Sport in every week.

All Year 7 students are taught swimming each week at the facilities on the Waterfront. We timetable Physical Educational lessons for Years 7 and 8 on site to make the most of our Sports Hall, Gymnasium and indoor 4g astro pitch, and every Year group from Year 7 through to Year 11 has a timetabled afternoon, incorporating two lessons, to enjoy Games at venues across the Island, serviced by our fleet of De La Salle coaches.

The focus on our curriculum is enjoyment, development and exposure to a broad range of sports. Our practical lessons help to develop an awareness of strategy, team work, coaching and a general knowledge of sports physiology and the benefits of exercise.
 

KEY STAGES 4 AND 5

Sport Science is a popular Option choice at GCSE. The course comprises both practical and theoretic elements which are carried through to the BTEC Single and Triple Award qualifications available at Sixth Form. Further details of our GCSE and sixth form studies are available in the College Options booklets.

At De La Salle, Religious Education gives students a chance to ask and consider some of the bigger questions in life. Our course covers three world religions; Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Students will be given the opportunity to learn about, learn from and evaluate the beliefs and teachings of these world faiths. It will also give them time to reflect on their own beliefs, values and spirituality.

“Why do I have to study Religious Education? I don’t want to be a priest!”

Religious Studies is a rigorous and demanding academic discipline. It engenders critical thinking and precision in the search for truths in uncertain fields. It encourages philosophical thought, decision making skills, collaboration and independent working. It creates opportunities for young people to develop their skills of dialogue, interpretation and analysis in a coherent context. All these are vital skills in a modern workforce where communication, collaboration and cooperation and literacy are core skills.

Religious Studies makes a key and unique contribution to understanding British heritage, plurality, values and futures. It provides an excellent chance for young people to engage with contemporary contentious issues, developing social, cultural, political, philosophical and historical awareness. Furthermore, pupils learn to respect themselves and understand their own identity, to respect others, and to understand their own and others’ rights and responsibilities. At a time when communities are becoming more diverse there is an even greater need for a more religiously literate and tolerant society. Religious Studies plays a key role in creating social cohesion and generating genuine understanding between communities reducing friction, intolerance and social unrest. It is also really interesting!

What qualifications in RE are available at De La Salle College?
Students will gain a short course GCSE at the end of Year 9 and a full course GCSE at the end of Year 10. Despite taking the exams a year early, between 81% and 90% of students achieve at least a pass grade each year, and have done every year for the last decade. We also run an A-Level in Religious Studies which gives students the chance to study Philosophy, Ethics and New Testament Studies as a part of their Further Education.

What can I do if my son is struggling with, or has fallen behind in, Religious Education?

All of our resources, including lesson PowerPoints, are available through the school website. There are revision resources for each assessment which are always in the form of workbooks. The aim is for students to complete the workbooks by answering the questions. Regular after school clubs run at least once a week from January but please encourage your son to speak to his teacher if we would like to request an additional support session. These are ad hoc and can be arranged at a time to suit the student and teacher.

The teaching of Science aims to develop critical thinkers through a thorough understanding of scientific method. Students are given a wide ranging experience of various topics with an emphasis on practical work where appropriate. Students have access to the OUP’s Kerboodle online package from Y7 through to Y13. This contains a wealth of resources including videos, interactive activities and podcasts as well as homework tasks and a digital textbook. The Science department has enjoyed huge success for students of all abilities. The majority of students take three separate GCSEs (Biology, Chemistry and Physics). The remainder take the Trilogy Double Science route which still enables the sciences to be accessed at A level. Students studying GCSE have achieved the largest number of Grade 9 passes in the college.