Ysgol Bryn Elian

About the school
Ysgol Bryn Elian is located on a hill overlooking Colwyn Bay and the Irish Sea. The Great Orme and Llandudno are within view and Conwy Castle is only four miles away. Ysgol Bryn Elian is an English medium school.

Staff delivering the WBQ

A team of twelve led by the coordinator is responsible for the delivery of the WBQ. They are supported by teaching assistants who provide some administrative support and help to identify resources, which could be used to support student-learning needs.

Students

All the students in the sixth form at Ysgol Bryn Elian are following the Welsh Bac. There are 105 students following a broad range of AS/A2 subjects in their Options.

An overwhelming majority of the students are following A level courses with a small number following either ASDAN or AVCEs in Health and Social Care and IT.

Of special note...

In Year 12, WBQ is allocated four 50 minute lessons per week (one for Wider Key Skills; one for main Key Skills; one for language module; one for WEW). PSE is delivered as part of a carousel arrangement with the main Key Skills, and incorporates elements of Religious Studies.

In Year 13, it is allocated two 50 minute lessons (one for a tutorial and one for 'mop-up' purposes - i.e. everything left over from Year 12).

In Key Skills, Level is 3 being targeted for Communication*, Working with Others and IOLP. Level 2 is targeted for AoN, IT and Problem Solving.

The school has acquired Accredited Centre status for Communication.

For the Language Module, Year 12 students have a choice of Spanish or Welsh. The majority have opted for Spanish and a small group of nine have opted for Welsh. The programme runs throughout the year in a fairly conventional way including the use of tapes/headphones and computers and involves experiences such as Salsa dancing lessons and a visit to a Tapas bar.

WEW started with political and international activity. Use has been made of visits and visiting speakers. WEW time allocation has been cut by half this year to create more space for Key Skills.

One week is allocated in July for Year 12 for work experience. Students plan and find their own placements. Help is available for those who cannot find a placement. Work experience is being supplemented by part-time work undertaken by students. There are some links with Community Participation where appropriate, for example, working in primary schools.

Community placements: a 'Buddy' system is being used and monitored. On average, twenty hours in of in-class support is provided e.g. paired reading.

Enterprise activities – The year group were introduced to the enterprise element in September, with a visit form Dynamo, Careers Wales. WWO is being specifically targeted through enterprise.

IOLP and tutorials: proceeding well with all Year 12 students having started their IOLP. Seven personal tutors have been trained and are delivering the tutorial programme with a case load of eight to eleven students each.

Monitoring and tracking of students' work: efficient systems are in place for monitoring student progress.

Individual Investigation: these are completed in the spring term of Year 12.

We did this...

Supporting hospices - report on a Dysg project