IMPROVING LIVES, INSPIRING CHANGE

English

GCSE English Language / Functional Skills

At Brian Jackson College pupils study GCSE English Language as well as English as a Functional Skill up to a Level 2

Pupils are encouraged to develop an interest in creative writing, explaining their ideas in the written word. In English language we study all the basics, plugging any gaps in knowledge that pupils might have, and learn to apply them to a variety of situations. We help pupils develop reading skills by extracting specific information from texts, explain the methods and techniques used in fiction texts and analyse the way they are structured.

Science

OCR Entry Level Science

The BTEC Applied Science course that we follow has no end of term examinations and is designed to allow pupils to build a portfolio of evidence of the skills needed to function in the modern scientific world.

It can be achieved at 3 different Levels: Pass, Merit and Distinction to stretch the more able pupils.

The content covers a wide range of science topics from organising for the future, examining adaptation and variation to making your own chemical products. It is comprised of a minimum of 2 units for the lowest qualification up to 7 different units for the highest qualification.

Where possible we try to use practical lessons and real-world examples to keep the pupils stimulated and progressing.

This course is a stepping stone to further scientific education or just a way to appreciate the amazing complexity of the modern world.

Maths

GCSE / Functional Skills

At Brian Jackson College pupils study GCSE Maths as well as Functional Skills Maths up to Level 2.

Pupils will study the fundamentals of Maths for example in numbers, they will revise the basic operations of addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, fractions, etc. However, pupils will also build the necessary knowledge and skills to solve equations in Algebra or face challenging questions in Geometry, Probability and Statistics.

Pupils are encouraged to develop an interest and to practice Maths in a range of situations that enable them to develop confidence and transferable skills for everyday life.

PSCHE

BTEC

Personal and Social Education aims to support our pupils in developing skills and knowledge, so they are more prepared for the outside world.

Topics include Relationships and Sexual Health, Mental Health Awareness, Healthy Living, Drugs and Substance Awareness together with Criminality.

At times our pupils may be facing situations that may be difficult, or a hot topic of importance may come up in discussion, based around TV programmes or local/world news, which then inform and provide direction for some PSE lessons.

We also work collaboratively with external services such as BASE and West Yorkshire Fire Service, Gang Prevention and our School Nurse.

Art

Arts Award Bronze & Arts Award Silver

At Brian Jackson College our pupils have the opportunity to be involved in a variety of creative projects all of which are tailored around their interest, needs and confidence levels. We have pupils who take a strong dis-liking to Art, however projects themes are easily adapted to include their areas of interest; before they realise it, they have produced art pieces that they can take great pride in.

We find that the Art lessons aren’t always about the subject but about the space to have the freedom to express, discuss, create and be calm which may seem like Art Therapy lessons for some.

Financial Education

AIFE / CIFE

AiFE develops knowledge and a valuable range of skills that provide a foundation for further study in business and finance-related disciplines, as well as a wide range of other fields (eg self-employed hairdressers, taxi drivers, garden landscapers). Students can extend the skills and knowledge they develop in AiFE by taking one further unit to form the Level 2 Certificate in Financial Education.

CeFE introduces students to the impact of finance on the economy and encourages them to consider how this can affect businesses and individuals. Through this it develops knowledge and a valuable range of applied and transferable skills. It provides a foundation for further study in business and finance-related disciplines.