As a HMC school we offer a challenging wide ranging curriculum for pupils across all year groups. They are taught by a dedicated and dynamic staff body.

In years seven, eight and nine pupils follow a traditional foundation course including all core subjects as well as Art, ICT, Home Economics, Music, Design & Technology and Drama. Pupils study at least two Modern Foreign Languages in each of these years. All classes are taught as form groups with the exception of Mathematics and Modern Foreign Languages where pupils are taught in sets according to their ability.

In years eight and nine we split our pupils into two roughly equal ability bands A and B. A band pupils study Latin whereas B band pupils receive extra lessons in English, Geography and ICT.

In years 10 and 11 pupils follow a GCSE curriculum consisting of the core subjects (Mathematics, English, Science and one Modern Foreign Language) together with three optional subjects chosen from 13 different subjects. Pupils are no longer taught as form groups but continue to be taught in sets in Mathematics and Modern Foreign Languages. Our year 11 pupils will typically sit between eight and 11 GCSEs. IGCSEs are offered in a number of subjects including Science, Mathematics and Modern Foreign Languages. In addition, able pupils study Additional Mathematics (a ‘Free Standing Mathematics Qualification’) in year 11.

In the sixth form, we follow a traditional A-level programme. Pupils should have achieved at least five GCSE passes grades A* to C with a minimum GCSE grade B in their chosen sixth form course (if that subject was available to study at GCSE) to guarantee their place in the sixth form. We offer 26 different A-level subjects, including three new subjects from September 2011 – Psychology, Government & Politics and Environmental Studies. All pupils are expected to study four subjects in the lower sixth form. In the upper sixth form they either then continue with all four subjects or else drop to three subjects. Our upper sixth pupils will typically sit between three and six A-levels.

Provision for Less Able Pupils and for Foreign Pupils

Our Learning Support department is dedicated to offering help to those who need it in all year groups with sepcific learning difficulties. Theis help can be organisational, practical or subject-specific. We also have an EFL(English as a Foreign Language) department  whose task is to develop English linguistic skills for those pupils whose first language is not English. Pupils will be encouraged to sit at least one qualification to reflect their progress during their time at Ashvile College.

Homework is set regularly and is marked in line with the Ashville Senior School Assessment Policy.