…a more liberal but structured environment…

At Lansdowne, we believe that the rigid approach to GCSE teaching in mainstream schools can fail to address the individual and consequently we tailor our methods to focus on each student, catering both to their strengths and weaknesses.

Moreover, our class sizes are kept small further enabling each student to get the attention they need. As a result, we find that Lansdowne GCSE students progress and prosper both academically and personally in a more liberal but structured environment.

Nevertheless, Lansdowne continues to demand the highest academic and personal standards from our students, as we strongly believe that a relaxed yet rigorous approach to learning is the best way to maximise a student’s academic potential.

Essential to our philosophy is the building of relationships between Lansdowne staff and their students based on trust and respect. A dedicated Head of GCSE oversees all the activity within the department, managing the academic and personal welfare of each student.

The Head of GCSE is Personal Tutor to all GCSE students and meets both formally and informally several times a week with each student to monitor progress and assist with any difficulties. It is through this close contact and constant monitoring that that we can aim to ensure that students achieve their realistic educational goals. We also believe that contact with parents/guardians is vital for the success of our students and the Head of GCSE is happy to discuss any concerns either in person or on the telephone.

Alongside formal subject tuition, we provide a range of ancillary programmes so that GCSE students receive a well-rounded and complete education. There are Learning to Learn and Study Skills sessions, Supervised Independent Study (SIS) periods, Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE), a weekly sports session, tutorial periods, Examination Practice Periods (EPPs) alongside educational and fun outings and study trips.