Academic Policy

19/01/2011

1. CURRICULUM

   Although St Benedict's is a relatively young institution it has long been known in the local community for its high academic standards and the success its pupils have attained at university level.

   St Benedict's follows the South African National Curriculum from Grade 1 to Grade 12. At the end of Grade 9, all boys participate in the requirements of the GETC Certificate and the Grade 12 boys write the examinations of the Independent Examinations Board.

   1. SUBJECT CHOICES

      The following subjects are offered at St Benedict’s:

      GRADE	COMPULSARY	CHOICE
      Grade 12	English 1st Language Afrikaans 2nd Language Mathematics/Mathematical Literacy Religious Education Life Orientation	Three of the following subjects: Physical Sciences Life Sciences Information Technology/CAT Geography History Visual Art
      Grade 10 - 11	English Home Language Afrikaans First Additional Language Mathematics/Mathematical Literacy Life Orientation Religious Education	Three of the following subjects: Physical Sciences Life Sciences Information Technology/CAT Geography History Music (Grade 10 only) Visual Art Dramatic Art (Grade 10 only)
      Grade 8 - 9	English First Language Afrikaans First Additional Mathematics Natural Sciences (Physical Sciences and Biology) Human and Social Sciences (Geography and History) Economic Management Sciences Accounting Visual Art Music Dramatic Art Computers (ICDL) Life Orientation Religious Education

   2. ACADEMIC WEIGHTINGS

   3. MINIMUM PROMOTION REQUIREMENTS

       The following minimum promotion requirements will apply for Grades 8 – 11:

      English	50%
      Afrikaans	40%
      Maths	50%
      ;Life Orientation	40%
      Two other subjects	50%
      All remaining subjects	40%

       Boys who fail to meet these requirements may be required to repeat a grade.

2. SUBJECT TEACHERS

   1. Class and subject teachers are required to assume academic responsibility for the boys  entrusted to their care and to take  appropriate remedial action as part of their ordinary teaching duties. Where extra lessons are called for to remedy academic  problems for one or more pupils these must be provided. No payment is made in respect of such lessons. Nor may pupils be  charged. Staff in the English, Afrikaans, Mathematics and Physical Science Departments are to schedule additional lessons as a  matter of course. Staff in other departments may schedule lessons as the need arises or when these are requested  by boys or parents.
   2. All teachers must ensure that they are in possession of the following official documents:
      • Revised National Curriculum Statement
      • Learning Programme Guidelines
      • National Protocol on Assessment
      • Subject Assessment Guidelines
      • (These documents may be stored in digital-format)
   3. In addition, teachers must ensure that they compile the following documents
      • A Learning Programme/Plan for each subject and grade that they teach.
      • An Assessment Plan for each subject and grade that they teach.
      • A Weekly Record of Work for each class taught
      Copies of the abovementioned documents must be submitted to the appropriate Subject Head/s within the first two weeks of  each term. In the event of a teacher leaving the  school during the course of the year, an up-to-date Record of Work must be  submitted to the appropriate Subject Head.
      
      
      • A Subject File with all the required documentation. The Subject File remains the property of the school and should   be handed in when a teacher leaves the school.
      • A Preparation Book or Preparation File containing an outline of daily lesson objectives. These remain the property of   individual teachers.
      • Mark Sheets recording continual assessments which are submitted by subject teachers or class teachers at the end of each cycle.
   4. Subject/Class teachers must ensure the quality of each boy’s written work by regular inspection and marking of all written  work. No assessment tasks are to be prescribed that are not assessed. As far as possible, assessment tasks should be assessed  and returned with appropriate feedback within two weeks of the date of submission.
   5. Teachers must submit sets of boy’s book/file to Subject Heads for perusal as and when  such sets of books are called for.
      
      

3. REGISTER TEACHERS

   The School follows a three-term academic year, comprised of three cycles. Boys are assessed on a continuous basis throughout the year. Formal examinations occur at the end of Term 1 and Term 2.

   1. Register Teachers, in close co-operation with the appropriate Grade Head, assume responsibility for the pastoral care of boys in their class. This includes a close and diligent control of:
      •  Compliance with uniform and hair regulations
      • Collection of all monies (with the exception of School Fees)
      • Issuing and controlling of reports and circulars/newsletters.
      • Staff assume a collegiate responsibility for discipline.
   2. Register Teachers are to insist that absentee notes or doctors’ certificates are received in respect of each absence from school.
   3. Register Teachers are responsible for ensuring that all boys maintain:
      • Homework Diaries/Notebooks
      • Progress Files in the format required
      These documents must be checked on a weekly basis.
   4. All Register Teachers must make every attempt to attend at least one camp/retreat during the course of the year. A roster is prepared for this purpose and changes to the roster are made only exceptional circumstances only!
   5. Register Teachers are required to attend all compulsory events involving boys in their class.
   6. Register Teacher must attend regular  meetings with the appropriate Grade Head.
   7. Register Teachers are to notify the Headmaster when they anticipate that they will be late for school.
      
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4. TESTS AND EXAMINATIONS

   The School follows a three-term academic year, comprised of three cycles. Boys are assessed on a continuous basis throughout the year. Formal examinations occur at the end of Term 1 and Term 2.
   
   
   1. .Teachers must ensure that tests and exams are set to the required standard and that boys are given an accurate description of the work required in preparation for each and every assessment. Tests should be so designed as to place the emphasis on the testing of academic skills and higher order thinking rather the mere recall of facts.
   2. Assessments should be marked and returned to boys (together with the prescribed cover sheet completed in all respects) as soon as possible, but in any event no later than two weeks after the assessment has been completed.
   3. With the exception of Portfolio items, boys must always be allowed to take home both test question papers and their own answer scripts. Staff are encourage to ensure that these are signed and returned by parents.
   4. Tests and Examination question papers must be submitted to the Subject Head for moderation and checking prior to the papers being reproduced. Ideally, this should be done one week prior to the writing of the test/exam.
   5. Appropriately collated and packed Exam Papers should be placed in the storeroom two days before they are due to be written.
   6. During periods of invigilation staff members must ensure that every effort is made to ensure honesty among pupils. Pupils may not communicate with one another nor bring books or notes into the Examination Room. Staff members may not engage in marking nor in any other activity that might prevent them from vigilance.
   7. Any evidence of dishonesty must be brought to the attention of the Deputy Principal (Academics or Discipline) or the Chief Invigilator as soon as possible.
   8. At the end of the year, all answer scripts must be arranged in alphabetical order and tied together with the actual question paper, labeled accurately for storage for a period of 6 months pending any enquiry.