A place to explore

We want our students to try new experiences, to take a chance with a new activity, perhaps visit a different culture, to explore their own heritage here in the North East and to feel pride in their community.  Our outstanding curriculum provides many challenges and new, unexpected areas of learning.

Did you know that we have a detachment of cadets at our school or that students can take their Duke of Edinburgh Award at school?  Or that they can learn digital photography or work with glass to make beautiful bowls or jewellery?  All of our students experience what we call an “entitlement curriculum” which means that trips, challenges and debates are planned into the lessons as learning experiences.  We are also proud of our international work and have students visiting and learning in Uganda, France, Holland and Spain.

Work experience

We believe that our students need to be well prepared for the world of work.  To do this we make a very wide range of courses available to them; courses such as psychology, digital design or engineering.  The complete list includes around forty subjects, opening up a wide range of career paths to consider.  We also organise a two week work experience, currently at the beginning of year 11 to provide a hands on taste of the world of work.

Entitlement curriculum

Our view is that it is not enough to just concentrate on the academic subjects however important they are.  We also provide a range of vocational courses and an exciting selection of alternative experiences.  These include Bronze award Duke of Edinburgh for all students and an opportunity to take the silver award for those who choose it.  We organise a range of outdoor education including sailing, mountain biking, orienteering, fishing and residential trips to centres such as Lanehead in Cumbria.  Some of our students gain qualifications from the Prnce’s Trust and many are involved in active community projects.

Cadets

Redcar Community College has its own detachment of Army Cadets who train here and have a major role in important events on our calendar such as Remembrance Week.  We also have a group of Air Force Cadets who drill on site and we have worked with the Police cadets.  For many students these experiences provide a really important chance to explore and grow personally as they take new responsibility and learn team working skills.

“This school has given me a lot of support to improve my behaviour, in and out of school.”