The Edinburgh Academy

Years 1 to 3

The Geits are taught in classes of mixed ability. In order to assist differentiation within the classes we have the option of team teaching with the assistance of Learning Support. Such support is geared to cover the whole range of ability. We have written our own detailed course at this level, taking into account the requirements of 5-14.

In the Seconds classes are differentiated into a first and second set with two parallel lower sets. In the Thirds, we have the same structure but with only one top set.

In teaching Geits to Thirds, many tasks are left open-ended to cater for more able children. The very best way to gauge achievement is to come to the Senior School and simply look at what the children produce. We should be pleased to arrange that at any time.

Projects

We have evolved our own programmes for these years. Each term’s work is based upon a common project involving a variety of skills. For example, a whole year group will read material and engage in tasks associated with the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur, or to the Shackleton story, or to a novel..

On the other hand, teachers are free to use their own materials and strategies in order to prepare for the objectives embedded in the projects. Our aim is to establish common objectives reflecting core skills, and at the same time to allow individual teachers freedom to use a variery of sources reflecting their own tastes and interests.

The format in the 3rds is similar. The projects include study of one play by Shakespeare as well as topics such as the North American Indians, Beowulf, and Samson and Delilah.

Reading skills

The Reading Skills course is an alternative to Latin in the 2nd Year for certain pupils. The aim of the course is to encourage reading for pleasure and to improve reading skills. Higher order reading skills are taught, such as pre-reading, mind-mapping, skimming, scanning, summarising and interpretation.

English GCSE

Two components are available at GCSE: certificates are taken in both English and English Literature. We approach the GCSE as the culmination of a two-year course integrating the study of literature with the acquisition of language skills. Basic critical skills are also developed which lead naturally on to the Higher Critical Essay paper and the study of literature at A-Level.

English in the 6th / 7th

In our Sixth Form, most students take Higher over one year with a few taking it over two years, beginning with the Intermediate 2 qualification.

The most able have the option to take the AS Level alongside Higher which allows them to move on to complete the A-Level the following year.

For those who are exceptionally able there is always the encouragement to consider Oxbridge entry and special classes are arranged to facilitate the teaching towards this.

English as a second language

The Edinburgh Academy welcomes pupils from overseas and in recent years the student body has included pupils from all over the world, for example from China, Japan, Korea, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, The Czech Republic, Latvia, Russia and the United Arab Emirates.

Pupils working through the medium of English as a second language follow a course based on topics of general interest (e.g. leisure activities, food, transport) at an appropriate level of difficulty in terms of grammar and vocabulary. Subject support is closely linked. Teaching is carried out by specialist staff in small groups or on an individual basis, usually to replace Latin or French. A charge is made. (See ESOL - English for speakers of other languages - details.)