Teaching & Assessment

"Student-centred tuition focusing on the individual"

Small Class Sizes

Students at Albemarle benefit from the small class sizes, on average five students in each class. Tuition is very much centred on the students, who are encouraged to participate fully and, most importantly, to think for themselves.

Assessment & Testing

Students are provided with a full set of notes in each subject, with homework being assigned at the end of each lesson. Students must complete all assignments on time and we monitor all coursework carefully to ensure that students meet their deadlines.

Our ongoing assessment programme features weekly tests in each subject and formal mock examinations once a month. Experience demonstrates that regular testing is vital for improving examination performance, and we monitor this carefully.

Specialist Tutors

Our teachers are all highly qualified specialists in their subject area. They use a mixture of motivation, encouragement and confidence building to get the best out of students. Teachers focus on examination techniques and make extensive use of past examination questions.

Hours

Classes are timetabled in 50 minute sessions between 9.00am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday. The college remains open daily until 6.30 on weekdays and is also open on Saturdays, for private study and extra tutorials.

Supervised Study Sessions

Students who underperform in mocks are timetabled into supervised study sessions and given additional help outside of classes by their teachers. They are also coached in study skills and exam techniques, and given advice by their Personal Tutor as to how best improve their performance.

Reports

Formal reports are compiled each month and these are accessible online in the secure Parent's Portal on our website. Parents and students can also view previous reports for comparison. Tutors also maintain regular contact with parents and guardians on an informal basis.

Parents' Evenings are held in the Autumn and Spring terms, when parents are able to discuss a student's progress with their teachers and Principals. During half-term weeks students are provided with revision packs, but they can also come into the college for extra help if needed. The college also provides dedicated courses to help students with essay-writing and numeracy.