Join in Year 10 or Year 11
Now enrolling for September 2023
Small-group teaching
Family atmosphere
Highly qualified and experienced staff
Regular testing and exam prep
One and two year GCSE Courses
Bales has taught specialist GCSE courses for nearly 50 years. Existing Bales students make GCSE subject choices at the end of year 9. New students can:
- Join us in year 10 for a full 2-year GCSE course
- Transfer into Year 11 from another school to complete GCSEs in one year
- Retake GCSEs over 1 year, either individually or combined with A Levels
We offer small-group teaching, individual tuition where needed, and highly qualified and experienced staff with outstanding track record.
We have regular testing for students throughout the year, and a focus on past paper preparation and exam technique in order to maximise GCSE grades.
Teacher Profiles
All of our teaching staff are subject specialists, with at least a first degree in their subject. Many have also completed post-graduate degrees, and also have experience of being A level examiners. Teachers are all focused on helping you achieve the best outcomes possible.
We always encourage potential new students to come to Bales, meet subject teachers and discuss you aims with our management staff.
“I appreciate all that you did to give students the opportunity to perform at their best for their GCSE’s“, Parent
Why join Bales
Mr Moore brought the Sixth Form to the current location in 1972. Down the years, we have learnt an incredible amount and keep the learnings in our management today. We have a blend of experienced teachers, managers, as well as younger teachers with a new, fresh approach.
We have an excellent track record of keeping outstanding staff. Many of our teachers and management have been with us for 5-10 years or more! We do not use supply teachers. This creates consistency in teaching style, management, and gives us full confidence that our teaching is of the highest standard.
We have a lovely, quiet, leafy campus located close to the centre of London! All of our teachers and staff care about each student’s welfare – one of the benefits of being a smaller school is the strong community and support structure that we have established.
Together with our Principal, vice Principal Mr Yearsley and Head of Studies Mr Corcut, Dr Watkins as head of Sixth Form oversee student progress.
We use Durham University’s CEM system as the foundation of our progress monitoring methodology. Each student completes an online test when they join Bales, which provides valuable information on their academic strengths and areas where additional support may be required. This allows us to set individualised learning plans for every student, and monitor them as they progress.
Subject choices
Normally students take between eight and ten subjects over the two years of year 10 and year 11.
New students joining in year 10 from another school will follow the same two-year programme as students who are continuing from year 9 at Bales.
We aim to make the GCSEs as useful as possible for future education: both A Levels and on to university.
Therefore we normally insist that students take a core selection of mathematics, English, English Literature, and all three sciences in year 10 (and at least two sciences in year 11).
This combination allows a student to demonstrate an array of core skills and ensures they do not specialise too soon, keeping all doors open to them in future.
Teaching and academic
Schemes of work for each subject are tailored towards GCSE or iGCSE on the Edexcel examination board.
Durham University CEM system is used to provide quantitative information on each child’s learning profile, assisting teachers in understanding each child’s individual requirements.
Attendance, homework and assessments are coordinated through an online learning management system. This allows students to access old lessons and upload homework, as well as allowing parents to see how their child is progressing.