For the majority of lessons, students are taught in mixed ability classes. When we do set, for example in Maths, students will initially be taught in mixed ability groups (their forms). In the first few lessons they will sit a baseline assessment consisting of two papers: Arithmetic and Reasoning. We then use a robust system to set our pupils, which incorporates the baseline data and the data we get from the primary schools.

In Years 7-9 the students are put into sets 1-5 (we have two set 3 groups) with students in sets 1-3 eventually studying the GCSE Higher Scheme of Work and students in sets 4-5 studying the GCSE Foundation Scheme of Work.

Placing children in form groups is a huge process and we have to ensure that forms are balanced, taking into consideration a large range of information. Pupils are only grouped as a form for a certain amount of lessons in Y7 and when they move to Y8 they will not have any lessons taught in form, to allow them to strategically group pupils to ensure maximum progress can be made. It also encourages pupils to mix and build relationships with a range of peers in the year group. 

Bullying is minimal at Arden and we have a strong Anti-Bullying policy. Any incidents of perceived bullying should be reported immediately to your child's form tutor or Head of Year 7 in order for it to be investigated. Our Policy is on our website. 

Please note: we cannot police social media and strongly encourage parents to monitor their children's use of platforms and ensure they have privacy settings on their accounts.  Please remember to check age limit and know that most social media platforms have an age limit of 13 years and above.

Arden does not provide any school buses.  Please contact your home Local Authority to enquire about transport and bus passes.

Yes there is a map in your planner and a guide on the transition website page 

You need to go to P1 (the Pastoral Office for Year 7) and report it. We will help you find it, more often than not, a pupil with a similar bag has picked up yours and we will be able to locate it for you. Make sure all of your personal belongings are named and remember to take all your equipment with you after each lesson.

Lunch is from 12:25 to 13:25. There is a reminder bell at 13:20 so you can start to make your way to period 4. You can buy snacks from the canteen, The Pod or The Cube at morning break.  There is lots of information about breaks times and meals in the New student information pack.

You can go to the P3 office and ask any Pastoral Officer for an allowance slip, parents must then top up your ParentPay account as soon as possible.

At Arden we call male teachers “Sir” and female teachers “Miss” so don’t worry about learning names in the beginning.

No, you will not need your PE on your first day. Your first PE lesson will be an induction lesson which will be done in your school uniform.