Our Upper School is a vibrant community where academic excellence, personal growth, and creativity are strong elements of our curriculum. We offer a dynamic curriculum designed to challenge and engage pupils, preparing them for the next steps in their educational journey and beyond.
With a commitment to fostering independent thinking and resilience, our dedicated staff provide tailored support to each pupil, ensuring they reach their full potential. Our extracurricular activities encourage teamwork, enriching the overall learning experience.
We empower the next generation of leaders, innovators, and thinkers, all within a supportive and inclusive environment. At Ysgol Bro Taf, we’re not just shaping pupils; we’re shaping futures.
Pupils will also study three options. Please note that options change year to year, depending on the choices of the pupils.
Year 10 Curriculum Offer 2023-2024
Year 11 Curriculum Offer 2023-2024
At Ysgol Bro Taf, we believe in the power of student voice and leadership. Our Upper School Pupil Leadership Team is an essential part of our vibrant school community, dedicated to fostering a culture of collaboration, respect, and positive change. Comprised of passionate and driven pupils, the team plays a vital role in representing their peers, sharing ideas, and contributing to school initiatives that enhance the overall experience for all.
As leaders, our pupils are empowered to take on various responsibilities, from organising events and promoting pupil wellbeing. Through this team, pupils develop essential skills in communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, preparing them for future leadership roles both within and beyond the school.
Our Upper School Leadership Team is made up of pupil representatives from each of our Upper School tutorial groups. Four of our Upper School pupils are then voted by their peers to represent the Upper School at Ysgol Bro Taf Senedd.
As a school we place huge importance on attendance and punctuality. There is clear evidence to demonstrate that high attendance rates equates to high attainment in school. However, school is about so much more than academic attainment. We believe that children who attend school regularly are more likely to feel settled in school, maintain friendships, engage in enrichment activities, keep up with their learning and gain the greatest benefit from their education. We want all our pupils to have the very best start in life, ensuring the highest attendance and punctuality rates is crucial to this.
Absences
Pupils are not expected to attend school when they are not well enough to do so, whether as a result of short term, long term or recurring illness. However, we request that parents/carers inform school of any illness absences via Class Charts.
If you are unsure of whether to send your child into school or not, Public Health Wales provides guidance on specific illnesses and isolation periods where needed.
Long-term absence for physical or mental health reasons must have medical evidence in order to be recorded as authorised absence.
We ask all parents/carers to endeavour to make all medical and dental appointments outside of school hours, however we do accept that there may be exceptional circumstances that require pupils to attend appointments during school time.
We request that parents/carers communicate clearly with the school to ensure absence can be recorded accurately.
Holidays in Term Time
The local authority and school strongly advises parents and carers that pupils should not take holidays during term time, due to the negative impact that this can have on their learning.
There are special considerations for when holidays in term time are authorised. Please see below:
Holiday request forms are available on the school website or by emailing attendance@brotaf.cymru.
Persistent absence/Concerning attendance rates
As a school we monitor attendance rates closely throughout the school year, if a pupils attendance drops below 92% you will receive a letter to alert you that attendance rates are at a concerning point.
We encourage open and honest communication between school and home to ensure attendance rates improve. As a school we will ensure robust support systems are in place to improve attendance to school.
If attendance rates continue to decline the school will link closely with the Attendance and Well-Being Service for further intervention.
At Ysgol Bro Taf, we are committed to supporting our pupils’ education both inside and outside the classroom. A clear and structured home learning policy is essential in helping our pupils develop strong academic skills, build effective study habits, and consolidate the learning they are doing in school.
Home learning plays an important role in extending learning beyond the school day. It provides pupils with opportunities to review and apply what they have learned, and also helps them develop independent learning and critical thinking skills.
In Year 9, pupils are beginning to prepare for their option choices and will be encouraged to explore subjects more deeply. Home learning tasks will support their understanding of key concepts and help them make informed decisions about their future studies. Weekly tasks may include subject-specific research, revision, or assignments designed to deepen their understanding of the topics covered in class.
For Years 10 and 11, pupils are preparing for their GCSE exams, and home learning becomes increasingly focused on exam preparation. Each week, pupils will be set assignments that directly support the content being covered in their GCSE courses. These tasks will include subject-specific revision, past exam questions, and independent study tasks aimed at reinforcing their learning and building the necessary skills for success in their exams.
At Ysgol Bro Taf, we believe in supporting pupils in every way possible to ensure they succeed, both academically and personally, as they work towards their future goals.
RCT Catering Services provides a tasty and nutritious menu to all schools within Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Middle School and Upper School catering operates on a far larger scale than Lower School, and the choice of food on offer is far greater. It is not practical to implement the same special diet procedure that was applied in Lower School.
Pupils may need advice on which food items are suitable for consumption and should discuss their dietary needs with the Catering staff who can check packaging and allergen matrices (for composite dishes). Staff can also provide advice or restrictions on food handling practices as this may affect the suitability of the product.
Complex cases, which may need additional measures can be discussed with the Catering Support Officer.
Please note: We procure food that is absent of nuts as a declared ingredient. However, even with proactive cross contamination control measures, multiple handling processes in the supply chain do present the potential for trace ingredients to remain present. We cannot control the food brought into the Dining environment by other customers.
A residual risk remains that food provided by RCT Catering Services ‘may contain traces of nuts and nut derivatives’, and customers who have a nut allergy should consider the risk before purchasing/consuming any food.
Our Upper School is committed to supporting each pupil through a smooth and empowering transition to further education, whether that means entering college, pursuing a school-based sixth form, or exploring alternative pathways.
We provide comprehensive guidance tailored to individual aspirations, interests, and strengths, ensuring that every pupil is well-prepared for the next chapter of their educational journey. Our dedicated staff offer personalised advice on course selections, application processes, and career planning, fostering a sense of confidence and direction.
In addition, we host various open days, and information sessions, allowing pupils to explore their options and make informed decisions. At Ysgol Bro Taf, we believe in nurturing each pupil’s potential and passion, equipping them with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in their chosen path. Together, we’ll embark on this exciting journey toward a bright future!
Copyright © Ysgol Bro Taf 2024 – 25