Sevenoaks School Middle School Diploma Middle School Diploma | Page 6

Qualifying categories
The categories
There are eight areas in which your activities in school
can be categorised for accreditation:
Examples
Categories of Diploma Criteria
No award Students who have not met the criteria below.
Students have engaged in all five areas of activity.
They must have engaged in all five areas at least
once in all three years (Years 9 and 10).
Diploma
In Year 11 students are not required to engage
fully in all areas equally and may, should they
wish, focus on the areas of activity that are their
particular passion.
Diploma
There is evidence of meaningful reflection in all
five areas, ie at least one meaningful reflection has
been written.
Diploma with Distinction
in a particular area of
activity
In addition, students have shown sustained
engagement in one or more area of activity
(usually over a term) with evidence of meaningful
reflection. At least one meaningful reflection
is made.
Students have gained accreditation (a supervisor
review) on the quality of their participation.
Diploma with Distinction
in Service and Social
Impact
Diploma with Distinction
in Physical and Outdoor
Education
Diploma with Distinction
in Making and
Performing
Diploma with
Distinction in Academic
Engagement
As above.
Diploma with Distinction
in all areas of activity
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Students will quality for a Diploma with Distinction
in all areas if they have shown sustained
engagement in all five areas of activity.
Activities in this area include those that encourage
and develop creativity, whether individually or in a
group. The three main areas of creative activity in our
co-curricular programme are Music, Drama and Art.
However, many school clubs also provide opportunities
to create, make and perform.
Examples: Theatre productions (including acting,
set design, technical design), music groups and
ensembles, instrumental lessons, Ceramics Club,
Film Making Club, Creative Writing Group.
Service and social impact
Engagement may be a one-off or a sustained
commitment.
As above.
Making and Performing
Diploma with all-round
Distinction
the MIDDLE SCHOOL DIPLOMA | AT SEVENOAKS
In Years 10 and 11 you may choose to take part in a
service activity on Thursday afternoons. There are many
options but all require you to devote your time, skills
and effort to helping others, whether in our own school
community, the local community or the wider world.
Examples: All VSU projects – primary schools, VSU
art, Environment Society, Gamelan, VSU drama,
Riding for the disabled, Valence School VSU, visiting
the elderly, Charity Action Group, Thursday Club. You
could also include Service elements of CCF.
Physical and Outdoor Education
Sport, CCF and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme
are included in the Physical and Outdoor Education
category and are the most popular ways of participating,
but a sustained commitment to a school club, such as
running, dance or climbing, also provide opportunities
for physical and outdoor education.
Academic Engagement
As explained above, this is one of two categories that
are part of your Middle School curriculum (all your
subjects including the Core Courses). Accreditation
will occur in two ways: through recognition of your
commitment and gains in grades over the three years;
your own reflective comments that you make in
response to your reports and assessments. Perhaps
there is something in your subjects of which you are
particularly proud – or a target you want to set yourself.
Achievement in this area is characterised by
skills and attributes such as offering thoughtful
contributions to discussion and listening actively to
others, completing written work to the best of your
ability, willingness to work and think independently,
and perseverance when faced with a challenge.
Tutor Recommendation
Some worthwhile activities or contributions will not fit
into the other four categories but may still be accredited
by your tutor under the Tutor Recommendation category.
Examples: Leadership or organisation of tutor
group events or activities, such as Charity Week,
volunteering to help in school events, organisation of
and involvement in boarding house events, boarding
house leadership roles, leadership of or assistance
with a school society or club, support of peers at
school events.
Examples: Sports teams and clubs, CCF, Duke of
Edinburgh Bronze and Silver Award.
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