County Cricketer
Baccalaureate
Introduction
The TDM Baccalaureate is a bespoke two-year course of study undertaken by all pupils in Years 7 and 8. Unique to The Downs Malvern, it is underpinned by a rigorous and stimulating academic curriculum, together with the development of a forward-thinking skill set that prepares children for their future studies and lifelong learning. The fundamental purpose of the TDM Baccalaureate is to engage children with their personal educational journey, developing an understanding of a wide range of subjects, as well as inspiring them to develop a love of learning, and involving them in the learning process as active and responsive participants. The value to the child is that they will develop a strong understanding of the foundational knowledge which underpins their continued education, whilst developing their wider skills, such as communication, resilience, collaboration and self-reliance.
Whilst academic performance is of paramount importance, the TDM Baccalaureate also recognises other strengths that are essential to becoming successful, confident and personally secure in the 21st Century. Therefore, 70% of the award is informed by academic achievements, with the remaining 30% celebrating everything else that our leading and dynamic Prep School offers: Art, Drama, Music, Sport in addition to our Skills to Thrive and Enrichment Activity Programme.
Steve Thomas
Deputy Head Academic
Skills to Thrive Skills to Thrive
Academics
The rich, varied and inspirational academic experience within the TDM Baccalaureate qualification is based upon the ISEB 13+ and scholarship syllabi in examined subjects.
Assessment will be through regular summative assessments and the end-of-year exams.
Personal Project Qualifications (PPQ)
The Downs Malvern has also developed an alternative assessment structure, our Personal Project Qualifications (PPQ), in History; and Theology, Philosophy and Religion (TPR).
Personal Project Qualifications give the pupils the academic rigour of in-depth study, as well as the flexibility to develop the important skills of identifying and researching a specific question, sourcing and evaluating their evidence, and presenting their findings before reflecting on their learning process.
Study Skills
As part of the TDM Baccalaureate, the children will also receive tuition in the value and use of study skills, developing and mastering a number of evidence-based study techniques that will be invaluable for years to come.
Through engagement with this ‘light bulb moment’ study skills programme, children gain the understanding and mastery of the tools they need to inform their future learning, as well as a high level of IT literacy in using the Microsoft suite of tools and platforms such as Teams and OneNote.
Creative and Performing Arts
Commitment and involvement in the creative curricula of Art, Drama, DT, and Music will be recognised and rewarded in the formative and summative assessments throughout the course.
Sport
Involvement and performance in Sport, not only in terms of proficiency and ability, but also sportsmanship, resilience, collaboration and commitment will also be included in the overall grading.
Enrichment
Pupils will also be assessed in their levels of involvement and commitment to our broad Activities and Hobbies programmes.
Residential Trips
Involvement and engagement in will give pupils an opportunity to develop their wider skills in novel scenarios and settings.
Overview of assessment
Throughout the two years, children will be engaged in developing their own learning profile and journey through a collation of a portfolio of evidence to document their achievements in all areas which will be overseen by personal tutors. Tutors will also guide the pupils to set aspirational targets in areas where further progress could be made, resulting in an expansive set of skills.
Levels of Award
At the culmination of the two years of study, the children will be awarded a TDM Baccalaureate with the following levels of success:
Skills to Thrive
In conjunction with the core curriculum and Personal Project Qualifications (PPQs), children will explore and develop the school’s seven Skills to Thrive, a set of guiding principles that reflect our ethos and permeate every aspect of school life. While these skills are not formally assessed, they are nurtured and recognised through day-to-day experiences, forming a crucial part of each child’s personal development.
Pupils will receive expert guidance on reflecting upon and building their own portfolio of evidence that illustrates their growth in the Skills to Thrive, helping them become more resilient, collaborative, and self-reliant learners.
