This area of the school has the advantage of having developed in planned stages; firstly to include 13 year olds, then 16 year olds and finally 18 year olds. Much has been learned during this methodical progression towards having a Sixth Form.

The first advantage of the system is that Key Stage Three is efficiently and completely administered by the end of Year 8. This allows 3 years in which to teach Key Stage Four - G.C.S.E's. The children are already used to being taught by specialists and now progress to moving between specialist classrooms. The rigid testing and reporting schemes are still in place, with Netherwood extracting the benefits of both the 'Records of Achievement' and 'Progress File' schemes of reporting. The trusty 'Homework Diary' ensures that 'Prep' is always set and completed accordingly.

Computing and Information Technology feature strongly throughout the School. It's state-of-the-art I.T. Suite and fully-stocked Library are accessible, within its Resources Centre, to all pupils.

Class numbers are again small - with 20 pupils being our desired 'ceiling' for each group, so the standard of teaching is always high. G.C.S.E. pupils can be assured that all syllabuses are finished in good time, an adequate allowance is made for Revision, and Examination Technique is both taught and practiced well, before they sit their external examinations. It is methods such as these that enabled Netherwood to top the League Tables for Wales on at least one occasion with 100% A - C passes at G.C.S.E. level.

Netherwood is a non-selective school and is committed to providing for the needs of all its pupils. Pupils who require this special provision are withdrawn from lessons they find particularly difficult - often language - for about one hour per week. They spend this time with our SENCO teacher who deals with their specific problems on a one-to-one or one-to-two basis. Progress within this department is monitored very closely. Pupils are tested in Spelling, Reading and Mathematics every half term and a personal work programme is set up to cater for their individual needs. This includes a graduated reading and spelling programme as well as basic number work. Strong links have been established with the Dyscovery Centre, Cardiff.

All pupils in Years 9, 10 and 11 have timetabled Careers Lessons, plus access to the Careers Library which is reasonably stocked with appropriate materials. The basics of Careers Education are taught in Year 9 and, during this initial phase, parents are sent leaflets which detail all the career services available. Year 10 pupils work through the 'JigCal' software which helps them decide upon a suitable Career.

At the end of Year 10 they will go out on a supervised Work Experience scheme, which will be relevant to their career choice. The Careers Advisor from Careers Wales West frequently visits the school. All Year 11 pupils have individual interviews with the advisor and discuss their personal plans of action, so that early decisions can be made in readiness for life in the Netherwood Sixth Form.

The School is visited throughout the year by members of the Military Services and by representatives of many other professions. This system reaches its peak during the annual 'Challenge of Industry Day', when visitors from as many different areas of employment as possible set the pupils tasks along the lines of Production Management, Marketing and so on.