The Cornwall Independent School offers a range of teaching and learning styles adapted to the individual pupil's stage of development and the pupil's preferred learning style. A walk around the school reveals many different styles of learning taking place in the classrooms.

We offer a broad and balanced curriculum throughout the school; following the main requirements of the National Curriculum. Our Early years and KS1 classes have their lessons with their class teacher with some specialist teaching of Art, Music and Modern Foreign Languages. When moving into key Stage 2 lessons are still taught mainly by the class teachers who develop pupils' key skills on a daily basis. There is an increasing emphasis on specialist teaching, such as Modern Foreign Languages, Art, Music and Science, as pupils progress through Key Stage 2.   

Once in the Senior School the Key Stage 3 and 4 pupils are taught by specialist teachers for all lessons in preparation for the GCSE courses offered in Years 10 and 11. At GCSE our students study 9/10 GCSE subjects from English Language, English Literacture, Maths, Pupils study all of the subjects required to gain the English Baccalaureate:  Maths, English, Science, Modern Foreign Language and Humanities.   

The teaching style in Key Stage 3 and 4 is often more like that of a college, with pupils preparing presentations and engaging in the wide ranging discussions which our small classes encourage.  Pupils and staff work co-operatively to achieve the best outcome for all pupils; staff offer individual help and guidance to pupils as required.  

Outings and visits are a key feature of the curriculum at our school from the Reception Class to Year 11. These are designed to give a hands on approach to learning and will either develop or reinforce classroom learning. In KS4 pupils take part in the required fieldwork for Science and Geography as part of their GCSE courses.