Curriculum
We want to enable all our students to become:
- Successful learners, who strive to reach their potential in all they do
- Confident learners, who develop a fine sense of identity and self-worth
- Responsible citizens, well prepared for life and work and keen to make a positive difference to the world they live in
The aim of our curriculum is to ensure that all students grow in confidence whilst achieving the highest of standards in relation to student progress, allowing them then to succeed at college, university and beyond. Within this broad framework, we focus on enabling our students to develop knowledge, understand concepts and acquire skills, and be able to choose and apply these in relevant situations.
Mr Mike Rabey, Deputy Headteacher, is our overall lead for curriculum.
Our curriculum for Years 7, 8 and 9 is broad and balanced, enabling students to develop key literacy and numeracy skills, develop their wider learning skills and to experience a range of exciting curriculum opportunities.
Our grouping policy means that in Maths and English, students will be broadly set on entry in Year 7, which then drives the setting for most other subject areas. As students move though Key Stage 3, other subjects may group students by ability such as in Science, Humanities, Modern Foreign Languages and Physical Education. This means the needs of all students can be met. More able students will be able to learn at a pace and level of challenge which meets their needs and students who need to focus on key skills will be given the extra support and smaller class sizes to enable them to access the curriculum and to succeed.
Our Key Stage 3 curriculum allows students to study the following subjects, as per the requirements of the National Curriculum:
Modern Foreign Languages *
Personal, Social, Health and Enterprise Education
For a curriculum overview for each year group, for all subjects, please see the following:
* At KS3, all students study either French or Spanish as their main Modern Foreign Language.
Our commitment to a broad and balanced curriculum continues into Key Stage 4.
During Year 9 we work closely with students and their parents through the options process, so they are able to choose a Key Stage 4 course which plays to their interests and strengths and ensures clear post-16 progression. This is a very important process, as students respond well to a more individualized, challenging and engaging curriculum which enables them to achieve of their best.
We provide a curriculum that offers breadth, balance and opportunity. The choices available for students are flexible, thereby allowing for personalisation by addressing students’ interests, abilities and aspirations.
We also incorporate the Government’s latest plans for the 14 – 19 curriculum. Students have the chance to follow both GCSE and vocational courses, where appropriate.
Many of our students also opt to take further GCSEs in one or two weekly after school sessions as a twilight. This particularly appeals to our more able students who want to add an extra qualification to their portfolio.
For a Key Stage 4 curriculum overview for each subjects, please consult the back sections of these documents.