Curriculum Intent and Summary
CURRICULUM INTENT
- To promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of all pupils at the School.
- To prepare all pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.
- To enable all pupils to set their life and society in a relevant cultural, historical and geographical context and understand the nature of the world in which they live.
- To help pupils acquire the knowledge, concepts, basic and transferable skills, values and attitudes which will serve them now and in the future.
- To help pupils acquire lively and enquiring minds, the ability to question and argue rationally and to apply themselves to a variety of tasks and physical skills using logical processes in investigating problems.
- To help pupils learn to communicate effectively using a variety of media and techniques, including oral skills.
- To pursue and recognise achievement and development in every individual’s personal growth and academic results, including those with special educational needs.
- To provide opportunities for aesthetic and creative development, including interpreting, performing, creating, designing, making and problem-solving.
- To reflect sensitivity to issues of gender and culture and commitment to whole school action in the pursuit of good practice in these important areas.
- To develop social, political, economic and environmental awareness.
- To emphasise the acquisition of the tools of study (study skills) for lifelong learning, notably the use of information technology through the whole curriculum.
- To develop in our pupils the ability to function as contributing members of co-operative groups through tutorial work, PSE, residential experience and work experience and to make informed, realistic and responsible decisions with respect to their immediate future.
Curriculum Summary
The school operates a ten-day cycle timetable. The table below shows the number of periods for each subject.
|
Key Stage 3 |
Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art and Design Technology | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| English | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| French | 6 | 6 | 4 |
| Geography | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| German or Spanish | 4 | ||
| History | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Computer Science | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Mathematics | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Music | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Physical Education | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Religious Education | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Science | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Students choose three subjects to study at GCSE level. These subjects, listed below, are placed in three option blocks:
- History
- Geography
- Computer Science
- French
- German
- Spanish
- Music
- Drama
- Physical Education
- Business Studies
- Textiles
- Art
- Resistant Materials
- Hospitality and Catering
- BTEC Travel and Tourism
- Cambridge National Health and Social Care
|
Key Stage 4 |
Year 10 | Year 11 |
|---|---|---|
| English | 7 or 8 | 7 or 8 |
| Mathematics | 7 or 8 | 7 or 8 |
| Physical Education | 3 or 5 | 3 or 5 |
| Religious Education | 5 | 5 |
| Science | 10 or 12 | 10 or 12 |
| Block A | 5 | 5 |
| Block B | 5 | 5 |
| Block C | 5 | 5 |
Most students study Core and Additional Science, ultimately leading to two GCSE grades. They have ten lessons across the two-week cycle.
Some selected students study separate Biology, Chemistry and Physics over four lessons of each in the ten-day cycle. This group has two lessons of PE, whilst all other KS4 students have four lessons.
Each week we also have a PSHRE period in which students in all year groups study different aspects of a pastoral programme in their respective year groups. These dedicated lessons take place within form groups and is led by the form tutor.