The Curriculum
Key Stage Three
On entering the school, students are placed into mixed ability tutor groups.
A student will normally remain in the same tutor group for five years. The
tutor groups are named after sports heroes and each tutor group forms
part of our vertical House System. Our Life Skills programme is delivered
to students in their tutor groups.
In Year 7 students are taught Mathematics and Science in sets according to
prior attainment and these sets are reviewed regularly throughout Key Stage
3. English and Technology are taught in mixed ability groups. PE, Dance and
Drama are delivered through single sex groups. In Year 7 and 8, Geography,
History and RE will be taught by one teacher as Humanities and as separate subjects in Year 9. Humanities, ICT, Music and Modern Foreign Languages
are taught in Learning Groups which are also set by ability.
Students will continue to study either French or Spanish whichever
they studied in KS2 and our able gifted and talented students have the
opportunity to study both languages. We also provide opportunities for
students to achieve GCSEs and GCE A Levels in their home languages
during their time with us.
The school has fully embraced the new National Curriculum and Personal
Learning and Thinking Skills are delivered through all areas of the curriculum.
We have introduced Curriculum Theme Days each half term where the
timetable is suspended for the whole school and there is an extended
period of time for students to engage in project activities and visits which
will further develop these skills. Our Further Learning Opportunities booklets produced by every subject
area for each half term ensure that students have a range of activities available
to them which reinforce and extend their learning. Work is differentiated
to challenge students of all levels and level descriptors support students’ self
assessment of their own progress.
14–19 Pathways
Once students begin Key Stage 4, they enter our Personalised Pathways
programme. This is an innovative curriculum design which allows students
to progress though the curriculum at a pace that is suited to their ability.
Our ‘Stage not Age’ approach to learning is supported through one year
option courses where students study in vertical mixed age groups. This
early experience of examination success has served to improve motivation
and raise attainment.
We offer a wide range of Level 1 and Level 2 academic and vocational
options. These are one year courses and students sit examinations at the end
of Year 10 and 11. We also offer early entry for English and Mathematics.
Students with an English grade C+ have the opportunity to study English
Literature in Year 11.
In Year 10, all students study English, Mathematics, Single Science, Religious
Education and Physical Education. They then choose two options in Year
10 and another two in Year 11, thus ensuring that they have access to the
four ‘Entitlement curriculum’ areas : Design and Technology, Art, Humanities
and Modern Foreign Languages. In Year 11, students study English and
or English Literature, Mathematics and Additional Science. Our selection
includes BTEC courses in Sport, Media and Dance and GCSEs in Psychology,
Sociology and Separate Sciences.
Post 16
Advanced programmes are available to students in Year 12 or above.
However in addition to this, students in Year 11 who have already achieved
a grade A in GCSE English and Mathematics through our early entry system
begin the AS programme.
Year 12 Level 2 students have access to the full range of options through
our vertical curriculum. Students have a choice of vocational or academic
pathways. We currently offer full BTEC Nationals in Sport and Leisure,
Travel and Tourism and Business Studies worth three A2 qualifications at
the end of two years. We also offer a full range of GCE A levels including
Law, Economics, and Accountancy.
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