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Curriculum Intent and Summary

CURRICULUM INTENT 

  1. To promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of all pupils at the School.
  2. To prepare all pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.
  3. 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.
  4. To help pupils acquire the knowledge, concepts, basic and transferable skills, values and attitudes which will serve them now and in the future.
  5. 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.
  6. To help pupils learn to communicate effectively using a variety of media and techniques, including oral skills.
  7. To pursue and recognise achievement and development in every individual’s personal growth and academic results, including those with special educational needs.
  8. To provide opportunities for aesthetic and creative development, including interpreting, performing, creating, designing, making and problem-solving.
  9. 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.
  10. To develop social, political, economic and environmental awareness.
  11. To emphasise the acquisition of the tools of study (study skills) for lifelong learning, notably the use of information technology through the whole curriculum.
  12. 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.