The intent of our school curriculum is:
“To deliver an ambitious and challenging curriculum that is broad and balanced, providing an exceptional education for every child, every day.”
Our curriculum aims are:
- To foster a love of learning
- To support and grow the learner as a whole
- To rapidly develop literacy and numeracy skills
- To enhance cultural capital and enrich lives
- To drive personal development and understanding of society and the wider world
- To raise aspirations and inspire learning
- To provide purposeful, real world learning opportunities
- To support and encourage progression to further education and training leading to higher education and employment
Every student, regardless of their starting point, background or circumstance, will receive a curriculum that will enable them to:
- Gain knowledge, skills and qualifications to be successful in life
- Develop skills and qualities that allow them to contribute to a positive society
Our pupils follow a broad and balanced curriculum and staff are encouraged to enrich pupil’s subject knowledge with offsite learning such as theatre visits and field trips. Enrichment opportunities are offered through subjects and year groups and there is an extensive extracurricular programme which runs during lunch time and after school. Literacy, ICT and Numeracy are promoted in all lessons as well as the four strands of Personal Development that enhance our subject curriculum.
KS3 Curriculum
At Key Stage 3 students follow a curriculum that is varied, engaging and differentiated and designed to meet the needs of individual and groups of students. The Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9) curriculum consists of:
- English
- Maths
- History
- Geography
- Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics)
- Art
- Drama
- Music
- Design Technology (including Textiles, Food and Resistant Materials)
- Computer Science
- Physical Education
- MFL
- PSHE and Citizenship
- RE
During Year 9 students will be guided and supported in order to select the options subjects that they will follow at Key Stage 4. A parents' information evening, options interviews along with an intensive programme of advice and support are a significant and valued part of the options process. This process is the opportunity for students to further personalise their curriculum and learning pathway, and includes choices from a range of traditional GCSE subjects such as History, Geography and Modern Foreign Languages as well as vocational subjects such as Health and Social Care, Business and ICT.
KS4 Curriculum
Our Key Stage 4 curriculum allows students to personalise their educational pathway, selecting from a range of GCSE and vocational qualifications.
All students at Key Stage 4 follow a core curriculum.
Year 10 and 11:
- English Language and Literature
- Maths
- Triple Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
- Physical Education
- PSHE, Citizenship and RE
All pupils also study a minimum of one from:
- History
- Geography
- Computer Science
- MFL
Students then select a minimum of three from a range of GCSE and vocational options. Alternative qualifications (BTEC Level 1/2 Tech Awards) equivalent to 1 GCSE include:
- Art
- Business
- Computer Science
- Design Technology
- Drama
- Music
- Sociology
- Health and Social Care
- Food and Nutrition
- ICT
- Sport
- Statistics
- MFL
- History
- Geography
- RE
A key part of the core curriculum is the preparation for an effective transition into Further Education. Year 11 students are guided and supported through an intense programme of learning activities and opportunities including applications, personal statements and interview preparation, all culminating in the annual Business Day in the spring term.
If you require further information on curriculum plans for each year group or subject, please contact
Mr P. Rockliffe, Deputy Headteacher for Quality of Education, via our reception on 0114 269 4801.
