Curriculum

We offer a broad and exciting full three-year curriculum (years 7 – 9), where students maximise their experience, knowledge and skills, developing their maturity to make informed choices as they progress onto GCSE study at the end of Year 9. Students will study the full range of National Curriculum subjects.

In Year 7 (from September 2023), students are placed in a mixed ability tutor group.  Students are taught in mixed ability groups for History, Geography, Religious Education, Modern Foreign Languages (French or Spanish), Art, Music, Drama, ICT, Lessons for Life, Design Technology and Food & Nutrition. English, Mathematics, Physical Education (PE) and Science ‘set’ the students according to their ability in these subjects.  These ability groups are set at the beginning of Year 7, set changes take place as students’ progress through KS3. Some students will move groups throughout each year, dependant on academic performance and effort shown.

The curriculum provision provided for Year 10 and 11 students closely follows the National Curriculum requirements for Key Stage 4 (14-16) with all pupils studying for qualifications in the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science. In addition to these core subjects all our KS4 students follow GCSE Religious Studies. Our broad and balanced curriculum offers students choices both within and in addition to the National Curriculum framework. This is subject to change as we review the curriculum annually in order to best meet the needs of our students.
All our KS4 option courses are designed to have clearly defined progression routes into our Sixth Form, local FE colleges or apprenticeships schemes. We offer a range of different academic and vocational courses to choose from ensuring all students experience an exciting and relevant curriculum, matched to their needs, aspirations and progression opportunities that enables them to flourish and succeed.

To find out about our Sixth Form Provision visit our Sixth Form page

Teachers set high expectations for all students. They will use appropriate assessment to set ambitious targets and plan challenging work for all groups, including:

1. More able students
2. Students with low prior attainment
3. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds
4. Students with SEND
5. Students with English as an additional language (EAL)

Teachers will plan lessons so that students with SEN and/or disabilities can study every National Curriculum subject, wherever possible, and ensure that there are no barriers to every student achieving.

Teachers will also take account of the needs of students whose first language is not English. Lessons will be planned so that teaching opportunities help students to develop their English, and to support students to take part in all subjects.

Further information can be found in our SEND policy and disadvantaged report.