Curriculum

Aims

The taught curriculum is based on the concept of “Powerful Knowledge for Global Citizens”. Our curriculum is ambitious, knowledge-rich and inclusive. It is carefully sequenced so that students build knowledge cumulatively over time, revisit important concepts and develop the cultural capital required to thrive as global citizens. The National Curriculum provides the foundation for our curriculum design, ensuring that all students are taught the essential knowledge and skills within each subject. Curriculum coverage is monitored to ensure that all planned content within subjects concluding at the end of Key Stage 3 is fully taught. Subject-specific content is designed to support students in building secure knowledge, making connections between concepts and achieving long-term retention. Curriculum leaders regularly review sequencing, curriculum coverage, assessment information and student outcomes to ensure that the curriculum remains ambitious, coherent and responsive to students' needs. Students study a broad and balanced curriculum, in order to:

• be inducted into the powerful knowledge of the subject, as defined by the subject community
• develop their literacy and numeracy;

• support their cultural, social, moral, mental and physical development;

• build their character;
• develop the knowledge and skills that are needed for future opportunities, responsibilities and experiences in life;

• meet high expectations for behaviour, achievement and personal responsibility

• develop independent learning skills in order to engage in regular and effective home learning.

Key Stage 3 Curriculum (Years 7-9)

Literacy and Numeracy

Literacy and numeracy are explicitly developed across the curriculum. Students are taught to read, write, speak and think as subject specialists, with a strong emphasis on disciplinary vocabulary, reading and extended written communication. Numeracy is reinforced through regular opportunities to apply mathematical reasoning, data analysis and problem-solving across a range of subjects.  The English and Maths curriculum are aligned with the Key Stage 2 National Curriculum, to ensure that students build on their previous knowledge. Through our ‘Register, Read, Rally’ KS3 tutor time reading programme students regularly engage with a rich and diverse range of texts to develop their literacy, love for reading and understanding of the world around them.

Broad and Balanced

All students take up the study of a modern foreign language, either French or Spanish.

Students study the Humanities as the separate subjects of Geography, History and RE. All students begin GCSE Religious Studies in Year 9, enabling them to complete the qualification at the end of Year 10 while securing a strong foundation in religious, ethical and philosophical thinking.

All students study Art, Music and Drama. Technology is taught as a carousel of Food and Nutrition, Graphics and Design and Technology, with one taught per term. Some students are admitted to the school as Music Scholars through our Music Scholarship Programme.

Curriculum Support Base

A small number of students with additional learning needs study a tailored curriculum in Years 7 to 9. This curriculum is designed to build students’ skills in literacy and numeracy, and is delivered by a SEND trained teacher in collaboration with mainstream teachers. The group is reviewed regularly and students may join mainstream classes when they are ready. 

Timetabling and allocations

Students follow a timetable over two weeks of 60 lessons (30 per week). Curriculum time allocations are shown in the table below.

*Technology is taught as a carousel of three discrete subjects: Food and Nutrition; Design and Technology; and Graphics. 

Key Stage 4 Curriculum

At Key Stage 4, all students study a broad and ambitious curriculum which combines a strong academic core with a wide range of creative, technical and vocational subjects.

All students study GCSE English Language and English Literature, GCSE Mathematics and GCSE Religious Studies. Students also study either Combined Science or the separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Uptake of Triple Science is strong, with approximately 60 students studying separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics each year.

Alongside these core subjects, students choose from a broad range of option subjects, enabling them to pursue their interests and strengths while maintaining a balanced curriculum. Current option subjects include:

• Art
• Business Studies
• Citizenship
• Computer Science
• Design and Technology
• Drama
• Food and Nutrition
• French
• Geography
• History
• ICT (Cambridge National iMedia)
• Music
• Photography
• Spanish
• Sport (BTEC)

In addition, a small number of students with Education, Health and Care Plans access a more personalised curriculum. This may include the King's Trust qualification and, where appropriate, additional curriculum time for English and Mathematics to further support literacy, numeracy and preparation for adulthood.

Timetabling and allocations

All lessons in Years 10, 11 and the sixth form consist of ‘double’ periods lasting 100 minutes.

Curriculum Booklets

Our curriculum booklets provide detailed information about curriculum content, sequencing and assessment within each subject.

Browse curriculum booklets...