Curriculum Structure
The curriculum is broad and balanced with an emphasis on rapid progress throughout Key Stage 3 and a wide choice of academic GCSE courses at Key Stage 4.
We continually review our curriculum to ensure that we provide sufficient choice, breadth and depth in all Key Stages whilst also being able to personalise our curriculum offer for students who require additional support. Our SENDCO works to support all students to fulfil their potential. We are keen to ensure that our students build on their rapid progress in Key Stage 3 with a spiral curriculum being integral to all department curriculum plans from Years 7 - 11. Our academic results are outstanding and provide students with a platform to successfully pursue whatever career they may choose.
The curriculum is brought to life through a wide range of educational visits including field work for subject courses, international exchanges and study tours to China, the US and throughout Europe. Our students also enjoy many shorter/day trips to museums, galleries and specialist facilities which helps students to make progress outside of the classroom and further promotes a love of learning.
Key Stage Three Overview
All students are taught in form groups of about 30 students for all subjects except Technology, where class sizes are typically 20 - 25. All students study Latin and two out of French, German and Spanish to provide a strong grounding in foreign languages before they state a preference for two of their three languages in Year 8. For more information about our Key Stage Three curriculum subject content, please click the link below for our Key Stage Three Curriculum Maps.
Key Stage Three Curriculum Maps
Key Stage Four Overview
All students study Mathematics (with some students taking Further Maths GCSE), English Language, English Literature and science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics). Students then select a Foreign Language, Humanity subject and two other subjects to give every student access to the English Baccalaureate while retaining the flexibility for students to specialise in areas of passion and interest. In addition, students study Personal Development (incorporating Careers, Ethics, PSHE, Health Education), World Views and core PE for a double period a week.
The curriculum at Key Stage 4 is individualised with a breadth of choice being key to students’ success. The Key Stage 4 option blocks are determined around students' choices with a very high success rate. Students receive career guidance in-house, but a qualified external IAG advisor is on-hand to discuss option choices with students.
For subject specific information, please visit our Subject Pages or our Key Stage 4 Curriculum Maps
Key Stage Five Overview (Year 12-13)
All students study a minimum of three Advanced Level subjects alongside completing the Level 3 Extended Project Qualification. Students may opt to select a fourth Advanced Level subject in place of or in addition to the Extended Project Qualification and all students studying Further Mathematics will study this as an additional fourth Advanced Level qualification. In addition, students study Careers, Ethics, PSHE, Health Education and World Views through a programme of Impact Days as well as being able to develop further areas of passion and interest through our extensive Enrichment programme.
Option choices are made via a ‘free-choice’ system with students choosing from a broad offer of 29 subjects. The School does not set option blocks in advance of the application deadline and student preferences are used to determine the ‘best-fit’ of option blocks for Year 12 each year. This system ensures the greatest number of student choices can be met, within the constraints of available staffing and budgets.
Once the option blocks have been set, students are welcome to explore possible changes to A-level courses, between March and September, but these will need to fit within the newly-created Option Blocks and below the maximum group sizes for each subject.
The structure of each A-Level course can be found in our Key Stage 5 Curriculum Maps.
For subject specific information, please visit our Sixth Form subject pages. or download a copy of our Sixth Form prospectus: