Structure

Curriculum Structure 2019-20


The Academy is in the process of carrying out a major curriculum review following the 2018 results. This review will focus on both key stage 3 and 4 and address areas including literacy and the curriculum offer at key stage 4.

 

Curriculum Structure 2018-19 

 

The curriculum is organised into a 2-week timetable.  Students have 50 lessons per fortnight.  The tables below show how these lessons are allocated between the different subjects and how each subject is taught, eg whether students are taught in their mixed ability groups or whether they are in sets by ability.  

 

Key Stage 3 -Years 7&8

 

In Key Stage 3 all students follow the National Curriculum.

 

Students are organised into mixed ability bands: X and Y.  

 

Year 7

Subject

Hours Per fortnight

How taught?

Art

2

Mixed ability group and OUR pathway

Citizenship

2

Mixed ability group and OUR pathway

Food preparation and nutrition

2

Mixed ability group and OUR pathway

English

8

Ability group

French

4

Mixed ability group and OUR pathway

Geography

4

Mixed ability group and OUR pathway

History

4

Mixed ability group and OUR pathway

IT

2

Mixed ability group and OUR pathway

Maths

8

Ability group

Performing Arts

2

Mixed ability group and OUR pathway

PE

4

Ability, single gender group

RE

2

Ability group 

Science

6

Ability group

Total

50

 

 

Year 8

Subject

Hours Per fortnight

How taught?

Art

2

Mixed ability group

Citizenship

2

Mixed ability group

Food preparation and nutrition

2

Mixed ability group

English

8

Ability group

French

4

Mixed ability group

Geography

4

Mixed ability group

History

4

Mixed ability group

IT

2

Mixed ability group

Maths

8

Ability group

Performing Arts

2

Mixed ability group

PE

4

Ability, single gender group

RE

2

Ability group

Science

6

Ability group

Total

50

 

 

In term 3/4 of Year 8 will choose their pathway subjects to be taken in key stage 4. 


Key Stage 4 – Years 9-11

 

The Key Stage 4 curriculum has been remodelled to provide students with an in-depth coverage of the key core subjects of English and maths. The curriculum time for both subjects continues to be significant. It has also been modified to reduce the number of options students take.  Whilst this does to an extent reduce curriculum breadth for students it does enable them to be best prepared for terminal exams in their chosen GCSE subjects and gain higher grades in the subjects studied.

 

At Key Stage 4 students continue to follow the National Curriculum.  This means all students must take the following courses.  Where these courses lead to qualifications they are shown in the table below:

 

Subject

Qualification

English

GCSE English language and GCSE English Literature

Maths

GCSE Maths

Science

GCSE Science

PE

NA

RE or Citizenship

Full GCSEs in RE or Citizenship. RE only in Year 9

 

At Key Stage 4 students also get the opportunity to take 3 pathway subjects.  The first pathway (block A) requires students to study either French, Geography or History. In the remaining pathways (blocks B & C) students are guided in to taking one of the following subjects - 

 

Art

DT Textiles

ICT NG Cida

Business Studies BTEC

French

Media Studies

Food preparation and nutrition

Geography

Music

Computer Science

BTEC Health & Social Care

PE GCSE

Drama

Hospitality

Photography

 

History

 

 

A small number of students follow an ASDAN foundation studies programme. 

 

All of these qualifications are on the DFE approved list of subjects that count towards school performance measures.

 

Teaching Hours

 

The tables below show how these lessons are allocated per fortnight between the different subjects -