Curriculum

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Our curriculum follows National Curriculum guidelines and aims to provide a broad, balanced learning experience for all.

At Key Stage 3 our two-year programme covers all the National Curriculum subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, Modern Languages, Technology, Humanities (History and Geography), Art, Drama and PSHCE (Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education). Students are taught in ability groups in the majority of subjects, ensuring that every child is taught at a level that matches their ability.

Students choose their options during year 8 as there is a three-year programme for Key Stage 4. Great care and guidance is given to all students when making their option choices, with a parent’s consultation evening and individual support from tutors. All students study a core consisting of English, Mathematics, Science, Physical Education and PSHCE education. Students are actively encouraged to work towards the new English Baccalaureate standard, invaluable for university applications, which includes the study of a language and either History or Geography. This is supplemented by a wide range of optional subjects, including Expressive Arts, Technology and ICT courses. We expect most of our students to achieve at least 8 passes at GCSE, including English and Mathematics. A great deal of support is provided to all students to help them achieve their potential and enable them to move with confidence onto their next stage of learning.

Year 7 & 8 students (KS3)

Students in Years 7 and 8 have the following lessons:

Subject	Year 7	Year 8
English	8 lessons a week	8 lessons a week
Maths	6/7 lessons a week	6/7 lessons a week
Science	4 lessons a week	4 lessons a week
History	2 lessons a week	2 lessons a week
Geography	2 lessons a week	2 lessons a week
French	2 lessons a week	2 lessons a week
Drama	1 lesson per week	1 lesson per week
Design Technology	2/3 lessons per week	2/3 lessons per week
Art	1 lesson per week	1 lesson per week
PE	2 lessons a week	2 lessons a week
Independent Study	3 lessons per week	3 lessons per week
me@meden	1 lesson per week	1 lesson per week
Total	34 lessons a week	34 lessons a week

Year 9, 10 and 11 students (KS4)

Students in Years 9, 10 and 11 have the following lessons:

Subject	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11
English	5 lessons a week	5 lessons a week	6 lessons a week
Maths	5 lessons a week	5 lessons a week	6 lessons a week
Science	6 lessons a week	6 lessons a week	6 lessons a week
PE	2 lessons a week	2 lessons a week
Option 1	3 lessons per week	3 lessons per week	3 lessons per week
Option 2	3 lessons per week	3 lessons per week	3 lessons per week
Option 3	3 lessons per week	3 lessons per week	3 lessons per week
Option 4	3 lessons per week	3 lessons per week	3 lessons per week
Independent Study	3 lessons per week	3 lessons per week	2 lessons per week
me@meden	1 lesson per week	1 lesson per week	1 lesson per week
Total	34 lessons a week	34 lessons a week	34 lessons a week

Post-16 Education

We provide a truly academic route into post-16 education. Our offer is based upon a number of AS and A2 qualifications, located alongside a limited number of vocational courses, which are studied at our consortium school, Garibaldi. Students also have the opportunity to take part in many activities, including work experience, sport and recreation and a programme of personal and social education and careers guidance. Students have their own centre and study area, and are organised into Mentor groups under specialist academic mentors. We enjoy seeing many of our students going on to higher education at a wide range of universities and colleges, including the more prestigious Russel group universities. Detailed information about all specialist subjects is available on the College section of this web site.