ACADEMIC
KS4 Curriculum Intent and Implementation
The Key Stage 4 curriculum is intended to support each student to achieve their personal best in meaningful qualifications by the end of Year 11, whilst supporting their social, moral, spiritual and cultural development through an extensive tutorial, PSHCE, PE and extra-curricular offer.
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Emphasis is placed on a strong academic core, and the vast majority of our students study the English Baccalaureate suite of qualifications, which enable them to access academic A Level courses and competitive Russell Group Universities, post-18.
But we have also designed our curriculum offer so that students are able to keep a wide variety of other education and employment options open post-16. As such, our English Baccalaureate offer is complemented by a range of subjects that provides the girls with access to STEM GCSE options such as the three Separate Sciences, Product Design and Computing. They can also access vocational courses in Business, Child Development, Hospitality and Catering and Health and Fitness.
All subjects provide access to social, moral, spiritual and cultural development, with opportunities embedded to ensure our students can enhance their cultural capital, with exposure to cultures and ethnicities that they may not experience in their daily lives, given where they live.
In devising our Key Stage 4 curriculum, we have ensured that:
- Our curriculum offer is broad and balanced, exceeds the requirements of the National Curriculum and meets the needs of our diverse school community
- Students are fully guided and supported through an extensive options process to make the most suitable personal choices
- There are many extra-curricular activities offered to enable students to gain additional qualifications (eg Dance GCSE, HPQ and Latin)
- Students are set according to ability in Maths, English, Science and Languages to unpackage the learning and facilitate targeted support for the most and least able
- All students have access to GCSE English Language and Literature, Maths and Science (Combined or Triple GCSE) a Humanity (Geography or History), core PE and PSHCE
- The vast majority (over 80%) of our students study at least Spanish or French GCSE
- All non-GCSE courses are high-quality Level 2 equivalent officially recognised qualifications
- Students who wish to do so, can study at least two languages
- Students can opt to take all three separate sciences at GCSE level
- Students are supported in the Basics by being offered additional English or Maths for specific intervention purposes
- Students who are performing below Level 1 are able to access lessons, supported by the SEND team, and take the equivalent Entry Level qualification
- The Year 10 PSHCE programme includes a Work Experience module so that students can experience life in the world of work
- The Year 11 PSHCE programme includes an extensive Careers topic so that students receive guided Post-16 choices
Year 10 Curriculum Intent
Year 10 is where your daughter begins that two(ish) year journey towards those final exams. She will already have started her GCSE journey in her Ebacc Subjects but now she starts all her GCSEs, following her own individual academic pathway. Some subjects will now be left behind, meaning learning is focused and expectation is high, but every subject encourages a passion for developing new skills and building new knowledge and expects full engagement in every lesson.
Emphasis is placed on a strong academic core, delivering content that provides appropriate challenge to meet aspirational targets while structuring learning to ensure rapid progress for every one of our students. Challenge is a key concept in Year 10 and students are encouraged, supported and expected to make progress right from the start. Knowledge and skills are gained and secured throughout through interleaved curriculum maps, repeater homework and targeted assessment points.
This is also the year where your daughter will set herself up with the independent study skills, organisation and preparation needed for exam success as well as the resilience and motivation to overcome the increased demands of GCSE. Year 10 is a vital year. The challenge, workload and expectations are more but here is where the work is done to approach her final exams In Year 11 with confidence, ambition and even enjoyment.
Year 11 Curriculum Intent
Year 11 is where your daughter completes her journey towards those final exams and shows us what she can do. Learning is focused and expectation is high but the curriculum and its implementation in every subject encourages an ambition and motivation that will lead to certain success at GCSE.
Emphasis continues to be placed on a strong academic core, delivering content that provides appropriate challenge to meet aspirational targets while structuring learning at all levels to ensure high progress for every one of our students. In Year 11 your daughter will finely tune the study and revision skills needed for academic success as well as strengthen the resilience and motivation to overcome the increased demands of the examination season whilst supporting her emotional and physical well-being.
The challenge, workload and expectations are high, but she will build on her hard work in Year 11 and rely on the backing of a well-practiced system of support and intervention. Here is where the hard work increases, then fully pays off. The outcome is a confident, capable and academically successful student who will continue her learning journey and take on personal challenges with passion and pride.