Curriculum Subject Overview

A major part of the school curriculum is, of course, the subjects student's study. All students in Key Stage 3, study English, Maths, Science, Computing, History, Geography, Drama, PE, RSS, Food and Nutrition, Music, Art and at least one modern foreign language (French/Spanish).

In Key Stage 4 students are able to make preferences as to which subjects they take forward to GCSE (or equivalent) level qualification. Students will study a core curriculum which provides the skills and qualifications so they can access any college course in Year 12. The additional subject courses we offer are remarkably varied and are designed to not only further enhance college applications, but ensure that as far as possible, there is something which appeals to everyone. All students however, as part of the core curriculum still study English Language, English Literature, Maths, Science and the statutory subjects all schools must deliver which include Physical Education and aspects of Religious and Sexual Health Education.

English Baccalaureate (EBacc) - is a set of subjects at GCSE that keeps young people’s options open for further study and future careers.

The EBacc is: English language and literature, Maths, the sciences, geography or history and a language.

Research shows that a pupil’s socio-economic background impacts the subjects they choose at GCSE, and that this determines their opportunities beyond school. A study by the UCL Institute of Education shows that studying subjects included in the EBacc provides students with greater opportunities in further education and increases the likelihood that a pupil will stay on in full-time education. Sutton Trust research reveals that studying the EBacc can help improve a young person’s performance in English and maths.

The government’s ambition is to see 75% of pupils studying the EBacc subject combination at GCSE by 2022, and 90% by 2025.