Key Stage 3

At Key Stage 3, your child’s initial ability group is determined by their performance in their Maths and English exams at Key Stage 2. This is reviewed at regular intervals depending on your child’s performance during Key Stage 3.

The Timetable

The school operates a 48 period two week timetable (24 periods per week). There are 5 periods per day (4 in the morning, 1 in the afternoon), each of which lasts for one hour, except Wednesday when there are 3 lessons in the morning and 1 in the afternoon.

There is a 20 minute break in the morning between periods 2 and 3. Lunchtime is 50 minutes.

The Curriculum

Year 7, 8 and 9 are split into two ‘populations’ – Inspire (I) and Excel (E). One is slightly larger than the other but both are equal in terms of ability based on ability indicated by performance in KS2 in their English and Maths tests. For most subjects, there are 5 sets on Inspire and 6 sets on Excel. In Year 7 and 8, the there common groups for English, the Humanities subjects and common groups for Maths, Science, Languages and Music. The ‘practical’ block of subjects is taught in smaller class sizes and includes Design Technology, Art, Drama, Computing, Citizenship and Values.

The Key Stage 3 curriculum meets the statutory requirements of the national curriculum. For more information on the five year curriculum in each subject, please look at our long-term plans for each curriculum area.

Nurture Group: On entry in year 7, some students follow an alternative curriculum to meet their needs. This curriculum is stage not age based. These students will participate in literacy and numeracy hours daily. Project work will cover the other areas of the curriculum. To maintain a balanced curriculum and links to their year group these students will join the mainstream curriculum for Art, Drama, Design Technology, Computing, Citizenship and Values and PE. Students will be assessed on progress and when ready move into the mainstream curriculum.

Fresh Start: Students with lower than average reading ages on entry will be identified, these students will follow a six week programme of enhancement skills for reading (phonics). To compliment this programme these students will also read daily to our reader listeners.