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 and 8 are split into two equal halves based on ability indicated by performance in KS2 in their English and Maths tests. The halves are named Inspire (I) and Excel (E), each side consists of 5 groups. Group 1 being set for the more able students through to group 5 for the lower ability students.
Setting arrangements for all of KS3 are: English with citizenship and Values, Maths with computing, Science with Music. A conglomerate of subjects comprising of History, Geography, MFL and RE follow their settings. PE, Art, Design Technology and Drama reach common agreement on their setting arrangements.
Curriculum: students experience all curriculum subjects each year.
At Key Stage 3, students follow the National Curriculum. For more information on the content studied please visit the website below.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-secondary-curriculum
Nurture Group: On entry in year 7, key students with the lowest English and Maths score will be identified and will 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, DT, Science and PE. Students will be assessed on progress and when ready move into the mainstream curriculum.
Freshstart: 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.
