The Stourport High School & VI th Form College Curriculum Policy

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1 The prime aim of The Stourport High School & Sixth Form College is to support successful futures. Our vision is that all students should have the opportunity to attend the post sixteen provider of their choice and we believe the best way to do this is to offer a curriculum that: Supports students academic success by promoting knowledge based learning. Is academically challenging and rigorous. Is broad and balanced offering both breadth and depth. Promotes students social, moral, spiritual and cultural development. Offers high quality enrichment that broadens students horizons. Our courses in Years 7 to 11 comply with the requirements of the National Curriculum. The curriculum is reviewed each year. Key Stage (Years 7, 8 and 9) At Key Stage we provide a broad curriculum designed to develop students knowledge and understanding in a range of subjects. s build upon Key Stage 2 knowledge, applying key content in a variety of contexts. Key knowledge and concepts are interleaved: content is spaced and reviewed throughout the year to ensure mastery. Assessment is regular and formative. The subject content is challenging. Literacy is a focus across the curriculum, promoted in all subjects as well as during reading lessons and tutorials. Students are taught in form groups for the majority of their subjects: ICT, art, music, drama, design technology, food, geography, history, social studies, Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural education (SMSC) and sex and relationships (SRE). Form groups are mixed ability. English, mathematics, science and modern foreign languages set their classes at Key Stage. The SMSC and SRE programmes are designed to develop students social, moral and cultural development as well as understanding British values and culture. Students spiritual development is delivered through Social studies, SMSC and the academic tutoring and assembly programmes The vast majority of courses complete the Key Stage curriculum at the end of Year 8. All subjects start their GCSE and vocational courses at the beginning of Year 9. The extra-curricular programme enriches students learning, opening opportunities to exiences that broaden students horizons. The timetable for Key Stage is based on a two- cycle and comprises of a 25 iod with 5 iods day. Each iod lasts one hour and lessons are in single iods.

2 Year 7 * * English 4 Yes History 1.5 Mixed Ability Mathematics 4 Yes Languages Food and Design Technology Science Yes Computer Science 1 Mixed Ability Religious Studies 1 Mixed Ability Carousel of Art, Drama and Music (1 s on each subject) Geography 1.5 Mixed Ability Enrichment 1 Mixed Ability Year 8: English 4 Yes Geography 1.5 Banded Mathematics 4 Yes History 1.5 Banded Food and Design Technology 2 Yes Languages 2 Yes Computer Science 1 Banded Science Yes Enrichment 1 Mixed Ability Students choose TWO subjects from: Art, Dance, Drama, Music, Religious Studies (19 s on each subject) Mixed Ability Year 8 students complete their Key Stage courses and express a preference about which Key Stage 4 courses they will study in Years 9, 10 and 11. Students consider which subjects they would like to study

3 based on their preferred way of learning, interests, ability and future aspirations. Students and parents/carers are given clear information, advice and guidance throughout the options process. Teachers and tutors are supportive in guiding students onto pathways that maximise students chances of success. Key Stage 4 (Years 9, 10 and 11) At Key Stage 4 all our students study the core academic subjects at GCSE: English, English Literature, mathematics, sciences (combined or separate awards) and choose from history, geography or a modern foreign language. Achieving good passes in these subjects keep students options open, and allows them to enter the widest ranges of careers and university courses. At Key Stage 4 students study a minimum of eight subjects: the core academic subjects and three option subjects. This is both academically challenging as well as offering a wide breadth of study. All courses at Key Stage 4 are challenging and rigorous following, and extending on, the awarding bodies specifications. Students are well supported through the option process to ensure they are on pathways that allow the greatest chance of academic success. Students are appropriately guided to whether they study combined science or separate science. Both science pathways are delivered within the allocated core lesson time. Students are only set in ability groups in the following subjects: Mathematics, English, science and PE. In all other subjects students will be in mixed ability groups. The curriculum continues to be taught by promoting the mastery of knowledge through interleaving and regular formative assessment. At Key Stage 4 teaching also focus on applying that knowledge to a range of contexts. SMSC and SRE teaching (offered through specialist drop down days) continues to promote students social, moral and cultural development. Students spiritual development and understanding of British values and culture is delivered through social studies, SMSC, assemblies and tutorials. The enrichment and extra-curricular programme continues to enrich students learning, opening opportunities to exiences that broaden students horizons. The programme also includes GCSE support and exam preparation after term 1 in Year 11. The timetable for Key Stage 4 is based on a two- cycle and comprises of a 25 iod with 5 iods day. Each iod lasts one hour and most lessons are taught as single iods.

4 Year 9 English 5.5 Yes Mathematics 4 Yes Languages Yes Option 1 - Option 2 - Science 5 Yes Social Studies 0.5 Banded Enrichment 1 Mixed Ability Year 10: English 5.5 Yes Mathematics 4 Yes Languages Yes Option 1 - Option 2 - Science 5 Yes Social Studies 0.5 Banded Additional time in Core subjects (WED P6) 1 Yes

5 Year 11: English 5 Yes Mathematics 4 Yes Languages Yes Science 5 Yes Option A - Option B - Option C - 2 & Ability * Mixed Ability The full list of GCSE and vocational subjects available to students at KS4 are listed below: GCSE Mathematics GCSE Statistics GCSE English GCSE English Literature GCSE French GCSE German GCSE Spanish GCSE Geography GCSE History GCSE Biology GCSE Chemistry GCSE Physics GCSE Combined Science Trilogy GCSE Computer Science ICT: Certificate in Digital Applications BTEC Health & Social Care GCSE Food & Nutrition GCSE Dance GCSE Drama GCSE Film Studies BTEC Technical Award Performing Arts GCSE Music GCSE BTEC Sport GCSE Religious Studies GCSE Latin & Roman Civilisations

6 GCSE Art & Design GCSE Design & Technology Certificate Business & Enterprise GCSE Business Studies In addition to the core subjects there will be opportunities to learn and put into practice the knowledge and skills related to work related learning and enterprise. These will take place across the curriculum within different subjects and activities. They provide students with an exience of working life and help them learn about working practices, the work environment and developing skills for working life. As a school we feel work exience is an essential aspect of students development and aim to support them in an ever increasing competitive world of work. We strongly support and encourage our students to broaden horizons and pursue their dreams. Consequently, all Year 10 students have a of work exience during the summer term. The government has made changes to the raising of the participation age (RPA) which has now increased to 18. This means that students will be expected to remain in some form of education (school, college or apprenticeship) to age 18. This makes the need to achieve their potential in all their subjects including English and mathematics at Key Stage 4 even more vital. Key Stage 5 (Years 12 and 1) At Key Stage 5 students choose the most academic pathway in which they will be most successful in their A-levels and vocational courses. Students pathways are designed to allow the greatest opportunity to attend students first choice university. The curriculum continues to be taught by promoting the mastery of knowledge through interleaving and regular formative assessment. At Key Stage 5 teaching also focusses on the development and mastery of applying knowledge to a broad range of contexts. All courses at Key Stage 5 are challenging and rigorous following and extending the awarding bodies specifications. Students are offered high quality enrichment that is designed to prepare students for future pathways, broaden their horizons and enhance their academic programme of study. Students social, moral, spiritual and cultural development is promoted through the 6th form SMSC, SRE, tutorial, assembly and enrichment programme. The majority of courses at Key Stage 5 are now reformed. This means that students will sit terminal exams at the end of Y1. Students on an unreformed course have sat an AS exam that will count towards their final grade. Study programmes require students that do not have a GCSE 9-4 in English or maths to work towards the achievement of these qualifications. Programmes also include work exience and other non-qualification activity to develop students sonal skills and prepare them for employment, training or higher/further education.

7 From 2017 students will not be entered on an AS course. The timetable for Key Stage 5 is based on a two- cycle and comprises of a 25 iod with 5 iods day. Courses are allocated 10 hours a fortnight. Lessons are taught in double and triple iods. We currently offer a wide range of courses in collaboration with other local schools. The courses we offer are listed below: Art Biology Business Studies Chemistry Classics Computing Drama English Literature Film Studies French Geography History ICT Maths Psychology Religious Studies Sociology Spanish Statistics Photography Politics Health Studies Sports Studies Media Music Physics Maths Further In addition, we offer Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), over 0 enrichment opportunities incorporating a Personal Effectiveness Award, Work Exience and the Core Mathematics Level qualification. Enrichment Alongside the academic curriculum, we really value the development of the whole son and offer great opportunities to broaden students social skills and confidence. Personal Development The sonal development curriculum incorporates SMSC, SRE, drugs education and citizenship education. It is delivered through drop down days, tutorials and assemblies. All our students are encouraged to participate in lessons, although individuals may be withdrawn on written request from parents/carers to the principal. SRE & Drugs We aim to provide students with accurate information, to help them clarify their own values and attitudes, to help them practise skills in communication and decision making, and to recognise the value of family life and parenthood. In accordance with the Sex Act parents/carers have the right to withdraw their son/daughter from non-statutory aspects of sex education.