Curriculum Plan Overview

The policy of the school and the declared aims of all staff are:

Booklets giving an outline of all Key Stage 4 and Post-16 courses, as well as advice on making choices are provided to every pupil in Year 11 and Year 9 in the Autumn and Spring respectively. Examination programmes of study are available for inspection at the school.

The policy of the school and the declared aim of all staff is: "Learning Together"

Pupils have been placed in 6 tutor groups and will be taught in 6 groups (8 for Technology).

• Five sets each of approximately 25 pupils (7:1, 7:2, 7:3, 7:4, 7:5) for approximately 40% of the time. These sets are subject specific and apply in English, maths, ICT and science.   The remaining 60% of the time they will be in six mixed ability groups.  This applies for humanities, modern foreign languages, technology, art, drama, music, PE and dance.
• One foundation group of approximately 15 pupils.  This group follows a modified curriculum designed to support them in literacy and numeracy for 40% of the time. For the remaining 60% of the time they are mixed with the other 5 sets in mixed ability groups. 

The Year 7 curriculum will be taught in lessons of 60 minutes duration on a TWO WEEK timetable as follows :

YEAR 8:

Pupils have been placed in 6 tutor groups and will be taught in 6 groups (8 for Technology) as follows:

• Two parallel bands organised in half year populations. Within each band pupils are in 3 sets for English, maths and science, (8x1, 8x2, 8x3, 8y1, 8y2 and 8y3) for approximately 40% of the time. These sets are subject specific and include an accelerated group for the most able students. In humanities, modern foreign languages, art, music and drama they are in six groups based on their ability in those subjects and whether they have selected to do French or German. The remainder of the time they will be in mixed ability groups for Technology and PE including dance.

The Year 8 curriculum will be taught in lessons of 60 minutes duration on a TWO WEEK timetable as follows :

YEAR 9:

Pupils have been placed in 6 tutor groups and will be taught in 6 groups (8 for Technology) as follows:

• Six sets (9:1, 9:2, 9:3, 9:4, 9:5, 9:6) for approximately 60% of the time. These sets are subject specific and apply in English, Maths, Science and Humanities, including Business Studies. The remaining 40% of the time they will be in two half year populations with half the pupils studying French and half the pupils studying German. This applies for Modern Foreign Languages, Technology, Art, Drama, Music, PE and Dance.

The Year 9 curriculum will be taught in lessons of 60 minutes duration on a TWO WEEK timetable as follows:

YEAR 10

Pupils have been placed in 6 tutor groups and taught the core curriculum in six teaching groups. All pupils will study Science, Mathematics and English at GCSE level. Most pupils will then select a further 4 GCSEs or BTECs from a number of option blocks. However there are two alternative pathways. A small number of students take two option subjects and the three core subjects over four days a week. The remaining day is spent on extended work experience or at the vocational centre run by West Kent College. A further small group take Young Apprenticeship courses in construction, engineering, hair and beauty or sports management. They study the three core subjects over three days, spend one day on their apprenticeship and a further day on work experience.
Pupils will choose between the following optional subjects:

The Year 10 curriculum will be taught in lessons of 60 minutes duration on a TWO WEEK timetable as follows:

YEAR 11

Pupils are placed in 6 tutor groups and taught the core curriculum in six teaching groups.   All pupils will study Science, Mathematics and English at GCSE level.  Most pupils will then select a further 4 GCSEs or BTECs from a number of option blocks.  A small number of students are invited to follow an iMedia course or to take part in an ASDAN Certificate of Personal Effectiveness course, instead of continuing their study of French or German.  Pupils in the ASDAN group also spend one day a week at the vocational centre run by West Kent College or on an extended work experience placement.
Pupils will choose between the following optional subjects:

The Year 11 curriculum will be taught in lessons of 60 minutes duration on a TWO WEEK timetable as follows:

KEY STAGE 5:

Students can follow BTEC Level 2 and Level 3 courses or A levels, dependent upon their GCSE results. Most students are expected to study 4 subjects.

In addition the school offers a full time sports pathway during which students complete 3 Level 3 BTECs in Business Studies, Sport and Sport and Exercise Science. They also follow a range of professional and training courses and do a day's work experience a week.

The school currently operates a common sixth form timetable with Hillview School allowing students to access the courses run there; including: Sociology, Media Studies, Music, Music Technology, Performing Arts, Biology, Physics and Chemistry. From September 2009, this will be expanded to include other post 16 providers in the Tonbridge area.