Curriculum

Curriculum Overview

Our curriculum fulfils all statutory requirements and whilst the compulsory core for all students has an emphasis on the academic, it is broad and balanced in nature. Our model emphasises the importance of learning in literacy, numeracy, languages, humanities and science. Where appropriate we actively encourage high levels of participation in subjects that ultimately lead to the English Baccalaureate, 70% of curriculum time is dedicated to these subjects at Key Stage 3 (KS3). In addition, students study a full range of subjects including Music, Computing, Technology, Art, PE and Drama. 

At Key Stage 4 (KS4) in addition to the academic core, we offer a wide range of optional subjects including creative, technical, vocational and alternative routes. For Year 9 students the KS4 options process starts in February and students options are confirmed by May, ready to start KS4 in September of Year 10. The options process involves a launch day with students linking to careers information and opportunities, a parent presentation to explain the options process and answer any questions, a Year 9 parents evening to speak to subject specialist teachers, and a personalised Information and Guidance (IAG) meeting for each student and their parents with a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

Subject Curriculum Outlines and Learning Journeys

Our curriculum is planned as a 5-year journey, with a 3 year KS3 and 2 year KS4. Subject Curriculum Outlines show for each year group in each subject, broken down by half term, what students will develop in terms of knowledge and skills, how they will be assessed and how their curiosity will be developed. To see the Curriculum Outlines, please visit our Curriculum by Year Group pages.

Learning Journeys then demonstrate how this learning builds year on year, from when students join us in Year 7, to when they move to their next stage at the end of Year 11. All of these documents are available to view on our Departmental Information pages.

Topic Overviews 

At KS3 Stamford Park Trust schools use Topic Overview documents to clearly identify the powerful knowledge and skills that all students should learn from a topic. Each topic overview lists the powerful knowledge that students should know, along with the key terminology that students should be able to spell and define. The ‘can’ section of the document outlines what students will be expected to do in an assessment. The topic overview documents are stuck into students exercise books and all students to clearly understand what they are studying. By referring to the topic overview, students can understand how they are progressing and what they need to do to improve. Students can make judgements about the quality of their own work and have a better understanding of what they need to do to improve.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

The essential knowledge that students are expected to know at KS3 is clearly identified for each topic in topic overview documents. It is expected that to have a secure understanding of a subject from KS3, students need to retain at least 80% of this learning in their long-term memory. To identify how students are progressing with their learning, three times a year the level of retention of this learning will be reported to parents using one of four range descriptors. 

Foundation <30% 
Less than 30% of knowledge and skills learned are secure in the memory. Students can recall simple processes and define some key terms. The learning is heavily reliant on teacher support. 

Developing <60% 
Less than 60% of knowledge and skills learned are secure in the developing memory. Students can apply the knowledge to familiar situations with some teacher support. 

Confident ≥ 60% 
More than 60% of the knowledge and skills learned are secure in the memory. Students are starting to apply knowledge to familiar and new situations with increasing independence. 

Mastering >80% 
More than 80% of knowledge and skills learned are secure in the memory. Students can apply the knowledge to new and unfamiliar situations (making links between different areas of learning), working independently.  

KS3 HOURS PER SUBJECT PER FORTNIGHT
Subject Years 7 & 8  Year 9
English 8 (plus 2 x 30 minute reading sessions) 8 (plus 2 x 30 minute reading sessions)
Mathematics 8 8
Science 8  7
History 3 3
Geography 3 3
RE 2 2
MFL 3  4
Core PE 3 3
PSHE 2 2
Art 2 2
Technology 2 2
Computing 2 2
Music 2 2
Drama 2 2

 

Years 10 and 11 

At the end of Year 9 GCSE number grade targets are established for KS4 students. These are informed by prior attainment information, including the position of students at the end of KS2 and KS3. Throughout the course of KS4 teachers will track student progress using GCSE number grades or other Level 2 qualification grading systems. 

During KS4 assessment and reporting we will employ accurate use of GCSE grades, with students receiving information about their actual graded performance regularly throughout the course. Each department has a clear understanding of the grade criteria expectations and examination board specifications which represent the key knowledge, skills and understanding needed to make progress. 

KS4 HOURS PER SUBJECT PER FORTNIGHT
Subject Year 10 and 11
English 9
Mathematics 8
Science 10
Core PE 4
PSHE 1
Other option subjects 6 hours for KS4 options
Curriculum Intent
Our Approach to Curriculum
KS4 Examination Boards