Curriculum

Years 7-9 (Key Stage 3)

For the first three years at the School, pupils will follow a broad and challenging academic programme. This will include:

Mathematics: Setting in Maths will begin in Year 7.

English: Setting in English will occur in Years 10-11 (Key Stage 4).

Latin: Latin will be compulsory in Key Stage 3.

Modern Foreign Languages: MFL will be introduced in Year 7, with scope for pupils to study up to two at GCSE or IGCSE level. Pupils will start to be set in Years 8 or 9.

Science: Setting will begin in Key Stage 4 based on whether pupils will be working towards GCSEs/IGCSEs in three separate science subjects, a dual award qualification or a single award qualification. In each case, pupils will still be taught the sciences as separate subjects.

Information and Communication Technology: ICT will be embedded in the curriculum with different subject teachers taking responsibility for the delivery of different skills and topics.

Other Key stage 3 subjects that will be taken by all pupils: History, Geography, Religious Studies, Music, Art, Drama, Physical Education and Games.

Personal Social and Health Education: PSHE will be delivered by Form Tutors.

Faculty Studies: In Years 7 and 8 pupils will take an interdisciplinary approach to studying a topic such as ‘The Ancient World’ or ‘The Renaissance’. This holistic approach will enable pupils to step outside narrowly defined, subject-based viewpoints and see a topic from many different perspectives. We have formed a partnership with The Lyric Hammersmith and anticipate that some Faculty Studies courses will be delivered by The Lyric’s specialist staff at the theatre.

Stretch and Support: Those pupils who need reinforcement of foundation skills in English and/or Maths in Year 7, or who will benefit from further support in Years 8 and 9, will have one or two periods a week set aside for additional support. At the same time, other pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 will take courses and attend lectures in subjects such as Politics and Philosophy.

Extended School Day: The school will be operating an extended day to enable pupils to take part in a range of activities as well as supervised study sessions. Pupils will be expected to remain in school – or attend music, drama or sports clubs nearby – until 5.00pm on Mondays to Thursdays. The School day will finish at 3.50pm on Fridays.

Years 10-11 (Key Stage 4)

Core subjects: Every child at the School will study a core of subjects at GCSE or IGCSE level at Key Stage 4, including English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, History, Science (worth between one and three GCSEs/ IGCSEs, depending on the depth of study) and an Ancient or Modern Foreign language. This will lead to between six and eight GCSEs/IGCSEs, depending on the depth of Science study.

Options: Pupils will then choose a further two options from a menu that includes an additional Foreign Language, Geography, Religious Studies, Music, Art, Drama, Classical Civilisation and Ancient History.

Humanities: In Key Stage 4, pupils will also take a compulsory Humanities course that will run over the first five terms. The course will consist of five units that will involve a multidisciplinary approach to key global issues and problems. In the sixth term, these periods will be set aside to allow for extended private study in the run up to GCSE/IGCSE exams.

Sport: Pupils will continue with Physical Education and Games throughout Key Stage 4.

Class Sizes

Each year group of 120 will be divided into five tutor groups of 24.

Tutor Groups

Tutor groups will operate as follows:

• In those subjects where there is no setting in Key Stage 3 (English, Science, History, Geography, Religious Studies, Music, Art and Drama), children will be taught in their tutor groups.

• Each tutor group will be looked after by a Form Tutor who will be responsible for monitoring and supporting the academic progress of the pupils in his or her form as well as attending to their pastoral needs. Form Tutors will be the first point of contact for parents.

• There will also, eventually, be Senior Tutors for each year group who will set the pastoral and academic tone for the cohort. They will offer support to Form Tutors and to those pupils with the greatest need.

Form Tutors will have time with their forms at various points during the week to:

• Register pupils.

• Deal with pupil administration matters.

• Set targets with their tutees and monitor their progress.

• Reinforce the Habits of mind programme (see below).

• Engage pupils in other meaningful activities.

• Deliver the PSHE programme.

Houses

Pupils will also be organised vertically into four houses: Athenians, Corinthians, Olympians and Spartans.

• The house system will be the basis of intramural group competition.

• House points will be an incentive and reward for good quality work, effort and attitude.

• Teachers will be appointed to lead houses in addition to their other duties.

• There will be opportunities for pupils to meet in house groups.

• Although not directly responsible for pupil wellbeing and attainment, the housemaster/housemistress will be another source of support.

Assemblies

Assemblies will take place three times a week. There will be a whole school assembly on Mondays, including thought for the week; house assemblies on Wednesdays; and another whole school assembly on Fridays, with singing.

Habits of Mind

These are the observed characteristics of good independent learners. They are: Persisting. Managing impulsiveness. Listening with understanding and empathy. Thinking flexibly. Thinking about your thinking. Striving for accuracy. Questioning and posing problems. Applying past knowledge to new situations. Thinking and communicating with clarity and precision. Finding humour. Gathering data through all the senses. Creating, imagining and innovating. Responding with wonderment and awe. Taking responsible risks. Thinking independently. Remaining open to continuous learning. 

The key is that pupils make a habit out of these traits. These habits will be reinforced by staff in their interaction with pupils and a programme of introducing habits of mind will be built into the curriculum. For example, if one of the themes for the half term is ‘Persisting’ then pupils might study Moby Dick in English and look at explorers in History and Geography.