The school’s curriculum is designed to reflect the values of a comprehensive school, which seeks to provide the best, in terms of opportunities, and resources, for all students. It builds on the work done in First and Middle Schools, and there is close liaison to ensure both continuity and progression.
The school seeks to create an intelligent and flexible curriculum, which ensures both a broad and balanced programme that prepares students for the future and a degree of individual choice which allows students to pursue particular interests and aptitudes.
All students take a common course, in line with the National Curriculum. The subjects studied are: English and English Literature, Mathematics, Science, French, German/Spanish, History, Geography, PE, ICT, Design and Technology, Art, Music, Drama and Religious Education.
Students are setted, banded, or taught in mixed-ability groups according to which works best in each subject.
Years 10 and 11
All students study English, English Literature, Mathematics, Science, an Arts related course, PE, Personal, Social and Health Education and Information and Communication Technology.
Students then choose from a wide variety of courses: French, German, Spanish, Product Design, Graphic Products, Systems and Control, Food Technology, Fashion and Interior Design, Geography, History, ICT, Religious Studies, Art and Design, Drama, Music, PE, Business Studies, Child Development, Media Studies, Sociology. They may also take extra Science to allow them to take three separate sciences rather than Double Science.
Students may choose to take a short course, finishing after Year 10, in many of the above subjects. This allows them, in Year 11, to do extra English, Maths or Science, or to take a new subject (e.g. Business Administration, Photography). A few students take a GCSE at the end of Year 10 and start their AS courses early.