At Key Stage 3 all students study English, Mathematics, Science, Religious Education, Geography, Design Technology, History, French or Spanish, Art, Computing, Music, Physical Education and Values Education, including: Personal, Social, Health, Citizenship and Careers Education (PSHCE). For further details of the Values in Practice curriculum please see this overview.

Key Stage 3 covers the first three years at the School because we value a broad and balanced curriculum and believe that our students should be studying a wide range of subjects for as long as possible before making choices for Key Stage 4. A three-year KS3 allows us the space and time to develop the skills and explore the values of the ALIVE model. It also maintains as broad a curriculum as possible until students are old enough to make mature decisions about options choices for KS4 that will shape their future. 

The structure of the curriculum and the time allocated to each subject can be viewed here.

We take careful note of Key Stage 2 results and other information from primary schools as well as performing our own baseline assessments. Most of our learning takes place in mixed ability groupings, although there is setting in Maths in Years 7 to 9 and banding in MFL in Years 8 and 9. The rationale for this is explained in the "Sequencing, Setting and Support" sections of the respective subjects. We regularly review the composition of our mixed ability groups and at least once a year, we rebalance them to ensure an equal spread of ability and to ensure additional support is appropriately allocated. Our approach to setting is under constant review and is informed by research. We are currently engaged with a project supported by the Educational Endowment Fund to assess the efficacy of our approach to setting at Key Stage Three and will continue to evolve our practice in the light of this research. Parents/carers are advised  of the right to withdraw their children from Religious Education in the Curriculum Policy and from Relationships and Sex Education lessons in the RSHE policy.

Subjects at Key Stage 3 

Further information on our Key Stage 3 subjects can be viewed below.