Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 & 9)

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In line with our Academy wide curriculum vision, principles and aims, our KS3 curriculum has a heightened focus on the following:

  • to identify and overcome learning deficiencies apparent on entry, ensuring all students are fully prepared for a successful secondary education 
  • to provide a breadth of educational experience across KS3 ensuring all students experience a broad and balanced curriculum offer
  • to provide depth of study enabling students to gain a deeper level of understanding of all areas of the curriculum ensuring they are equipped with the substantive and disciplinary knowledge required to be successful at KS4 and beyond
  • as of the curriculum leaving them prepared with the knowledge and skills required to be successful at KS4 and beyond

Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 & 9)

Across KS3, students follow a common core curriculum, studying the following discrete subjects:

Mathematics, Science, English, History, Geography, Religion and Worldviews, French, Spanish, PE and Dance, Drama, Music, Art, Design Technology, Food and Nutrition, ICT and Computing and PSHE.

In addition to discrete ICT and Computing lessons, students will develop their digital literacy through each of their curriculum subjects, with each subject focusing on developing proficiencies specific to their area. The more specialist elements of computing e.g. programming, computational thinking and coding will be delivered through ICT and Computing lessons in Year 7&8 and focus days in Year 9.

In addition to the core curriculum offer, students also have a 75-minute Library lesson once per fortnight to develop their reading and literacy skills; skills which are fundamental to success in all areas of the curriculum. At KS3 we utilise Bedrock Learning for reading testing and L’explore Analytics for more specific, enhanced testing. L’explore is a ground-breaking method of measuring reading attainment, utilising artificial intelligence and eye-tracking technology to offer an entirely new insight into measuring the reading proficiency of our learners. By measuring when, where, and how a student’s eyes move in relation to the words they are reading, the assessment quickly analyses their skills across key reading components, determines their attainment, and highlights potential barriers in minutes. With immediate and fully objective results, we can then work with dedicated, curriculum-aligned resources to support both emerging and fluent readers in their development.

Every student also has the opportunity to take part in at least one activity from our extensive range of Extended Day activities from 3.15 pm – 4:15 pm daily.

For more details on our KS3 curriculum offer please contact Mrs O’Gormley (Vice Principal)