Curriculum at Key Stage Three

Each student is placed within one of seven setted teaching groups: Alpha/1, Alpha/2, Alpha/3, A/1, A/2, B/1 or B/2.

The school provides a sound and comprehensive education for boys and girls. The subjects taught include English, Mathematics, Science, Technology, Information Technology, French, Geography, History, Religious Education, Art, Drama, Music and Physical Education. Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) and Citizenship are delivered within the Religious Studies curriculum and through additional enrichment activities.

During the first three years all students follow a broad, balanced course of study.

By the end of Key Stage 3 students will be expected to achieve the following National Curriculum levels according to teaching group :

• Alpha …………… Level 6-8
• A ………………… Level 5-7
• B ………………… Level 4-5

At the end of Year 9, following advice from the staff and discussions with parents, students have an element of choice when deciding which G.C.S.E. and B.T.E.C. subjects to study.

Curriculum at Key Stage Four

The academy prepares students for General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) and Edexcel/Business Technician Education Council (BTEC) Awards.

In Years 10 and 11 all students will study the following subjects:

• English and English Literature
• Mathematics
• 
Science
• 
Information Technology
• Religious Studies (with PSHE and Citizenship)
• Physical Education

Currently students are also able to study any three of the following subjects:

• GCSE Art
• GCSE Drama
• GCSE Food
• GCSE French
• GCSE Geography
• GCSE History
• GCSE Resistant Materials
• GCSE Textiles
• BTEC Art and Design
• BTEC Leisure and Tourism
• BTEC Music (Music Technology Focus)
• BTEC Performing Arts
• BTEC Sport

All students are entered for and expected to pass. Students in the A Band teaching group are expected to gain A-C grades, with alpha students gaining A*-C. Students in the B Band will be expected to achieve 5+ G.C.S.E. and B.T.E.C. passes including English, English Literature, Mathematics and Science.

Religious Studies

In Years 7, 8 and 9 students follow a course based around the Essex agreed syllabus.  In Years 10 and 11 all students follow and are entered for a GCSE course.  On each day of the week students will be involved in a Year Group Assembly or a daily act of Collective Worship in their Form.  These are often led by Year 10 students.  Parents who wish to exercise their right to withdraw their child from Religious Studies or Collective Worship should put their request in writing to the Principal.

Personal, Social and Health Education is taught in Years 7-11 through Religious Studies and is also developed throughout the Insight entitlement. The course aims to help students understand themselves better. It will also look at their behaviour, the systems within the school and encourage them to learn more effectively.

Major themes include:

• Work-Related Learning
• Economic and Social Understanding
• Self-Awareness/Careers
• Health Education
• Education for Citizenship
• Public Services Education
• Environmental Education
• Enterprise Education
• Careers Education
• Information (and Communication) Technology

Homework

Every student is expected to undertake homework. A homework timetable is issued to each student at the beginning of the Autumn Term. Homework requirements increase from three subjects per night in Year 7 taking approximately one and a half hours to complete, to two or three subjects per night in Year 11, taking approximately two hours. Students are issued with a Learning Log to record homework. Parents are asked to check it regularly and sign each week. Any problems regarding homework can be noted in the Learning Journal for the Tutor, who will also sign it every week.