Our Curriculum

Our Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 Curriculum

Our five-year curriculum is designed to meet the academic, personal and wider needs of all students, providing learning opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom. It is built around the needs, aspirations and abilities of our students, reflecting our local context and allowing our students to develop and enrich their personal and social capital.

The curriculum is ‘clutter free’, allowing for a depth that focuses on key concepts and knowledge. This equips students with a wealth of knowledge to go beyond exam success and to relate to the bigger picture, ensuring students see how their learning relates to a bigger story and the relevance of it. Our curriculum content is delivered in a logical progression, systematically and explicitly enough for all students to acquire the knowledge and skills required in each subject area.

Each subject has a clear year by year curriculum amp which ensures that student’s learning builds on what has been taught before and for what comes next. Subject curriculum maps also provide coherence to allow our students to make explicit connections across the curriculum.

Key Stage Three (Years 7-9)

The Key Stage Three curriculum covers the content of the National Curriculum. This ensures students study a broad and balanced curriculum that builds on, but not repeats, students’ learning in Key Stage Two.

 The curriculum is knowledge rich and supports students to remember the core knowledge required to progress to the next stage of their learning.  

Key Stage Four (Years 10-11)

Key Stage 4 provides the opportunity for all students to study a strong academic core of subjects and qualifications appropriate to their aspirations.

Students in Year 10 have the opportunity to personalise their own curriculum pathway and specialise in subject areas most appropriate to their needs, interests or future career paths.  The additional time dedicated to these specialism subjects enables students to master the subject, fostering deeper conceptual understanding. This will build powerful knowledge which ensures students are sufficiently challenged and grasp the key concepts needed for success in Year 11 and beyond.

 All students study Religious Education which develop religiously literate, engaged and spiritual young people with the knowledge, understanding and skills to positively contribute to the world in which they live.

The majority of students at Key Stage 4 will study the full English Baccalaureate range of subjects, which includes English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Science, Humanities (Geography or History) and a Modern Foreign Language (French or Spanish). This core curriculum will provide a solid basis for further and higher education.

 

Key Stage 4 Qualification Offer

Subject	Qualification
Art (Fine Art)	GCSE
Biology	GCSE
Chemistry	GCSE
Computer Science	GCSE
Combined Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)	GCSE – Double Award
Diocesan Certificate Religious Education	Diocesan Certificate Religious Education
Design Technology	GCSE
English Language	GCSE
English Literature	GCSE
Food and Nutrition	GCSE
French	GCSE
Geography	GCSE
History	GCSE
ICT	Cambridge National
Health and Social Care	Cambridge National
Mathematics	GCSE
Music	GCSE
Physics	GCSE
Physical Education	GCSE
Psychology	GCSE
Religious Education	GCSE
Sociology	GCSE
Spanish	GCSE
Sports Studies	Cambridge National

 

 Personal Development Curriculum – “Skills for Life.”

The curriculum at St. Cuthbert’s extends beyond the academic.  It is intended to provide opportunities and experiences for students which enables them to develop and discover a variety of interests and talents.  St. Cuthbert’s Skills for Life curriculum will build independence, resilience and confidence in students.  It will also equip them to be responsible, active citizens with a fully developed sense of fundamental British values.

Each year group has a personal development curriculum which enhances students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Included in this curriculum there is a focus on wellbeing which runs strategically throughout the year and is explored in assemblies, acts of collective worship, form tutor time and enrichment opportunities. 

 

For any further information on our curriculum, please contact Mrs C Hunt who will be happy to help.

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