Year 11 Curriculum 2016/17

The table and diagram above explains what proportion of the curriculum time in Year 11 is allocated to each of the curriculum areas and the teaching hours for a 50-period fortnight (the school operates a 2-week 50 hour timetable).

Year 9 is organised into two equal, parallel halves. This means that the year is split by ability and gender into two equal groups. These two halves are then treated as equal groups. The year half is then the same for all classes in every subject.

The ability of the cohort determines the ability of the groups, so it is not the case that a comparison can be made between groups in different years.

We regularly assess students and will only move student’s groups if it is appropriate to do so. It is however, not appropriate to do this multiple times through the year, so we keep to a schedule of assessment, moderation, discussion and information-sharing and then group changes.

Whilst we endeavour to do everything possible to avoid mistakes, we are human and mistakes can happen. If you think that this is the case for your child, then please contact their Progress Tutor or ultimately their Progress Manager so that we can engage in dialogue to rectify any issues or resolve any queries or misunderstandings. Please remember that grouping is not about parental preference, but about our proven methods of correct placement.

Where students are not making sufficient progress towards the expected standards, we will alter their curriculum provision to support them to make expected progress. This can be on targeted withdrawal from some lessons or classes or extra support in classes. We assess the need for this from internally administered reading age tests and other assessments.

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Students are grouped (broadly in ability order) in English classes using information from the previous year. In Year 10 there are five classes in each year half for English and they are numbered 1-5. Group 1 is at the top of the ability spectrum. Groups 4 and 5 are of equal ability and are split to allow smaller class sizes and therefore more dedicated support.

As an example, on a student’s timetable this will appear as 10y/En3. This is Year 10, y half, English, group 3.

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Students are grouped (broadly in ability order) in Mathematics classes using information from the previous year. In Year 10 there are five classes in each year half for Mathematics and they are numbered 1-5. Group 1 is at the top of the ability spectrum. Groups 4 and 5 are of equal ability and are split to allow smaller class sizes and therefore more dedicated support.

As an example, on a student’s timetable this will appear as 10z/Ma2. This is Year 10, z half, Maths, group 2.

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Students are grouped (broadly in ability order) in Science classes using information from the previous year. In Year 10 there are nine classes and they are numbered 1-9. Students studying Triple Science (Options) are placed in classes 1 and 2. Group 3 is at the top of the ability spectrum for Combined Science.

As an example, on a student’s timetable this will appear as 10yz/Sc4. This is Year 10, Science, group 4.

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In year 10 students continue to study their language pathway in mixed ability, language specific classes. Students who have chosen to study a second language (Options) will be in two separate language specific classes.

As an example, on a student’s timetable this will appear as 10A/Fr3. This is Year 10, Block A, Languages, French group 3. (Es for Spanish and De for German)

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Classes in Religious Education are organised by their English class, so if your son/daughter is in group Z4 for English, then they will also be in Z4 for Religious Education.

As an example, on a student’s timetable this will appear as 10y/Re1. This is Year 10, y half, Geography, group 1.

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Students are placed in ability selective, single-gender groups and do a variety of sports throughout the year. There are 4 groups in each year half.

On the student’s timetable this will appear as 10y/Pe2, for example. This is Year 10, y half, Physical Education, group 2.

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Students follow a programme of guest speaker talks, assemblies and lessons that cover all aspects of Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education, British values, Food & Nutrition and careers guidance. There are 10 groups in the year and they are organized by progress (form) groups.

On the student’s timetable this will appear as 10yz/T4, for example. This is Year 10, PSHCE, progress group 4.