Key Stage 4 Curriculum

A broad and balanced curriculum is offered to all of our students: underpinned by the academic core of subjects (English, Maths, Science, Humanities and Languages), learning is enhanced by the study of the Arts, computing, technology and physical education, offering our students a course of study in which academic rigour fully prepares them for further education and university.

In Key Stage 4 (years 10 & 11), all pupils follow an academic core GCSE pathway and then have an enrichment of a choice of subjects from the Arts and Media field. 98% of our pupils go onto further education studying A-level at college.

Core and Compulsory Subjects

The following subjects are studied by all students in years 10 & 11:

GCSE Subjects

  • English Language and English Literature 
  • Mathematics
  • Science (Science teachers will advise students on the options; Trilogy or Combined Science)
  • Physical Education (This is non-examined CORE PE. Students can also choose GCSE P.E. or BTEC PE)

KS4 Curriculum by Year Group 2022-2023

Curriculum Year 10 Year 11
Curriculum Map Y10 Curriculum 2022-23 Y11 Curriculum 2022-23

Curriculum Rationale
Summer 1

 Year 10 Summer 1  
Curriculum Rationale
Spring 2		 Year 10 Spring 2 Year 11 Spring 2
Curriculum Rationale
Spring 1		 Year 10 Spring 1 Year 11 Spring 1
Curriculum Rationale
Autumn 2		 Year 10 Autumn 2 Year 11 Autumn 2
Curriculum Rationale
Autumn 1		 Year 10 Autumn 1 Year 11 Autumn 1

Subject Support Information for Parents and Carers

KS4 2022/23

Dear Parent or Carer,

Please find some information from our teachers about how you can support your child to achieve the best possible outcomes in GCSE. Asking your child what they have been working on can really help them to identify their own gaps; each subject teacher has given some advice for how you can support your child or some useful websites that you could look at together.

We welcome your support, which is key to the overall success of your child. Please make the most of opportunities to buy revision guides at a reduced price which can be done through Parent Pay.

Thank you in anticipation of your support, and should you require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact either the teacher or myself.

Julia Stubbs
Deputy Headteacher – Outcomes and Teaching Standards

English Literature – Edexcel

The specific texts students will study for their GCSEs are below.

  • Macbeth by William Shakespeare
  • Boys Don’t Cry by Malorie Blackman
  • Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by RL Stevenson
  • The relationships cluster in the Edexcel poetry

How to revise for English Literature exams:

  • Build in lots of self-quizzing as part of the revision for the literature exams. Test themselves regularly on key quotes- use flashcards and the Leitner Method (there are lots of videos on youtube about how to do this) to make revision more effective.
  • Make a note of the questions, quotes or information that they struggle to recall and prioritise learning this.
  • Do regular, timed, practice questions.

Resources to support retrieval practice:

  1. Quizlet Ms Ackerley has set these up for each of the Literature texts.
  2. ‘English Lit Notes’ quote learning videos on YouTube.
  3. Revision materials given out in class.
  4. Resources on Google Classroom.

Useful revision websites:
The following sites will have detailed notes on the set texts for GCSE English Literature.

English Language – AQA

How to revise for English Language exams:

  1. Read widely! Your child should be reading for 30-45 minutes per day.
  2. Once a week, choose a story from a newspaper or online newspaper and read it. Then they should summarise what it was about to a friend or relative. This is excellent exposure to the type of text they will get in the real exam, and allows them to practise the important skill of summarising information.
  3. Make a note of the questions that they struggle with and practise those ones first.
  4. Do regular, timed, practice questions.

Useful revision websites:

Maths – Edexcel

How can parents help students in Maths?

Ensure that your child brings all of the necessary equipment such as a Scientific calculator and a pair of compasses as well as a ruler, pencil, eraser, pens and highlighters. Scientific calculators can be purchased at a reduced price of £6.50 through Parent Pay.

Students improve their Maths skills by practising maths, hence please encourage them:

  1. To use vle.mathswatch.com and/or drfrostmaths.com all students have logins and homework is set on drfrostmaths regularly. Students are able to watch any topic videos and complete the interactive questions section to ensure they have understood the topic. The password for all students is circle
  2. To use revision guides and workbooks.
  3. Use onlines resources such as justmaths.co.uk (username: AMSISTUDENT, password: AMSI) and onmaths.com to attempt exam style questions.
  4. Ask their teacher for help if needed on a topic. Always attempt areas you feel are the weakest.
Science – AQAScience – Triple science for sets 1-5, Combined science for set 6

How can parents help students in Science?

  1. Encourage pupils to bring their revision guides and textbooks to every lesson so they can highlight key information as they are learning. These are available at a reduced price via Parent Pay.
  2. Ensure that pupils work on past exam questions which have been set on Google classroom.
  3. Encourage pupils to engage with the learning taking place in school and be proactive in seeking help where required.

Use the following websites:

Other free sites which have useful resources are:

Art – AQA

How can parents help students in Art?

  1. Ensure that work is being completed, please check in their planners, also the work will be placed on Google classroom so they can access it.
  2. Ask what they are doing in lesson
  3. Ensure they complete their work/homework in line with the AQA assessment criteria.
  4. Visit at least one museum with them to help them understand the work of artists. The Tate Modern is a very good museum.
  5. Set aside quality time, at least several hours to really spend on their work.

Art Websites:

Computer Science – OCR

Revision Websites

How can parents help students in Computer Science?

  1. By asking what they are doing in lesson
  2. Complete their notes using the CraignDave videos.
  3. Ensure they are completing their homework.
  4. To revise using Quizlet for the key terminology.
  5. Ask them questions on the key terminology.
  6. Make sure your child is completing the homework according to the homework guidelines set. This will help when they start revising.
  7. Plan when they are going to revise and ensure they follow these times.
  8. Encourage them to watch the tutorial videos and make detailed notes.
  9. Remind them to ask for help.
  10. Students are encouraged to use the key websites to familiarise themselves with topics they may be unsure about.
Dance – AQA

How to revise for your Dance practical Exams:

  • Create a rehearsal schedule for you and your Dancers by booking rehearsal space.
  • Practise the movement material for the Set Phrases and the Trio Performance Piece.
  • Revise the success criteria for Physical, Technical, Expressive and Mental skills.
  • In your own time and during some lesson time improve on the above skills.
  • Research your chosen stimulus to generate movement ideas.
  • Research and find a piece of music that will suit your theme and offer variation to enhance dynamic quality.
  • Use mental rehearsals for all movement material as well as physical rehearsal.
  • Video your performances of the set phrases, tio and choreography to analyse what skills you need to improve on and identify how you can improve on that particular skill.

How to revise for your Dance Written Exam:

  • Build in lots of self-quizzing as part of the revision for the written exam. Test themselves regularly on key information- use flashcards and the Artspool C2 website to make revision more effective.
  • Make a note of the questions or information that they struggle to recall and prioritise learning this.
  • Do regular, timed, practice questions and exam papers.

Resources to support retrieval practice:

  • Quizlet
  • Artspool C2 Revision
  • Revision guides given out in class.
  • Resources on Google Classroom.

Useful revision website: ArtsPool – C2 Revision

Drama

How can parents help students in Drama?

  • Ask them about their Devising Log Essay as they are completing this for homework.
  • Test them on theatre roles and stage types.
  • Ask them to tell you the story/talk about the characters in Blood Brothers
  • Use Youtube to watch videos about improving their performance and their use of design in performance.
Design & Technology – AQA

How can parents help students in Design and Technology?

  1. By asking how they are doing in lessons.
  2. By reminding them to come to lunch GCSE coursework sessions (Tues to Thurs).
  3. By making sure that they do their homework (This is often in Google Classroom).
  4. By encouraging them and promoting a strong work ethic.
French – Edexcel

How can parents help students in French?

Students acquire language when they understand what they hear and read. Encourage them:

  1. By asking what they are doing in lesson
  2. By reminding them come to lunch booster sessions: Tuesday (Higher)
  3. By making sure that they complete their homework (Every week)
  4. By encouraging them to watch shows in French on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Youtube… (20 minutes x 2 or 3 times a week)
  5. By reminding them of useful websites such as BBC bitesize and Languages Online , to practise on ActiveLearn and SentenceBuilders
Geography GCSE AQA 8035

How can parents help students in geography?

  • By asking them questions about what they are doing in class and getting them to teach you the key terminology.
  • Check regularly to ensure they are completing their homework weekly according to the homework guidelines.
  • Create a timetable schedule with a plan they will follow to review, revise and redo past exam practice questions under timed conditions.
  • To revise using AQA GCSE 9-1 Revision guide and CPG Exam Practice Workbook .
  • Encourage them to watch the tutorial videos and make detailed notes.
  • Students are encouraged to use the AQA exam board and other websites to familiarise themselves with topics they may be unsure about.
  • Remind them to make the most of lessons! If they are working hard in their geography lessons and any scholar study sessions they have they should reach their potential.
  • There will always be at least one quiz every week and a revision retrieval practice.
  • Revision resources will be available on google classroom to support assigned work.
  • Encourage them to read the news and see if they can see any geographical issues.
  • Encourage them to email me or look around online if they get stuck on a piece of work.
  • Remind them to ask for help.

Useful Revision Websites:

Please contact me with any questions or concerns: Paulette Charlery

History – AQA

How can parents help students in History?

Google Classroom is used extensively to support students and it is vital that all students are encouraged to engage with it as often as possible. The key areas of support are as follows:

  • Use the revision guides linked on Google Classroom
  • Complete the exam skills booklets and practice questions linked on Google Classroom
  • Use online resources such as BBC Bitesize to support revision
  • Complete exam questions under timed conditions at home
  • Show completed exam style questions to the teacher in order to gain feedback on areas for improvement
Media – EDUCAS

How can parents help students studying Media?

  • Students have access to the Close Study Products and additional support materials on Google Classroom. There are 18 Close Study Products in total. Please encourage your son/daughter to study the Close Study Product that is set by me each week. Links to the media products are outlined in the booklet.
  • The EDUCAS GCSE Media Studies Student Book is available for purchase via the following website: Illuminate Publishing which provides detailed chapters on the 4 key concepts and Close Study Products.
  • Please encourage your son/daughter to use revision websites such as BBC Bitesize (GCSE Media Studies), Quizlet (AQA GCSE Media Studies) and Mediaknowall (GCSE Media Studies) where they can revise key media terminology and concepts for the exam.
  • Please ask your son/daughter what they are doing in Media lessons and encourage them to ask their teacher for help if needed with a topic. Please encourage them to build up their context on world events and cultural capital by regularly following the news on for example Channel 4 . They should also regularly refer to the revision materials posted on Google classroom.
Music – Edexcel

How parents can help students in Music?

  1. Check that your child knows when his/her instrumental lesson is. The rotas for these lessons are on the school website.
  2. Encourage your son/daughter to practise his/her instrument regularly (at least 30 minutes 5 times a week). The practice rooms are always open before school. This is an excellent time to practise!
  3. Encourage your son/daughter to listen to one set work each week. You could listen with them and ask them to talk to you about the piece. This is a great way for your son/daughter to develop confidence in their knowledge of the works.
  4. Encourage your son/daughter to listen to other works that are by the same composer or are similar in some way to the set work.
PE – GCSE (OCR) BTEC (Edexcel/Pearson)

How can parents help students in PE?

Encourage them:

  1. By asking what they are doing in their lessons
  2. To come to lunch/after school sports clubs.
  3. Check that your child knows when his/her practical PE lessons are.
  4. Regularly encourage son/daughter to access google classroom and go over the slides and work they have been doing in lessons.
  5. FOR GCSE: Revise notes for upcoming tests which happen every few weeks.
  6. FOR GCSE: Use GCSE Physical Education – OCR – BBC Bitesize to help with revision. 
  7. FOR BTEC: Can provide us with your email so we can add you to their google classroom to see the work they are meant to be doing.
  8. Sign relevant student/parent contract.
  9. Email Peter Panayiotou for PE GCSE or Glenn Owusu-Aborah for PE BTEC
Spanish – Edexcel

You don’t read a book about swimming and suddenly know how to swim. You get in the water and practise swimming. But you’ll need some support. Just like in language.

How can parents help students in Spanish?

Students acquire language when they understand what they hear and read. Encourage them:

  1. By asking what they are doing in lesson
  2. To come to lunch booster sessions: Monday (Higher), Thursday (Foundation)
  3. To practice on ActiveLearn 
  4. To watch shows in Spanish on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Youtube… (10 minutes x 2 or 3 times a week)
  5. To revise using https://quizlet.com/castilloi (10 minutes a day, everyday) They can download the app on their phone
  6. To revise using Duolingo for Schools 
  7. To revise using SentenceBuilders
  8. To work consistently in their writing skills using G Classroom
  9. To purchase the Edexcel Revision Guide.
  10. To practise past papers that you can find using this link.

Please contact me with any questions or concerns: Natxo Castillo Acosta

Sociology- AQA

How can parents help students in Sociology?

Sociology requires students to understand the world in which they live, and have an appreciation of the social issues that we face. To support and develop their understanding., parents and guardians can do the following:

  • Discuss issues of the day with your children. 
  • Watch the news with your children. 
  • Use online resources such as BBC Bitesize to support revision
  • Purchase the GCSE Sociology textbook and revision book
  • Have your own copy of the GCSE specification.
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