our Curriculum structure
Please note: we are currently undertaking a full analysis of our curriculum, that will include seeking the views of all key stakeholders, to determine whether or not we should move to a three-year KS3 curriculum. If you would like to express any views on this matter, please email our Vice Principal, Mr Stocking at nstocking@highcrestacademy.org.uk
Settings
If students can access courses which are suitable for them, then their motivation, enjoyment and achievement are certain to improve.
At Highcrest, we are fully aware of the impact of our ‘all ability’ intake and have a setting arrangement to challenge the most able whilst maintaining our outstanding support to narrow the gap for those who may find school challenging.
Our setting is not based on banding results but is calculated on pupils’ KS2 results as well as our own internal English, Maths and Science tests that take place during the first two weeks of Year 7. After initial setting, there is continuous monitoring of student progress that ensures students are always in the appropriate set in each subject, ensuring the correct level of challenge.
We analyse a wide variety of information that enables us to identify any potential barriers to learning within each key stage and through every transition, including those encountered during the primary transition process. We then build a deep and rich curriculum, including personalised pathways, that enable our students to overcome such barriers. If our students are able to access courses, then it will help them to work with enjoyment, resilience, persevere and give them the belief that they can achieve their future ambition.
Our timetable runs over a fortnightly cycle of five 1-hour periods per day. The allocation of lessons for each subject in each year can be seen below:
If you have any further questions with regards to the subject choices in Key Stage 4 or 5, please refer to the Option materials in the relevant sections of the website, or indeed, contact our Vice Principal, Mr Stocking at nstocking@highcrestacademy.org.uk.
Foundation Curriculum Lesson Allocation 2023/2024
Years 7 and 8 (2 Week Timetable)
Within the core subjects at KS3 we provide English, Maths and three Sciences taught, separately, including, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
Within languages, we offer both French and Spanish in Year 7 and 8. Also, some students will be introduced to additional languages as part of a wider personalised curriculum, while a small number of identified students will be removed from languages to study our Key Steps and ASDAN programmes, Year 8 here and Year 9/10 here. For more information on these alternative provisions please click here.
Other subjects include: Art, Music, Computing, Drama, PE, Food technology, PSHE, RE, Geography, History and Design technology
|
English |
IT Literacy |
Maths |
Science |
Humanities |
MFL |
Arts |
PE |
DT |
Life Lessons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6 |
1 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
GCSE Curriculum Lesson Allocation 2023/2024
Years 9, 10 and 11 (2 Week Timetable)
|
English |
Maths |
Science |
PE |
Option 1 |
Option 2 |
Option 3 |
Option 4 |
Life Lessons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8 |
8 |
9 |
3 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
The GCSEs/equivalent Level 2 qualifications available, include the the core subjects: English Language and English Literature, Maths, Core Maths amd Additional Maths, Additional and Further Science, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
Other subjects include: Art, Business, Business and Economics, Computer Science, Construction, Creative Technology, Child Development, French, Drama, Engineering, Food and Cookery, Food Technology, Geography, Graphics, Health and Fitness, History, ICT, E Sports, Music, PE, Photography, Psychology, RE, Resistant Materials, Spanish, Sociology and Textiles. These are reviewed and updated every year.
Our Sixth Form Curriculum
Our Sixth Form curriculum caters for a wide range of learners and includes courses at A Level, BTEC Level 3, BTEC Level 2 and GCSE.
The specific subjects on offer are decided following a survey of the current Year 11 cohort. This is completed to ensure our curriculum is tailored to both their needs and their requirements. Examples of subjects on offer include: A Level Maths, English, History, Biology,Chemistry, Psychology and at BTEC L3 Health & Social Care, Business, PE, Spanish, Law, Politics and Geography. We are constantly tailoring and expanding our Sixth Form curriculum to meet the needs of our students.Students who have failed to achieve a grade 4 at English or Maths at GCSE level will have the opportunity to re-take their exam during Year 12.
Our retention rates in the Sixth Form continue to grow year on year with the 2023-2024 cohort being the largest cohort we have ever had at Highcrest, with 110 enrolling in September. We believe that I continued growth, although because of many factors, it’s primarily a result of a broad curriculum at this key stage.
Our aim is to support all of our students as they progress to apprenticeships, colleges or to university.