Curriculum

Introduction

Kingsdown School operates a two-week timetable with 58 hours of taught lessons throughout week 1 and week 2. The school closes to students at lunchtime (12:50am) on a Friday of week 2. The timetable includes 80 minutes a week of enrichment which students select each term.

Our five-year curriculum is designed to be ambitious and give all learners the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life. Each department has planned and sequenced the curriculum to allow the development of knowledge and skills for future learning and employment. Most lessons begin with knowledge retrieval practice in the ‘Do Now Activity (DNA)’, so knowledge stays in long term memory. Homework is largely quiz based for the same reason. Because higher skills of analysis, evaluation and synthesis rely heavily on subject knowledge, completion of homework is essential. We consequently run next day detentions if homework is missed.

All our Key Stage 3 assessments now include knowledge-based tests so that students develop long term memory and master more of their subject content. In addition, summative tests assess how that knowledge is applied. These occur three times a year.

Both DNAs and homework quizzes are planned so that students are retested at optimum times, using spaced learning (and the Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve). Departments also plan their delivery of units to take advantage of spaced learning.

The curriculum is designed to be ambitious and to meet the needs of all of our students.

Year 7 and 8 Curriculum

Throughout year 7 and 8 students will study the core subjects of maths, English and science alongside Humanities (geography, history, and religious education), computing, PE and dance, music, drama and art. In year 7 students study French or Spanish and will continue with this language to options from year 9.

Skills in computing are acquired through a combination of specialist teaching and an increasing range of experiences across other subjects.

From September 2020 all subjects will follow a 3 year Key Stage 3.

Year 9, 10 and 11 Curriculum

The vast majority of students take 4 options to ensure a broad and balanced curriculum and to increase students’ opportunities for A level and other choices at 16. A small cohort (a single class) each year is identified as needing extra support in English and maths. These students accommodate this by taking three optional subjects instead of four.

All students follow GCSE courses in maths, English Language and English Literature, and Maths, English and science GCSE courses do not start until year 10. From September 2020 this will be true of all subjects.

A suite of optional subjects is then made available and includes those offered in years 7 and 8. Students are expected to continue to study at least one Humanities subject, (History and/or Geography) and/or a Modern Foreign Language to satisfy the EBacc requirements. Additional subjects as options are then available for students to choose which include, RE, Classical Civilisation, Business Studies, Drama, Music, PE and Health and Social Care. The options process is open to allow maximum choice and flexibility for students.

Support and Intervention

Students who on entry to the school require support with literacy and numeracy receive additional tuition in tutor times and through a withdrawal programme co-ordinated by our Inclusion department. Over 70% improve enough each year to need no further maths and English support.

Ongoing intervention is provided for students by teachers and additional support where identified is set in place.

If you need more information about the curriculum our school follows, you may contact us on 01793 822284.

Curriculum Intent

Please see below for the details of the curriculum for our different subjects;