Curriculum Overview

Year 9 Options

Please select a download below

Year 9 Options; for those starting Year 10 in September 2018 - View the Booklet HERE (This shows the Curriculum for years 10 & 11.)
To view a copy of the PowerPoint presentation that was shown at the last information evening regarding Options please click here

Curriculum Statement September 2017

Our curriculum is designed to reflect our Christian ethos, and hence Religious Studies sits alongside Maths, English and Science as a Core subject. We provide opportunities for students to achieve in a range of academic and vocational subjects. We believe that it is vital that students are offered a broad and balanced curriculum in which the creative and practical subjects are highly valued. Full details of the curriculum delivered in each subject area can be found in the Curriculum Section of the school website.

We run a two week timetable made up of 50 periods a fortnight, with 5 x 1 hour lessons plus assembly and Tutor time every day. The day starts at 8.45am with registration and assembly and students are dismissed at 3.10pm, although there is a range of additional activities which take place after this time.

Key Stage 3

At Key Stage 3 the majority of students follow the curriculum as shown in the model below.

Key Stage 3 Curriculum Model September 2017 – number of periods per fortnight

Subject	Yr7	Yr8	Yr9
English	8	7	8
Maths	8	7	7
Science	7	7	8
Religious Studies	2	2	2
Art	2	2	2
Computing	3	2	2
Drama	2	2	1
Geography	2	3	2
History	2	3	2
Learn to Learn	1	-	-
MFL*	3	4	6
Music	2	3	2
PE & Dance	4	4	3
REACH (PSE)	2	1	1
Technology	2	3	4

All students study the full range of subjects, with the exception of Modern Foreign Languages.

In Year 7 all students study French.
Year 8 the majority continue with French, with the exception of a small number of students who receive additional help with literacy and numeracy skills.
In Year 9, approximately 60% of students study a second language (Spanish). This gives them the opportunity to study either, or both of these subjects at Key Stage 4. The remainder of students have additional Literacy lessons.

In Year 7 History, Geography and Religious Studies are taught, where possible, by just one Humanities teacher. This helps to reduce the number of teachers a Year 7 student sees in a week, thus helping to support transition between Primary and Secondary school.

Grouping of Students:

On entry to Year 7 students are taught in mixed ability groups (average size 30) for the majority of their lessons. In Maths, English, Science and MFL students are set according to ability during the course of Key Stage 3. For Maths this happened very early in Year 7, the other subjects are set from Year 8.

Key Stage 4

Students all follow the same Core Curriculum plus three subjects of their own choice. At present, one of these choices is a constrained choice from the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) subjects (Computing, French, Geography, German, History, Spanish) for the other two, students have a free choice from a range of vocational and academic subjects. The majority of students take nine subjects, but approximately 30% of each year group gain an extra qualification by studying three separate sciences, rather than a combined double science option.

In addition all students continue to take Core PE and REACH (Personal and Social Education)

Key Stage 4 Curriculum Model September 2017 – number of periods per fortnight

	Core Curriculum						Constrained Choice	Free Choice	Free Choice
	English language and Literature	Maths	Science	Religious Studies	Core PE	REACH (PSE)	Option 1	Option 2	Option3
Yr10	8	7	10	6	3	1	5	5	5
Yr11	8	7	10	6	3	1	5	5	5

Students begin their GCSE courses during Year 9. This happens at the beginning of Year 9 in the Core subjects, other subjects will start after the May half-term break when students have made their choices.

During the course of Key Stage 4, a few students will have their curriculum reduced. This is exceptional and is usually for medical reasons.

The timetable allows the opportunity for all students to study the English Baccalaureate if they want to do so by choosing History or Geography, plus French, German or Spanish in addition to their Core subjects. It is not currently compulsory.

Current Key Stage 4 Option Choices

Subject	Year 10	Year 11
Art	GCSE	GCSE
Business Studies	GCSE or BTEC	GCSE or BTEC
Child Development	OCR National	GCSE
Computing	GCSE	GCSE
Dance		GCSE
Design Technology	GCSE
Drama	GCSE	GCSE
Electronic Products		GCSE
Food	GCSE	GCSE
French	GCSE	GCSE
Geography	GCSE	GCSE
German	GCSE	GCSE
Graphic products		GCSE
History	GCSE	GCSE
ICT	OCR National	GCSE
Music	GCSE and RSL Diploma	GCSE and RSL Diploma
Music Technology	RSL Diploma	RSL Diploma
Physical Education	GCSE	GCSE
Resistant Materials		GCSE
Spanish	GCSE	GCSE
Travel and Tourism	BTEC	BTEC
Work Skills	BTEC	BTEC

All GCSE qualifications in Year 10 are now graded 9-1. Some Year 11 students are studying a combination of old (A*-G) and new style courses, depending on which subjects they opted for.

Visit the Curriculum -Departments pages for more detailed information on each subject, year by year. Click HERE for the quick link.

Key Stage 5

The majority of students study three subjects over two years, from a wide range of Level 3 courses. Students for whom four subjects is appropriate, have that opportunity. Similarly some study only two subjects and have a work experience element in their curriculum.

All A level subjects running in Year 12 are now of the new two year style qualification.

Each subject has 9 periods per fortnight of taught curriculum time. Students spend the remainder of their time doing a mixture of independent study, school responsibilities, preparation for further study or employment and a few do work experience. In order to keep the breadth of curriculum, some classes have both Year 12 and 13 students in them and where groups are small, teaching is more personalised and there may be fewer formal lessons.

Years 12 & 13 - The detailed curriculum information can be found at: - http://holytrinitycrawley.greenschoolsonline.co.uk/6th-Form-Prospectus/

Courses currently running in the Sixth Form:

Courses are A level unless otherwise stated.

Art

Basketball Academy (Vocational)

Biology

Business Studies (A level and BTEC)

Chemistry

Computing

Dance

Design and Technology

Economics

Electronics

English Language and Literature

English Literature

French

Further Maths

Geography

German

History

Hospitality

Law

Maths

Media Studies

Music

Physics

Psychology

Religious Studies

Science (BTEC)

Sociology

Spanish

Sport (BTEC)

Textiles

Theatre Studies

Travel and Tourism (BTEC)

Extended Project (EPQ)

English and Maths GCSE retake are offered for those who have not yet achieved a grade 4 in either/both subject.

This year we are really excited to have formed a partnership with Crawley Town Community Foundation. 41 Students are studying Sport BTEC at Level 2 or 3, which they are combining with intensive Football or Basketball Coaching. Students get the opportunity to retake GCSE English or Maths at Holy Trinity. There are a few students for whom functional skills is a more appropriate course in one/both of these subjects.

Additional support

Students joining Year 7 who have not met expected standards in English and Maths receive addition support for maths and/or literacy. This support is given in a variety of ways including being taught in an additional, smaller group, being withdrawn from some lessons or having help in their normal lessons.

Students with a special educational need or disability are mainly supported within the classroom so that they can access the full curriculum. Students with a particular need identified on their EHCP/Statement, might have a slightly modified curriculum.

We have additional support in place for Pupil Premium students. Further details are to be found HERE.

In exceptional circumstances students might have their timetable modified in order to meet a particular need and ensure that they can reach their potential. Any modification is made on a temporary basis and is subject to regular review.

High Achieving Students

We have a number of strategies in place to extend our most able students. See our High Achievers’ Statement.

Accelerated Reader programme

Accelerated Reader is an online tool in which reading level is assessed through online material. It is a new scheme this year, targeted at Year 7 in the first instance. A student reads a book, takes an online quiz, and gets immediate feedback. Students respond to regular feedback and are motivated to make progress with their reading skills through differentiated selection of reading material.

Extra-Curricular Activities

We run a range of extra-curricular activities including Christian Union, Creative Writing, Choir, Orchestra, a variety of sports teams. Further details are to be found HERE.

Future Plans

Over the next few years there are plans to increase the provision for EBacc at Key Stage 4.
We aim to increase the vocational offer at both Key Stage 4 and 5.
Photography is being offered for September 2018.
The Basketball Academy will be extended to include more girls.
We plan to provide a Nurture Group for students who need additional support on entry.
German is being phased out. Current Year 10 is the last group through. Focus is on French and Spanish.