All of our students are able to benefit from a well delivered curriculum that fulfils the requirements of the National Curriculum as well as providing additional options. In particular our curriculum provides:
BREADTH
Each student studies a range of subjects, covering the breadth of learning experiences.
BALANCE
No particular subject area predominates at the expense of others.
RELEVANCE
The Curriculum meets the current perceived future needs of our students; this includes the use of appropriate technology and vocational awareness and experience.
PERSONALISATION
Each individual child should be able to have access to the Curriculum at their own particular level.
PROGRESSION
Students are able to build on their previous experiences to move on to more complex situations.
AN INTEGRAL ROLE FOR TECHNOLOGY
As a technology college we are committed to ensuring that technology, particularly information and communications technology, is accessed across the curriculum.
A CENTRAL PLACE FOR THE STUDENTS
Students are increasingly directly involved in their own learning including, where appropriate, choosing their own learning paths.
ENRICHMENT
Our curriculum is supplemented by a wide range of clubs, activities, trips and visits from a wide range of areas including music, drama and sport.
KEY STAGE 3 CURRICULUM
All students in Year 7 will study the same subjects, mostly in ability sets.
Whatever the nature of the grouping which is in operation, students will be taught at the most appropriate level according to their ability. We are, for example, committed to providing challenging activities for our most able students. Special Needs support is provided where necessary.
Students are taught the following subjects in Year 7:
In addition, most students are introduced to German and Spanish in Year 8.
In Year 9 all students are given an element of choice in their curriculum. This means that pupils spend longer on subjects that they enjoy and are doing best in as well as being better prepared for starting GCSE in that area of study should an individual choose to continue in Year 10 and 11.
Some of the subjects offered are new to pupils and offer even greater breadth to the curriculum. These are Business Studies, Travel and Tourism as well as Citizenship.
By Easter of Year 9 all pupils will have started GCSE courses in Maths, English and Science.
The most able Maths students (our Maths P group) will begin GCSE work at the start of Year 9 and will sit modular exams in Year 9 worth 60%of their final grade, completing the course in Year 10.
Also, the most able Science students (our Science P group) will begin their GCSE studies a the start of Year 9 and will take exams over Years 9, 10 and 11 that will lead to three GCSEs in science with separate grades for Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
Students who have opted to study German or Spanish will take an Asset Breakthrough assessment in that language towards the end of Year 9.
The most able French students who intend following the subject to GCSE will take an Asset Preliminary French assessment towards the end of Year 9.
KEY STAGE 4 CURRICULUM
We encourage students to enter examinations when they are ready and not just at
the ages of sixteen and eighteen. Our curriculum allows students to be entered
for different qualifications when they are ready and provides appropriate qualification routes for each to follow.
In March of Year 9, students choose their options for Key Stage 4, in most cases leading to GCSE. They are given guidance about courses through a booklet, careers advice and an interview with senior staff. There is a Parents’ Evening for consultation with staff. Every effort is made to ensure that pupils have a balanced curriculum suited to their individual needs.
All students take: English
English Literature for the majority and Media Studies for some
Mathematics
Science (including for some Triple Science)
Religious Studies and Human Development
Physical Education
PLUS choices from : Humanities – History, Geography, Religious Studies
Modern Languages – French, German, Spanish
Creative and Physical Studies – Art, Drama, Food Studies, Music, Physical Education, Design Technology
Applied Studies – Business Studies, Child Development, CACHE, ICT, BTEC Construction
For some students for whom it is appropriate we personalise the curriculum still further to include working with high quality vocational placement providers to broaden their educational experiences beyond the academic. This is complemented by the study of ASDAN courses in Employability Skills as well as the Certificate of Personal Effectiveness course at Levels 1 and 2.
SIXTH FORM CURRICULUM
We offer a wide range of AS and A2 Levels and Advanced Vocational courses to challenge the large numbers of students wishing to continue in full time education after their GCSEs with us.
Local schools and colleges are increasingly collaborating with each other. We have formed very close links with George Stephenson High School and Seaton Burn Community College to deliver courses jointly.
The great majority of our Sixth Formers lessons are delivered at Longbenton but we also transport students between the schools for jointly delivered courses and have done this very successfully for a number of years now.
Below is a list of the courses that we currently offer to Advanced and Advanced Subsidiary standard:
