Curriculum, Enrichment & Assessment - Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)

KEY STAGE 4 CURRICULUM

In Years 10 and 11 a degree of choice is available within a broad and balanced curriculum framework. Our curriculum aims to provide students with choice, to support their achievement and to prepare them for Post 16 studies. These KS4 subject choices are made in Year 9 by students and their parents, in consultation with their Mentor and Subject Teachers.

Students in Year 10 and 11 will study a core of compulsory subjects:

*Most students will study Combined Science, selected students will be invited to study Triple Science (Biology, Chemistry & Physics).

Students are able to study up to 4 additional subjects from 17 different Facilitating and Open subject choices offered by the College. Students who choose Combined Science will be required to study at least one Facilitating subject from Geography, History, Computer Science, French or Spanish as one of their 4 additional choices. 

 ** Facilitating GCSEs are valuable and respected subject options to have and will stand students in good stead for later life. These are GCSEs that are recognised by the top universities as important subjects for study. They are also subjects that support learning in other subjects and ‘facilitate’ entry onto higher level courses.

Details of the KS4 courses and curriculum overviews are available in the Guide to Courses booklet. 

KEY STAGE 4 ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES

In addition to their GCSE studies students are encouraged to participate in the wide range of enrichment opportunities offered at KS4. 

TARGET LEVELS FOR KEY STAGE 4

At Key Stage 4, students are given an aspirational School Target Grade for each of their subjects, based on their prior attainment at Key Stage 2. School Target Grades are deliberately challenging and represent the minimum grade we expect students to work towards by the end of Year 11. They should not be seen as a ceiling on achievement, and students are encouraged and supported to achieve beyond their School Target Grade.

Throughout Key Stage 4, students complete a range of assessments which enable teachers to monitor their attainment and the progress they are making towards, and where appropriate beyond, their School Target Grade.

Assessment outcomes are recorded in GO 4 Schools, which parents/carers and students can access. The information in GO 4 Schools is live and updates throughout the year as students complete further assessments, providing an ongoing picture of their current attainment and progress rather than information being available only at formal reporting points.

Parents/carers are also sent a Progress Review once a year. This provides the student's School Target Grade and Currently Working At (CWA) Grade, which reflects the standard at which they are currently working based on the assessment evidence available at that point, alongside a personalised written comment from each subject.

Assessment information is used throughout the year to identify where students may require additional support, intervention or challenge.

Should you have any queries about your child's School Target Grade or their progress within an individual subject, please contact their subject teacher.

KEY STAGE 4 CONTROLLED ASSESSMENT, NEA & EXTENDED PROJECTS

Controlled Assessment and Non-Examined Assessment (NEA) is work which is carried out in lessons under the supervision of a member of staff. Your child may have some preparation to do at home to enable them to complete this. This is work that contributes to a students final grade in a GCSE qualification.

Controlled Assessment and Non-Examined Assessment (NEA) is an important part of your child's studies and we encourage parents and students to discuss work deadlines relating to these regularly. If you have any questions about this element of a course please contact your child's teacher for the respective subject.