Futura curriculum booklet (Pdf)

The school day is divided into five, sixty minute lessons. There are twenty five periods in a week. We operate a two-week timetable so there are 50 lessons in the two-week cycle with Week A being different to Week B.The number of lessons devoted to different subjects in each year group over the two-week cycle is shown in the table below.

• In KS3 students study 14 different subjects over three years with subject content all based on the English National Curriculum. We work with other schools in our Trust to enhance this curriculum content still further to ensure that our students are provided with a rich experience that leads from Key Stage 2 and prepares them for our two year Key Stage 4 curriculum.
• In Key Stage Four, almost all students study nine GCSE qualifications or equivalent over two years. The majority of these areas of study can also be followed at Level 3 as part of our Post 16 provision. Our curriculum encourages students to meet the government’s EBacc standard and is also compliant with government requirements on curriculum accountability.
• Students take French and Spanish in Years 7, 8 and 9 and are strongly encouraged to select one of those languages as a GCSE course which they will then follow to GCSE in Year 11. Currently German and French are offered at KS4 and French also at Level 3.   Into the future, French and Spanish will become our two languages taught throughout the school.
• Design & Technology in Years 7, 8 and 9 focuses on food, textiles, resistant materials and control technology.
• English Language and Literature are taught in Years 10 and 11.
• GCSE Science starts in Year 10. Most pupils do Combined Science in KS4. Typically 20% of the year group will take triple science as an option.
• Physical Education in Years 10 and 11 offers an options programme which includes leisure pursuits, traditional field and individual sports. We also offer GCSE PE and BTEC Sport as options at KS4.
• PSHE comprises elements of religious education, health and sex education, consumer education, work-related learning including careers education and relationships and citizenship and is taught through Years 7-13.
• There are a number of pathways through KS4 ranging from a very academic, English Baccalaureate approach to a more vocational route including appropriate options for a smaller cohort. All pathways can lead a student into Higher Education degree settings including Russell Group Universities. See our KS4 Pathways booklet for further info.

Each subject area has produced detail about their curriculum, with information on how to support your children in their studies.

Our curriculum rationale

The curriculum is designed to be broad and balanced and should inspire and support students in their progression to Post 16 education and to their chosen career path. We also seek to build the spiritual, moral, cultural, social, intellectual and physical development of our students and to prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life in this country and beyond. We also promote British values, for example, democracy and the rule of law.

We have a well-developed care, advice and guidance programme to support students at each point in their school career, especially around the time when decisions are made in Year 9 with regard to Key Stage 4 study and in Key Stage 4 for Post 16 pathways. See how we support the KS3 to KS4 transition.

Our extra-curricular programme includes a large range of educational visits and sports, drama, music and community based involvement. Please see our up-to-date offer.

Our programme of assemblies also has an important part to play in terms of developing whole school ethos, drawing attention to important national, international and local themes as well as supporting the positive progress of our students, both in school and out.

More information

Futura Curriculum booklet (Pdf)

• SBL subject information
• Futura Curriculum booklet (Pdf)

We believe that home study makes an invaluable contribution to our students’ progress, and so we support them to develop good independent learning habits, either at home or in the school library with its extensive IT facilities.

Students have told us that they prefer variety in the tasks set and to have choice. Therefore tasks and projects range from interviews and experiments to research and essay writing. Every student has a personal home study organiser and guidelines on the appropriate length of study. We ask parents to check and sign these organisers on a weekly basis as a signal of their engagement in the 'home-school contract'. Our home study is set via our home/school portal known as Insight.