Curriculum
Prospectus & Welcome Pack
Key Stage 4
Timetable
The timetable operates over one week of 5 days and has 10 30-minute periods of subject lesson time each day. School starts at 8:40am and Finishes at 3:10pm. Form Time starts at 8:40am and last 30 minutes effectively giving the curriculum an 11 period day. Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship learning such as the I Programme and Careers Information, Advice and Guidance takes place during this time.
Lower School and Upper School
The school operates a Lower and Upper school model where Year 7 and 8 teaching takes place on the lower site and year 9, 10 and 11 mainly takes place on the upper site. The timetable follows the same structure across both sites, and many staff teach lessons on both the Upper and Lower sites. Some groups of students in years 10 and 11 have some of their learning on the lower school site to take advantage of the excellent facilities.
Academic Year 2012-2013
Graham's School's current KS3 curriculum is under review but the strength in recent years has been the mixed ability teaching in year 7 which has been extended into year 8 for 2012-2013. All students in Year 7 and Year 8 follow a core programme of English, Maths, Science, Religious Studies, Technology, PE, Project, Art, Drama, Geography, History, ICT, Music and a Modern Foreign Language of either Spanish or French. Most subjects are taught in mixed ability form groups to aid in the transition from Primary to Secondary School. The only subject to be set by ability in these year groups is Maths. The time for each subject varies between year 7 & 8 but there is focus on literacy learning in Y7 which has seen the time in English lessons increase from 3 hours per week to 4 hours per week.
In Year 9 setting by ability is the norm in academic subjects to better prepare students for GCSE teaching in years 10 and 11. Creative and technical subjects are still taught in mixed ability groups.
Year 9 is a transition year between the lower school and the upper school to focus on key knowledge, understanding and skills required to succeed at GCSE.
In years 10 and 11 student can choose freely from a wide range of options after a great deal of personalised support and guidance from their form tutors meaning that every student completes their time at the school with a personalised programme of study tailored to their own strengths and interests.
Timetable
The timetable operates over one week of 5 days and has 10 30-minute periods of subject lesson time each day. School starts at 8:40am and Finishes at 3:10pm. Form Time starts at 8:40am and last 30 minutes effectively giving the curriculum an 11 period day. Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship learning such as the I Programme and Careers Information, Advice and Guidance takes place during this time.
Lower School and Upper School
The school operates a Lower and Upper school model where Year 7 and 8 teaching takes place on the lower site and year 9, 10 and 11 mainly takes place on the upper site. The timetable follows the same structure across both sites, and many staff teach lessons on both the Upper and Lower sites. Some groups of students in years 10 and 11 have some of their learning on the lower school site to take advantage of the excellent facilities.
In years 10 and 11 student can choose freely from a wide range of options after a great deal of personalised support and guidance from their form tutors meaning that every student completes their time at the school with a personalised programme of study tailored to their own strengths and interests.
Example Year 10 Curriculum
| English |
4 Hours |
| Mathematics |
3 Hours |
| Science |
5 Hours |
| P.E. |
2 Hours |
| R.E. |
1 Hour |
Students will take GCSE or equivalent qualifications in all the above subjects. English and Science usually result in 2 GCSE or or equivalent passes.
Students choose 4 subjects or combinations of GCSE's, BTEC's, Diplomas and College courses. A list of available subjects is available to the right of this page. Each area is studied for 2.5 hours per week.
Extra Curricular Activities
The formal curriculum is enhanced by a range of opportunities in and out of the school day e.g. an extensive range of visits and residential activities such as Outdoor Centres, Ski Trips and foreign exchanges. We strive to ensure that all students have an entitlement to at least one residential opportunity in Years 7-9.
Published October 26, 2012
Graham School Prospectus (September 2012)