Curriculum
Our curriculum intent is to have an ambitious and inclusive curriculum, that empowers our students to become life-long learners and successful global citizens.
Our five core curriculum aims promote this intention.
1. A well-sequenced curriculum to embed knowledge and skills, challenging all learners. This will allow our students to learn more, do more and remember more, through a broad and balanced curriculum. We believe that a thoughtful and well-designed curriculum will unlock and render accessible and interesting, even the most complex concepts. Our students will become better thinkers, problem solvers and future learners, with all the benefits these attributes bring.
2. A literacy focused curriculum to promote a love of reading, develop a rich vocabulary and strong disciplinary [subject specific] literacy. This will not only advance our students access to the curriculum but also improve mental well-being and is a crucial foundation for their future life success.
3. A careers centred curriculum to raise student aspirations and understanding of the world of work. This will allow our students to make informed decisions about their future.
4. An enriched curriculum to develop students' cultural capital and drive their curiosity. By exposing our students to real-life applications, current affairs and historical associations, beyond the prescribed national curriculum, we will raise their cultural awareness and support them in developing a critical approach to the media, questioning and challenging ideas, to form their own informed opinions.
5. A society centred curriculum to prepare our students to be confident, active and responsible citizens that make a positive contribution to society. We embrace and embed difference, throughout our curriculum, celebrating diverse voices in literature, music and art, selecting engaging and relevant historical genres and exposing our students to inspiration people from a broad range of ethic diversities, genders and sexual orientations. Our students learn to debate and discuss controversial issues of morality, whilst respecting the views of others, increasing their understanding of democracy, tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs and individual liberty, as we promote Fundamental British Values.
The importance of our Hestonian Values of Kindness, Respect, Equality, Resilience, Ambition and Honesty are explicitly taught in our PSHE curriculum and pastoral programme, but also implicitly thread through our School ethos and every interaction we have with our students.
For additional information on the curriculum, please contact Ms B Hart [Deputy Headteacher] on 0208 572 1931.
Curriculum Allocations
Our Key Stage 3 Curriculum [Years 7-9] is designed to allow our students to explore a wide range of subjects. This broad and balanced curriculum ensures students make informed choices about their GCSE programme of study. The majority of lessons are taught in their tutor groups. Mathematics and English are set by ability from Year 7 and Science classes are set by ability from Year 9.
In Key Stage 4, the school supports every student to construct an individualised programme of study, ensuring breadth, challenge and a clear route of progression, best suited to their interests and career goals.
|
KEY STAGE 3 AND 4 |
Year 7 |
Year 8 |
Year 9 |
Year 10 |
Year 11 |
|
English |
4 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
|
Mathematics |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
|
Science |
4 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
5 |
|
French |
3 |
3 |
2 |
Optional |
Optional |
|
History |
3 |
3 |
2 |
Optional |
Optional |
|
Geography |
3 |
3 |
2 |
Optional |
Optional |
|
Computer Science |
1 |
1 |
2* |
Optional |
Optional |
|
Music |
1 |
1 |
2* |
Optional |
Optional |
|
Drama |
1 |
1 |
2* |
Optional |
Optional |
|
Dance |
1 | 1 | 2* | Optional | Optional |
|
Art and Technology |
2* |
2* |
2* |
Optional |
Optional |
|
Physical Education |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
RE |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Key Stage 4 Options |
--- |
--- |
--- |
3 |
3 |
* Expressive Arts and Computer Science Carousel, Art and Technology Carousel.
Key Stage 4 Options include GCSE History, Geography, Sociology, Separate Science, French, Business, Computer Science, Drama, Music, Dance, Religious Studies, Food Preparation and Nutrition, Design and Technology, Art, Craft and Design and Graphic Communication and Cambridge National Sport Studies. Targeted students are supported by additional Literacy lessons.