Curriculum Structure

A broad Key Stage 3 curriculum has been designed to engage, stretch and challenge students of all abilities, as they gain a deeper understanding of all the secondary school subjects on offer.  GMS runs a two-week timetable of 50 one-hour teaching periods over the two weeks.  The very broad curriculum offered at Key Stage 3 consists of English, mathematics and science: 40% of the teaching time is spent in these core subjects.  In addition, all students also study geography, history, computing, religious education, music, art, drama, design technology, citizenship (which includes personal, social and health education)  Finally, all students entering in Year 7 learn one modern foreign language, either French or Spanish.

There are nine intake classes, which are placed in three mixed-ability Houses: Eagles, Hawks and Kites. The House colours are green for Eagles, blue for Hawks and red for Kites; students have their House colour as a prominent stripe on their tie. Each House will have approximately 82 students in each year group, divided into three registration groups. Classes will be taught in their mixed ability form groups for the majority of their lessons. The exempt lessons are English, maths and science, where the students may be set by ability in each subject within their House.

The core curriculum for students in Year 10 and 11 is as follows: GCSEs in English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Science Trilogy (equivalent to two GCSEs); or Biology, Chemistry and Physics (equivalent to three GCSEs). There are two compulsory non-examination subjects: Physical Education (PE), and Relationships: Sex and Health Education (RSHE). In addition, the majority of students choose four optional GCSE subjects to study from the following list: Art, Business Studies, Child Development, Citizenship, Computer Science, Drama, Food and Nutrition, French, Geography, Graphic Products, History, Information Technology, Media Studies, Music, PE, Religious Studies, Resistant Materials, Spanish, Statistics or Textiles.

 

To view each department’s Learning Ladders’, Learning Journeys’ and Wider Curriculum information, please visit the Departments A-Z page and select the subject you would like to see more information on.