Curriculum
A Levels
A-levels are the traditional qualifications that are offered by schools and colleges for students aged between 16 and 19. Short for Advanced Level, A-levels come after GCSEs. They usually focus on academic subjects, compared to vocational qualifications like BTECs and NVQs, which are more practical.
BTECs
BTEC stands for the Business and Technology Education Council. BTECs are specialist work-related qualifications.
They combine practical learning with subject and theory content. There are over 2,000 BTEC qualifications across 16 sectors – they are available from entry level through to professional qualifications at level 7 (equivalent to postgraduate study).
Further Information
For any further information on our curriculum please contact either:
- Mrs M Blair – [email protected]
- Mrs M Edwards – [email protected]
- Ms A King (SENDCO) – [email protected]
Year 7
Key academic highlights with Year 7 are that the pupils are encouraged, through a very broad curriculum offer to try and enjoy new and different subject areas, learning environments and learning methods. While adapting to the expectations and nuances of being a Woodcote High pupil. This is a bedding in time and the pupils are developing a confident learning manner which stems from organisation for and responsibility of achieving learning outcomes.Year 7
The subject areas studied and the allocations of hours (in a two week cycle) are shown below:
Art 2
Computer Studies 2
Drama 2
DT (inc FT) 3
English 8
French 5
Geography 2
History 2
Maths 8
Music 2
Physical Education (inc. games) 3
PSHCE 1
RE 1
Spanish 5
Science 8
Year 8
Year 8 is a time of acceleration, learning is adjusted to be a personally aggressive pace, defined through detailed assessment/tracking of a pupils progress towards their own targets. Pupils are encouraged to explore fully, learning both in and outside of the curriculum to further explore their developing interests ahead of Year 9 option choices.Year 8
The subject areas studied and the allocations of hours (in a two week cycle) are shown below:
Art 2
Computer Studies 2
Drama 2
DT (inc FT) 3
English 8
French 5
Geography 2
History 2
Maths 8
Music 2
Physical Education (inc. games) 4
PSHCE 1
RE 1
Spanish 5
Science 8
Year 9
The major element of the Year 9 curriculum is the forward preparation to the start of GCSE's either in the Summer term of Year 9 (English/Maths/ICT) or the selection of option choices to be studied in Year 10/11.Year 9
The subject areas studied and the allocations of hours (in a two week cycle) are shown below:
Art 2
Computer Studies 2
Drama 2
DT (inc FT) 3
English 8
French 5
Geography 2
History 2
Maths 8
Music 2
Physical Education (inc. games) 4
PSHCE 1
RE 1
Spanish 5
Science 8
Year 10
Year 10 is the official start of Key Stage 4, although some subjects start certain elements in Year 9. The majority of teaching and assessment is done within this year. Students will have chosen their option subjects within Year 9 having been reccommended to follow a suitable curriculum pathway and therefore the curriculum narrows or broadens depending upon those choices. The three options pathways (purple, orange, green) reflect the academic needs of our students. Certain courses are assessed by controlled coursework and the outcomes count for the pupils terminal grades in Year 11. Therefore pupils must start Year 10 with this in mind. The general subject areas studied by the year group en mass are shown below, the nuances of any specific options choices are within these parameters and the allocations of hours for each (in a two week cycle) are shown overleaf:Year 10
| GCSE English & English Literature 8 | Physical Education 4 |
| GCSE Maths 8 | GCSE Science 10 |
| Option A 5 | Option C 5 |
| Option B 5 | Option D 5 |
Year 11
Year 11 is the most important year within a pupils schooling. It is essential that the pupils start Year 11 with a determined and mature attitude to their studies as failure to do so will only bring pressure after Christmas, in the run up to the summer exams. Pupil's will continue with the same curriculum pattern as in Year 10. Certain courses are assessed by controlled coursework and the outcomes count for the pupils terminal grades as in Year 10. The general subject areas studied by the year group en mass are shown below, the nuances of any specific options choices are within these parameters and the allocations of hours for each (in a two week cycle) are shown overleaf:Year 11
| GCSE English & English Literature 8 | Physical Education 3 |
| GCSE Maths 8 | GCSE Science 11 |
| Option A 5 | Option C 5 |
| Option B 5 | Option D 5 |
