14th August
Overview
We offer a varied curriculum and as expectations of our students are very high, and we wish to support them in every way, ability setting operates increasingly as students move from Year 7 through to Year 13.
"Pupils study a broad and balanced curriculum from Year 7 to Year 13. Pupils are eager to rise to teachers’ high expectations. Consequently, they achieve well, both in school and in public examinations. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).” Ofsted 2024
In Year 7 and 8 the core curriculum consists of Maths, English, Sciences, Geography, History, Religious Studies, a Modern Foreign Language (Spanish and French), Technology (Food, Graphics, Resistant Materials, Textiles), Drama, Music, Art, Information and Communication Technology, Physical Education and Life Skills and Wellbeing (PSHCE). Students will select their KS4 options during Year 8.
On entering Key Stage 4 (Years 9, 10 and 11) students are offered one of two different curriculum pathways. Many students choose the Open pathway, whilst others choose a more traditional Baccalaureate curriculum. Within both pathways, students can study a variety of technical qualifications (BTECs and NCFE) alongside the 9 - 1 graded GCSEs.
Our 3 year KS4 curriculum was a new development for Year 9 in 2018. From September to December (Autumn term) students in Year 9 will follow a KS3 linked curriculum and will use this term to reflect on their option choices, and will have the opportunity to change their KS4 courses. Teaching of the GCSE/Technical qualification option courses for all Year 9 students will commence from January of the academic year. The core GCSE subjects (English, Mathematics and Science) will be taught to all students from September providing the students with 8 terms over the 3 years to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding of these core subject areas.
Considerable advice and guidance is available to students and their parents to allow the most appropriate choice of curriculum to be made throughout Year 8 to Year 13, overseen by an Assistant Head Curriculum and our own Careers Advisor in school. Our High Achievers programme provides additional subject specific provision to broaden subject knowledge and understanding during the school day, or part of the extra-curricular provision. This is underpinned in lessons with toughest, tougher and tough tasks within all subject areas.
“In each subject, staff have thoughtfully considered how to ensure that pupils build up their knowledge and skills over time. Teachers have strong subject knowledge. They work to the school’s principles for teaching and classroom routines. These help pupils to prioritise learning in lessons. New content is introduced gradually, and pupils practise what they have been taught at each step. Teachers regularly check understanding before moving on.” Ofsted 2024
All subject Heads of Department outline their curriculum intent in their subject pages online, and the curriculum overviews are presented within student exercise books. A review of subject implementation and curriculum impact takes place in the summer term as part of our annual schemes of work and curriculum sequencing in preparation for the next academic year. The Blenheim curriculum intent statement can be viewed below.
Whole School Curriculum Intent Statement
Both academic and technical courses are available in the Sixth Form, where GCSEs can be studied onto A Level/L3 BTECs with a variety of new courses on offer such as Politics, Sociology, Psychology and BTEC Travel & Tourism, CAMTec Human Biology, BTEC Sport and NCFE Sports Coaching Award. A large number of Sixth Form students move on to University and Higher Education, whilst some choose to enter the world of work. Our Sixth Form and GCSE progression routes can be viewed on our website.
Homework is set from day one and is recorded online and presented through Satchel One which can be accessed from the school iPad. Students will receive a homework timetable via their iPads providing guidance and links to support their organisation and completion of work set outside of the classroom. Bedrock (Literacy) and Sparx (Numeracy) platforms are provided to support and develop students English and Mathematics skills across the curriculum.
Homework club operates in the Learning Resource Centre on Monday - Thursday evenings from 3.30 - 4.15pm and is supervised. Students may use computers and technology to help with homework completion.
“The school provides a raft of inclusive and ambitious experiences to help all pupils to ‘achieve their full potential’ as set out in its vision. Staff offer an impressive range of extra-curricular activities. These are enhanced by partnerships with Chelsea Football Club and the golf and dance academies. The school takes care to break down any barriers to participation. These activities help to develop pupils’ character and nurture new and existing interests.” Ofsted 2024
If you would like further information on the curriculum at Blenheim, please contact Mr. G. Adams, Deputy Headteacher with responsibility for curriculum planning.
Parents may find the National Curriculum Secondary Education page and Factsheet below useful tools to learn more about the National Curriculum.
National Curriculum Secondary Education Page
Personal Learning Checklists (PLCs)
These PLCs break down the content of the GCSEs that students are studying into their individual themes/topics/units/modules.
These materials offer parents an overview of the content being delivered in each subject each term. More importantly, these PLCs will provide students with a checklist to review their progress and aid revision planning.
For each subject there will be a PLC for each unit/terms work, therefore, please check here for new PLC resources as the year progresses.
