Curriculum
Year 7 (Lower Fourth)
The year group of approximately 120 boys is normally divided into 3 bands each consisting of 2 forms according to general ability and based on entrance examination results. All follow a common curriculum. The subjects taken are English, Mathematics, Science, French, Latin, Geography, History, ICT, Drama, Music, Art, Design Technology (DT), Religious Education and Physical Education. The year group has two afternoon sessions of games per week, with School team games played on Saturdays.
Year 8 (Upper Fourth)
The year group is normally divided into 3 bands each consisting of 2 forms, largely according to academic ability. The curriculum of Year 7 is continued except that Science is taught as Physics, Chemistry and Biology separately, and all boys follow introductory courses in German and Spanish. The year group has one afternoon session of games per week, with School team games played on Saturdays.
Year 9 (Lower Fifth)
The year group of approximately 130 boys is normally divided into six forms, largely according to academic ability. All forms take English, Mathematics, French, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, ICT, Geography, History,
Religious Studies and Physical Education.
In addition, boys choose one subject from each of the following option groups:
A) German, Spanish, Latin, Classical Civilization
B) (i) German, Spanish or Greek, and Design
or (ii) Any two of Music, Art, DT, Drama
Boys opting from B(i) must have chosen Latin from A.
The year group has one afternoon session of games, with School team games played on Saturdays. One afternoon per week is reserved for a range of activities or the Combined Cadet Force (CCF).
Year 10 (Middle Fifth)
The year group is normally divided into six forms, and these are the base for administrative arrangements and pastoral care. However, the teaching is organised on set or option principles. This allows different teaching groups for different subjects, and permits, as appropriate, setting on academic ability in those subjects.
All boys take a core curriculum of English, Mathematics, a Modern Foreign Language (French, German or Spanish), Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Religious Education and Physical Education.
In addition boys take three subjects from six option groups
(i) Geography
(ii) History
(iii) Latin or Classical Civilisation
(iv) One of German, Greek, Spanish
(v) One of Music, Drama, Art, D.T.
(vi) One of Music, Art, D.T., Religious Studies, Physical Education
The composition of these groups and practical restrictions on choices are subject to change over time. The year group has one afternoon session of games, School team games on Saturdays, and one afternoon of activities/CCF/Community Service.
Year 11 (Upper Fifth)
The curriculum is a continuation of that followed in the Middle Fifth. The same games arrangements apply, with a greater choice of options available on the activities afternoon.
Year 12 (Lower Sixth) and Year 13 (Upper Sixth)
All boys entering the Sixth Form are required to study four or five subjects which they take at AS-level at the end of the Lower Sixth year. They continue to study three or four of these subjects which they take at A2-level at the end of the Upper Sixth. In the Lower Sixth they will also follow a two-period per week course in General Studies. All members of the Upper Sixth follow a General Studies course and they take General Studies as an additional A-level unless special circumstances dictate otherwise.
Sixth Formers participate in an extended range of activities on one afternoon per week. Games occupy one afternoon session, and School teams have a full set of fixtures on Saturdays.
Further details of the Sixth Form Curriculum are contained in a separate document which may be obtained from the Admissions Secretary. In some cases we collaborate with The King’s High School so that pupils of one school might attend lessons at the other.
