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Curriculum Statement
A Broad and Balanced Education
At the Abbey School we place emphasis on the importance of every child having a broad and balanced education which includes a range of experiences both inside and outside of the classroom. In the Lower School (Years 7 and 8) students build on their existing subject knowledge and develop a range of new skills and understanding. In the table below it shows the curriculum allocation for students in each year group. The number of one hour long lessons is either shown in brackets or referred to in the text. The school operates a two-week timetable consisting of 48 periods.
| Year Group | Subjects and Hours per Fortnight (each lesson is one hour long) | |
|---|---|---|
| Year 7 |
| |
| Year 8 | Art (2), English (8), MFL* (5), Geography (3) History (3), Food Tech (2), Performing Arts (3), RE & Citizenship (2), Mathematics (8), Technology (2), Science (6) & PE (4) | |
| Year 9 | English (8), RE & Citizenship (2), Mathematics (8), PE (3), Science (8) and four options each allocated either five or four periods per fortnight (dependent on option block). Options include History or Geography (one of these is compulsory), Business, Sports Science, Art, French, Spanish, Enterprise Education (ICT & Finance Qualifications), Health and Social Care, Drama, Media, Dance, ICT, Child Development, Food Technology, RE and Engineering. | |
| Year 10 |
| |
| Year 11 |
| |
| Sixth Form |
|
*Students learn French or Spanish. Students assessed to have low levels of literacy will have two fewer lessons of MFL per fortnight and have literacy lessons instead.
The Upper School (Years 9-11) curriculum has been developed in order that students study a range of qualifications that meet the new national Progress 8 measure. This is the benchmark statistic against which all schools are measured and requires students to take GCSEs in the core subjects of English Language, English Literature, Mathematics and Science. In addition to these subjects students must also study a Modern Foreign Language, Geography or History. Finally, students can choose the remainder of their subjects from the option blocks as detailed above. This will enable them to tailor their educational journey to match their personal strengths and future career prospects.
There are usually a wide range of extra-curricular educational experiences that are available for students studying at the Abbey. These include school trips, visiting speakers, competitions and school clubs. The international dimension of the school and focus on thinking skills means that every student has the opportunity for a breadth of education that will prepare them well for the challenges associated with becoming an adult. These are currently under review due to COVID 19 and given the possibility we can offer these, details will be sent home as soon as feasibly possible.
Students in Year 11 will frequently experience an extended school day during which they will receive support in core subjects through targeted support or revision. This may include Thursday afternoons when ordinarily all students would finish at the end of Period 4.
Small group intervention is used, as needed, across the year-groups to ensure that no student is left behind and that all make good progress. The detail of these intervention plans is available from relevant subject leaders and the pastoral teams that support each year group.
Other important aspects of every student’s timetable are:
- Accelerated Reader Programme – Students in Year 7 are provided with time each week, supported by their teacher, to read. Testing is used to identify students’ reading development needs. Books are then carefully selected to provide interest, challenge and development. There is a range of follow-up assessment that is used to monitor the students’ progress in reading and ensure that they are reading books that are of a suitable level of difficulty.
- Academic Mentoring – This takes pace at least once every half term for each student. In an individual or small group session with the student’s form tutor to explore their ambitions and discuss academic progress. The discussion centres on establishing appropriate short and medium term targets to ensure that the student reaches their expected progress. Appropriate resources and activities are used to explore areas of strength and set targets for areas of improvement.
- Assembly Programme – Our Heads of Year plan a programme of assemblies which cover key themes of spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. The programme is matched on an ongoing basis to educational events and current affairs. Visiting speakers include those from industry and members of the local clergy.
- Tutor Time Programme – Form tutors have a weekly programme of activities to follow through the morning registration period. These activities include a focus on numeracy and literacy in the lower school in addition to checking homework and discussions around attendance and behaviour. There are also thinking skills and team building activities. The programme makes a significant contribution to the personal and social development of students.
- In the Sixth Form students have opportunities including:
- The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) in which students gain a qualification worth half an A-Level for undertaking a largely self-directed and self-motivated project and then writing it up. Students mush choose a topic, plan, research and develop their idea and write up a report of up to 5,000 words. This is excellent preparation for Undergraduate study.
- The Core Learning Programme focuses on PSHE, which is delivered across a series of lessons reflective of students transition into the wider world and embedding love of learning to support future endeavours.
