General Information

The aim of the National Curriculum is to provide a broad and balanced education for all students. Students should be challenged and motivated whatever their ability. This matches with our aims at Hope High School. A student coming to our school from primary will enter Year 7. Here s/he will embark upon Key Stage 3 in all subjects. As s/he progresses to Year 10 s/he will start Key Stage 4 at which point s/he will have to make some choices regarding which subjects to study.

Key Stage 3

We are following the requirements of the National Curriculum at Key Stage 3. All students in Years 7-9 follow a three year course which includes:

• English
• Mathematics
• Science
• French/Spanish
• ICT
• Expressive Arts (Includes Art, Music and Drama)
• History
• Geography
• Religious Studies
• Product Design (Includes Electronics, Graphic Products, Textiles and Food Technology)
• Physical Education/Games
• Citizenship

On entry students are assigned to classes appropriate to their particular ability, skills, talents and aptitudes. These placements are, however, reviewed several times each year in light of current assessment data.
Towards the end of Year 9 students make the choices which will lead them into the final two years of secondary education. During the summer term Year 9 students also take the National Tests required at the end of Key Stage 3 of the National Curriculum. The subjects covered are English, mathematics and science. It is compulsory that all students participate in all the assessment procedures and an allowance can only be made in cases of serious illness. There are different tiers and students are entered at an appropriate level. The results of these tests, complemented by teacher assessment, enable students' attainment to be identified and reported to parents on an eight level scale. Teacher assessments for foundation subjects will also be reported.

Key Stage 4

Years 10 and 11 follow courses in English, mathematics, science, physical education, ICT and Religious Education. Remaining flexibility in the construction of individual programmes of study is used to meet the needs and aspirations of each student. We believe that choice is important and we will continue to offer as wide a range as possible - students may make selections from the following subjects:

GCSE

• Product Design
• French
• Spanish
• History
• Geography
• Art & Design
• Drama
• Music
• Sports Studies
• Child Development
• Catering

Vocational Courses (Dual GCSE Awards)

• Health & Social Care
• Leisure & Tourism
• Diploma in Digital Applications (DiDA - 4 GCSEs)
• Art & Design
• Applied Science (BTEC - 4 GCSEs)
• BTEC First in Sport

It is our firmly held belief that all our students are entitled to an extended and enhanced range of experiences; to this end we have added the following to the Hope High School Curriculum:

• Personal, Health and Social Education - embedded within the main curriculum
• Careers Education - for all students and provided in all subjects
• Citizenship - for all students in all years
• Work-related learning and Enterprise