Curriculum Statement of Intent:
At Aldersley High School, we offer a broad and balanced five-year curriculum, allowing students to develop a passion for learning across a wide variety subjects. Our curriculum raises the aspirations of our students; encouraging them to become well-rounded, employable individuals and future leaders.
The heart of our curriculum is knowledge based: teachers ensure that the knowledge they are imparting during lessons is challenging and purposeful at all times and allows students the opportunity to make cross-curricular links where appropriate and be fully prepared for the next stages in their education, employment and training. We use knowledge books and knowledge organisers to support students in their acquisition of knowledge and revision and recall across all subjects.
Through a knowledge-rich approach, we provide our students with the opportunity to develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of the subjects studied. This greater depth of learning is seen across all five year groups and beyond within our Amethyst Sixth Form.
Most students study the full range of English Baccalaureate qualifications up to the end of Year 11, alongside further qualifications from a range of creative and vocational based subjects.
Our curriculum promotes British Values and social, moral, spiritual and cultural development, alongside ensuring that all subjects support our students in becoming literate and numerate, and creative problem solvers.
Furthermore, our extra-curricular offer encourages students to take part in a range of activities including a plethora of sporting teams; regular showcases of Creative and Performing Arts subjects and the opportunity to gain a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
School Curriculum
Art and Photography Curriculum
Biology Curriculum
Business Studies GCSE BTEC OCR
Chemistry Curriculum
Children’s Play, Learning and Development Level 2 Level 3
Computer Studies Curriculum
Dance Curriculum
Drama Curriculum
Design Technology Curriculum
English Curriculum
French Curriculum
Geography Curriculum
Health and Social Care Level 2 KS5 Curriculum
History Curriculum
Hospitality and Catering Curriculum
Mathematics Curriculum
Music Curriculum
Physical Education Curriculum
Physics Curriculum
Psychology Curriculum
Religious Studies Curriculum
Sociology Curriculum
Spanish Curriculum
Curriculum Update – 2021/22
Year 7
- English 5 periods a week
- Mathematics 5 periods a week
- Science 4 periods a week
- MFL 3 periods a week (Students will study either French or Spanish)
- History 2 periods a week
- Geography 2 periods a week
- PE 2 periods a week
- Art 1 period a week
- Computer Studies 1 period a week
- Religious, Ethical and Social Studies 1 period a week
- PHSE 1 period a week
- Music 1 period a week
- Rotation between Dance, Design Technology (including Graphics) and Food Technology 2 periods a week (equivalent of one term per subject area)
Year 8
- English 5 periods a week
- Mathematics 5 periods a week
- Science 4 periods a week
- MFL 3 periods a week (Students will study either French or Spanish)
- History 2 periods a week
- Geography 2 periods a week
- PE 2 periods a week
- Art 1 period a week
- Computer Studies 1 period a week
- Religious, Ethical and Social Studies 1 period a week
- PHSE 1 period a week
- Music 1 period a week
- Rotation between Dance, Design Technology (including Graphics) and Food Technology 2 periods a week (equivalent of one term per subject area)
Year 9
- English 5 periods a week
- Mathematics 5 periods a week
- Science 4 periods a week
- MFL 3 periods a week (Students will study either French or Spanish)
- History 2 periods a week
- Geography 2 periods a week
- PE 2 periods a week
- Art 1 period a week
- Computer Studies 1 period a week
- Religious, Ethical and Social Studies 1 period a week
- PHSE 1 period a week
- Music 1 period a week
Rotation between Dance, Design Technology and Food Technology 2 periods a week (equivalent of one term per subject area)
Year 10
- English 6 periods a week (including English Language and Literature)
- Mathematics 5 periods a week
- Science 6 periods a week
- MFL 3 periods a week (Students will study either French or Spanish)
- Humanities 3 periods a week (Students choose Geography or History)
- Option 1 – 3 periods a week
- Option 2 – 3 periods a week
- Core PE – 1 period a week
- PHSE and RESS 1 hour a week as part of form time
Year 11
- English 6 periods a week (including English Language and Literature)
- Mathematics 5 periods a week
- Science 6 periods a week
- MFL 3 periods a week (Students will study either French or Spanish)
- Humanities 3 periods a week (Students choose Geography or History)
- Option 1 – 3 periods a week
- Option 2 – 3 periods a week
- Core PE – 1 period a week
- PHSE and RESS 1 hour a week as part of form time
KS4 Options:
Alongside all students studying English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Science, Religious, Ethical and Social Studies, Physical Education and Computer Studies, students also select from French or Spanish, and History or Geography at GCSE level. Students then select two options from the courses listed below:
GCSE Triple Science
GCSE Design and Technology
GCSE Art
GCSE Art Photography
GCSE Physical Education
GCSE Business
GCSE Computer Science
GCSE Religious Education
BTEC Tech Award in Enterprise
CNAT Sport
CNAT Health and Social Care
CNAT iMedia
RSL Music Practitioners
RSL Music Technology
RSL Dance
RSL Drama
Cache Children’s Play, Learning and Development
Technical Award in Hospitality and Catering
Enrichment and Intervention Offer:
All students have the opportunity to engage in enrichment sessions, which run as part of Period 7 from 3.30pm until 4.15pm. Some sessions may run until 4.30pm where indicated on the parental consent form. These sessions are designed to support and stretch the knowledge rich curriculum, and to allow students the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of additional opportunities and experiences. Please see below the enrichment offer for KS3 and KS4:
Students have the opportunity to select from two options from the lists above, with suitable advice and guidance being provided to ensure that students follow an appropriate curriculum depending on their individual aspirations and needs.
KS4 Curriculum Offer at Aldersley High School
| Subject | Title | Board |
|---|---|---|
| ART | GCSE Fine Art | OCR |
| BIOLOGY | GCSE Biology | AQA |
| BUSINESS STUDIES | GCSE Business | EDEXCEL |
| BUSINESS STUDIES | BTEC Enterprise | PEARSON |
| CATERING | Level 1 / 2 in Hospitality and Catering | Eduqas |
| CHEMISTRY | GCSE Chemistry | AQA |
| COMPUTING | GCSE Computer Science | OCR |
| DANCE | RSL in Creative and Performing Arts – Dance | RSL |
| DRAMA | RSL in Creative and Performing Arts - Drama | RSL |
| ENGLISH | GCSE English Literature | AQA |
| ENGLISH | GCSE English Language | AQA |
| FRENCH | GCSE French | AQA |
| GEOGRAPHY | GCSE Geography | OCR |
| HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE | CNAT Health and Social Care | CNAT |
| HISTORY | GCSE History | OCR |
| ICT | Level 1/2 iMedia | CNAT |
| MATHS | GCSE Maths | EDEXCEL |
| MUSIC | RSL in Creative and Performing Arts – Music | RSL |
| PE | GCSE Physical Education | EDEXCEL |
| PE | CNAT Sport | CNAT |
| PHOTOGRAPHY | GCSE Photography | OCR |
| PHYSICS | GCSE Physics | AQA |
| RE | GCSE Religious Studies A Specification | AQA |
| SCIENCE CORE Trilogy | GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy | AQA |
| SPANISH | GCSE Spanish | AQA |
| TECHNOLOGY | GCSE Design and Technology | AQA |
KS5 Curriculum Offer at Aldersley High School
| Subject | Title | Board |
|---|---|---|
| APPLIED BUSINESS | Level 3 Extended Certificate in Applied Business | AQA |
| APPLIED SCIENCE | Level 3 Extended Certificate in Applied Science | AQA |
| ART | Level 3 Advanced Subsidiary GCE in Art and Design - Fine Art | OCR |
| ART | Level 3 Advanced GCE in Art and Design - Fine Art | OCR |
| BIOLOGY | A-Level Biology | AQA |
| BIOLOGY | A-Level Biology | AQA |
| CHEMISTRY | A-Level Chemistry | AQA |
| CHEMISTRY | AS Chemistry | AQA |
| COMPUTING | AS Computing | CAM TECH |
| COMPUTING | A2 Computing | CAM TECH |
| DANCE | Level 3 Edexcel BTEC Foundation Diploma in Performing Arts | Edexcel |
| DRAMA | Level 3 Advanced GCE in Drama and Theatre | EDEXCEL |
| ENGLISH | AQA Level 3 Advanced Subsidiary GCE in English Language and Literature | AQA |
| ENGLISH | AQA Level 3 Advanced GCE in English Language and Literature | AQA |
| GEOGRAPHY | OCR Level 3 Advance GCE in Geography | OCR |
| HISTORY | AS History | OCR |
| HISTORY | A2 History | OCR |
| MATHS | AS Maths | Edexcel |
| MATHS/FURTHER | A2 Maths | AQA |
| PHOTOGRAPHY | OCR Level 3 Advance GCE in Art and Design: Photography | OCR |
| PHYSICS | AS Physics | AQA |
| PHYSICS | AQA AS Level Physics | AQA |
| SOCIOLOGY | AS Sociology | AQA |
| SOCIOLOGY | A-Level Sociology | AQA |
| SPANISH | A-level Spanish | AQA |
| TEXTILES | AQA Advanced GCE in Art and Design (Textiles Design) | AQA |
For further information in regards to our curriculum offer, please see the subject specific overviews or email Louisa Lilley at LPritchard@aatrust.co.uk
