1. Year 7 Parents’ Information Evening
CURRICULUM DESIGN
Year 7 Parents’ Information Evening
Tuesday 3rd July 2012
Julian Ashworth

2. Content Rationale for curriculum design Principles
How it has worked in Year 7
How it will change for Years 8 and 9
Further information
Questions…

3. Rationale Maximising life opportunities
All students making excellent progress, no matter what their ability levels
All students accessing subject content relative to their ability levels

4. Principles Ideals compromised by capacity
We have to split each year group somehow…
Different needs of different ages
3 models:
Year 7
Years 8 and 9
Years 10 and 11

5. Year 7 Mixing academic and “settling in”
Setting takes place only in English, Maths, Science and (to some extent) Languages
Class memberships are based in the first instance on information provided to us by primary schools
All other subjects are taught in mixed ability groupings, to allow students to experience a broad social mix in their first year of secondary school
Performance in Year 7 dictates which bands students are placed in at the start of Year 8

6. Year 7 Most Year 7 students are placed into either band A, B, C or D
These four bands are equal in terms of ability and gender
Some students are placed in a nurture band (E) for students with additional needs
Each of bands A, B, C and D contains (approx) 55 students
E band contains 15 students

7. Year 7 Curriculum DiagramEn Ma Sc La
Ar, Cl, Da, Dr, Gg, Hi, LS, Mu, RS
DT, IT PE B
Ar, Cl, Da, Dr, Gg, Hi, LS, Mu, RS
DT, IT PE C En Ma Sc La
Ar, Cl, Da, Dr, Gg, Hi, LS, Mu, RS
DT, IT PE D
Ar, Cl, Da, Dr, Gg, Hi, LS, Mu, RS
DT, IT PE E
Ar, Da, Dr, En, Hu, La, LS, Ma, Mu, Sc

8. Years 8 and 9 The Year 8 and Year 9 curriculum models are the same
Academic focus, with mixed groupings for “talent” subjects
Most Year 8 and Year 9 students are placed into either band A, B or C
Banding reflects relative individual ability level:
Band A = 64 students (“most able”)
Band B = 114 students (“middle to high ability”)
Band C = 39 students (“middle to low ability”)
Band E = 15 students (“additional needs”)

9. Years 8 and 9 Students allocated to bands by JA
Students “set” within bands by subject leaders
Criteria for allocation to bands:
Key Stage 2 English and Maths test results
CAT stanines
Performance against Agreed Target Levels
A/B borderline key (but not only) factor is Maths
B/C borderline key (but not only) factor is English
Fluidity key component of structure
Students can (and do!) move between bands

10. Years 8 and 9 Curriculum DiagramEn Ma Sc La
Gg, Hi, RS
DT, IT PE
Ar, Cl, Da, Dr, LS, Mu B Ma
Gg, Hi, RS
DT, IT PE C En La
Gg, Hi, RS
DT, IT PE
with A E
En, Hu, La, Ma, Sc

11. English Year 7 Year 8 AB1 AB2 AB3 AB4 AB1 AB2 AB3 AB4 AB5 AB6 CD1 CD2

12. Maths Year 7 Year 8 AB1 AB2 AB3 AB4 A1 A2 BC1 BC2 BC3 BC4 BC5 BC6 CD1

13. Science Year 7 Year 8 AB1 AB2 AB3 AB4 ABC1 ABC2 ABC3 ABC4 ABC5 ABC6
CD1
CD2
CD3
CD4 E E

14. Languages Year 7 Year 8 AB1 AB2 AB3 AB4 AB1 AB2 AB3 AB4 AB5 AB6 CD1

15. More Languages You can choose! Requests submitted by 25th June
Students allocated to classes using a preference system
Recommendations of teachers a factor
A/B/C band allocation a factor
Late returns mean less likelihood of a first preference
So far – 90% of first choices met

16. More Languages Class Language(s) AB1 French & Spanish AB2 AB3 AB4
French & German
AB5
German & Spanish
AB6
Spanish C1 C2
French C3

17. Further Information
Student Grouping Structure on the website: Parental Info > Curriculum
September: How to Read Your Child’s Timetable
Questions:

18. And So…
Any questions?