Curriculum 2012-2013

Curriculum Aims

We will enable students to:

1. benefit from a curriculum which is scientific, technological, vocational, international and embraces the creative arts.
2. acquire knowledge, communication skills and employability skills;
3. develop their ability as creative thinkers and independent learners;
4. achieve higher standards across the curriculum by the application of digital media;
5. develop qualities of mind, body, spirit, feeling and imagination;
6. appreciate human achievements in the media, arts, science, technology and sport;
7. acquire understanding of our society, citizenship and a reasoned set of attitudes, values and beliefs;
8. prepare for their adult lives at home, at work, at leisure and within the community, as consumers and citizens;
9. develop self respect,  initiative, honesty and tolerance.

Curriculum Design

The 2012-13 curriculum is:

1. planned to develop highly skilled, confident and knowledgeable young people who are ready to undertake the demands of study and work after the age of 16;

2. based on our determination to raise the attainment and aspirations of all of our students so that very nearly all of them continue their education through a range of post 16 pathways with the majority moving on to university;

3. designed to give access to the national curriculum and  the  skills, knowledge and understanding necessary to become effective learners and workers;

4. committed to developing skills within the new technologies and ICT is studied by all;
5. intended to include all identifiable groups in our student cohort, there are equal opportunities for the academically-gifted and those inclined to more practical, vocational learning.

The Marden Curriculum

• Includes
• Motivates
• Encourages
• Challenges
• Inspires

Key Stage 3 Curriculum

Students are in ability classes for most subjects apart from Humanities, PSCHE and Physical Education.   . Where possible, there is subject setting.

Year 7

Subject	Periods	Subject	Periods
English	3	PSCHE	1
Mathematics	3	RE	1
Science	3	Physical Education	2
French	2	Art	1
Design Technology	2	Drama	1
Information Technology	1	Music	1
History	2
Geography	2	TOTAL	25

NOTE:

• Year 7 take a course in Learning To Learn in PHSCE.
• The lowest ability  classes in year 7 have an extra hour of English and consequently do only one hour of French.
• Technology is taught on a carousel and includes Food, Graphics, Resistant Materials and Product Design.

Year 8

Subject	Periods	Subjects	Periods
English	3	Art	1
Mathematics	3	Music and Drama	1
Science	3	Physical Education	2
French	2	PSCHE	1
German	1	RE	1
Design Technology	2
Information Technology	1	TOTAL	25
History	2
Geography	2

 

NOTE:

• In Year 8 the lowest ability classes do an extra hour of English and an extra hour of Mathematics and consequently do only one hour of French
• Technology is taught on a carousel and includes Food, Graphics, Resistant Materials and Product Design.
• Music and Drama are taught on a carousel.

Year 9

Subject	Periods	Subject	Periods
English	3	Art	1
Mathematics	3	Music and Drama	1
Science	3	Physical Education	2
French	2	PSCHE	1
German	1	RE	1
Design Technology	2
Information Technology	1	TOTAL	25
History	2
Geography	2

 

NOTE:

• In Year 9 the lowest ability classes do an extra hour of English and an extra hour of Mathematics and consequently do only one hour of French
• Technology is taught on a carousel and includes Food, Graphics, Resistant Materials and Product Design.
• Music and Drama are taught on a carousel.
• In Maths, English, ICT and Science students begin GCSE courses during the year.

Enrichment

• In addition all students follow a programme of Super Learning Days during Key Stage 3.  Independent Learning skills are developed through an investigation of an Enquiry Based Learning Task, using the schools’ specialisms of Media and Science.

Key Stage 4 Curriculum

Students are in ability classes for core and some other subjects. Where possible, there is subject setting. Option groups are mixed ability unless two classes are run simultaneously.

 

Year 10

Year 10 Core Subjects

Subject	Periods	Subject	Periods
English	3	Physical Education	2
Mathematics	3	PSCHE	1
General Science	4	RE	1
ICT	1

 

Note:

• The Core ICT course is a Cambridge National Certificate at level 1 or 2.
• The Core RE course is a GCSE short course worth 0.5 of a GCSE.  In addition some students will study for a full GCSE.
• English Baccalaureate students follow Core English, Mathematics and Science with either History or Geography, and a MFL. They also select 3 option choices..
• Non English Baccalaureate students follow Core English, Mathematics and Science and 5 option choices.
• Vocational Pathway students follow Core English, Mathematics and a single award Science plus 2 option subjects.  They also follow CoPE Certificate of Personal Effectiveness with SEN staff.

Year 10 Options

All students are given a free choice of Subject Options, then the groups below are generated to maximise the number of students who receive their first choices.

NOTE

• Some students receive Study support instead of one Option group to provide individual and personalised support
• A small number of students study GCSE Russian after school hours.

Year 10: Vocational Pathway

The students follow a separate curriculum involving an extra hour of English and Mathematics.  They study an OCR single award, Science course.  They have 6 hours per week to study for Certificate of Personal Effectiveness, an Asdan Award.    In addition they select 2 GCSE subjects from Group D and E.

 

Year 11

Year 11 Core Subjects

Subject	Periods	Subject	Periods
English	3	Physical Education	1
Mathematics	3	PHSCE	1
Double Award Science	5	RE	1
Triple Science	6

 

NOTE

• Students select 4 Options from the groupings below.
• A small group of students are invited to follow the Asdan Award for 2 of the Options.  They then elect 2 other Options.
• Students not studying Triple Science have an extra hour of English.

Year 11 Options

Note:

• Some students receive Study Support instead of one Option group to provide individual and personalised support
• A small number of students study GCSE Russian after school hours.
• A small number of students complete early entry A level modules in Mathematics and Science.
• Vocational  students study an Asdan course within 2 Option groups.  They select 2 other GCSE subjects.