Curriculum Overview

We want students to leave our school with the skills and knowledge to enter the world of work or academia. Crucially, the curriculum must equip students with the knowledge and skills to deal with a rapidly changing world. Students leaving Tytherington should be prepared to face the challenges of the 21^st century world and possess the characteristics to make their communities a better place to live.

Our curriculum is broad and balanced. Encompassing all the key elements of the National Curriculum, it allows students to thrive and achieve throughout the three years of Key Stage 3.  Within the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science learning is seen as part of a 5 year continuum.  All other subjects ensure students develop a knowledge and skills base that provides a solid foundation for study at Key Stage 4 and beyond.  Our curriculum aims to be both knowledge-rich and humanity-rich; knowledge is taught to be remembered and to promote tolerance, discussion and debate.  Alongside our mainstream curriculum we offer an Enhanced Mainstream Provision that provides a bespoke curriculum to meet the social, emotional and academic needs of our students who are currently working significantly below their peers and an Advanced Learner Programme.

Four modern foreign languages are taught at Key Stage 3 (French, German, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish).  All students study one language, with many students studying 2 languages across the Key Stage. We are proud to take part in the Classics for All programme, providing all students in Year 7 the opportunity to study Ancient History and Latin. Students are also offered the opportunity to study Latin.

Alongside academic study, the Personal Development curriculum encompasses the statutory elements of PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) and Citizenship education, and aims to help prepare our students for the opportunities and challenges they may encounter growing up and in adult life. This is taught in discrete lessons from Years 7 to 13.

Across Key Stage 3 special attention is paid to the acquisition and retention of “powerful knowledge” in every subject. Examination success is an important consideration but so too is the inclusion of experiences and opportunities for students to acquire powerful knowledge and skills so that they can participate in rich and ongoing conversations about the world around them.

In our 3 year Key Stage 3 students in Years 7, 8 & 9 study :

• English
• Mathematics
• Science
• Modern Foreign Languages (At least 2 of French, German, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish)
• History
• Geography
• Religious Studies
• Art and Textiles
• Computer Science
• Design and Technology  (Food Technology, Textiles and Resistant Materials)
• Drama
• Music
• Personal Development
• PE 

At Key Stage 4, our broad and balanced curriculum continues with all students
following a compulsory core of subjects in which they will achieve a qualification, which
include:

• English Language & English Literature (as GCSE courses)
• Mathematics (as a GCSE course)
• Science (Biology, Chemistry & Physics as the combined “Trilogy” course that is
  equivalent to 2 GCSEs)
• One “EBacc” course

Alongside the above compulsory core of subjects, our students will also have lessons in:

• Physical Education (a national statutory requirement throughout KS4 that
  students can opt to take a GCSE qualification in as well)
• Personal Development
• Three additional qualification courses to complete their curriculum at KS4
  The full list of available courses can be found below.