KS4 – Years 10 and 11
Our 2-year KS4 offer enables students to access a broad and balanced suite of qualifications that matches carefully their interests and ambitions. This commitment enables them to develop the knowledge and skills from KS3 to achieve academic success in nationally recognised qualifications and be prepared for their personal journey to access the next stage of their learning in their choice of post-16 pathways.
In addition to the core subjects of English, Maths and Science, students can choose from a wide range of subjects during the KS4 Curriculum process.
- In Years 10 and 11, everyone in Pathway A studies English, English Literature, Maths, a Modern Foreign Language, Humanities and Science (through either a combined or ‘separates’ course). In addition, students have 2 choices from a range of vocational, technical and academic subjects.
- In Pathways B, C and D everyone studies English, English Literature, Maths and Science (through either a combined or ‘separates’ course). In addition, students have a choice from Triple Science, Computer Science, French, Spanish, History and Geography as well as 3 further choices from a range of vocational, technical and academic subjects in different disciplines
KS4 Assessments
Each department has an appropriate curriculum plan to match the school Assessment. Recording and Reporting calendar, and the dates of mock examinations series are published in advance of the academic year. All subjects assess students to identify and address gaps in students’ learning and to best secure key concepts to ensure progression through the curriculum for all students.
Periodic assessments – typically, mock examinations and formal assessments in KS4 – are usually ‘higher-stakes’ with important implications for teacher feedback and parental reporting. They must reflect:
- lesson objectives and learning outcomes from previous teaching;
- milestones in the student’s learning route.
Our Assessment Policy states that formative feedback takes place in KS4:
- twice a half-term for all subjects.
‘Day to day assessment’ will take place as in KS3.
To reflect our aspirations and ambitions for all students, we set each pupil an Outstanding Progress Target for each subject they study. For information on how these targets are calculated, please click the link below. You will receive information on your child’s OPTs in Year 10.
You will also receive information about your child’s OPTs, together with their current grades in all subjects, in the Progress Reports sent home.
KS4 Homework
In Key Stage 4, subjects will set at least one homework per week per subject. This should, as far as possible, be time and word limited to develop skills and competencies necessary to be successful.
Key Stage 4 homework will be set by the subject teacher and will encourage the on-going building of knowledge and understanding to support students in achieving the best possible outcomes at KS4.
Pupils will be set regular revision homework to consolidate their knowledge and skills. Pupils sit mock examinations in June of Year 10 and January of Year 11. In preparation for these formal assessments, revision homework and other preparation tasks will be set.
If you have any queries about how to log in to Show My Homework, please contact your child’s Learning Leader.