Curriculum

Introduction

Kingsdown School Curriculum

At Kingsdown School, our curriculum is designed to provide a broad and balanced education that equips every student with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to thrive in an ever-changing world. We are committed to developing well-rounded individuals who are ready to make positive contributions to society.

We aim to foster a culture of Respect where all students appreciate diverse perspectives, embrace inclusivity, and engage with their learning environment in a considerate and empathetic manner. Our students are encouraged to take Pride in their achievements and personal growth, celebrating successes and persevering in the face of challenges.

Through a curriculum that is aspirational and enriching, we nurture Ambition in all students, inspiring them to set high expectations for themselves and strive for excellence in everything they do. We promote Responsibility, ensuring that students understand the importance of owning their actions and contributing positively to their community.

Our curriculum is designed to stretch and challenge every learner, providing opportunities for deep thinking, critical analysis, and creative problem-solving. By offering a wide range of academic and vocational subjects, alongside enrichment activities, we support the holistic development of each student, preparing them for further education, the workplace, and life beyond school.

Ultimately, we believe that every student at Kingsdown School should leave with the confidence, resilience, and ambition to shape their own future and achieve their fullest potential.

Organisation and planning

The school operates a two week timetable with five, one hour teaching lessons each day. Students attend four lessons before lunch and one lesson after. Each day begins with a tutor session or an assembly which begins at 08.20am before the first teaching lesson at 8.45am. Each week in Tutor time, students follow a programme which includes the student bulletin, Book Your Future (a whole class reading programme), leadership time, review of attendance and an assembly. Personal Development, CEIAG and SMSC are delivered through the tutor program and timetabled PD lessons which take place each week for 60 minutes.  This is a structured program that ensures progression across five years to ensure the statutory curriculum is delivered, and more. 

Students at Key Stage 3 follow a common curriculum comprising:

Key Stage 3 Curriculum

The KS3 Curriculum is designed to enhance the learning undertaken in the primary schools to provide students with the foundations to follow their chosen courses in KS4.  The KS3 curriculum offers more than these foundations as it broadens and enriches the learning experience across a wealth of different subject disciplines.
In the vast majority of subjects - with mathematics as an exception - students are taught in tutor groups or other mixed ability classes.  However, on entry,  students who have identified barriers to learning for reading and numeracy, and who are significantly below their age-related expectations are taught as one group.  Here they have further time to engage with reading and numeracy programmes, rather than study a language, to enable them to close the gaps on their peers and to make accelerated progress.  These students access the Kingsdown Inclusive Pathway Curriculum (IPC) at a pace that allows for further scaffolding and modelling to enable success.

Key Stage 4 Curriculum

At key stage 4, students study the core subjects including Personal Development. Students are also offered a suite of optional subjects of which four can be selected. 
The common core comprises of:

Students are encouraged to select a balance of subjects to include the arts, languages and humanities. One option must be an EBacc subject and includes one of Triple Science, History, Geography, French or Computer Science.
The subject choices for KS4 study for examinations to be taken in 2026 are as follows.

The KS4 offer is reviewed annually. Selected students who demonstrate the aptitude for the Ebacc pathway embark on the Ebacc certificate. Here they choose a language, a humanities subject and 2 further option choices.
The vast majority of courses lead to GCSE (9-1) examinations whereas Health and Social Care, Business Retail and Sport Science courses offered are level 2 vocational courses (P1-D2*).  The majority of students therefore can achieve up to nine level 2 qualifications. 
We offer an alternative pathway for a small number of targeted students at KS4. They pursue a pathway that provides extra time and support in their humanities option and core subjects in place of a fourth option. This will include study skills to prepare pupils for enrolment on traineeships and the next compulsory stage of education and training.

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