Our students receive specialist teaching in all subjects and are offered an academic curriculum that enables them to compete with the highest performing students around the country. For more detailed information about the subjects we offer, please refer to our curriculum maps.
Key stage 3
At Key Stage 3, students at Plashet study the following subjects:
- English Language and English Literature
- Mathematics
- Sciences: Biology, Chemistry and Physics
- Arts: Art, Music and Drama
- Physical Education
- Languages – either: French Spanish or Urdu (Y7 – 10) or Bengali, French or Urdu (Year 11)
- Humanities: History, Geography, Philosophy, Religion and Ethics
- Design Technology: Graphics, Food & Nutrition and Textiles and Fashion
- ICT and Computing
- Learning for Life: including citizenship, personal, health and social education
The lower school curriculum is designed to engage our younger students and to engender in them a love of learning. The students experience a wide range of subjects, so that they can begin to find new strengths and develop existing interests. Most teaching groups at Key Stage 3 are mixed attainment classes. By this we mean that there is no deliberate setting by ability.
Guided choices in Year 8
In year 8, students will be asked to:
- Choose either History or Geography as their Humanities subject.
- Indicate one preferred GCSE option subject from the Core Academic Pathway offer.
Before making your choice, read the provided booklet and watch the videos below created by the subject teachers, explaining the content and structure of the GCSE.
The booklet contains important information about the curriculum students will follow in Year 9, including the choices they will need to make and the subjects available to them.
These videos will give an overview of each subject and help students understand what studying that subject involves. Please take some time to read through the booklet with your child and watch the subject information videos together.
Key stage 4 (GCSE)
At Plashet we offer a curriculum favoured by the top schools in England and international schools around the world. This is called the English Baccalaureate and includes the subjects most commonly required or preferred by academic sixth forms and universities.
| Subject | GCSEs |
|---|---|
| English language + English literature | 2 GCSEs |
| Mathematics | 1 GCSE |
| Combined or separate sciences | 2 or 3 GCSEs |
| Languages | 1 GCSE |
| Geography or history | 1 GCSE |
| Religious studies | 1 GCSE |
Students then personalise their curriculum by choosing an additional subject from:
- Art
- Business
- Computer Science
- Drama
- Fashion and textiles
- Food and nutrition
- Graphics
- Music
- PE (GCSE)
- Sociology
All students also have statutory physical education and PSHE on their timetable as a non-examination subject.
There are alternative and more appropriate accredited courses for those students unlikely to achieve success at GCSE level and these personalised courses are decided upon in discussion with parents.