KS3 Curriculum Overview
For every student, regardless of background or circumstance, to acquire the knowledge and develop the qualities which will open the door to the future of their choice.
Laurus Trust schools provide an excellent and rounded education for all their students, regardless of their individual backgrounds, preparing them well for their future careers.
Our curriculum ensures that every student recognises what it takes to succeed, sets aspirational goals and works hard to achieve them with the support of a highly qualified and dedicated team of education professionals. It is shaped by the students as it responds to their individual needs and is underpinned by the Cornerstones of the Laurus Trust: Academic Aspiration, Leadership and Service, Competition and Physical Endeavour and Culture, Creativity and Rhetoric.
Our approach to the curriculum also complies with the Equality Act 2010 and the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice 2014. For further information on how we ensure the curriculum is accessible to those with disabilities or special educational needs please see the Laurus Trust Equality Policy and the SEND information report under the SEND section of our website.
We operate a two-week, 50 lesson, timetable cycle. All lessons are one hour in duration.
Key Stage 3 Overview
Year 7
Upon entry into Year 7, students are placed into one of 10 Tutor Groups and these are divided into two bands.
Students are taught in tutor groups for English, MFL and Science with mixed attainment groups in Maths to provide support as needed.
All other subjects are taught in mixed groups. For MFL, students either study French, German or Spanish and this is determined by their Tutor Group. They will continue with their allocated language until the end of Year 9, when they take their GCSE.
View the Year 7 Knowledge and Skills Guide for more information.
Year 8
View the Year 8 Knowledge and Skills Guide for more information.
Year 9
In Year 9, arrangements are similar to Year 8 with English, MFL, Science and Maths continuing with attainment-based setting. All other subjects remain as mixed groups. In Year 9, students sit their GCSE in either French, Spanish or German.
View the Year 9 Knowledge and Skills Guide for more information.
Curriculum Structure
| Key Stage 3 | Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
| English | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Mathematics | 7 | 8 | 8 |
| Science | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Art | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Beliefs & Values (RS/PSHE) | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Design & Technology | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Computing | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Geography | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| History | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Languages | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Performing Arts | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| PE | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Total | 50 | 50 | 50 |
HGHS works on a two-week, 50 lesson timetable cycle. All lessons are one hour in duration.
All subjects follow the relevant national curriculum programme of study. For more information please click here.
Useful Documents
Further Information
Religious Studies
Parents/carers have the right to withdraw their child from Religious Studies, this is in accordance with the 1988 Education Reform Act. Parents/carers considering withdrawal from RS should contact the head teacher to arrange a discussion. (Parents/carers can only withdraw their child from RS, not other curriculum areas. For example, students can’t be withdrawn from a study of religious art in an Art lesson, or parts of the History curriculum such as the study of Christian conversions).