Curriculum Mix 2023-24
This is how we break up the curriculum for each subject in terms of teaching time in minutes each fortnight.
Key Stage 3
| Subject | Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accelerated Reader | 60 | 60 | 0 |
| Art | 120 | 120 | 120 |
| Computing & ICT | 120* | 120* | 120* |
| Design and Technology | 120 | 120 | 120 |
| Drama | 120 | 120 | 120 |
| English | 480# | 480 | 420 |
| Geography | 180 | 180 | 180 |
| History | 180 | 180 | 180 |
| MFL (French/Spanish/Chinese**) | 240 | 180 | 240 |
| Mathematics | 420 | 420 | 480 |
| Music | 120 | 120 | 120 |
| Physical Education | 240 | 240 | 240 |
| CCC (includes assembly) | 170 | 170 | 170 |
| Religious Education | 60 | 60 | 60 |
| Science | 360 | 420 | 480 |
| STEAM | 60 | 60 | 0 |
|
* Plus technology rotation ** Students following the Mandarin Excellence Programme will have additional lessons per week # Students close to, or below, expected standard will have additional 60 minutes per fortnight of English teaching |
Key Stage 4
| Subject | Year 10 | Year 11 |
|---|---|---|
| English* | 480 | 480 |
| Mathematics | 480 | 480 |
| Science | 600 | 540 |
| Physical Education | 120 | 120 |
| CCC (includes assembly) | 170 | 80 |
| Religious Education/Ethics or Citizenship (a GCSE option for Year 10) | - | 240 |
| Option A | 300 | 360 |
| Option B | 300 | 360 |
| Option C | 300 | 360 |
| Option D | 300 | - |
| Technical qualifications (within options) | 300 | 300* |
*Students on Technical 1 or EAL pathway have an additional lesson of English each fortnight and a lesson of LiFB each fortnight. Students on the MAIN or EBacc pathways studying technical subject will also have a lesson of LiFB each fortnight.
Key Stage 5, Post-16
Students in Year 12 and 13 will have 600 minutes of taught lessons per subject per fortnight. In Year 12, students will also have timetabled enrichment for 120 minutes per fortnight.
In Year 12 and 13, all students studying less than 4 A-Levels, will have one or two timetabled Supervised Study Sessions (60 minutes each) as part of their study programme. Students studying Level 2 qualifications will have up to 12 lessons of 60 minutes each per week. Students in the Sixth Form attend Mentor period for 250 minutes per fortnight.
PSHCE is taught to year 12 and 13. Year 12 receive 120 minutes per fortnight and year 13 60 minutes per fortnight of taught time. PSHCE is also delivered through the Sixth Form assembly programme.
If you would like more information about our curriculum please contact John Reid, Deputy Head [Curriculum and Professional Learning].
If you want to find out more about the Curriculum on offer at Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre then please contact our admin team via office@highdown.reading.sch.ukand they will direct your query to the correct person.