Curriculum Overview

Our Intent

The curriculum at The Archbishop’s School is ambitious and inclusive for all.

The School’s Christian principles are built on a foundation stone that enables all to flourish and fulfil their potential through hope, perseverance and compassion.

Leaders provide ambitious opportunities that respond to the needs of all young people regardless of ability, nationality and faith.

Our intentions are formed from the context of our local communities so that the gaps that may exist on entry have become strengths by the time our students leave us.

The school plans and delivers learning that is carefully arranged to enable our students to grow skills, understanding and knowledge that will empower them to develop the wisdom and courage to take their next steps in life with confidence, dexterity and the empathy to help others who are in need.

Our curriculum is broad, balanced, agile and purposeful.

We are determined to help every student to flourish through the creative curriculum they receive.

Years 7, 8 and 9

Students study Art, Computer Science, Drama, English, Food Technology, Geography, History, Mathematics, Music, PSHE, Physical Education, Religious Education, Science and Spanish.

Students are put into sets for English, Mathematics and Science following their SAT scores and CAT4 test scores. These sets are evaluated on a regular basis by the pastoral and subject teams to assess progress. Within Humanities, students are also now put into sets, following the first term when they start in form groups. Within Art, Computer Science, Design Technology, Drama, Food Technology and Music, students are on a rotation, so they do three of the six subjects each term and then swap to the other three subjects.

The school runs an adapted alternative parallel pathway through KS3 for those learners identified through EHCP, internal assessment or KS2 data as working well below their chronological age for literacy and numeracy. Typically, they will require provision beyond the school’s universal offer, and therefore are eligible to access the school’s Specialist Resource Provision’s in-reach offer (ICAN) . This provision sits primarily within a specialist curriculum pathway which embeds interventions and learning skills from RS, History and Geography subjects. The curriculum matches the wider school KS3 curriculum and the aim is to see students re-join mainstream classes when appropriate.

In addition, wrap around interventions in English, Maths, SLCN and SEMH are delivered by SEND teachers and LSAs, tailored to the needs of learners with both SEND and EAL needs. In lessons, support is also offered through a team of LSAs, focusing on supporting targeted learners within core subjects (English, Maths, Science) to ensure each young person can fully participate in learning, build independence and barriers to engagement can be removed.

Literacy is a whole-school priority, with all teachers supporting students to develop the reading, writing, speaking and listening skills they need to access the curriculum and succeed beyond school. Students’ reading is assessed at key points throughout the year so that support can be matched carefully to individual need. Our universal literacy approach includes the explicit teaching of key vocabulary, teacher modelling of fluent reading and consistent strategies to strengthen comprehension. Students also access targeted support through programmes such as Bedrock Learning, Lexia and Reading Eggs, alongside diagnostic assessment and small-group or individual intervention where appropriate. 

Years 10 and 11

All students follow a core curriculum and then choose additional subjects from a range of possibilities to ensure that breadth and balance is maintained. Core GCSE and non-examined subjects are:

• English Language
• English Literature
• Mathematics
• Double Award Science
• Religious Studies
• Physical Education
• PSHE.

In addition, the school also offers Heritage Language GCSEs in the full range of available GCSEs including the likes of Persian, Turkish, Portuguese, Arabic etc.

Students can also study up to three further GCSE courses or equivalent from the following list of courses: Art and Design, Creative Crafts, Drama, Enterprise and Marketing, Geography, Health and Social Care, History, Hospitality and Catering, Music, Photography, Spanish and Sport.

Sixth Form

In Year 12, students study 3 or 4 A-level courses or the equivalent from a very broad range of subjects, as follows:

• Art and Design A-Level
• BTEC National Extended Certificate in Business
• Criminology Diploma
• English Language and Literature A-Level
• Geography A-Level
• AAQ in Health & Social Care
• History A-Level
• Law A-Level
• Photography A-Level
• Psychology A-Level
• Sociology A-Level
• BTEC National Extended Certificate and BTEC National Diploma in Sport.

Beyond the above, A Levels are offered in the Sciences (Biology,  Chemistry and Physics) and Mathematics subject to interest and achievement of the appropriate entry requirements.

There is a strong emphasis upon students complementing these with an Extended Project Qualification. These subjects are taught over five lessons of fifty minutes a week (per subject). 

Students who have not yet secured the grade 4 threshold in either Mathematics or English Language will be required to undertake GCSE courses in these subjects as a priority in the Sixth Form.

Students in the Sixth Form also have a lesson of Religious Education and a lesson of PSHE a fortnight.

For further information about our curriculum please contact Miss K Moore kmoore@archbishops.kent.sch.uk or Mr R Clarke rclarke@archbishops.kent.sch.uk