Curriculum Description & Option Pathways

The school runs a 2-week timetable with five lessons of one hour each day – in a 2-2-1 formation – so one lesson in the afternoon.  The % of time allocated to each subject area is reviewed annually. There is also a 20-minute DEAR time before the final lesson. Our reading focus includes extensive use of the Accelerated Reading programme in Key stage 3.

The frequency and % of lessons allocated to each subject is summarised below:

For more detailed information on options, look at the students/KS4 options tab on the website and open the links.

Personal Development and PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education)

This is delivered in two lessons per fortnight in year 7 and one lesson per fortnight thereafter. Drama, Maths and Key Skills lessons help deliver PSHE and financial literacy.

Form time and weekly assemblies are designed to address a wide range of issues as well as the opportunity to worship and celebrate our Christian values. The Colour family pastoral system promotes well-being and morality and enables form tutors and Heads of Year to closely monitor students’ personal development.

Modern Foreign Languages

Year 7 currently study either French and Spanish or Spanish and Key skills. Students specialise in one language from year 8 onwards unless they study Key skills instead. More able students (sets A and B in Maths) have to take their chosen language through to GCSE. All students can choose to take a language to GCSE if they wish to.

Years 10 and 11

All students take Maths, English (Language and Literature), Science (Combined =two GCSEs), RS or Citizenship GCSE, Core PE non-examined and Personal Development non-examined. Students in Year 10 have one lesson of Computing per fortnight. Students mostly study for nine GCSE or equivalent. Those who chose Study Plus do eight. Some very able students study an extra qualification in further maths.

Maths, Science and computing are taught in sets. (except computing GCSE which is mixed ability). All other subjects are mixed ability.

Free-option GCSEs on offer are: Art/ Creative Textiles – both Art GCSEs, Computer Science, Dance, Design Technology, Drama, Food Preparation and Nutrition, French, Geography, History, Music, Photography, Physical Education, Spanish, Triple Science. We offer vocational qualifications in BTEC (Sport, Travel & Tourism and Health & Social Care) and OCR National Child Development. These are Level 1&2 qualifications so have GCSE equivalency.

Students can choose Study Plus in order to reduce their number of options and to focus on Key Skills in Numeracy and Literacy. This involves personalising the students’ learning over Key Stage 4 to enhance their chances of passing Level 2 (grade 4+) in English and Maths.

All Year 10 students take part in 1 week of work experience.

Able mathematicians have an extra-curricular GCSE in Further Maths they can choose to do in year 11 as well as the option to do a Statistics GCSE in year 10. This is taught as an extra-curricular hour after school.

Summary: Options at Davison for year 10 and 11.
We are ambitious for our students and the vast majority ( the first 2 pathways)will do combined Science, at least 1 Humanity (History, Geography, Religious Studies, or Citizenship GCSE). Whilst the Ebacc pathway are required to take French or Spanish to GCSE many others choose to. There are also a variety of Vocational subjects on offer that reflect the needs of employers in the area: Btec Tec awards in Health and Social Care, Travel and Tourism and Sport as well as OCR National Award in Child Development.

Students choose in year 9 and start their options in year 10. Many subjects start teaching the subject content and skills for GCSE in year 9. (Maths follow a 3-year AQA GCSE course for example).

We offer three pathways and between the end of January and February in year 9 students fill out an online options form with their preferences. We then try and fit these as best we can to the resources and staff we have available.

The three pathways all cover the compulsory GCSEs of Mathematics, English Language, English Literature, Combined Science (2 GCSEs) and Religious Studies or Citizenship.

The “Options” consist of a maximum of three more GCSEs and are designed to comply with the Progress 8 GCSEs that government uses to measure schools’ performance. See further information on the pathways below.

Please note there may be exceptions made to these pathways for students with SEND.

The Creative Arts department delivers GCSE courses in Art, Photography and Creative Textiles. Artwork is exhibited everywhere around the school. Pupils explore and experiment with many different media, including Clay and digital Art. The Art department often work in collaboration with other departments and were instrumental in this Year’s STEAM project.