Christ's Hospital
Curriculum Year 7 – Year 11
The Academic Curriculum for YEARS 7 and 8
In addition to the core and foundation subjects of the National Curriculum we expect all pupils to participate in the following:
- The choice of a second modern foreign language, from Spanish, German and Mandarin in Year 8
- A two year Latin course
- A technology carousel including Art and Design Technology
- A creative arts programme which includes Drama as well as Art and Music
- A Critical Argument, Rhetoric & Debating (CARD) lesson to allow pupils to develop their
deductive reasoning and debating skills - A discovery programme where tutors work with their tutor groups to help develop the skills needed to
accustom them to life at boarding school - The “Education for Living” programme – Christ’s Hospital’s Personal and Social Education Programme, which extends throughout the School.
The Academic Curriculum for YEARS 9 – 11
At the beginning of Year 9, pupils continue with the core subjects of English, Maths, Science (taught as the separate disciplines Physics, Chemistry and Biology) and they choose five, refining to four in Year 10, further subjects including a minimum of one humanity (History, Geography or Theology & Philosophy), a minimum of one Modern Foreign Language (French, German, Mandarin or Spanish) and two other subjects which can be freely chosen. All of these are then studied to GCSE. The early choice in Year 9 ensures that there is ample time to explore and enjoy the breadth of curriculum on offer.
Subjects that are available as options currently are: History, Geography, French, German, Spanish, Mandarin, Latin, Greek, Art, Drama, Music, Food and Nutrition, Design Technology, Graphic Product, Sports Science and Theology & Philosophy.
Additionally, all pupils will have two periods per week for a half-year carousel of PHSE (Personal Health and Social Education) and Religion and World Views.
Pupils in Year 9 also benefit from the Christ’s Hospital Independent Project, this is a GCSE equivalent qualification where pupils will independently research and review and present a project on any topic of interest to them. They will be guided through this by a supervisor and fortnightly lessons in order to build up their inquiring, resilient and independent learning skills that are critical to them at GCSE level and beyond.
Pupils attend Chapel services twice a week which include talks on varied topics, and they will also be placed in a small tutor group which meets once a week. The tutor explores topical, academic and personal issues with their tutor group. This, alongside the PSHE and Year Group assemblies, delivers a programme of individualised career advice for both post-16 educational and vocational experience, including the opportunity for pupils to investigate work experience during holidays.