Academic curriculum

The Academic Curriculum for YEARS 7 and 8

In addition to the core and foundation subjects of the National Curriculum we expect all students to participate in the following:

  • A 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 discovery programme where tutors work with their tutor groups to help develop the skills needed to accustom them to life at boarding school
  • Christ’s Hospital’s Personal and Social Education programme, which extends throughout the school.
  • Junior Learning for Life programme a unique programme bringing together aspects of personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) core with work on discovering oneself. Mental well-being and discovery of CH values and ethos.
The Academic Curriculum for YEARS 9 – 11

At the beginning of Year 9, students 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 and 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 students will have one period per week of PHSE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic) education.

Students in Year 9 also benefit from one period per week of Reasoning. A bespoke course which looks at the skills of reasoning and debate using a framework of Philosophy for Children (P4C), the course enables students to learn about truth and argument before practising it in discussions and debates within the class.

Students 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 students to investigate work experience during holidays.

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