Key Stage 3 Curriculum
Our Key Stage 3 curriculum is designed to provide students with the core knowledge required to form an understanding of, and be able to flourish in, each subject. We are preparing them for a successful future.
When students arrive at Soar Valley College they study a number of core curriculum subjects. These are organised into a two-week timetable, with the number of hours for each subject during the two weeks as shown in the table below:
Subject |
Year 7 |
Year 8 |
Year 9 |
| English | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Mathematics | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Science | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Geography | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| History | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Religious Studies | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| French/German | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Design & Technology | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| ICT/Computing | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Music | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Art | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Drama | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Physical Education | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Personal Development | 1 | 1 |
On entry in Year 7 students are taught in mixed ability groups for many of their subjects initially. An exception is mathematics, where students are set by ability using information from their primary schools. These groupings are kept under review constantly.
More able students are challenged through a mixture of extension and enrichment activities and materials.
A small number of students will be part of our Plus Group. For these students the transition to secondary school is made more gradual by grouping some subjects together; these are taught by our specialist team who use the subject content to develop basic skills.
During Year 7 there is a strong emphasis on the teaching of reading, communicating and writing. This emphasis on literacy continues throughout the time students spend at Soar Valley.
An induction programme is built into Year 7, during which students will learn about our expectations, how to behave in different social situations and how to organise themselves so they are ready to learn.
We have published a Curriculum Handbook for each year group detailing the content that is covered.