The Curriculum at Christ the King
STATEMENT OF INTENT
Curriculum intent
At the heart of our curriculum is the development of the God-given talents of all our students. We are blessed to welcome children full of potential in Year 7 and to see them grow into successful young adults by Year 11. It is our responsibility as a school community to support all learners in becoming the best they can be. Our overriding ambition is to cater to the needs of every student, enhance social mobility, and enable each child to achieve more than they ever thought possible, and prepare them for the wider world.
Our vision reflects our belief in Jesus' call to fullness of life, and we are committed to providing every student with opportunities to flourish, develop their talents fully, and overcome any barriers they may face. Grounded in the belief that humans are created in the image and likeness of God, we affirm the inherent and immeasurable worth and dignity of every individual. This belief in radical equality before God underpins our commitment to equal opportunities and treatment for all members of our community.
Curriculum Intents
Our curriculum is designed to nurture the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development of every student, fostering a community where the teachings of Christ are lived out daily. We prioritise spiritual growth through daily form time collective worship, chapel sessions and assemblies. In addition, all students are offered the opportunity to celebrate mass weekly. While our Catholic faith is central, we emphasise understanding and respect for other faiths, creating an inclusive environment where all students feel valued and respected. Guided by the teachings of Jesus, our curriculum highlights making moral and ethical decisions that reflect compassion, integrity, and respect for every person. This focus is integral to the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural growth of our students, helping them become responsible, respectful, and active young people who are committed to justice, service, and the greater good.
At Christ the King we place a dedicated focus on charitable work which promotes a real understanding and empathy for people in real world situations, led by our dedicated and democratically elected Student Council and our volunteer Chaplaincy group. Our actions are embodied within our mission statement ‘Love one another as I have loved you’ (John, 15). Regular Inter-House challenges promote healthy competition and sportsmanship with a range of sporting and/or creative challenges that engage students of all skills, talents and interests. Enterprise events are held regularly which develop entrepreneurial skills, and facilitate the understanding of the need of working together as a team to achieve a common goal.
We deliver a rigorous and diverse curriculum that equips students with the knowledge, skills, and character needed to succeed in a rapidly changing world. We support every student in achieving their personal best by providing individualised attention and opportunities tailored to their unique strengths and needs, including tailored support for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). During registration, Key Stage 3 Students engage in our ‘Reading Buddies’ scheme which aims to enhance their reading skills and confidence as they read daily to Key Stage 4 leaders. In addition, groups of students work with our SEND teams to enhance their literacy and/or numeracy skills in specific and targeted intervention programmes.
We are committed to promoting British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs. These values are embedded in our Catholic ethos and are taught through our CPSHE and RSE programmes, as well as Enrichment Days. Our curriculum aims to create educated citizens with a clear understanding of their rights and responsibilities, fostering a community where students learn to appreciate and value diversity and contribute positively to society.
We passionately believe in the holistic development of each student, nurturing the mind, body, and spirit. Our curriculum includes a wide range of extracurricular activities, such as arts, sports, and spiritual retreats, to support students' overall well-being. Peripatetic Music teachers provide school-subsidised music tuition for all students who demonstrate a dedicated interest in brass or woodwind instruments, drum or guitar, and there are a number of opportunities for all students to showcase their creative talents in a variety of clubs, performances and shows throughout the school year. Year 9 students have the opportunity to sign up to complete their Duke of Edinburgh award. The award-winning PE department engage all abilities with a wide range of sporting activities that are available daily. With an extensive extra-curricular timetable, there is something to engage and support everyone at Christ the King, each activity designed to develop and demonstrate excellence beyond the classroom.
Our school extra-curricular timetable is available to view here.
Guided by the words, "Love one another as I have loved you," and our Christian faith, our intent is to empower every student to achieve their fullest potential, reflect the love of Christ, and become lifelong learners and responsible citizens with a rich cultural capital.
Curriculum Implementation
Our specialist and dedicated staff regularly update their teaching practices using established research based evidence to ensure that all lessons are of high quality and challenge all students to achieve their full academic potential. Classrooms and virtual learning platforms are equipped with effective digital information technology and teaching and learning resources, which our staff strive to continuously update and share. The Specialist Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) team of Teaching Assistants are strategically deployed to ensure that all students who require additional support are fully supported in all aspects of their school life to enable full access to the whole and wider curriculum. Homework clubs are provided at both lunchtimes and after-school for all students, and voluntary and/or compulsory study sessions are available for all Key Stage 4 students every evening after school, provided by specialist subject teachers to ensure all students achieve at their full potential.
Considerable thought, planning, and time are dedicated to carefully designing the content and sequencing of the curriculum in each subject. Subject leaders ensure that relevant knowledge, skills, and concepts are embedded from Year 7 onwards, with each year building on the foundations laid in previous teaching and learning. Each subject follows a model of curriculum progression, illustrating the deliberate and coherent development of student learning over time. We emphasise retrieval practice and employ a 'teach-check-practice' approach, ensuring that learning is reinforced, understanding is regularly assessed, and students are given opportunities to apply their knowledge effectively.
At Christ the King, our mission is to transform students' lives and educational prospects through a broad and ambitious curriculum that extends beyond the classroom. We are dedicated to teaching knowledge rigorously and emphasising skills that prepare students for higher education and the workforce. We strive to develop independent learners who think critically, solve problems creatively, and take ownership of their educational journey.
Overview of provision
Key Stage 3
We deliver a three-year Key Stage 3 curriculum, to ensure pupils have the opportunity and time to study a wide range of subjects, enabling them to make more informed choices at Key Stage 4.
At Key Stage 3, the rich and varied curriculum includes a programme of creative arts (Technology, Art, Performing Arts), further practical subjects (Food Technology, Resistant
Materials, Ceramics, Textiles, Physical Education and ICT), Modern Foreign Languages (Spanish), and Humanities (History and Geography) alongside the provision of the core subjects of English, Mathematics, RE, Science and CPSHE.
There are 5 teaching sessions per day therefore there are 25 timetabled sessions per week.
|
Subject |
Year 7
|
Year 8 |
Year 9 |
|
English |
8 |
8 |
8 |
|
Mathematics |
7 |
7 |
7 |
|
Science |
6 |
6 |
8 |
|
Geography |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
History |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
IT |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
RE |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Spanish/MFL |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
PE |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
Performing Arts |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Art |
2 |
2 |
/ |
|
PSHE |
Rolling programme once every 2 weeks |
Rolling programme once every 2 weeks |
Rolling programme once every 2 weeks |
The 50 sessions are allocated over a two-week timetable to subjects as follows:
Hours per fortnight (pupils rotate between all three disciplines throughout the year)
|
Technology discipline |
Year 7 |
Year 8 |
Year 9 |
|
Textiles |
4 |
4 |
4 (Art & Ceramics) |
|
Food Technology |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
Resistant Materials |
4 |
4 |
4 |
*As we are in a period of transition to broaden our curriculum offer, Year 9 follow the historical model for Technology and study a rotation of Art and Ceramics, Resistant Materials & Food Technology.
Key Stage 4
At Key Stage 4, students undertake a more focused approach to both compulsory Core GCSE subjects and individually chosen Optional GCSE or equivalent level Vocational or Technical Award subjects, each taught by specialist teachers. Core subjects include English, Mathematics, RE, Science (Combined Science or the three separate Sciences: Biology, Chemistry and Physics), PSHE, and Core-GCSE PE.
Optional subjects are selected from the full range of the English baccalaureate subjects (Computer Science, Modern Foreign Languages, History and Geography) or from the extensive provision of GCSE (or Technical Award equivalent) subjects including Business, Digital Information Technology, Hospitality and Catering, Performing Arts, Design Technology and PE. We strive to meet the needs of our students and update our options menu annually. We are pleased to include Level 1 Construction in our Options for 2024-2026.
Over a two-week timetable comprising of 50 sessions, the number of sessions allocated to each subject are as follows:
|
Core subjects |
Year 10 |
Year 11 |
|
English |
8 |
8
|
|
Mathematics
|
8 |
8 |
|
Science
|
11 |
11 |
|
RE
|
5 |
5 |
|
PSHE
|
Rolling programme once every 2 weeks |
Rolling programme once every 2 weeks |
|
CORE PE
|
3 |
3 |
|
Options Subjects |
Year 10 |
Year 11 |
|
Art |
5 |
5 |
|
Business Studies |
5 |
5 |
|
Computer Science |
# |
5 |
|
Construction |
5 |
# |
|
Design Technology |
5 |
5 |
|
Digital Information Technology (IT) |
5 |
5 |
|
Geography |
5 |
5 |
|
History |
5 |
5 |
|
Hospitality and Catering |
5 |
5 |
|
Performing Arts |
5 |
5 |
|
Physical Education |
5 |
5 |
|
Spanish |
5 |
5 |
|
Vocational Award |
5 |
# |
Curriculum Impact
Our curriculum is deeply rooted in Catholic teachings, guiding students to grow not only in knowledge but also in faith, compassion, and service. By integrating academic excellence with Gospel values, our curriculum shapes students into well-rounded individuals who are equipped to make thoughtful and ethical decisions. We emphasise the development of the whole person; mind, body, and spirit, encouraging students to pursue their God-given potential while fostering a strong sense of social justice, stewardship, and community. The impact of our curriculum is seen in our students' academic achievements, their commitment to living out their faith, and their readiness to serve others as disciples of Christ.
School Performance Analysis and Leavers’ Destination Data can be found here.
For further information, please contact Mrs V Willacy, Assistant Headteacher (Curriculum).