Abbeywood Community School

Curriculum

Learning is personalised to meet the full age and ability range and there are two ‘pathway’ processes in Years 9 and 11 when students select their academic route and options linked to their skills, interests and future ambitions.

Students are taught either as mixed ability or set groups, depending on the subject and the year.

Students are taught either as mixed ability or set groups, depending on the subject and the year.

Students are taught either as mixed ability or set groups, depending on the subject and the year. By being flexible in our grouping arrangements, students can move between groups as they make progress.

Despite a changing landscape in terms of educational provision and Government directive, we remain committed to providing a school experience that parents and students will recognise but also one that will prepare students for life in the 21st Century. Our enrichment curriculum in Year 7&8 is central to this pulling together key learning opportunities from a number of subjects and offering students the chance to develop their skills as learners, team players while reflecting on how we think and learn.

We embrace the need for academic rigour ensuring that students who are potential English Baccalaureate candidates know what this involves and the benefits it can bring. In Year 8 students in French and Spanish are grouped according to ability, and the most able study the language in greater depth preparing them for a compulsory GCSE in this subject. In order to enable a greater breadth, students for whom MFL is compulsory at GCSE, do not have to study Geography, History or Computer Science.

Students follow a more personalised curriculum in Year 9, with a choice of creative and EBACC subjects that will ensure that a breadth of study is maintained while facilitating the emergence of some specialism. All students continue to follow a language and at least one other EBACC subject, in addition to at least one creative subject. At the end of Year 9 students will make choices for their GCSE/Vocational subjects to study alongside the core subjects, including Religious Studies.

Equally, we offer a broad range of courses and qualifications that will prepare students for further study at Post 16 and beyond.

It is our expectation that every student will continue in full time education or employment related training until the age of 18. We interview every Year 9 and Year 11 student and work hard to develop a personalised pathway for their progression route through to Key Stage 4 or Key Stage 5. For the vast majority, this means making Abbeywood their home centre for Key Stage 4 but for Post 16 studies but we can offer even greater variety by studying some courses in other centres within the Olympus Trust. 

Eventually, for some students, the most appropriate route for their career path is to find a full time course or employment-related training at another institution. We work with all students, whatever their destination, to find the best course to suit their future learning needs. 

Music Development Plan

Music is a key part of our curriculum and enrichment across all key stages. Please click on link below to view our Music Development Plan.

Music Development Plan