Curriculum overview
Our whole school curriculum aims to give our students the knowledge and skills to succeed in the world as it is, and the wisdom, empathy and courage to fashion the world as it should be.
Our curriculum has three key drivers: challenge for all, breadth, and internationalism.
Key Stage 3 (2021 - 2024)
Our key stage three curriculum is extremely broad, and it gives pupils the opportunity to study a rich and diverse range of subjects. English and maths lessons form a significant part of pupils’ timetables, while science is divided into specialist lessons in biology, chemistry and physics. One English lesson per fortnight takes place in the library, and aims to ensure that all pupils develop both a love of reading and the very highest levels of literacy.
All pupils will study two modern foreign languages from the three that we offer: French, Spanish and German. Our curriculum provides a truly rounded and enriching education: pupils also study history, geography, philosophy and RE, art, drama, music, food and nutrition, Computing and PE.
Additionally, further lessons in global citizenship prepare our pupils to take their place in the modern, international community, while our personal, social, relationships and health education lessons aim to educate and safeguard our pupils on the various and complex challenges that young people may face during their formative years.
Our academic curriculum is underpinned by our extensive and highly effective mentoring curriculum, which aims to nurture caring, open-minded and principled young people.
Key Stage 4
The richness and breadth of our curriculum continues into key stage four. All pupils will study the following combination of courses for GCSE:
- English Language and Literature (two GCSEs).
- Mathematics and Statistics (two GCSEs). Our most able mathematicians will also have the opportunity to study Further Mathematics at GCSE.
- Combined Science Trilogy (two GCSEs) or separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
- At least one modern language (French, Spanish or German)
- Pupils will choose two GCSE courses from the following list: Art; Business; Computing; Drama; Food Preparation and Nutrition; Geography; History; a second language; Music; GCSE PE; Philosophy and RE.
- The continuation of the mentoring curriculum as well as lessons in global citizenship, core PE and PSHE will continue to provide a broad and well-rounded education for our pupils.
Key Stage 5
Our sixth form offers a range of programmes and pathways from the International Baccalaureate, the broadest, most challenging and most internationally-recognised qualification in the world.
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme comprises six subjects from across the IB subject groups. The structure and unity of the programme is exemplified below:
An IBDP study programme consists of one subject from each of the following groups. Group 6 subjects are optional, so students may choose two subjects in group 2, 3 or 4 if they wish.
Additional flexibility is provided by Environmental Systems and Societies, which spans both Group 3 and Group 4.
The core of the IBDP consists of;
- Theory of Knowledge (TOK),
- Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS)
- and the Extended Essay (EE)
These three elements are an integral part of the DP experience.
| Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 5 | Group 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
English |
French |
Anthropology |
Biology |
Mathematics |
Film |
|
|
German |
Economics |
Chemistry |
|
Music |
|
|
Japanese |
Geography |
Computer |
|
Theatre |
|
|
Spanish |
Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS) |
|
Visual Art |
|
|
|
|
History |
Physics |
|
|
|
|
|
Philosophy |
Food |
|
|
|
|
|
Psychology |
|
|
|
An alternative sixth form pathway is the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP). Today’s students need to be prepared for tomorrow’s rapidly changing and competitive jobs market; at Dane Court Grammar School we want our students to become self-confident, internationally minded learners who can play an active part in this changing world. The IBCP aims to provide a curriculum for students that will equip them for further education and also the world of work.
Each student taking the IBCP will study one of the following vocational courses:
- Business
- Design Engineering
- Health and Social Care
- Sport and Exercise Science
IBCP students will also have access to the full range of additional IB subjects from the table above, and will study a minimum of two and maximum of four additional subjects.
The IBCP programme is underpinned by the IBCP core, which consists of lessons on personal and professional skills (PPS), language acquisition (Japanese), the Reflective Project and Service Learning.
The IBCP develops students who are well equipped for the world of work; encourages them to think creatively and independently in order to become lifelong learners; provides a locally relevant education that develops in our students the capacity to make a positive difference; and removes the distinction that exists in many educational systems between knowledge skills and practical skills
We are committed to inclusivity, and therefore students also have the opportunity to study an individual range of IB subject courses, even if this choice does not meet the requirements for either of the two main sixth form programmes of study. We refer to this as the Bespoke Programme of sixth form study. Many universities in the UK recognise and accept individual IB courses which fall short of the full IBDP or IBCP qualification, therefore this is a valuable option for many of our learners.
Extra-Curricular
We offer a very wide range of extra-curricular activities throughout the whole school curriculum. These include:
- Additional music tuition and performance groups
- Drama performances and trips
- House sporting and creative activities
- Visits from outside speakers and organisations
- A very wide range of successful sporting clubs and teams
- Student-led groups and clubs
- A wide range of school trips
- Visits to universities and colleges
- Visits to a range of community organisations.