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Cotham School

KS3 Curriculum

Cotham has a three year Key Stage 3 curriculum which is broad and balanced and fully meets the requirements of the National Curriculum.

NB: 

  • Maths teaching groups are set according to ability in maths from the beginning of Term 2 in Year 7

  • Three Modern Foreign Languages are taught in tutor groups in Year 7 (Spanish, French and German via carousel).  Students select one of these languages in Year 8.

  • Dance is an option within PE in Year 9.  

Key Stage 3 curriculum subjects and time allocations
25 hrs per week, 50 periods x 60 minutes per two week cycle

Subject

Hours Per Fortnight

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

English

9

8

8

Mathematics

7

7

7

Science

6

6

7

Modern Foreign Languages (French, German or Spanish)

4

5

5

Geography

2

3

3

History

2

3

3

Philosophy and Religion

3

2

2

Art and Design

2

2

2

Design Technology

2

2

2

Computing and ICT

1

2

2

Drama

2

2

2

Music 

2

2

2

Dance

2

1

0

Physical Education (PE)

4

4

4 (includes dance)

Personal, Social, Health Education (Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE)

2

1

1

Total

50

50

50

 

Key Stage 3 Subject Curriculum Blocking and Grouping Arrangements 

Subject

Blocking

Grouping

English 

Tutor group  pool. Half year blocks

Mixed ability 

Maths

Taught in half year blocks

Setted from the start of Year 7 Term 2 

Science

Tutor group/teaching group  pool. Half year blocks

Mixed ability teaching  groups

PE/Dance

Half year block

Single sex mixed ability groups. Dance included as an option in Year 9

Modern Foreign Languages

(French, German or Spanish)

Tutor group/teaching group  pool in Yr 7.  MFL Option introduced for Yr 8 and Yr 9 (in groups).  

Mixed ability tutor groups Years 7. 

Mixed ability teaching groups (by language in Years 8 and 9) 

Personal Social and Health
Education (PSHE)

Tutor group/teaching group  pool. Half year blocks

Mixed ability

History 

Tutor group/teaching group  pool. Half year blocks

Mixed ability

Geography

Tutor group/teaching group  pool. Half year blocks

Mixed ability

Philosophy and Religion

Tutor group/teaching group  pool. Half year blocks

Mixed ability

Music

Tutor group/teaching group  pool. Half year blocks

Mixed ability

Dance 

Tutor group/teaching group  pool. Half year blocks

Mixed ability

Drama

Tutor group/teaching group  pool. Half year blocks

Mixed ability

Visual Arts

Tutor group/teaching group  pool. Half year blocks

Mixed ability

Design Technology (Resistant Materials and Food Technology)

Tutor group/teaching group  pool. Half year blocks

Mixed ability

Computing and ICT

Tutor group/teaching group  pool. Half year blocks

Mixed ability

KS3 Curriculum Content

Parents and carers can see the Cotham KS3 Curriculum for students in Years 7, 8 and 9 across Terms 1 to 6 in our Cotham KS3 Curriculum powerpoint.

Curriculum Booklets

Additional information regarding the subjects delivered at KS3 can be found in our Curriculum Booklets for Year 7, 8 and 9.