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KS3 Curriculum Overview
Our faculties have planned backwards from the GCSE exam specifications, identifying the core knowledge and skills needed, and mapped them into the Key Stage 3 pathway in the form of learning milestones. The expected standard of skills and understanding expected are outlined through pathways that link to the grades at GCSE level as the diagram below shows:
The four pathways to GCSE
Mastery
A student who is working on the Mastery pathway will be demonstrating skills and understanding that could be a good basis for success at Grades 8 – 9 ( A*/A) because they will be fully developed in all the concepts and knowledge required for the subject and are able to apply them in a range of different situations. This is an aspirational level at Key Stage 3 to ensure that even the most able pupils always have something to strive for.
Exceeding
A student who is working on the Exceeding pathway will be able demonstrating skills and understanding that will be a good basis for success at Grades 6 - 7 (…or the old A and top B) because they will be working beyond the expected level of knowledge and skills required for a good pass; they understand the concepts and knowledge involved in the subject very well indeed.
Secure
A student described as being on the Secure pathway will be able to demonstrate skills and understanding that will be a good basis for success at Grades 4 – 5 (…or the old B and C) because they possess the expected level of knowledge and skills required for this subject.
Developing
If a student is described as working on the Developing pathway, this means they still need to progress their skills and understanding further in order to achieve a good pass at GCSE. Their knowledge and understanding of the concepts and knowledge required would be a good foundation.
Target setting
Target Setting
To fit with our model of Developing, Secure, Exceeding and Mastery pathways at Key Stage 3, students will be given a starting point pathway based on their Key Stage 2 test scores. Due to Covid-19, the Year 7 cohort in 2020 will have pathways that are based on CAT4 testing that takes place in September 2020.
Pathways also show how students might succeed at GCSE and allow us to see if they are making progress in line with, above or below what we are led to expect of them from their Key Stage 2 scores. In other words, we will be able to see if they are ‘on track’ through the year as their teachers report on current attainment.
Setting
In Year 7 all of our teaching is mixed ability. In Year 8 and Year 9 students are currently set by ability in maths but all other subjects are taught in mixed ability groups.
