Curriculum Structure

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Like many schools, at Padgate Academy we operate a 2 week rotational timetable (week A + B) with 25 lessons per week, 50 lessons a fortnight. Our overall timetable cycle of 50 periods is allocated as below.

The curriculum at Padgate Academy aims to encapsulate the ‘greatest things ever thought and said.’  We believe that the students within the community deserve access to the knowledge and skills that will best allow them to play a role as global citizens in the 21st century. 

We believe that we have a duty to help every young person develop as a whole person, fulfil their potential and contribute towards a future built upon the social and economic well-being of every individual, the local community and the wider world. Put simply, the provision of an outstanding curriculum is the single most important thing we can do to raise standards and aspirations, unlock potential and drive social mobility. 

The Academy curriculum is at the heart of our strategy to deliver our core aim of a ‘First Class Education’. The curriculum sits at the heart of all we do and has been carefully planned by each department to deliver the granular and disciplinary knowledge our students need to learn. Subjects have also planned exposure to topics, research and characters that shape society locally, nationally and globally. 

At KS3 our curriculum has been designed with the intent that our students have the opportunity to develop a rich and full knowledge base which will act as a stepping stone, benefitting them in later years. Subjects have carefully sequenced the topics to not only build on prior knowledge from KS2, but to continually deepen and broaden the key knowledge across years 7-9. Students are given the tools that they need to remember what they have learned so that they can gain a deeper, more fluent disciplinary knowledge in preparation for KS4. 

Key Stage 3

The academic curriculum at Key Stage 3 (Years 7 to 9) has been carefully designed to successfully equip your child with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values which they will require to progress in their studies at Key Stage 4 and beyond. 

The KS3 curriculum is designed to allow all students to experience a broad and balanced curriculum, which includes English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, Languages, Expressive arts and Sport. Our students will study a range of subjects within these disciplines, thereby developing their academic knowledge and skills with the additional benefit for many students of nurturing their passion and enjoyment of their subjects, which they may choose to study further at Key Stage 4.

The KS3 and KS4 academic curriculum is strongly supported by a personal development curriculum, which focuses on the core concepts delivered within PSHEE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) the RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) curriculum. Enabling students to not only acquire knowledge and skills relating to their academic studies, but also to develop your child by providing them with key life skills for the 21st century.

Parents and carers should be aware that they have the right to withdraw their child from all or part of Religious Education (RE) if they choose.

Key Stage 4

The Key Stage 4 curriculum seeks to provide students with a core suite of GCSE subjects, which will form the basis of their studies in Years 10 and 11. The core subjects are English Language and Literature, Mathematics, Science, Personal Development and Core P.E (Non-exam). 

Students will select to study four option subjects from a variety of GCSE and some BTEC courses. The options available each year may differ based upon class sizes and timetabling constraints.

Options include:

• Geography*
• History*
• Modern Foreign Language (Spanish/French)*
• Triple Science*
• Computer Science*
• Art
• Design and Technology
• Drama
• GCSE Music
• BTEC Sport

* In line with government guidance students will be required to study the core subjects and at least one other indicated by *

The Ebacc Qualification – The school's ambition is to provide a highly academic curriculum with as many students as possible completing the Ebacc suite of subjects. 

The Ebacc suite of subjects include:

• English Language/Literature
• Mathematics
• Science/ Triple Science
• History/Geography
• Language

Further details and guidance relating to the KS4 curriculum and selecting options will be presented to Year 9 students in the Spring term. Where a series of events will be held to support our students in making their choices.

The KS4 curriculum is supported by a comprehensive Personal Development curriculum similar to the offer at KS3, with the addition of CEIAG (Careers Education Information and Guidance) where dedicated careers support is given.