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Home | Curriculum | Pathways

Pathways

Meet the Team

Miss McKenzie
Miss McKenzie
Student Support - Year 8
Mr Housley
Mr Housley
Head of Year 8
Mr Hussain
Mr Hussain
Assistant Principal

Which subjects do all students study?

The next three years will be an important period in your child's life and will help determine their future education and career. Many students will use their Key Stage 4 study as a platform for Post 16 courses at Ken Stimpson Community School. Key Stage 4 work offers an opportunity for a fresh start, although you will notice progression in most subjects from the work covered in Years 7 and 8.

Core Curriculum

All students will study the following core curriculum

  • English
  • Science – Combined Science or Triple Science
  • Mathematics
  • Physical Education
  • PSHE and Wellbeing
  • Religious Studies

In addition, Citizenship, Careers, Enterprise and Work-related Learning, Information, Advice and Guidance will be delivered via integration into PSHE and curriculum days.

Pathways Courses and Blocking

The curriculum pathways, which are illustrated below, indicate a number of subjects within each box. Click on the subjects to see more detailed information about them. Students are required to select a subject from each box. The same subject cannot be selected multiple times. Students must select at least one subject from the following:

  • Computer Science
  • Geography
  • History
  • French

Pathways+ Courses and Blocking

The curriculum pathways, which are illustrated below, indicate a number of subjects within each box. Click on the subjects to see more detailed information about them. Students are required to select a subject from each box. The same subject cannot be selected multiple times.

Further Information

Assessment
Assessment forms an important part of Key Stage 4 courses.  It consists of work done throughout the course which counts towards your final examination grade.  It may take the form of:

  • Classwork
  • Homework
  • Assignments
  • Tests
  • Fieldwork
  • Projects

Remember that assessment is:

  • spread over the length of the course
  • a continuous indicator of how you are doing
  • helpful to students who perform less well in examinations
  • a good preparation for Post 16 work.

Examinations
Most courses have an examination at the end of Year 11.  Our policy is to enter students for all examinations in which we believe they may achieve a recognised grade.

We require that parents pay for entry for students who the school believes will be unlikely to achieve a recognised grade.  The criteria for identifying these students are a poor level of attendance (less than 90% in the last calendar year) and the failure to complete coursework.  If a 'parental entry' student does achieve a pass grade then the cost will be reimbursed by the school.

Taster Week

Across the week commencing 27th March, Year 8 students will attend a series of lessons that are ‘tasters’ of what to expect if they were to study that subject at Key Stage 4. By the end of the week, all students will have sampled all of the option subjects available to them and be more informed in their decision making.

Pathways Interview

All students are invited to a 10-minute personal Pathways appointment, with a member of the Pastoral or Leadership Team. This is their opportunity to ask any specific questions they have relating to their pathways preferences.

Online Form

The link to the online form will be sent to student’s school email address. Students are encouraged to complete the form in conjunction with input from their parents/carers. It is worth remembering that it will not be feasible to offer first choices to all students and therefore it is necessary to choose a backup subject in each block. The deadline for submitting the form is Friday 12 May.

Confirmation

During the Summer Term, a letter will be sent to parents/carers to confirm the subjects of study for September.

Ken Stimpson Academy
Staniland Way
Werrington
PE4 6JT (Sat Nav users: PE4 6WR)