​Year 7 and 8 (Key Stage 3)

In Years 7 and 8 (Key Stage 3) pupils follow a balanced curriculum including the core subjects of English, Maths and Science alongside a wide range of Foundation subjects. In English and Maths the curriculum builds on the core skills that pupils will have learnt at Primary school, extending their experience and application of these skills to a deeper level in readiness for the challenges of Key Stage 4 (Years 10 to 11).

In Science, the focus is on Topic based learning, linking scientific exploration with real world examples and drawing together a number of strands in scientific thinking from biology, chemistry and physics that enables learners to see the relevance to every day life.

In addition to the core subjects, our curriculum includes discrete teaching in History, Geography and RE. Relationships, Sex and Health Education is taught in discrete lessons in Year 7 and through the Personal Development Curriculum in tutor times, supported by a rich assembly programme and termly small group/1:1 mentoring and discussion sessions.

The Personal Development Curriculum comprises of 4 key areas:

• Relationships, Sex and Health Education;

• Perspectives - Equalities and Diversity;

• Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural Development:

• The Westgate Challenge and, Personal, Social and Health Education - including careers.

Languages, the Arts, Technology, Computing and Physical Education are all part of the weekly timetable and delivered in purposefully designed teaching areas that maximise learning opportunities. We have specialist teachers in all subject areas whose enthusiasm for their subject resonates through the schemes of learning that pupils experience in Key Stage 3.

Strong partnerships with our linked primary schools mean that all pupils, regardless of where they attended primary education, will experience a curriculum in these core subjects that builds on their prior learning to ensure that rapid and sustained progress is made throughout Key Stage 3. High quality teaching means that at The Westgate, we recognise that young people’s talents and challenges vary across subjects and therefore, whether an individual needs individual support or greater extension, we are able to respond to this through our curriculum design and delivery.

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