Curriculum

St. Anthony’s is a Roman Catholic Aided School where RE is a time tabled subject and the Christian Ethos pervades the entire School. All pupils in every year group take part in a daily Act of Worship.

Key Stage 3 (KS3)

Key Stage 4 (KS4)

Key Stage 5 (KS5)

KS3
The National Curriculum is delivered in all ten Foundation Subjects in KS3, and the entitlement to a balanced, broad, differentiated and an appropriate curriculum is secured for each pupil in bands of ability or mixed ability groups.

On first coming to school, pupils are placed in one of 7 mixed ability form groups.  After a brief settling in period they are placed in one of two broad parallel bands of ability – F (French) 1,2,3 & 4 and S (Spanish) 1,2,3&4 for the three separate Sciences, Modern Foreign Languages, Geography and History.

Mathematics is taught in sets from Y7 to 9.  National Literacy objectives for English make it important to be able to target the needs of individual pupils with more precision than was possible in broad bands. This is particularly beneficial for the more able who can be moved on to Y8 objectives where appropriate, and the weaker pupils, who can now be more easily targeted for “catch up” programmes. For these, and other reasons, setting was piloted in Y7 (Sept 2002) in order to deliver elements of the KS3 Strategy. From September 2004 English lessons are taught in sets from Y7 to Y9.

In Y7 RE, Technology (4 lessons), Art, Music, PE and ICT lessons are taught in mixed ability groups (14 lessons per week).

In Y8 Technology, Art, PE and Music are taught in mixed ability groups (10 lessons per week).

In Y9 Technology, Art, PE and Citizenship/PE are taught in mixed ability groups (10 lessons per week).  A key part of the Citizenship programme in Y9 is devoted to individual pupil guidance with regard to option choices and progression routes.

Within the Key Stage, the bulk of Sex and Relationships Education and Drugs Education is delivered as module within the Citizenship programme but some aspects are delivered in tutorials and across the curriculum in RE and Science lessons.  The team is lead by a specialist PSHE co-ordinator.

The achievement of Specialist Status in Technology meant that the time tabled provision for Technology effectively doubled (from one double period to two double periods per week). Apart from the problem of finding extra space in the curriculum to accommodate increased provision, it also resulted in a complex rotation of “hard” and “soft” technology topics both within and between lessons.

In addition to class music lessons, individuals in small groups are taught piano, violin, clarinet, flute and cello or requested instruments if parents wish to pay for this service.

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KS4
The curriculum for each pupil in KS4 consists of a core of Religious, English, Mathematics, Science (Three Separate Sciences, Dual Award Science, Single Science) a Modern Foreign Language (French or Spanish) and Technology (Food, Textiles, Graphic Products, Electronic Products and Product Design). In addition to the “core” there is a wide variety of GCSE option choices – Art, Business Studies, Business and Communication Studies, ICT, Classical Civilisation, Environmental Science, Geography, Heath and Social Care, History, Latin, Leisure and Tourism, Music, Physical Education and Sociology.

There is also the opportunity to choose courses with a strong vocational component – GCSE Health and Social Care. In September 2005 introduced a GCSE course in Leisure and Tourism which will provide a progression route to the Advanced Level Travel and Tourism Course in Y12/13.

An innovative, dynamic and very successful Citizenship programme is firmly embedded and well integrated into the SMSC component of the curriculum. This is a competence based course where emphasis is placed on the acquisition and development of key skills – they are the “glue” that holds together the component parts of the course.

CEG, which is an integral part of the Citizenship programme, together with the tutorial system give guidance to every pupil. Other components of a broad and balanced curriculum include extended and extra-curricular activities and a work experience placement in Y11.

The SMT at present is involved in producing a strategic plan for the delivery of Specialised Diplomas.

In September 2006 two new courses were introduced into KS4.  First, the study Plus Programme (National Pilot) will help to raise achievement in English and Mathematics.

Second, a new BTEC course - the Health and Social Care (Introductory Certificate).  This course is ideal for those pupils who are interested in Health and Social Care and Childcare but would struggle with the demands of GCSE Health and Social Care Course.  Initially, the group will be small (15 maximum) and entry to the group will be determined by interview.

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KS5
St Anthony’s Sixth form brochure sets out the courses offered with a summary of the specifications, course entry requirements and career prospects.

The Sixth Form timetable is the outcome of a highly proactive strategy which has embraced all of the reforms embodied in Curriculum 2000 but modified/adapted them to meet the needs of the individual student. Subject breadth was achieved without sacrificing subject teaching time which includes RE, guidance lessons or enrichment activities.  A Key Skills programme was introduced and General Studies lessons have added additional breath.  A prime concern was student overload. Students who met the general admission requirement studied 3 AS levels plus General Studies.  Those who achieved 6 grade A’s or above were allowed to study 5 AS levels (including General Studies).  These students are entered for AS/ A level General Studies without attending lessons. Within the last 10 years, 11 new subjects have been added to the curriculum. We offer 33 AS subjects - 32 at Advanced Level including Health and Social Care and Travel and Tourism.  Some students are encouraged to drop subjects at the end of Y12 and pick up another to add further breadth. 

In direct response to one of the action points identified in the Sunderland 16-19 Area Wide Inspection namely the provision of L1 / L2 qualifications for those students who want a Sixth Form education - we introduced an Edexcel BTEC First Diploma course at foundation and intermediate levels in Business Studies.  Out Work Related Learning Co-ordinator is the team leader for L1/L2 qualifications programme.  Again, this appointment exemplifies our proactive approach to the curriculum by preparing well in advance for the (statutory) introuction of WRL into the KS4 curriculum.

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