Curriculum Overview
Key Stage 3
In Years 7, 8 and 9, all pupils will study English, Mathematics, Science, Technology, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Physical Education, the “Humanities” subjects of Religious Education (following the West Sussex Agreed Syllabus), Geography and History, a Modern Foreign Language (currently French) and the Creative Arts subjects of Art, Drama and Music. Additional lessons for PSHCE will also be given.
A 'Key Stage 3 Guide' is available with more detailed information for parents.
Regular assessment of pupil performance is undertaken throughout Key Stage 3 and shared with parents via a pupil’s school report. In Year 9 a final Key Stage 3 “teacher assessment” is made for each core and foundation subject and these are included with the Year 9 report.
Key Stage 4
The broad and all-inclusive curriculum of the first three years (Years 7, 8 and 9) becomes much more specifically configured to the individual needs and aspirations of each pupil in Years 10 and 11. At the end of the Spring term in Year 9 pupils are invited to select, in consultation with parents and after extensive advice from subject and vocational guidance teachers, a combination of subjects which they wish to study in more depth, generally through a course of study for a GCSE examination, for the following two years.
From September 2008, in Years 10 and 11, the school continues to encourage breadth of study, but the number of compulsory subjects is reduced and some variations on these are available. In addition, pupils are given considerable freedom to select a range of other subjects which best suit their interests and abilities. We hope that in this way each individual will choose a programme of study that is most likely to produce a high level of success. All pupils can access either GCSE subjects or a mixture of GCSE, vocational and work related subjects to increase the flexibility of what can be chosen and to cater more specifically for the strengths and wishes of individuals.
Considerable efforts are made to configure the curriculum to suit pupils' individual needs. Further information about this is made available during the Spring term of Year 9 when the 'Key Stage 4 Guide' is distributed to all families. Every pupil in year Year 10 & 11 is also issued with an additional information booklet containing useful information about all subjects and coursework. These booklets can be downloaded by clicking one of the links below.
The Sixth Form
Many pupils in Year 11 continue in school after the statutory leaving age in order to undertake Sixth Form study. The Sixth Form is not only large, with over 390 students, but also academically very successful, featuring yearly in the tables of top-performing Sixth Forms published by national newspapers. Sixth Form courses are designed not only for those students who are aiming at university or college entrance but also for those who may wish to improve the qualifications they have already acquired before leaving school for further education or employment. Students who wish to return to the Sixth Form must show they have the capacity and the will to make successful use of their time spent in advanced work. A significant indicator of this is their academic approach and performance in Year 11.
Hazelwick
is able to offer an exceptionally wide range of AS and A2 courses as well as
a number of Applied A level and BTEC courses. These courses
involve close collaboration with some of Crawley’s leading businesses
and will benefit Sixth Form students who wish to extend their educational horizons
in a more work-related context. GCSE repeat courses in English and Mathematics
are also provided in order for students to improve, if necessary, upon the
grades obtained in these vital subjects at the end of Year 11.
Full details of the course provision and organisation of the Sixth Form are
set out in the school’s 'Sixth
Form Guide'. As with option choice in Years 10 and 11, flexibility
of choice is of paramount importance and the school timetable is freshly
reconstructed every year around student subject combination requests.
Curriculum Principles
At Hazelwick we are passionate about creating a curriculum and teaching
and learning experiences that enable every student to excel and make rapid
progress towards their personal goals, always achieving their potential. We have published a document, 'Curriculum Principles', which outlines how we go about achieving this. You can download this document by clicking the link below.
