Introduction

Introduction to Curriculum

For pupils age 11 to 18 we offer a full and varied curriculum including a wide range of GCSEs, A Levels and BTECs. All of these exciting courses are delivered by enthusiastic and gifted teachers operating in an excellent environment.

After this brief introduction explaining how our curriculum works, each academic department is represented on a separate page. On each of these pages can be found an introduction to the specific departmental curriculum followed by a Lower School (First, Second and Third Year), Middle School (GCSE) and Senior School (A Level/BTECs) breakdown of what is broadly on offer. This information is presented together with any department-related co-curricular activity that is relevant. Co‑curricular activity is an integral and highly valued element of our wider curriculum at Kirkham Grammar School but we aim, in these pages, only to alert you to the breadth of it.

The tables below show how the curriculum is currently built. There are three tables: Lower School, Middle School and Senior School; and in each of these the number beside the subject, activity or event indicates the number of school periods (of 1 hour in length) over our two-week timetable that are devoted to it.

Lower School
Subject Periods Allocated
First Year Second Year Third Year
English 7¹ 7¹ 7
Maths 7 7 7
Biology 2 2 3
Chemistry 2 2 3
Physics 2 2 3
French 2 3 3
German or Spanish 3 3 3
Geography 2 2 2
History 2 2 2
Religion, Philosophy & Ethics 2 2 2
Art 2 2 2
Drama 2 2 2
Music 2 2 2
Design & Technology 2 2 2
Computing 2 2 1
PSHE 2 2 1
Latin 1 1 -

PE

 2 1 1
Games 4 4 4

Notes:  ¹ Including 1 lesson of Accelerated reader per two weeks

Middle School
Subject Periods Allocated
Fourth and Fifth Year
English 7
Maths 7
Biology 4
Chemistry 4
Physics 4
GCSE options¹ 20
Games 2
CCF 2

Notes:

  • 4 subjects @ 5 periods per subject.
  • Optional GCSE subjects are: Art and Design (Fine Art, Photography), Business Studies, Drama, Design Technology (Design Engineering and Product Design), French, Geography, German, History, Latin, Music, Physical Education, Religious Studies and Spanish.

Sixth Form:
 

Periods Allocated 
Lower Sixth Upper Sixth
Subjects¹ Usually 3 subjects @ 10 periods per subject = 30 Usually 3 subjects @ 10 periods per subject = 30
Games / Activities 4 4
CCF² 2 2
Supervised Private Study / Enrichment 14 14

Notes

  • Subjects available in the Sixth Form are:
    Art and Design (Fine Art, Photography), Biology, Business Studies (A Level and BTEC), Chemistry, Design Technology (Product Design and Design Engineering), Drama and Theatre Studies, Economics, English Language, English Literature, French, Geography, German, Government and Politics, History, Latin, Maths, Further Maths, Music, Physical Education, Physics, Psychology, Religious Studies, Spanish, Sport (BTEC).
  • ¹This number could vary according to whether an EPQ or CCF is undertaken.
  • ²Not compulsory.