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Key Stage 4 Learning

Key Stage 4 Curriculum

The key focus of the curriculum at The Upper Academy is to ensure an ambitious, broad, balanced and well-sequenced curriculum that build knowledge and skills step-by-step. 

Our curriculum is designed to give the students opportunities to learn regardless of their starting point, in order to:

  • Develop a love of learning
  • Develop resilience to be able to work independently
  • Develop foundational skills such as literacy, reading, numeracy and oracy
  • Support spiritual, moral, social and cultural growth
  • Encourage healthy lifestyles and how to be an active citizen
  • Chose from a wide range of option subjects that align with their interests, ambition and future career

Our Key Stage 4 curriculum is taught in one-hour lessons. Each subject has the following number of hours per week:

Subject​

Year 10 ​

Year 11​

English ​

4​

5​

Maths ​

4​

4​

Science  ​

4​

5​

PE​

1​

1​

RSHE​

1​

1​

History or Geography​

2​

2​

French​

-​

1​

Option 1​

3​

3​

Option 2​

3​

3​

Option 3​

3​

-​

We offer a wide range of option subjects in both GCSE and Vocational subjects. Our current Year 10 offer includes:

GCSE

Vocational

Triple Science

Engineering

French

Creative Media

History

Health and Social Care

Geography

Construction

Art

Hospitality and Catering

Business Studies

Travel and Tourism

Computer Science

Psychology

Photography

Music

Dance

Economics

Physical Education

To support all students to build on their previous knowledge and skills we have four mainstream pathways, North, South, East and West as well as Nurture and Bridge for identified students. Students are placed in one pathway based on their attainment data to ensure that the appropriate scaffolding, adaptations and stretch and challenge are in place to support them making progress.