Curriculum

Curriculum Rationale

At John Masefield High School, our aim is to provide excellent and enjoyable learning for all of our students through a broad and balanced knowledge-based curriculum.

We design the JMHS curriculum so that:

  • The most important facts and key knowledge are taught near the start of the course and are revisited many times gradually building complexity.
  • Learning is sequenced to enable new knowledge to be linked to previous learning and that topics are taught in an order that helps students to know more, remember more and understand better.
  • Ideas and knowledge are linked to key concepts, showing students the big ideas within each subject.
  • End points for each module are clear and precise.
  • Small components of learning to achieve the end points are detailed and thorough
  • The key vocabulary students need to know and use within each module is identified.

We prepare students for life in modern Britain through developing ‘British Values’, high quality Personal, Social and Health Education, Relationships and Sex Education, numerous cultural experiences and good quality Careers Education.  There is wide range of enrichment activities in the arts, sport and many other areas in which all students are encouraged to participate.  Leadership opportunities including sports, arts language leaders, and prefects provide the chance for our students to develop character and interpersonal skills.

The structure of the hours given at each point has been carefully considered to enable students to access a broad and balanced curriculum.

Moving to a three-year Key Stage 3 and two-year Key Stage 4

Students who joined Year 7 from September 2023, will be following the new three-year Key Stage 3 and will choose their GCSE options in Year 9, before beginning them in Year 10. We have chosen to move to this structure following extensive review by Senior Leaders and external reviewers. Some of the reasons for this include:

  • More time is provided to students in Year 7, 8 and 9 to develop a foundation of knowledge, before moving on to GCSEs.
  • All students have access to a broad and balanced curriculum, experiencing a wide range of subjects without specialising too early.
  • Students choose their GCSE options later, allowing them to make more of an informed choice.

Students who are currently in Years 9, 10 or 11 will continue to follow the old three-year Key Stage 4 pathway.

Key Stage 3 – Year 7, 8 and 9

We cover all of the Key Stage 3 National Curriculum in Years 7, 8 & 9, in some places going beyond the requirements of the National Curriculum to engage students and provide them with further challenge. In Key Stage 3, all students study English, Mathematics, Science, ICT, Design Technology, Food & Nutrition, Geography, History, Religious Education, PSHE, Careers, Physical Education, Art, Music, and Drama. RSE is delivered in several ways, through science lessons, tutor delivery of PSHE and extra lessons delivered by their Year leader.

Key Stage 4 – Year 10 and 11 GCSE

As a school we offer the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) for almost all students, with the only exception a small number of students with an EHCP, who do not study the EBacc and instead follow a slightly different pathway that has been tailored to their specific SEND needs. The EBacc is a set of subjects at GCSE that keeps young people’s options open for further study and future careers. This is English language and literature, Mathematics, Science, Geography or History and a Modern Foreign Language. Students choose whether to study Combined Science or Biology, Chemistry and Physics as separate sciences, French or German, Geography or History, plus two additional subjects.  These two additional subjects are chosen from a selection of 12 different subjects plus the ability to study a second language or humanity. This gives students the opportunity to specialise in the subjects that are of most interest to them.  Additionally, all students have core Physical Education lessons and study PSHE, Religious Education, Careers and Computing across the curriculum and through assemblies and tutor delivery.

We believe that studying the EBacc qualifications will considerably enhance student’s life chances as they facilitate the greatest flexibility both into A level and university courses. As an 11-18 school, we ensure the Key Stage 4 courses are excellent preparation and link in well with our Sixth Form studies.

Sixth Form Curriculum

Our Sixth Form, JM6, has over twenty high quality courses in artistic and creative subjects, humanities and social sciences, mathematics, science and vocational subjects.  The transition courses and masterclasses in Year 11 and careful coverage of the key concepts and foundational knowledge at the start of Year 12 enables students to gain confidence and make excellent progress during Year 13 to achieve high A level results.  As a result of this and individual guidance and support, Year 13 students progress onto excellent university courses, employment or apprenticeships.  In addition to our academic and vocational courses, JM6 provides a broad Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural education and a wide range of exciting enrichment and leadership opportunities.

Year 7 and Year 8 Curriculum Overview

Year 9 to Year 11 Curriculum Overview

Sixth Form Curriculum 22_23 onwards