School Curriculum

Organisation of teaching groups and curriculum for key stage 3 students

Each Year 7 tutor group is arranged so that it contains a full range of abilities. There are four groups in each year of approximately 30 students. These students usually stay in the same tutor group until they leave. At present they are taught in this tutor group for almost all subjects in the first three years. The exceptions are in ICT and Technology where groups are smaller, in Physical Education where they are mainly taught in single sex groups and in French, German and Mathematics where students are placed in "sets" in Year 8 and Year 9. Within all-ability groups we take great care that all students are given work at an appropriate level.

Organisation of teaching groups and curriculum for key stage 4 students

In Years 10 and 11 the organisation of teaching groups depends on the subject chosen. There is still setting in Mathematics due to the varying demands of examination courses. There are small groups in English for the few who need a higher level of support.

Lesson Allocation across KS3 & KS4

Numbers denote number of periods per two week timetable - (The school has a two week 50 period cycle)

• In Y10 and Y11 Options are offered in the following subject areas: Separate Sciences, History, Geography, French, German, Spanish, Art, Food, Resistant Materials, Graphic Products, Drama Music, Physical Education, Business Studies, Media and ICT Diploma.
• Students will select three options from the subjects outlined above and study each of these for 5 periods over the two week timetable.
• All students are offered a short course in Religious Education. (Equivalent to half a GCSE)
• Vocational Courses through the Ripley & Heanor Partnership, are available to students, the current courses on offer are: Construction, Health & Social Care, Hair & Beauty, Public Services, and Motor Vehicle.

Astronomy and Statistics GCSE courses are offered to all students as an after school session.

Religious education and collective worship

Religious Education is compulsory in all state schools. At JFCS, Religious Education is taught as part of the Humanities Curriculum in Years 7, 8 and 9. In Years 10 and 11 religious, humanitarian and moral issues are included in the curriculum as a GCSE Short Course, and in collective worship. In whichever way it is presented, Religious Education is non denominational in approach, conforms to the Derbyshire Agreed Syllabus and never attempts to convert students to any particular faith. The school fully respects that some parents and students may have their own particular convictions and if these are incompatible with the content of either religious education lessons, or collective worship, then arrangements can be made to withdraw your child from these. Please contact the Headteacher, in writing, if you need to make this request.

Sex education

In PSHE and Science, all Year 7 students study basic sexual anatomy and changes at puberty. As students progress through the school they will learn about the wider aspects of "sex education" i.e. understanding feelings, emotional relationships growing out of sexual attraction, responsibilities of adulthood, parenting and family life, contraception and sexually transmitted diseases. These areas are covered in PSHE lessons as part of a planned programme and some aspects may also be discussed as students follow courses in Religious Education, English and Science. The Governing Body has a policy statement on sex education which follows the guidelines laid down by the Derbyshire Education Authority. A copy of this statement is available to parents on request. Revised statutory requirements for the provision of sex education in schools were introduced by the Department for Education in section 241 of the Education Act 1993. These regulations recognise parents rights to withdraw their children from this part of the curriculum should they wish to do so.

Supporting the curriculum

Homework is set regularly by subject staff to extend, deepen and enrich the learning which takes place in the classroom. All students are provided with a Homework Timetable and a Student Planner in which they are required to record homework set. Homework is not something which is separate from what students complete during school, it might involve private reading, making notes, completing classwork, learning for a test, doing set exercises, carrying out surveys and so on. Additional information and our homework policy are available through the school's website. The role of parents in supporting additional learning is very important to us, and if you are at all concerned about your child's homework please contact us.

Find out more...

The prospectus provides much of the above information in Section A. Relevant information requarding student support, pastoral care, inclusion support are applicable in sections B1,B2,C and D of the Prospectus.

Click here to download a copy of our prospectus.