There are six tutor groups in each year of approximately 30 students of mixed ability.  Students usually remain in the same tutor group until they leave school.

Ability Grouping

In Years 7, 8 and 9, students are taught in mixed ability classes in all subjects with the exceptions of English, Mathematics and Science.

In Years 10 and 11 the organisation of teaching groups depends on the option subject chosen.  Students are placed in ability groups for English, Mathematics and Science.

The school determines a student’s target in line with aspirational FFT5 target setting.

Ability groupings across all year groups are routinely reviewed to allow for freedom of movement between ability groups where needed.  Ability groupings across Years 7, 8 and 9 do not restrict the GCSE pathways open to students as they progress through the Guided Options Process in Year 9.

Modern Foreign Languages Offer

Students study two languages during Year 7.  All students study French until February where they then move to their second language which is either German or Spanish.  The second language studied is determined by the student’s tutor group.

At the end of Year 7, students are given the opportunity to select their preferred language to study across both Years 8 and 9, with the expectation that they will then continue with their studies across Years 10 and 11 leading to a Modern Foreign Language GCSE qualification.  GCSE Spanish will be introduced from September 2025 to complement the existing GCSE French and German offer currently in place.

Lesson Allocation across Key Stage 3

The school has a two-week 50 period timetable. Below outlines the allocation of hours at each year group. Please select the year group tab to view the allocation of hours.

Key Stage 4 Teaching Allocation

In Year 10 and 11 students will select four options from the subjects outlined above and study each of these for 5 periods over the two-week timetable.

‘Options’ are currently offered in the following subject areas:

Personal Development

SMSC is compulsory in all State schools. At JFCS, SMSC is taught as part of the Personal Development and RE Curriculum. In whichever way it is presented, Religious Education taught as part of SMSC 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.

Relationship and Sex education (RSE)

In Personal Development 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 Personal Development lessons as part of a planned programme and some aspects may also be discussed as students follow courses in 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 80A of the Education Act 2002 and section 403 of the Education Act 1996. 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 use Class Charts as an organisational tool to help them manage the homework activities which need completing.  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…

For further information on our curriculum, please contact our Deputy Headteacher Mrs. T Stockley (stockleyt@jfcs.org.uk) who is our Senior Leader responsible for curriculum design.