John Taylor High School

The Pupil Journey through JTHS

Pupils are taught in six 50-minute lessons during the day with break and lunch following periods 2 and 4, respectively. All pupils have a 30-minute registration session with their form tutor each morning in year-based tutor groups, of which one session is allocated as an assembly.

Due to the COVID pandemic, we have altered our timetable to deliver the curriculum in a two-week timetable. Students are taught in 3 double lessons of 100 minutes per day. Curriculum time across a two-week cycle is not affected.

Year 7

Pupils arrive in year 7 and are taught in their mixed ability horizontal groups for the following subjects: Art (1), English(3), French(4), Geography(1), History(1), Maths (3), Music(1), RE(1) and Science(2). Some pupils are taken out of the two lessons per week to have additional support from the SEN and English departments in order develop progress in English, Literacy and personal skills. This follows through to Year 8 and 9. Further to this, pupils have 2 lessons of PE. A further lesson in the week is allocated to our tutor program.

The remaining 10 lessons have been allocated to the JTHS STRIPE knowledge rich, skills-based curriculum. Pupils are taught in mixed ability groups on a six week project rotation which is skills based but has specialist subject input from Maths, English, Science, Geography, History, IT, Art and Technology.

Maths x3

Eng x3

Sci x2

Fr x4

PE x2

Art x1

Geog x1

Hist x1

Music x1

RE x1

Tutor x1

STRIPE x10

Year 8

There is a similar structure in Yr 8 with the majority of the lessons taking place in mixed ability horizontal form classes. With the skills-based curriculum currently only delivered to Yr7, the lesson allocation is slightly different: Art (2), Drama (1), English(4), Geography(1), History(1), IT(1), MFL(4)*, Music(1), RE(2), Science(4), and Technology(2). Maths is taught in setted classes in four lessons per week. PE also has three lessons per week. Tutor program is the same as Yr 7.

*MFL – There is opportunity for pupils to study dual languages for the most able pupils. The remaining pupils will study French. Some individuals are taken out of languages altogether for additional SEN support.

Maths x4

Eng x4

Sci x4

MFL x 4

PE x3

Art x2

Geog x1

Hist x1

IT x1

Music x1

RE x2

Tech x2

Tutor x1

Year 9

Horizontal mixed ability classes remain in the following subjects: Art (1), English (4), Geography (2), History(2), Computer Science(1), MFL (3)*, Music(1), RS GCSE (2), Science (4) and Technology(2). PE continues with three lessons per week with one lesson for tutor program. Setting continues in Maths in 4 periods per week.

Maths x4

Eng x4

Sci x4

MFL x3

PE x3

Art x1

Geog x2

Hist x2

Comp x1

Music x1

RS x2

Tech x2

Tutor x1

Year 10 and 11

In the Spring term of Year 9, pupils will begin to receive advice and guidance on which options to take into GCSE. In English, pupils study English Language and English Literature (2 GCSEs) in 6 lessons per week, Maths is delivered in 5 lessons per week. Science is taught in 6 lessons per week with two progression routes: Separate or Combined Science. In Yr 10 and 11, pupils study RS in a single lesson in Year 10 and two lessons in Year 11 following on from the work done in Year 9. Tutor Program has a single lesson in Year 11 with Core PE taking a double lesson in both years.

GCSE Options

Pupils currently have three blocks from which to choose subjects to make up the remaining time during their GCSE studies. These lessons are taught in three lessons per week.

Pupils choose their Options within designated Pathways. For the current year 10, pupils following Pathway J will choose one humanity (Geography or History), one language (French or German) and once further subject from the list below. Pupils following Pathway T will choose one EBacc subject (Geography, History, French, German or Computer Science) and two from the list below.

Options subjects include: History, Geography, French, German, Business, Art, Food Preparation and Nutrition, Music, Product Design, Drama, Computer Science, and BTECs in Health and Social Care, and Cambridge National in Sports Science.

Year 10

Maths x5

Eng x6

Sci x6

PE x2

RS x1

Opt A x3

Opt B x 3

Opt C x3

Tutor x1

Year 11

Maths x5

Eng x6

Sci x6

PE x2

RS x2

Opt A x3

Opt B x 3

Opt C x3

Year 12 and 13

Students can opt to study 3 main A-Levels in Yrs. 12 and 13 (dependent upon GCSE attainment) plus enrichment subjects such as Further Maths and Extended Project or MOOCs. Each of the main subjects are taught in 6 lessons per week with Enrichments ranging from 5 lessons in Further Maths to 1 in Extended Project. Any additional lessons in a student’s timetable are allocated to personal study time.

Again there is a single lesson of tutor period in the students’ timetables.

Subjects offered at JTHS include:

A-Levels

Art, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Drama, Economics, English Language, English Literature, French, Geography, German, History, Law, Maths, Music, PE, Physics, Psychology, Philosophy and Ethics, and Design and Technology.

BTEC Level 3

Art and Design, Business, Health and Social Care, ICT, Sport and Science. (these are studied to the equivalent of either one, two or three A-Levels)

Overview

Year

Subject and number of sessions

Total

Maths x3

Eng x3

Sci x2

Fr x4

PE x2

Art x1

Geog x1

Hist x1

Music x1

RE x1

STRIPE x10

Tutor x1

Maths x4

Eng x4

Sci x4

MFL x 4

PE x3

Art x2

Geog x1

Hist x1

IT x1

Music x1

RE x2

Tech x2

Tutor x1

Maths x4

Eng x4

Sci x4

MFL x3

PE x3

Art x1

Geog x2

Hist x2

IT x1

Music x1

RS x2

Tech x2

Tutor x1

Maths x5

Eng x6

Sci x6

PE x2

RS x1

Opt A x3

Opt B x 3

Opt C x3

Tutor x1

Maths x5

Eng x6

Sci x6

PE x2

RS x2

Opt A x3

Opt B x 3

Opt C x3

Option A x6

Option B x6

Option C x6

Enrichment x5

Private Study

Tutor x1

Option A x6

Option B x6

Option C x6

Enrichment x5

Private Study

Tutor x1

GCSE Options

English Literature, English Language, Maths, Science (either Separate or Combined Science), RS, History, Geography, French, German, Business, Art, Food Preparation and Nutrition, Music, Product Design, Drama, Computer Science, and BTECs in Health and Social Care, and Cambridge National in Sports Science.

A –Level Options

BTEC Level 3

Art and Design, Business, Health and Social Care, ICT, Sport, Human Biology and Applied Science. (these are studied to the equivalent of either one, two or three A-Levels)

6^th Form Enrichment: Extended Project Qualification or MOOCs.