A 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 a year group assembly.

 

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), 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. Maths is taught in 3 lessons and is the only subject to set in Year 7. A further lesson in the week is taken up by tutor program.

The remaining 10 lessons have been allocated to the JTHS STRIPE 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.

 

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 again 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.

  

Year 9

Year 9 sees quite a significant change in setting. Horizontal mixed ability classes remain in the following subjects: Art (1), English (4), Geography(2), History(2), Computer Science(1), Music(1), RS GCSE (2) and Technology(2). PE continues with three lessons per week with one lesson for tutor program. Setting now takes place in the following subjects:

Maths – 4 lessons

Science – 4 lessons. Pupils begin the study of  GCSE Science in Year 9.

MFL – There is opportunity for pupils to study dual languages for those that followed this route in Yr 8. The remaining pupils will study either French or German. Some individuals are taken out of languages altogether for additional SEN support.

 

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. The three core subjects are taught again in sets according to ability. 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 Science or Double Award. In Yr 10 and 11, pupils study RS following on from the work done in Year 9. This is delivered in as a single lesson in Year 10, increasing to two lessons in Year 11. Tutor Program has a single lesson with Core PE taking a double lesson.

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 Pathways 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 Business.

Year 10 and 11

 

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