At Poole High School, we aim to provide a broad and balanced knowledge-rich curriculum that prepares our students, of all abilities and aspirations, well for the next stages in their lives.
Our curriculum is underpinned by our high expectations and supportive relationships.
We provide our year 7 students a broad, balanced and knowledge-rich curriculum through a wide range of academic and practical subjects.
In year 7, all students follow a core curriculum of:
- English
- Maths
- Science
- Sport and Exercise
- Religious Studies
- History
- Geography
- Computing
- Technology (Product Design and Food)
- MFL – French
- Art
- Drama
- Music
In year 7, students are taught in streamed ability groups for the majority of their academic subjects. Groups are smaller and mixed ability for Computing, Technology, Art, Drama, and Music.
We provide our year 8 students a broad, balanced and knowledge-rich curriculum through a wide range of academic and practical subjects.
In year 8, all students follow a core curriculum of:
- English
- Maths
- Science
- Sport and Exercise
- Religious Studies
- History
- Geography
- Computing
- Technology (Product Design and Food)
- MFL – French
- Art
- Drama
- Music
In year 8, students are taught in streamed ability groups for the majority of their academic subjects. Groups are smaller and mixed ability for Computing, Technology, Art, Drama, and Music.
In year 9 setting changes for English, Maths and Science take place to allow for the full range of stretch & challenge, and to help facilitate a smooth transition to GCSE level study.
We do not narrow our curriculum at Key Stage 3 as we instead find our students benefit greatly from continued access to our full range of specialist creative facilities.
In year 9, all students follow a core curriculum of:
- English
- Maths
- Science
- Sport and Exercise
- Religious Studies
- History
- Geography
- Computing
- Technology (Product Design and Food)
- MFL – French
- Art
- Drama
- Music
In year 9, students are taught in set groups for the vast majority of their subjects, Groups are smaller and mixed ability for only Technology, Art, Drama, and Music.
At GCSE, Poole High School takes seriously our ambition for all students to study a full academic curriculum. Students undertake GCSE electives at the end of Year 9 and all students study toward approved Key Stage 4 qualifications.
All students follow a core examined curriculum of:
- English Language
- English Literature
- Maths
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Religious Studies
All students follow a core non-examined curriculum of Fitness and Exercise.
Almost all students will take a foreign language. Students also make a humanities selection - a choice between History and Geography. Students are then free to select two of the following subjects:
- Art
- Business & Enterprise*
- Child Development
- Computer Science
- Dance
- Drama
- Music
- Media Studies
- Product Design*
- Physical Education*
- Triple Science
Note #1: Some courses (indicated with an * above) we offer both as GCSE and Vocational. The school will make a determination of the most suitable type of qualification based on the needs of each student and the make-up of a class.
Note #2: Subjects will only be offered if demand is sufficient. If there is sufficient demand for any other GCSE subject that we do not offer then we will investigate the possibility of adding it to the curriculum.
In year 11, study continues from year 10, culminating in terminal examinations in May/June of the following year.
Our year 11 students benefit from additional intervention and participate on our well-resourced “P6” revision programme. Teaching groups generally continue from year 10, with minor refinements taking place after the year 10 mock examinations.
In year 11, all students follow a core examined curriculum of:
- English Language
- English Literature
- Maths
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
All students also follow a core non-examined curriculum of Fitness and Exercise.
Our sixth form provides all students with the opportunity to work with motivated, like- minded students in the pursuit of academic excellence. Most students typically study toward three A-Level qualifications, with an additional one-year certificate of Core Maths or EPQ in Year 12.
For those students who have not quite managed to achieve a standard pass in English and Maths, we provide the opportunity for this to be achieved as part of our sixth form programme.
All students study each A-Level subject for a minimum of nine hours over the timetable cycle. The sixth form curriculum is enhanced through our enrichment and extended learning offers, and supported with a vibrant tutor programme.