Our Curriculum
"The headteacher believes passionately that pupils should have access to a curriculum that provides a wide educational experience" (Ofsted 2017)
At Altrincham College, we pride ourselves on providing our students with a curriculum which is broad, deep, balanced and relevant to each of our learners.
The curriculum on offer is flexible enough to allow individuals to follow their own bespoke programmes of study so that they can achieve the best possible outcome when they leave us. We have also ensured that an array of extra-curricular activities are on offer to enrich and supplement the main curriculum.
KS3 Curriculum Overview
The Altrincham College curriculum is organised into a one week timetable of 30, fifty minute lessons, offering a broad and balanced curriculum at Key Stage 3.
This gives students the opportunity to achieve their full potential, and make as much progress as possible.
The following subjects are taught across each year of the key stage:
| English | Mathematics | Science | Geography |
| History | ICT | PE/Sport | RE |
| Art | Music | Drama | PSHE |
| MFL* | Technology* |
*MFL – The French and Spanish programmes rotate on an annual basis.
*Technology – includes Food and Textiles
(in Year 9 students select 2 options from the above).
Students are initially placed in mixed ability form groups, with ability setting for English, Maths and Science introduced after the first half term in Year 7.
As students move through the school, setting becomes the norm enabling them to be set challenging and extending work; in line with their academic potential.
*PE, PSHE and Technology continue to be taught in mixed ability groups.
Teaching group sizes are usually no more than 28 in Year 7, approximately 24 in Year 8 and 22 from Year 9 on wards.
| No. of periods | |||
| Key Stage 3 Subjects | Yr 7 | Yr 8 | Yr 9 |
| Art | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Drama | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| DT | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| English | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Geography | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| History | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| ICT | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Maths | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Music | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| PE | 3 | 3 | 2/3 |
| Religious Education | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Science | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| PSHE | 1 | 1 | |
| Modern Foreign Language | 3 | 3 | 2/3 |
|
Total |
30 |
30 |
30 |
For more information on assessment and reporting at KS3, see our 'KS3 Life After Levels' page.
KS4 Curriculum Overview
The curriculum is organised into a one week timetable of 30 fifty minute lessons.
At Key Stage 4 students are guided to follow one of 3 curriculum pathways, enabling students of all abilities, aptitudes and interests to achieve and be highly successful.
For each pathway, Students will follow both a core compulsory curriculum, as well as selecting 3 or 4 options from a wide range of subjects (depending on their chosen pathway).
| PATHWAY 1 | An academic GCSE route leading to the English Baccalaureate |
| PATHWAY 2 | An academic GCSE route where the English Baccalaureate is optional |
| PATHWAY 3 | Combines academic GCSE’s with a limited number of vocational courses |
All pathways are designed to enable students to achieve 9 or more A* - C (9-4 under the new grading system) GCSE passes or equivalent.
Our Arts Specialism allows the school to offer an increased number of creative/arts based courses in addition to, and not at the expense of, the wide range of academic and vocational options available at Key stage 4.
Students have the opportunity to select courses directly suited to their interests and aspirations which, in turn, promotes high standards of achievement.
Key Stage 4 Compulsory Curriculum:
| English | English Literature | Maths | Two Sciences |
| PE/Sport | Religious Education | PSHE/Careers |
Key Stage 4 option subjects include:
| GCSE Art & Design | GCSE Art Graphics | GCSE Art Textiles |
| GCSE Business Studies | GCSE Product Design | GCSE Child Development |
| GCSE Computer Science | GCSE Drama | GCSE Food Preparation & Nutrition |
| GCSE French/Spanish | GCSE Further Additional Science | GCSE Geography |
| GCSE History | GCSE Leisure & Tourism | GCSE Media & Btec Creative Digital Media |
| GCSE Music | GCSE PE | |
| Cambridge Nationals L2 - ICT |
Subject Timetable - Allocations:
The curriculum at Altrincham College is designed to meet the requirements of the National Curriculum. The school timetable is structured around 30 periods per week.
| No. of periods | |||
| Key Stage 4 Subjects | Pathway 1 | Pathway 2 | Pathway 3 |
| English | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5 |
| Maths | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4 |
| Science | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Religious Education | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sport | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| History/Geography | 3 | - | - |
| Options | 9 | 12 | 12 |
| Total | 30 | 30 | 30 |
For additional information about the subjects and courses available at Altrincham College, simply choose one from the list, open the information booklets below or contact the school and ask for Mr Brennan if you have any subject specific queries.
