The Curriculum

Our Vision for Learning

At Penrice we are unwavering in our commitment to deliver the highest quality of education for all our students, ensuring the best possible life chances for them. This involves achieving success in public examinations but also involves the development of the individual, to be able to lead fulfilling, happy and purposeful lives. We want our students to leave Penrice being able to contribute to society in a positive and valuable way; being able to think freely, make informed choices and explore the world around them.

We believe that equipping students with knowledge and understanding is pivotal in ensuring we achieve our ambitions. As such, our curriculum and strategy for learning is crafted to empower students with knowledge and provide a broad and diverse range of enriching opportunities. We inspire our students to contribute to society through our knowledge rich character curriculum, which empowers them to make considered choices through teaching them about character virtues and the attributes they may strive to have.

Our Curriculum Structure

Our curriculum is split into three phases…

Years 7 & 8 – Broad and Strong Foundations

We study the full breadth of the Key Stage 3 National Curriculum and beyond. Developing strong, knowledge rich foundations across a broad range of subjects.

In Year 7 and 8 students study the full breadth of the KS3 National Curriculum and beyond. Developing strong, knowledge rich foundations across a broad range of subjects. Our ambitious approach for all students ensures our students have completed the content on the KS3 national curriculum at the end of Year 8. We endeavour to provide the strongest possible foundation, ensuring all our students have access to powerful knowledge across the full breadth of subjects.

All students study:

• English
• Maths
• Science
• History
• Geography
• French or Spanish
• Computer Science
• Art
• Drama
• Music
• Food
• Design Technology
• CLASS
• Religion and World Views
• PE

Years 9 – Personalisation and Enrichment

We personalise the subjects studied, allowing students to participate in a range of enriching and diverse opportunities.

In Year 9 students personalise the range of subjects being studied and experience our enrichment curriculum. This broadens their horizons and ensure the students are equipped with an appreciation of the place each subject has in the world. We continue to develop powerful knowledge. Halfway through Year 9 students then begin to specialise to the subjects they will take qualifications in.

All students study:

• English
• Maths
• Science
• History or Geography
• French or Spanish
• CLASS
• PE

Pupils study four of the following:

• Art
• Business
• Creative Media
• Drama
• Engineering
• Food
• Sociology
• Sport & PE
• Photography
• Film Studies
• Computer Science
• Music
• Music Technology
• Animal Care
• Health & Social Care

Years 10 & 11 – Specialisation and Expertise

We focus on the subjects students will gain qualifications in, allowing them to develop deep expertise in their chosen disciplines.

During Year 10 and 11 our students develop expertise in their chosen subjects. Students leave Penrice having been highly successful in their chosen disciplines. We encourage students to engage with curriculum choices that are right for them. Students are proactively encouraged to study the full English Baccalaureate.

All students study:

• English
• Maths
• Science
• History or Geography
• CLASS
• PE

Pupils study three of the following:

• French
• Spanish
• Art
• Business
• Creative iMedia
• Drama
• Engineering
• Food
• Sociology
• Sport and PE
• Photography
• History
• Film Studies
• Computer Science
• Music
• Music Technology
• Animal Care
• Health and Social Care

Outstanding Teaching and Learning

Download our Curriculum Overviews for each subject below.

If you are looking for Key Stage 4 options, the full brochure can be found here.

If you would like to know more about the curriculum at Penrice Academy, please email enquiries@penrice.org.uk where your request will be forwarded to the most appropriate subject teacher.