North Independent Secondary School of the Year 2020 North Independent Secondary School of the Year 2021 North Independent Secondary School of the Year 2021

Curriculum

Discovering individual potential

We aim to unlock every student’s ability to develop into an impressive young adult who is curious, academically accomplished, rounded and empathetic. We equip our pupils with the knowledge and skills to forge a bright future.

Our academic curriculum is broadly based on the national curriculum, but with added flexibility.

Establishing skills

In Year 7 the curriculum is designed so that all subjects help establish essential academic skills including:

  • reading in a sustained way to achieve understanding
  • writing with precision to express meaning
  • listening to one another and speaking eloquently
  • developing practical skilfulness
  • acquiring a range of social and study skills

A broad academic experience

In Years 8 and 9 the curriculum provides a very broad and wide-ranging academic experience before students start making their own choices the following year. Pupils study maths, English, three sciences, geography, history, religious studies, two modern foreign languages, Latin, IT, art, design technology, food technology, music and PE.

A balanced range of subjects

In Years 10 and 11 we provide an extensive and balanced range of GCSE subjects. The core curriculum subjects are English language; English literature; maths; biology, chemistry and physics (leading to either a double science award or three separate GCSE subjects); a modern foreign language of the student’s choice and religious studies.

Three further optional GCSEs (or two if separate sciences are chosen) enable pupils to craft a curriculum that reflects their individual interests and strengths. Pupils can choose any combination of three subjects; from art and design, design technology (resistant materials), food technology and music; geography and history; business studies and computing; French, German, Spanish and Latin.

We review the curriculum regularly to ensure that the courses and qualifications offered are the best and most appropriate for our students, therefore the subject choices outlined may vary in future. Our GCSE curriculum provides a firm foundation for study in the Sixth Form at GSAL, which offers an academically rigorous and diverse programme.

See some of our lessons in action and meet our teachers at one of our open events or find out how to apply.

Or, if you prefer to chat to someone please call our admissions team. For Senior School call 0113 228 5121 and for Primary School call 0113 228 5113.