Curriculum

Plymouth schools offer a varied curriculum designed to meet children’s needs and abilities. All children aged five to 16 follow the National Curriculum (all children under six follow the early years foundation stage which is now part of the National Curriculum).

On this page you will find information about the following topics:

• Primary years
• How primary education is organised
• Secondary years
• How secondary education is organised
• Assessment
• Getting involved in your child's education
• Questions

Primary years

Pupils in the primary phase of schooling (these children will be in primary schools or separate infant and junior schools) follow the National Curriculum and the guidance within the Primary National Strategy. Schools are supported through structured Literacy and Numeracy Strategies. The primary curriculum has at its centre the following subject areas:

• English
• Mathematics
• Science
• Information and communication technology
• Religious education

However the following foundation subject areas are also taught:

• Design and technology
• History
• Geography
• Art and design
• Music
• Physical education

Children will also study issues relating to personal, social and health education. They will also have the opportunity at Key Stage Two to study modern foreign languages.

How primary education is organised

The following table shows how primary education is organised in Plymouth and how the different Key Stages relate to the different types of school. For each type of school the school's age range is indicated by an X.

Key Stage	Year group	Age group	Primary school	Infant school	Junior school
Early Years Foundation	R	*4 to 5	X	X	-
Key Stage One	1	5 to 6	X	X	-
Key Stage One	2	6 to 7	X	X	-
Key Stage Two	3	7 to 8	X	-	X
Key Stage Two	4	8 to 9	X	-	X
Key Stage Two	5	9 to 10	X	-	X
Key Stage Two	6	10 to 11	X	-	X

* A number of primary schools have a nursery unit or an on-site private early years setting. The early years foundation stage includes curriculum guidance and support for all children up to the age of 5

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Secondary years

When students transfer to secondary school, their previous school passes on the records of each pupil’s progress so that secondary school teachers can plan and prepare. In the majority of cases staff from both schools meet with the aim to make the transition from primary to secondary as stress free as possible for the students.

Secondary education builds upon achievements and skills to prepare students for adult life. Your child will be taught by a number of teachers in different classrooms with specialist facilities, rather than mainly staying with one teacher.

Teaching and learning for students in Key Stage Three follows the National Curriculum guidelines and learning objectives using National Curriculum Levels for teacher assessments. Students in Key Stage Three study the following statutory subjects:

• English
• Mathematics
• Science

The following foundation subjects are also studied:

• Design and technology
• Information and communication technology
• History
• Geography
• Modern foreign languages
• Art
• Physical education
• Citizenship
• Religious education

Students in Key Stage Four follow the programmes of study put in place through the National Strategies, studying the same core subjects as at Key Stage Three as well as the following foundation subjects:

• Design and technology
• Information and communication technology
• Physical education
• Modern foreign languages
• Citizenship
• Humanities

From 2004 the arts, design and technology, history, geography and modern foreign languages became entitlements areas at Key Stage Four. This means that currently schools are no longer required to teach a modern foreign language and design and technology to all students at Key Stage Four. With the new Central Government in place from May 2010. proposed changes are expected to affect these guidelines.

14 to 19 education and training

The information below is accurate. However, significant changes are expected now that the coalition government, formed in May 2010, are responsible for education policy.

In February 2005 the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) published its White Paper 14 to 19 Education and Skills. The White Paper set out how the previous Government aimed to create an education system to help every individual reach their full potential, through designing a system for young people based on high standards, choice and meeting individual needs and aspirations.

The government set out a number of clear priorities, which included:

• a greater focus on the functional skills needed for every day life, demonstrated through real life application
• stronger vocational routes, where young people develop through practical experience, with qualifications that give them the broad education they need to progress further in learning as well as in employment.
• providing options on both general and applied routes, which stretch and extend young people, these will be backed up greater choice for young people to advance quickly through the system, or if they need to take longer, in order to achieve high standards.
• new action for pupils who do not come to school and to ensure that those in danger of dropping out can be motivated to stay in learning.

One of the key elements of the reforms was the introduction of diplomas, which started to be offered in Plymouth in 2008. The Diploma is a qualification that combines theoretical study with practical experience. Through the Plymouth Diploma Partnership, there are currently thirteen diplomas on offer and a fourteenth being introduced in September 2011

Plymouth learners, both at Key Stage Four and post-16, have access to an increasing range of qualifications available to them regardless of their home school, thanks to a highly collaborative approach across the city. They include at Key Stage Four:

• Young Apprenticeships through the further education colleges
• 25 vocational courses through the Tamar Valley Consortium

Qualifications available to Post-16 include:

• The International Baccalaureate at Plymouth High School for Girls (available to boys too)
• 80 vocational courses through the Tamar Valley Consortium
• A wide range of courses through the four post-16 consortia

How secondary education is organised

The following table shows how secondary education is organised in relation to the different Key Stages. Plymouth has a range of secondary schools (the majority have sixth forms) including community colleges, comprehensive schools and selective grammar schools.

Key Stage	Year group	Age group
Key Stage Three	7	11 to 12
Key Stage Three	8	12 to 13
Key Stage Three	9	13 to 14
Key Stage Four	10	14 to 15
Key Stage Four	11	15 to 16
Sixth Form	12	16 to 17
Sixth Form	13	17 to 18

Assessment

At the end of the early years foundation stage (EYFS) children have their progress and learning needs summed up using the EYFS profile. Normally this is at the end of the reception year however profiles must be completed in any government funded setting in which children complete the foundation stage. The profile is based on teacher’s observations and assessments in six areas of learning (there are no assessment activities, tests or tasks). Foundation stage profile results should be reported to parents.

Towards the end of Years 2, 6 and 9 which correspond with the ends of Key Stage One, Two and Three children are assessed in English, Mathematics and Science through formal teacher assessments and Key Satge Two national tests (sometimes referred to as Standard Assessment Tests - SATS). Tables are published by the Department for Education (DfE), normally in November/January showing the results at Key Stage Two, Three and GCSE/Post 16 for all maintained schools.

• Plymouth primary school (Key Stage Two) achievement and attainment tables
• Plymouth secondary school (Key Stage Three) achievement and attainment tables Following the administrative problems with the 2008 SATs and the Secretary of State's subsequent announcement that Key Stage Three SATs would be withdrawn with immediate effect, the 2007 Key Stage Three SAT results remain as the final, publicly available figures.
• Plymouth Secondary school (GSCE and equivalent) achievement and attainment tables
• Plymouth school and college (Post 16) achievement and attainment tables

Your child will be involved in discussing his or her progress with school staff and school’s arrange meetings for parents/carers to discuss their children’s work with the teachers.

The school keeps a record of your child’s progress and achievement, which you are entitled to see. The school will provide you with a written report at least once a year.

Getting involved in your child's education

There are many ways in which you can support your child’s education. Visit the HM Government Parents Centre website for a wealth of ideas on how you can help your child to make the most of their education.

Questions

If you have any questions about the subjects that your child is studying at school or the methods being used to teach them you should talk to the relevant class teacher who will be happy to help.

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