Departments at Sir Thomas Rich's School
Aims
The aims of our curriculum are to offer a broad and balanced range of subjects which cultivate knowledge, skills and understanding. We wish to promote a spirit of intellectual enquiry and a love of learning which will remain with Richians long after they have left us.
Key Stage 3
In years 7 to 9 an enriched National Curriculum provides the breadth of study boys need before undertaking GCSE courses.
Key Stage 4
Most boys study 10 full course GCSEs and 1 short course chosen from a wide range of core and option subjects. Care is taken to provide breadth and balance, avoiding too early specialisation. The vast majority thrive on this provision and do very well at GCSE.
Key Stage 5
In the sixth form students routinely study five AS levels, including General Studies or Critical Thinking, in year 12, usually progressing to four A2 subjects in year 13. A t this stage some new subjects are available at advanced level, including Psychology and Classical Civilisation, as well as GCSE Italian.
Outline
An outline of the current curriculum is given below.
Key Stage 3
The following subjects are taught in the first three years:- English [Language and Literature] Mathematics, French, German, Spanish, Technology [including D & T, ICT and Food Technology] Biology, Chemistry, Physics [combined as science in Year 7] Geography, History, Art, Music, Religious Education, PSHE and Citizenship, Drama, Careers, PE and Games.
Key Stage 4
In Years 10 and 11, the GCSE examination years, all boys take English [Language and Literature] Mathematics, Sciences and RS [Short Course]. They also choose another 4 or 5 subjects from option blocks, one of which must be a modern foreign language, to make a total of up to 11 GCSE subjects. Options available for first study at GCSE include Economics and Business Studies. Part of the week is devoted to non-examination subjects: Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education; Physical Education; Careers and Games.
Key Stage 5
The curriculum at Key Stage 5 offers increased scope for personalisation. Alongside a wide range of AS and A2 subjects, students can study Open University YASS courses, undertake an Extended Project Qualification and seek Aqabacc qualification if they wish. Additional language courses are also available.
Involvement in school activities beyond the classroom is very much a part of most students’ experience and the sixth form is no exception. There are multiple opportunities for co-curricular activity. These vary enormously and include sport, music and drama alongside commitments such as charitable fund raising and writing for the School Magazine.
As an outstanding school producing excellent academic results we aim to cultivate an atmosphere in which each boy or girl can give their best. Such an environment is promoted by good discipline, high quality teaching and the mutual respect members of the school community routinely display toward one another. When pupils need additional support it is readily made available and parents are kept informed of progress through frequent progress grades, parents’ evenings and school reports.
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