Curriculum

"The curriculum provides uncompromising academic challenge alongside a rich cultural experience"

Alice Hudson, CEO.

Parents of current students can find out more about the school's curriculum on COPIA

For more information please see each subject's curriculum intent statement (click on tab above).

Guides for prospective students and parents at different stages can be found below:

For the curriculum from Year 7, please read the guide below.

Guide for Prospective Parents

Updated: 30/09/2024 9.73 MB

A list of GCSE and other qualifications available at Key Stage 4.

Courses available at Key Stage 4

Updated: 21/02/2024 132 KB
Updated: 21/02/2024 227 KB

Further information on Sixth Form curriculum can be found in our Course Guide.

The Core Curriculum

William Perkin CofE High School places a high premium on academic success and takes an intelligent approach to achievement. Core, English Baccalaureate subjects (English, Maths, Science, Languages, History, Geography and RE) are all taught formally as separate subject specialisms. These lessons are 50 minutes long.

Students are taught in sets for these subjects according to their ability and to the progress they make. Students who do particularly well in languages will have a chance to take a second language from Year 8. Languages is the school’s second specialism and, together with Science, will encourage students to cultivate the ‘intelligent engagement with the wider world’ which is a key focus for the school. In the upper school, we offer a GCSE syllabus for all subjects.

In order to ensure we achieve consistency of approach we have identified 8 Intellectual Disciplines which run across all Core Subjects in addition to the Assessment Objectives and content of the subject itself. The William Perkin intellectual disciplines are to:

  1. Read critically
  2. Write cogently
  3. Explore analytically
  4. Discern logical patterns
  5. Form coherent arguments
  6. Apply systems
  7. Memorise accurately
  8. Listen intently

Find out more about each subject area here.

Core Electives

The Creativity & Curiosity Curriculum

William Perkin operates an afternoon enrichment curriculum that allows students to develop their creative skills and follow their particular aptitudes in five different areas. These are Music, Art, Sport, Computing and Applied Science. We have named this The Creativity and Curiosity Curriculum.

This curriculum is designed to:

  • Ensure the curriculum is broad and balanced
  • Develop wider thinking skills and creative applications (also embedded in the core curriculum)
  • Develop intellectual confidence, investigation and risk-taking
  • Provide students with the opportunity to develop work-based, applied learning skills.

The Creativity and Curiosity Curriculum runs during the 'Core Elective', 100-minute lessons. These longer sessions allow students to fully immerse themselves in practical subjects.

Extended Electives

An Extended Elective Programme takes place after school from 4.00pm to 5.00 PM every day and includes a range of activities and clubs linked to the academic core subjects and the five Core Elective areas.

Art and Design Curriculum Intent Statement

Updated: 21/10/2024 588 KB
Updated: 06/12/2022 192 KB

Business Studies Curriculum Intent Statement

Updated: 02/09/2022 588 KB

Computing Curriculum Intent Statement

Updated: 10/10/2024 348 KB

Drama Curriculum Intent Statement

Updated: 30/01/2023 80 KB

Economics Curriculum Intent Statement

Updated: 17/01/2023 813 KB

English Curriculum Intent Statement

Updated: 17/01/2023 97 KB
Updated: 17/01/2023 91 KB

Geography Curriculum Intent Statement

Updated: 16/10/2023 774 KB

History Curriculum Intent Statement

Updated: 16/10/2023 723 KB

Maths Curriculum Intent Statement

Updated: 01/10/2024 617 KB

Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) Curriculum Intent Statement

Updated: 24/10/2024 429 KB

Music Curriculum Intent Statement

Updated: 28/08/2024 380 KB
Updated: 09/09/2024 207 KB

PE Curriculum Intent Statement

Updated: 12/01/2023 692 KB

Psychology Curriculum Intent Statement

Updated: 17/01/2023 489 KB

RE Curriculum Intent Statement

Updated: 12/01/2023 221 KB

Science Curriculum Intent Statement

Updated: 06/11/2024 563 KB

Sociology Curriculum Intent Statement

Updated: 17/01/2023 417 KB

You can find out more about our approach to the curriculum and how students are assessed in the Twyford Trust's policies below.

Curriculum Policy

Updated: 05/06/2024 621 KB

Assessment Policy

Updated: 05/06/2024 643 KB

Our SEN Policy and Report give details about how the curriculum is made accessible for those with disabilities or SEN.

SEN Policy

Updated: 13/07/2023 884 KB

SEN Information Report

Updated: 01/10/2024 355 KB

SMSC Policy (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural)

Updated: 24/01/2024 561 KB

Learning Habits

Updated: 07/11/2022 439 KB

Literacy and Memory

Updated: 07/11/2022 611 KB

Whole School Teaching and Learning Routines

Updated: 07/11/2022 723 KB

PSHE Curriculum Overview

Updated: 07/11/2024 221 KB

Independent Learning

Independent learning will be critical to your child's success at GCSE and A-Level. It is our philosophy to develop the required skills within each subject as soon as students join the school. From day 1 of Year 7 there is a 15-minute lesson preparation task set in each lesson – that means 5 'lesson preps' are set per day.

Longer pieces of assessed homework in the form of essays, projects, assessments, and presentations are also set fortnightly. The combination of lesson preparation tasks, to be completed each evening, and longer more developed pieces of work will ensure your child develops the independent learning habits required to succeed as they develop academically. 

We have developed a Virtual Learning Environment called Copia, which allows students to access work electronically and support their independent learning at home. The same system also allows parents to look at their child's grades and attendance and conduct records.

Individual Knowledge of Your Child

Each child is known as an academic individual through careful diagnostic testing, which takes place as part of their induction to the school. Using this information, we set challenging targets that are effectively communicated and then evaluated at key points in the year. A well-constructed whole-school assessment system allows students to take control of their learning and make personal assessments of their progress. More detailed information related to subject-specific assessments will become available for parents on Copia.

Effective Communication with Parents

Communication is integral to the success of any school. Parents will receive Termly Grade Reports that provide information on effort and achievement in all subjects and at the end of the year a full report will be produced. Parents are expected to attend all Information Evenings and Parent Consultation Evenings, including an annual formal Parents Evening.

Each week parents should review and sign their child's planner which will contain key information relating to that week. Personal communication with your child's Tutor and Head of Year will be vital in supporting your child. To support this process there will be a Target Setting Meeting in September between student, parent and tutor.

The best information will always be gained via one-to-one contact with teachers so parents are warmly encouraged to be in contact with the school more regularly if there are any concerns.

Details of our Remote Learning offering can be found below.

Remote Learning

Updated: 06/01/2022 685 KB

Parents of current students can find out more about the school's curriculum on COPIA