Curriculum
At all key stages, we offer a challenging personalised curriculum which is broad and balanced, enhanced by a wealth of enrichment activities. Students are guided towards a flexible pathway designed to enable them to achieve excellence.
We want our young people to be able to compete for the most competitive pathways and the most sought after destinations. We want to stretch their imaginations, expand their horizons and unfold opportunities for them from the moment they start with us. Through a combination of high expectations and powerful knowledge we know all our students can progress and achieve from the start of Year 7. The values of Pride, Ambition, Respect and Team are the glue that binds this together and makes sure that all stakeholders play their part in securing success so that young people better understand the world and can change it for the better.
Should you have any queries regarding our curriculum content or structure, please email info@plumsteadmanor.com.
KS3
Students are taught in a mixture of streamed and mixed ability classes for English, Mathematics and Science from Year 7. Art, Dance, Drama, Design Technology, Geography, History, ICT, Music, Personal Development, Physical Education and Religious Education are taught in mixed ability tutor groups. French or Spanish are taught to all.
Our Key Stage 3 assessments continue to be developed with students set an end of year attainment. This is the minimum expected grade (MEG) that all students are expected to achieve before the year end. For those students that do not have a Key Stage 2 scaled score, there are a series of internal assessments that allow us to predict an aspirational target band.
Our least able students are offered a nurture curriculum where appropriate to provide them with the foundation knowledge and skills to access the secondary curriculum. Students are moved out of this provision as soon as they are ready.
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Key Stage 3 Year 7, 8 and 9 |
Core Subjects | Other Subjects | Other comments |
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English, maths, science, RE, Computer Science, PE and Personal Development |
Students study all of the following subject through Years 7 to 9: design technology; geography, history; French or Spanish; art; music; drama; dance. Design technology offers the following areas in blocks of 7-8 weeks after which students change: graphics, product design; textiles; food technology. |
Students are taught in ability groups in science. In maths there is a top set, a nurture group, and all other groups are mixed ability. We offer a mastery curriculum in Maths which is evidence based and ensures all students are challenged and stretched. Students are taught in mixed ability groups in all other subjects. We offer an inclusion curriculum for students who need a higher level of differentiation and support.
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KS4
Our Key Stage 4 offer aims to open up a range of pathways to academic success, and to give all our young people a foothold in their future education, training and employment. We want young people of have a broad choice, to allow them to follow their passions, and to secure a suite of qualifications that enable them to flourish and excel. Our young people make their choices during Year 9, and they can opt for one of three KS4 pathways which all include a core offer, plus up to three options:
- EBacc (to include Core and Additional or Triple Science, Geography or History, a Modern Foreign Language plus an additional option);
- GCSE and Applied which allows more flexibility in the options chosen;
- Foundation for those learners who are currently Entry or Level 1 learners (Grades 1-3 at GCSE)
As would be expected at Plumstead Manor, Performing Arts are strongly represented with GCSE Drama, Music, and Dance and all offered. In addition to the subjects taught at Key Stage 3 we also offer Business, Health + Social Care, Photography and in the Foundation pathway a range of Entry Level and other appropriate qualifications.
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Key Stage 4 Year 10 and 11 |
Core Subjects | Other Subjects | Other comments |
| English language, English literature, maths, science (triple and combined), RE, PE and Personal Development. IT is delivered across the curriculum. | 3 Options from a range of choices and pathways. There is an Extension Curriculum for our most able students who can study Statistics and Film Studies. |
Our main offer is at Level 2 (GCSE) although we do offer a Level 1 and Entry Level pathway for students for whom it is appropriate. Students are taught in ability groups for maths and science. In English there is a top set, a nurture group, and all other groups are mixed ability. Students are taught in mixed ability groups in all other subjects. |
We currently offer the following subjects to all students in Years 10 and 11 to examination level (subjects are offered as GCSEs unless otherwise stated):
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Art Business Drama Dance (BTEC) |
French Food and Nutrition Geography Graphics |
Health and Social Care (BTEC) History ICT Music |
Music (BTEC) Photography |
We also offer the following subjects to meet the needs of specific students:
| Art, Craft & Design | Entry Level History | Entry Level Life Skills | Entry Level Performing Arts | Step up to English |
We offer our most able students the chance to study GCSE Statistics, GCSE and AS Level Film Studies.
KS5
Our range of Level 3 courses is wide with 24 A level courses covering all subjects taken at KS4 plus Financial Studies, Politics, Psychology, and Extended Project Qualification. Level 3 applied courses include BTEC Business, OCR ICT, BTEC Health and Social Care & BTEC Music.
Our Year 11 students all receive an individual careers guidance interview with an external provider as well as a meeting with sixth form staff to discuss their Post-16 choices. At this point senior staff also review the students’ proposed courses and any requests for new courses to guide decisions regarding our curriculum plan.
Our general entry requirements are 5 good passes at GCSE (9-4 grades) including a Band 4 or above in Maths and English. Students who do not achieve a Band 4 or above in either GCSE Maths or English will be considered on an individual basis and will be required to re-take the course in Year 12.
We recommend that students should achieve a grade 6+ at GCSE in order to continue in that subject in the sixth form.
Alongside their academic or vocational subjects students are also timetabled for registration to meet with their form tutors each morning, personal development and a number of periods of supervised personal study depending on their pathway.
As part of our support for students will each be allocated a learning coach to guide them through the UCAS process and advise them on progression to Higher Education. They will also guide and support their studies – anything from meeting deadlines to applying for bursaries.
In 2018 Ofsted said:
"Students make good progress at Plumstead Manor as the school provides a good curriculum, good teaching and excellent care, guidance and support."