Curriculum and Qualifications

Our Curriculum Intent

We will ‘Bring out the Best’ by providing a rich curriculum experience within and beyond the classroom. This will enable our young people to thrive personally and academically, overcome challenges, and make a positive contribution to society.

Our curriculum will be:

• Broad and Balanced
• Inclusive and Diverse
• Ambitious and Challenging
• Clearly communicated to all stakeholders

Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8, & 9)

The KS3 curriculum at The Howard embodies, builds upon, and enriches the National Curriculum. Please use the link to cross reference Howard Learning Journeys (available through our Individual Subjects page) with the National Curriculum in each subject. Students will study a broad programme that includes:

• The Arts: Art, Drama and Music
• Design and Technology: Construction, Food Technology and Textiles Technology
• English
• Humanities: Geography, History and Religious Studies
• Languages: French or Spanish in Year 7. Students ('dual linguists') may study an additional language (German) in Years 8 & 9.  Extracurricular Latin is available. 
• Maths and Computing
• Science
• Physical Education
• Personal Development
• Learning for Life

The curriculum is timetabled in a ten-day cycle of 50 one hour lessons. On joining the school in Year 7 students are placed in one of two populations, Arks or Royals. These groups are of equal size and represent the full ability range.

For registration and pastoral purposes, a population is further divided into four mixed-ability tutor groups, each under the care of a Form Tutor. The members of a tutor group will be in the same House.

In years 7 to 9 (Key Stage 3), all students follow a broad and balanced curriculum based on the National Curriculum. A tutorial programme (Learning 4 Life) supports students' personal development.

For more information about how students’ progress will be measured at KS3, please click here for the Flight Path Progress information booklet

For information about individual subjects at KS3 (including Intent Statements, Learning Journeys, and Flight Path Grade Descriptors) please refer to the Individual Subjects page. 

Key Stage 4 (Years 10 &11)

In Key Stage 4 of the National Curriculum, students will follow courses leading to GCSE or equivalent qualifications.  . The full range of National Curriculum core and foundation subjects is available.  However, we attempt to tailor students’ options to suit their particular needs. Many students still follow traditional courses leading to GCSE qualifications while many also mix applied or vocational courses with their GCSEs.  There are opportunities for more bespoke pathways for those students who require them. 

Students will study a core programme of both qualification and non-qualification subjects:

• GCSE English Language & GCSE English Literature
• GCSE Maths
• GCSE Combined Science or, optionally, GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry and GCSE Physics 
• Philosophy, Religion and Ethics (PRE)
• Physical Education
• Learning for Life

The KS4 Curriculum e-booklet for Year 10 2024/25 (current Year 9 ) is available here:

2024 ks4 curriculum offer.pdf

The English Baccalaureate (EBacc)

It is possible for all students to choose a combination of courses which, if completed successfully, will lead to the award of the English Baccalaureate. Currently, in order to gain this award students must attain GCSE grade 4+ in

• English language and literature 
• mathematics
• combined or triple science
• history or geography, and;
• a language.

At the Howard, we recognise the value of the Ebacc curriculum as part of a broad, inclusive, and ambitious curriculum offer which works for all students in a comprehensive setting. All students are supported with guided options choices and are encouraged, but not required, to study a language to GCSE. To increase the number of students studying a language, we have reviewed the model for languages in KS3 (see above), and are investing in developing the quality of the languages curriculum. 

Key Stage 5 (Years 12 & 13)

In Years 12 and 13 students study A Level and/or other Level 3 qualifications. 

In addition, students who have not yet achieved the Government's minimum standard (Grade 4) in GCSE English and/or Maths will study for re-takes.

Click here to view the courses our 6th Form has to offer.