Academic Curriculum
At Pitsford School, pupils learn the skills and acquire the knowledge necessary to excel in the demanding examination courses that lie ahead. The entrance criteria are such that all our pupils are able to cope with an academically challenging curriculum; one which is designed to prepare them for entrance to the best universities and subsequent career opportunities.
Years 7 & 8
All pupils study:-
Art & Design, Biology, Chemistry, English, French, Geography, History, Information Technology, Mathematics, Music, Physics, Physical Education, Religious Studies and Personal & Social Education.
Year 9
All pupils study the same subjects as in Year 8 except that they take an additional foreign language from German or Spanish.
Years 10 & 11
All pupils take English, Mathematics, French, Physics and Chemistry to GCSE. Within English, pupils study both Language and Literature. All pupils continue with Physical Education.
In addition they choose four subjects from Art & Design, Biology, German, Geography, History, ICT, Music, and Spanish.
The Sixth Form Curriculum
Advanced level courses are available in the following subjects; Art, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, English Literature, French, Geography, German, History, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Music, Physics, Spanish and Sport and Physical Education.
The central core of the curriculum is the A-level programme and most Sixth Formers will spend 70% of their time on this. The progress of Sixth Formers will be measured by regular testing, reviews and reports. Sixth Formers will not be expected to adhere to a rigid timetable of homework but to spend an equal amount of time on each subject inside and outside the classroom. It is expected that 4 hours per week is spent on each subject out of lesson time. That is equivalent to approximately three hours per night Monday to Friday for 4 A-levels.
In addition to timetabled lessons, there is time set aside for individual study. The proper use of this time is an essential feature of the Sixth Form course, both in the time spent on study, and in learning to work without direction. Private study will take place in the Michael Robinson Memorial Library, or in the Sixth Form Centre. Those students who initially find it difficult to manage their time effectively, will have more specific guidance from their tutor.
The timetable for the Sixth Form will be as follows:
Each specialist A-level subject is allocated 7 periods per week, arranged in five teaching blocks for time-tabling purposes.
The sixth teaching block of 5 periods will include:
General Studies Programme (2 periods per week)
Games (3 periods per week)
A Sixth Former studying 4 A-levels will normally have seven private study periods per week.
The Upper Sixth Year
When students enter the Upper Sixth, they will be expected to follow one of three options;
continue to study their 4 original subjects to A-level standard, or
continue to study 3 of their original subjects to A-level and take a new one at AS-level, or
continue to study 3 of their original subjects to A-level.
This would mean that pupils will leave school with one of the following groups ofqualifications:
4 A-levels
3 A-levels and 2 AS-level
3 A-levels and 1 AS-level
In each of the above cases, pupils may also have a General Studies A-level.
NB The second year’s study of an A-level course is called an A2 course.
Examination Schedule
There are two A-level examination ‘seasons’, January and June.
In almost all cases, AS module examinations will be taken at the end of the course (i.e June). A2 modules may be taken at either January or June depending on circumstances and departmental policies.
Further information of our curricula is available from the School on request.