Curriculum

The curriculum is framed with the intention of producing well-balanced students prepared for the responsibilities and opportunities that arise throughout life and to prepare students for the challenges of the 21st century. It extends knowledge, experience and imagination in ways which develop critical and analytical capability, awareness of moral values and capacity for enjoyment.

The students’ spiritual, moral and ethical development is addressed through the formal curriculum in a number of subjects including religious education lessons. It also occurs informally through assemblies, numerous extra-curricular activities, residential experiences and in other intangible ways which permeate the ethos of the school.

Kendrick has a full and well established PSHCE programme which is delivered to all students by their own tutors as part of the tutor/PSHCE programme. It is also delivered by specialists as a discrete subject in the upper school. Students will be prepared for their roles as citizens and follow recommended schemes of work for citizenship. All students receive careers advice and have the benefit of taking part in a well-integrated work experience programme as part of our work related and enterprise curriculum.

Every student has access to the full National Curriculum, Religious Studies, Citizenship and PSHCE. Kendrick is a grammar school and continues to offer a wide variety of subjects; in particular English Literature, a second modern foreign language, Latin and Religious Studies to public examination level.

 Courses of Study for the Academic Year 2023-24

Year 7: English, Mathematics, Science, a Modern Language (French or German), History, Geography, Religious Studies, Music, Art, Computing, Drama, Food, Textiles, Technology, Physical Education, PSHCE including Citizenship and work related learning.

Year 8: The above curriculum is continued, and additional courses are begun in a second Modern Language and Latin.

Year 9: The above curriculum continues. Science lessons are organised as the discrete subjects, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Physical Education includes a wide range of activities: gymnastics, modern dance, swimming, athletics, netball, hockey, tennis and rounders.

Year 10 and 11 students study 11 GCSEs including the following: English (Language and Literature), Mathematics, Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics), a Modern Language (French and German) and a Humanity (History, Geography and RS). They may choose additional subjects from Latin, Business, Computing, Art & Design, Art & Design – Textile Design, Drama, Music, Physical Education, Food Preparation & Nutrition. There is also a program of non-examination subjects including PSHCE, work related learning, physical education, religious studies and computing skills.

Year 12 and 13 students follow a 3 or 4 A level pathway with the option for those students on the 4 A level pathways to take 1 subject at AS level if available. The A Level subjects offered, subject to take up and staffing are: Art and Design, Biology, Chemistry, Classical Civilisation, Computer Science, Economics, English Literature, French, Further Mathematics, Geography, German, History, Mathematics, Music, Philosophy, Physical Education, Physics, Sociology and Spanish.

All students also have a program of Personal Development, Enrichment and Physical Education and the opportunity to take the EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) or 1 year AS Further Mathematics qualification in Year 13.