Curriculum Overview
The intent of our curriculum is to give all students at OPGS ‘an exceptional learning experience’.
Our curriculum is designed to be academic, broad and challenging, befitting of a Grammar School.
The curriculum from Year 7-11 is based on a 5-year continuum, carefully sequenced to enable students to build on prior learning and make connections. Academic rigour, literacy and numeracy, stretch and challenge, resilience and personal development underpin the curriculum at every stage.
The Year 7 & 8 curriculum sets the foundations for academic success. Students study English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, French, Spanish, Art, Computer Science, Design technology, Drama, Food Technology, Geography, History, Music, Physical Education/Games, Religious Studies, Personal, Social, Health & Economic Education.
Year 9 is our keystone year, equipping students with the challenge, skills, knowledge and understanding to enable them to be 'GCSE ready' in Year 10. Students continue to study the subjects listed above; the Arts subjects are studied in a block on a rotation, to enable students to study them in depth and work on a challenging project in each of the following subjects: Art, Design Technology, Drama and Music. The Year 9 curriculum also includes Enrichment and Extension lessons where students develop knowledge and skills in British Sign Language and First Aid.
In Years 10 and 11, all students access the EBACC and study GCSE courses in 10 subjects. All students study English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, a Modern Foreign Language, Triple or Double Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), a Humanity and Religious Studies. They opt for additional subjects from Art & Design, Graphic Design, Computer Science, Design Technology, Drama, French, Geography, History, Media Studies, Music, Physical Education, Psychology and Spanish. All students study the full GCSE course in Religious Studies as we believe this subject promotes a greater understanding of our society and the world at large.
In the Sixth Form, students study three or four A Level subjects from the following: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Design Technology, Drama & Theatre, Economics, English Language, English Literature, Fine Art, French, Further Mathematics, Geography, Government & Politics, Graphic Design, History, Mathematics, Media Studies, Music, Religious Studies, Physical Education, Psychology, Sociology and Spanish. Students can also study for an Extended Project qualification.
We also emphasise and promote a love of learning outside the classroom through our EXCEL programme of over 40 clubs and our Enrichment programme. Nine Enrichment days, across the academic year, give students the opportunity to extend their knowledge and skills further through whole subject day learning activities, visits and external speakers.
The extensive number of extra-curricula sporting activities also matches our intent to challenge our students to develop into well-rounded individuals. Football, rugby, cricket, athletics, table tennis, fencing, rowing, tennis are on offer with school teams participating on a weekly basis. From Year 10 onwards, students have the opportunity to participate in the DofE programme.
Our intent, above all, is to prepare our students for further study at university as well as high-quality higher level apprenticeships and this intent is matched with high-quality Information, Advice and Guidance programme, which starts in Year 7.
