--- title: "Our Curriculum" url: "https://qehs.co/general/curriculum/our-curriculum" school: "Queen Elizabeth High School" --- # Our Curriculum ### Our Curriculum Intent at Queen Elizabeth High School We believe our curriculum is well planned, inclusive and meets pupils’ needs and aspirations. Pupils study a broad range of subjects that ensure they are very well prepared for the next steps of their education. All pupils are given the opportunity to study the courses they feel will achieve in. ***“Support. Believe. Achieve”*** All staff see this as the USP of the school and it is shared and understood by all. At QE we offer pupils an innovative, broad, and balanced curriculum which meets the needs of individuals whilst creating the best conditions for all our pupils to excel and succeed to the best of their ability. Our curriculum, combined with our extra-curricular opportunities, supports our pupils to become: - Responsible citizens who are able to make a positive contribution to their local community and society as a whole - Confident individuals who are able to live safe and healthy lives - Well-rounded young people, prepared for the next stage of their education ### Our Curriculum Model #### Key Stage 3 Curriculum At KS3 pupils build on foundations from KS2 and develop core skills in communication, literacy, and mathematics, whilst experiencing a broad and balanced knowledge-based curriculum consisting of the Arts, Sciences, Technology, Humanities and PE. They will also develop their cultural and social awareness through PSHE and RE. The curriculum at KS3 is best described as ‘knowledge-engaged’, meaning that it recognises the crucial importance of significant subject content, and that this knowledge underpins the application of skills. For this reason, work is done in Year 7, 8 and 9 to develop pupils’ long-term memory, retention, and retrieval. Assessment is regular and formative focusing on pupils’ retention of knowledge. **Year 7 & 8** | **Subject** | **Year group** | **Lessons per week** | |---|---|---| | English | 7 & 8 | 4 | | Mathematics | 7 & 8 | 4 | | Science | 7 & 8 | 4 | | Spanish | 7 & 8 | 2 | | Physical Education | 7 & 8 | 2 | | Geography | 7 & 8 | 2 | | History | 7 & 8 | 2 | | RE | 7 & 8 | 1 | | Creative Arts (RM, Food Tech, & Art) (Dance y8 only) | 7 & 8 | 3 on rotation | | PSHE | 7 & 8 | 1 | **Year 9** | **Subject** | **Year group** | **Lessons per week** | |---|---|---| | English | 9 | 4 | | Mathematics | 9 | 4 | | Science | 9 | 4 | | Spanish | 9 | 2 | | Physical Education | 9 | 2 | | Geography | 9 | 2 | | History | 9 | 2 | | RE | 9 | 1 | | Creative Arts (RM, Food Tech, music/drama & Art) | 9 | 3 on a 6-weekly rotation | | PSHE | 9 | 1 | **Key Stage 4 Curriculum (Year 10)** - At Key Stage 4 all our pupils study the core academic subjects at GCSE: English, English Literature, mathematics, sciences (combined or separate awards), history or geography. Achieving good passes in these subjects keep pupils’ options open, and allows them to enter the widest ranges of careers and college courses. - Follows a 2 week timetable where the option block alternate between 2 or 3 lessons a week. - Pupils are well supported through the option process to ensure they are on pathways that allow the greatest chance of academic success. Pupils are appropriately guided to whether they study combined science or separate science - Pupils are only set in ability groups in the following subjects: Mathematics and science. For all other subjects pupils will be in mixed ability groups - The curriculum continues to be taught by promoting the mastery of knowledge through interleaving and regular formative assessment - At Key Stage 4 teaching also focuses on applying that knowledge to a range of contexts **Year 10 & 11** | **Subject** | **Year group** | **Lessons every 2 weeks** | |---|---|---| | English | 10 | 8 | | Mathematics | 10 | 8 | | Science | 10 | 10 | | Option A and B | 10 | 5 | | Option C and D | 10 | 5 | | PE | 10 | 2 | | PSHE/RE | 10 | 2 | | **GCSE** | **Vocational** | |---|---| | Art Biology Business Studies Chemistry Computer Science English Language English Literature Food Preparation Further Mathematics Geography History Mathematics Music Photography Physics Religious Education Science (combined award) Statistics | ABC Award in Automotive Studies BTEC Animal Care OCR Health and Fitness BTEC Performing Arts NCFE Child Development Construction & the Built Environment | As a school we feel work experience is an essential aspect of pupils’ development and aim to support them in an ever-increasing competitive world of work. We strongly support and encourage our pupils to broaden horizons and pursue their dreams. Consequently, all Year 10 pupils have a week of work experience during the summer term. To find out more information on our Faculty of Arts and Creative Technologies, please click [here](https://www.qehs.co/general/curriculum/faculty-of-arts-and-creative-technologies) or contact the Head of Faculty: Mr R Down - To find out more information on our Faculty of English and Communication, please click [here](https://www.qehs.co/general/curriculum/faculty-of-english-and-communication) or contact the Head of Faculty: Ms H Eames - To find out more information on our Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, please click [here](https://www.qehs.co/general/curriculum/faculty-of-humanities-and-social-sciences) or contact the Head of Faculty: Mr M Durham - To find out more information on our Faculty of Mathematics, Enterprise and Computing, please click [here](https://www.qehs.co/general/curriculum/faculty-of-mathematics-enterprise-and-computing) or contact the Head of Faculty: Mr J Pridden - To find out more information on our Faculty of Science and Physical Education, please click [here](https://www.qehs.co/general/curriculum/faculty-of-science-and-physical-education) or contact the Head of Faculty: Mr D Bell - - [![D of E](https://files.schudio.com/queen-elizabeth-high-school/images/partners/DOFE.png)](https://www.dofe.org/) - [![The Brilliant Club](https://files.schudio.com/queen-elizabeth-high-school/images/partners/The_Brilliant_CLub.png)](https://thebrilliantclub.org/the-scholars-programme/for-schools/the-programme/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=tsp&utm_content=3&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhsmaBhCvARIsAIbEbH6oP5DOCiapJfc-SK-69wlSGYG) - [![the Scholars Programme](https://files.schudio.com/queen-elizabeth-high-school/images/partners/Scholars.png)](https://thebrilliantclub.org/the-scholars-programme/) - [![School Games](https://files.schudio.com/queen-elizabeth-high-school/images/partners/School.png)](https://www.yourschoolgames.com/how-it-works/school-games-mark/) - ![Safe Remote Education](https://files.schudio.com/queen-elizabeth-high-school/images/partners/NOS.png) - ![National Online Safety](https://files.schudio.com/queen-elizabeth-high-school/images/partners/NOS_2.png) - [![OFSTED](https://files.schudio.com/queen-elizabeth-high-school/images/partners/OFSTED.png)](http://www.qehs.co/key-information/ofsted) ##### Location Ashfields Bromyard Herefordshire HR7 4QS ##### Contact Us 01885 482230 ##### Stay Connected - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/Queen-Elizabeth-Humanities-College-1179791798708516/) - [X](https://twitter.com/qehsbromyard) - Ofsted © Copyright 2022–2026 Queen Elizabeth High School School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://qehs.co/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)