Warden Park Secondary Academy

Our broad, balanced curriculum provides opportunities for every student to follow courses appropriate to their aspirations and ability. The curriculum also develops each student’s personal learning and thinking skills, giving them the opportunity to be creative, independent, and reflective, a self-manager, an effective participant and a team player. We have special provision for highly able students, and those with special educational needs.

For more detailed information please visit our dedicated options website: https://sites.google.com/wardenparkradio.net/keystage4options/home-summer-term

On this website you will find details of pathways studied at Key Stage 4, options forms which you can download, and information about our Twilight Curriculum.

KEY STAGE 3

In the first two years all students currently follow a common curriculum based on the National Curriculum. This includes courses in:

• English and Mathematics
• Science
• Art and design
• Design technology, including food technology
• Geography
• History
• Information and communications technology (ICT) including computing
• Modern foreign languages (2 from German, French or Spanish)*
• Music
• Physical education
• Learning about Life including Religious, personal, social and vocational education (including citizenship, careers education and health education)

*Some students may access literacy support throughout their key stage 3 curriculum also.

A distinctive feature of our curriculum is that 3 modern foreign languages (French, German and Spanish) are available at Warden Park. Students express their preferences prior to joining Warden Park; they then study their two languages throughout Year 7 & 8.

Students are placed in sets according to ability for English during Year 7.  For most other subjects, learning takes place in mixed groups with tasks being made available for students of different ability as appropriate. 

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND COLLECTIVE WORSHIP

We believe that it is important for students to understand the significance of religion and the guidance religious faith offers on many of the issues of today’s world. Our programme of religious, personal and social education incorporates the West Sussex “agreed syllabus” for religious education. This includes the opportunity for students to follow a GCSE course in religious studies.

Academy assemblies include the celebration of religious festivals and the discussion of moral and spiritual issues within a broadly Christian context.  

You have the right to withdraw your child from any element of Religious Education and/or Collective Worship.  Application to do so should be made to the Head of School through admin@wardenpark.co.uk

PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

Warden Park has increasingly strong links with leading independent schools in the area including: Ardingly, Brighton College; Burgess Hill School for Girls and Hurst College. We encourage Warden Park students to apply for scholarships to these independent fee-paying schools for their 6^th form education should this be appropriate to their needs and aspirations. 

KEY STAGE 4

In Key Stage 4 the curriculum becomes more flexible and differentiated. In September 2017 we will begin offering a three year key stage 4. This will enable students to personalise their learning at an earlier stage and enhance students’ knowledge and understanding throughout their chosen pathways. The core or entitlement curriculum includes the following subjects most of which lead to a GCSE qualification or the equivalent:

• English Language & English Literature
• Mathematics (Some students may also study an advanced mathematics qualification alongside their Mathematics GCSE
• Science GCSE. (Students are able to study for separate GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics through our “triple science” course. For students entering Year 9 in September 2017, it is our expectation that majority of students will achieve all 3 separate science. For students entering Year 10in September 2017, Triple Science is an optional subject).
• At least 1 of; geography, history, a modern foreign language or computer science
• Physical education
• Learning about Life

Students can follow further courses to match their interests, skills and aspirations. These include:

• Art, craft & design
• Business Studies
• Child Development*
• Computing
• Creative Digital Media Production*
• Dance
• Drama
• Food Preparation & Nutrition
• ICT*
• Latin
• Music
• Physical Education
• Product Design
• Religious Studies
• Sociology (available to students entering Year 10 in September 2017 only)
• Higher Project Qualification*
• Finance*

 *Some of our courses lead to the awarding of National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) or BTEC.