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Aims of Key Stage 3

Kingdown School aims to build on the knowledge, understanding and skills that students have developed in their primary school.

Our aim is to develop:

  • Successful learners who make progress and achieve
  • Confident and resilient individuals who are able to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives
  • Responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society

We continue to review the curriculum offered to students at Kingdown School, building on existing good practice and looking at the challenges and opportunities that may face our students in the future.

Key Targets for Key Stage 3

  • Challenge: to challenge all students to be the best that they can be
  • Engagement: Engagement and success through the rewards system
  • Resilience: Learning to deal with the challenges and failures of everyday life and turning them in to learning experiences

Vertical Tutor Groups

Students are placed in vertical tutor groups on entry to Year 7. Our curriculum aims to maintain, at its centre, our commitment to the principle of individual learning, offering the very best and most appropriate experience for each student.

Students study the following subjects at Key Stage 3:

  • Art
  • Design and Technology
  • Drama
  • English
  • Humanities: Geography, History & Religious Studies
  • ICT
  • Mathematics
  • French, with a Spanish option in Year 9
  • Music
  • Physical Education
  • Science

How the students are grouped

There are approximately 300 students in Year 7.  Students will be placed into one of six Houses – Lords, Millennium, Silverstone, Twickenham, Wembley and Wimbledon. 

Within each House there are fourteen tutor groups.  Between four and six Year 7 students will be allocated to each group.  Students who have older brothers and sisters at Kingdown School will be placed in the same House.

Tutor groups are organised in a vertical system.  They have students from each year group – Year 7 through to 6th Form.  We believe this vertical structure provides more support for younger students and extra leadership opportunities for older year groups.  The tutor group is more like a ‘family’ structure in which each member has a part to play.

Each tutor group will be led by their tutor who will provide pastoral support and guidance throughout their time at school.  Tutors remain with the same group and be the first point of contact for parents and students.  The group will meet once a day at tutor time for a tutor session or house assembly.

Teaching Groups – how students are organised for lessons

The teaching group is the main organisational grouping for the teaching of lessons.  There are 12 groups of approximately 25 students.  This will depend on final numbers entering the year group.

All students in Term 5 of Year 6 are tested in their Primary School.  The students are tested in English, Mathematics and Science.  The results of these SAT tests are sent to the Primary School at the end of June.  Details of each student’s results along with other detailed information from the Year 6 teachers are then passed directly to Kingdown School.

Measuring Progress

At Kingdown School, we are keen that all students make progress throughout their school career.  For several years we have been developing systems that enable us to measure progress against the potential of each student and their prior attainment.  This information allows us to set targets on an individual basis.

During Term one, or during the students’ last summer term at primary school, students at Kingdown sit a series of nationally recognised tests (Cognitive Ability Tests – CATs) will be used to establish baseline data so that we can begin to track each student’s progress through the school. These will be used to help teachers set targets for Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4.

All subjects regularly review students’ progress and in Years 8 and 9 students are placed in appropriate sets in some subjects.  Movement between sets is always possible and parents will be informed of any changes.

Who to contact

If you have any questions about Key Stage 3, please contact Mrs Hill, Deputy Headteacher, Head of Key Stage 3