Detailed curriculum information can be found in the individual subject documents at the bottom of the page.

At Beaulieu, our curriculum is inclusive of and for all, regardless of background or ability. For additional information regarding our curriculum compliance with the Equalities Act 2019 and the SEND regulations 2014, please review our policies page and SEND page. 

At Beaulieu, we believe that knowledge is a priority. It is important to us that our children gain deep knowledge and and also have the to apply it. Our curriculum is challenging and coherent, crafted by subject experts to ensure that all pupils achieve broad, deep subject expertise. 

At Beaulieu, A two-week timetable comprising of 27 lessons per week. 2 lessons more per week than the majority of Essex Secondary Schools is operated. Over the course of 5 years, this equates to an extra 222 hours of learning or 9 additional school weeks (3/4 of a term). This extra time allows us to focus on numeracy and literacy; the key knowledge and skills needed for both education and lifelong success, without any narrowing of the curriculum. 

In Year 7, students study Maths and English every day, Science, Spanish and Humanities four times per week. This academic focus is balanced with two periods of PE and a lesson of Drama. Art, Music and Food technology are taught on a carousel.

Life Skills (PSHCE) is a formal part of the timetable. We believe that the lessons children receive here are essential for their mental and physical health and well-being and for the positive, safe and loving relationships in their teenage years and their adult lives. 

In Year 8, Computer Science is introduced and for the more able language students, German is introduced in Year 9.

Please see below for the exact make-up of the timetable.

Reading is hugely important to us here at Beaulieu. All of our lessons (not Drama or PE), start with silent reading. We invest in the accelerated reader programme and all children in Year 7 and Year 8 have an hour of reading per week as part of the English curriculum.

It is a school aim to ensure that all children leave us with a reading age of at least 14 and we employ a range of other interventions to achieve this.

THE KEY STAGE 3 CURRICULUM MODEL

Numbers below indicate lessons per week unless otherwise stated.

Year 7

English	5
Maths	5
Science	4
Humanities	8 per fortnight (Over 2 weeks this is 3 History, 3 Geography and 2 RE Lessons).
Spanish	4
PE	2
Life Skills & Citizenship	1
Creative Arts (Art, Music, Food)	1
Drama	1

 

Year 8

English	5
Maths	5
Science	4
Humanities	7 per fortnight (Over 2 weeks this is 3 History, 3 Geography and 1 RE Lesson).
Spanish	4
PE	2
Computer Science	1
Life Skills & Citizenship	1 per fortnight
Creative Arts (Art, Music, Food)	1
Drama	1

 

Year 9 (duAl Language half)

English	9 per fortnight
Maths	9 per fortnight
Science	4
Humanities	7 per fortnight (Over 2 weeks this is 3 History, 3 Geography and 1 RE Lesson).
Spanish	5 per fortnight
German	5 per fortnight
PE	2
Computer Science	1
Life Skills & Citizenship	1 per fortnight
Creative Arts (Art, Music, Food)	1
Drama	1

 

Year 9 (Single Language half)

English	5
Maths	5
Science	4
Humanities	7 per fortnight (Over 2 weeks this is 3 History, 3 Geography and 1 RE Lesson).
Spanish	4
PE	2
Computer Science	1
Life Skills & Citizenship	1 per fortnight
Creative Arts (Art, Music, Food)	1
Drama	1

 

In Year 9, able linguists study German in addition to Spanish. 

The 180 learners are divided into 6 tutor groups in Year 7. These are mixed in terms of prior attainment, feeder primary, gender, ethnicity, SEN, FSM etc.   

Learners study the following subjects in mixed ability groups: Spanish, Creative Arts, Drama, PE, English, Humanities and Computing. From Year 7 the teaching groups are arranged into sets for Maths (according to prior attainment in Maths) and Science (according to prior attainment in Science). 

THE KEY STAGE 4 CURRICULUM MODEL

Our guiding principle in designing our Key Stage 4 curriculum is “depth before breadth” with an emphasis on mastery or core academic subjects.

Building on our successful Key Stage 3, our Key Stage 4 curriculum centres on essential academic subjects, providing our learners with an excellent foundation for further study and the option to continue their studies at 6th form and on to university. Should this not be their choice, they will be in the strongest position possible for further education, apprenticeships or employment. We aim for our students to have as many choices available to them at age 16 as possible.

All learners study a compulsory core GCSE curriculum of English (2 GCSEs), Maths (1 GCSE), and Science (Triple or Combined). In addition, all learners follow a programme of non-examined Life Skills & Citizenship. 

All learners study an additional four GCSE courses.*  All learners study Geography or History, along with Spanish/German to ensure a rounded and secure academic foundation for further study, as well as satisfying the requirements of the English Baccalaureate (Ebacc).*

We offer the following courses (options) at Key Stage 4: 

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Science (Combined)

History

Geography

RE

Spanish

German

Art

Computing

Dance

Drama

Media Studies

Food & Nutrition 

Music

PE

Maths (Statistics) - by invitation only**

Further Maths - by invitation only**

 

*A very small handful of students do not follow Spanish. These students are identified by reading age. Instead, they have a study programme and bespoke reading scheme to fulfil one of our aims of children leaving us with a reading age of at least 14. 

**In addition.