Twitter Wall

Twitter Wall

13/11/23

Thank you to all our staff and students who represented the whole school community at our Service of Remembrance this morning. pic.twitter.com/Jp3dafkNOA

10/11/23

Thank you to all our staff and students who represented the whole school community at our Service of Remembrance this morning. pic.twitter.com/ckZYHPR2gT

09/11/23

Canteen staff put on a marvellous spread this afternoon as we celebrated Diwali! 🥳 The food was delicious and the students loved dancing away to the music. Happy Diwali everyone 🕯 pic.twitter.com/MjwX0Pa2Wf

08/11/23

Don't forget to come and celebrate Diwali tomorrow afternoon in the Canteen where there's lots of delicious food on offer! 😋 pic.twitter.com/ExgmTs1TsR

31/10/23

This morning Mr Place, Head of School, joined by Mrs Small, Head of Year 8, met with some brilliant Year 8 students who have recently received top Attitude to Learning scores. They gave some fantastic feedback whilst enjoying hot chocolate and cookies. Keep working hard! pic.twitter.com/C8CcOKiBVo

31/10/23

Come along to our 'Get into Teaching' event and find out about training with and and ask any questions you might have about our courses. Also several online options visit our website to register https://t.co/nJmPLgfBrx pic.twitter.com/shu1hvb8xO

31/10/23

Art Club were getting into the spirit of Halloween last night, look at these spooky creations! 🎃 pic.twitter.com/TbnigWlIhP

31/10/23

Exciting news! de Stafford School is now an approved centre for the "Your Time" programme, designed to help girls build the confidence needed to become leaders in sport. This is a fantastic opportunity for de Stafford and the Year 10 & 11 girls can't wait to take part! pic.twitter.com/hs7Qw2JseH

30/10/23

Come and celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights with us next Thursday 9th November. Our canteen have a range of delicious food on offer so make sure you don't miss out! pic.twitter.com/FIa6AgZIDS

20/10/23

It's time to be creative for DLD day, or week! Let's be a champion for people with DLD everyday of the year! pic.twitter.com/YBQoBxObd9

20/10/23

has been referred to as the most common disability you’ve never heard of. With 7.6% of the population having (that’s approx 2 in every class) we continue to raise awareness We know that the right support can really help pupils who have DLD pic.twitter.com/Wp4ghjOz3m

19/10/23

This morning Mr Place, Head of School, met with this amazing group of Year 7 students who have recently received top Attitude to Learning scores. They gave some fantastic feedback and enjoyed a hot chocolate and a cookie. Well done to you all and keep up the great work! pic.twitter.com/jVkG3VxTY9

19/10/23

Our hardworking Year 11 students attending their Further Maths after school sessions. Keep up the hard work everyone 👏 pic.twitter.com/de2v5rxuIQ

16/10/23

On Friday 13 October, we were delighted to welcome Mrs Hills, a research scientist, to present on her work in the field of pathology and strain typing of animal diseases. A huge thank you to Mrs Hills for taking the time to share her professional experience with us! pic.twitter.com/vT0OnsGdXB

09/10/23

We are thrilled to announce that our Macmillan Coffee Morning raised over £800! Thank you to all our students, parents, carers and local community who helped to make this possible. We are incredibly proud of all our students who spent so much time and effort baking! pic.twitter.com/vohH645Cz5

03/10/23

📣 Last few dates remaining! Slots are filling up fast, so please visit our website to book a School Tour 👍https://t.co/fM7z91j86d

28/09/23

🍰Parents/carers are warmly invited to join us from 11am - 12pm tomorrow for a coffee and slice of cake in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support 🍰 pic.twitter.com/xuBzwzKEp5

27/09/23

Year 8 students have been busy making Pizza in Food Technology today🍕. Chefs of the day go to Cameron B and Leon W! Your Pizzas look delicious, well done 🥳 pic.twitter.com/aKrDa5dOSe

27/09/23

Local Officers from Surrey Police visited the school to discuss tackling Violence Against Women & Girls (VAGW). Students were really engaged and found the session very beneficial. Thank you pic.twitter.com/xvBst6q2GV

25/09/23

We really look forward to showing you what we have to offer here at de Stafford and there is still time for you and your child to come and visit us during the school day. Slots are filling up fast, so please visit our website to book a School Tour 👍https://t.co/fM7z91j86d pic.twitter.com/SvS8imMAcy

Curriculum Overview

Providing an exciting, challenging and engaging education that enables all students to reach their full potential is a core strategic aim of the school and our curriculum offer plays an integral role in helping us to achieve such a goal. We are conscious that our curriculum must provide the platform to develop in students the knowledge, skills and attributes that will enable them to become active and responsible citizens within a rapidly changing global environment by the time they leave us at 16. Our curriculum model provides a framework for setting out the aims of our educational programme, including the knowledge and understanding to be gained at each stage.

School leaders are responsible for ensuring each curriculum area is well taught and contains appropriately sequenced content, is underpinned by thoughtfully designed assessment practice and consideration is given to an appropriate model of progression. We adopt an approach whereby lessons are taught within a framework where knowledge underpins and enables the application of skill. We recognise the importance of each subject as an individual discipline, providing students with subject-specific vocabulary and knowledge that allows them to build links and enhance their learning across other areas. Cross-curricular themes and opportunities are sought to enhance these links.

Throughout Key Stage 3, we deliver a broad (covers all the experiences deemed important by society) and balanced (subject areas afforded sufficient time on the timetable) curriculum whereby all students are taught English, Mathematics and Science, Spanish, Design Technology, Food and Nutrition, PE, RE, Computing, Geography, History, Music, Drama, Art and PSHE. Students are currently offered a degree of curriculum personalisation in Year 9 whilst maintaining a broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum.  Key Stage 3 affords students the opportunity to broaden their experience of these subject areas not only within the classroom but also beyond it, such as visiting museums, art galleries, theatres, and other relevant curriculum enrichment activities.  A small proportion of students with identified needs (approximately 10% each year) are provided with additional literacy support whilst also maintaining access to a modern foreign language. This enables them to make accelerated progress with their literacy skills and improves their access to the mainstream curriculum in Key Stage 4 and beyond.

In terms of diversity, this is promoted specifically through our discrete Personal Development programme in Key Stage 3, Citizenship as a popular and successful GCSE subject in Key Stage 4 and compulsory RE lessons throughout Years 7-11, including all students sitting a GCSE in the subject at the end of Year 11, as well as through a comprehensive SAM time programme.

Careers guidance and support underpins our curriculum offer from the outset in Year 7 and we place a significant emphasis on helping students to explore and learn about their future pathways and options. Opportunities are sought to highlight career paths within lessons and discrete intervention is provided through small group and one-to-one tutorials with an external provider, annual Careers Fair and well established links with Post-16 providers. We are implementing the Gatsby Benchmarks as a framework for our provision.

Underpinning our curriculum offer is the importance of providing students with the skills, attitudes, beliefs and techniques they need to be able to acquire knowledge most effectively, and continue to learn beyond the time they spend in school. Building a strong character and a sense of moral purpose in our students is a core responsibility so that they have developed the skills necessary to embrace the challenges that lie ahead and participate in society as active citizens.

de Stafford implements a curriculum model based on:

  • a broad and balanced curriculum; one which ensures students follow a wide range of subjects – from Sciences, Arts, Humanities, and Languages – for as long as possible,
  • a curriculum which keeps students’ options open and is influenced by student choice
  • a wider-curriculum which supports students’ personal development.
  • a curriculum that incorporates a range of qualification routes and is, where appropriate, supported by technical or vocational courses.

More specific details about the subject content taught in the different key stages can be found in the Curriculum Model below, the attached Curriculum Maps or by contacting relevant class teachers and/or Subject Leaders.

 

Curriculum Model

Hours per fortnight

Curriculum model 23 24

 

Year 9 Curriculum Personalisation

Three subjects chosen as part of a Curriculum Personalisation process from the original Year 7/8 subjects with the addition of Business Studies, Citizenship, Media Studies, Creative iMedia, Health & Social Care, and Sports Studies/PE. (3hrs each)

GCSE Options

All students study History or Geography (they can ultimately study both).

Students follow one of three pathways for GCSE:

  • Pathway 1 – study Spanish plus two options
  • Pathway 2 – three options
  • Pathway 3 – Additional Core plus two options

Students can only choose subjects they have studied in Year 9. (5hrs each)

Year 11 (2023/24) are following a legacy process: 4 subjects chosen (5hrs each) with one from History, Geography, Spanish, or Computer Science.

 

 

Documents

Page Downloads Date  
Year 7 Curriculum Maps 2023-24 30th Oct 2023 Download
Year 8 Curriculum Maps 2023-24 30th Oct 2023 Download
Year 9 Curriculum Maps 2023-24 30th Oct 2023 Download
Year 10 Curriculum Maps 2023-24 30th Oct 2023 Download
Year 11 Curriculum Maps 2023-24 30th Oct 2023 Download