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Curriculum Overview

Thomas Clarkson Academy Key Stage 3 – Core curriculum 

KS3 – 25 periods per week 

KS3 (7-9) 

Ma 

Eng & Dr 

Sci 

Hums

PSHE 

MFL 

 DT/IT PE & Da

Art

Mu 

Total 

Lessons per cycle 

5 

5 

4 

3 

1 

2 

1 

2 

1 

1 

25 

Percentage distribution 

20 

20 

16 

12 

4 

8 

4 

8 

4 

4 

100 

 

Thomas Clarkson Academy Key Stage 4  

KS4 from 2020/2021 – 25 periods per week   

KS4 (10-11) 

Ma 

Eng 

Sci 

Opt 1 

Opt 2 

Opt 3 

 Opt 4

Core PE 

Total 

 

Lessons per cycle 

4

4 

4 

3 

3 

3 

 3

1 

25 

Percentage distribution 

16 

16 

16 

12 

12

12 

 12

4 

100 

In Year 9 students choose a full Ebacc or the Open pathway in consultation with Mrs Tarsitano (Vice Principal for Outcomes). 

Students commence their KS4 programme of study in the final half term of their Year 9 academic year.  

GCSE Polish, GCSE Russian and GCSE Portuguese will be offered as additional GCSE courses through the Session 5 intervention programme.  

Guided options: Students choose TWO choices from here if they follow the full EBacc pathway or THREE choices if they follow the Open pathway: 

Subject Qualifications
  • 3D Art & Design GCSE
  • Art & Design GCSE
  • Business Studies GCSE/OCR Cambridge National
  • Childcare VCERT
  • Citizenship GCSE
  • Computer Science GCSE
  • Construction GCSE
  • Dance GCSE
  • Design Technology GCSE
  • Drama GCSE
  • Engineering BTEC
  • Film Studies GCSE
  • French GCSE
  • Geography GCSE
  • Health & Social Care BTEC
  • History GCSE
  • Hospitality & Catering GCSE
  • Music GCSE
  • PE GCSE
  • Philosophy and Ethics GCSE
  • Sport BTEC
  • Triple Science GCSE
Thomas Clarkson Academy Key Stage 5 Choices 

Year 

Academic 

Vocational 

GCSEs 

Supervised Study 

12 

3 A Levels 

Level 3 BTEC 

Maths and English 

All 

13 

3 A Levels 

Level 3 BTEC 

 

All 

 

KS5 – 25 periods per week 

KS5 (12-13) 

Opt 1 

Opt 2 

Opt 3 

Supervised study  

sessions 

Independent study sessions/Intervention 

Total 

 

Lessons per cycle 

5 

5 

5 

3 

7 

25 

Percentage distribution 

20 

20 

20 

12 

28 

100 

 

Facilitating A Levels 

A levels 

L3 Vocational Subjects 

L2 Subjects 

Biology 

Chemistry 

English Language  

English Literature 

French 

Further Mathematics 

Geography 

History 

Mathematics 

Physics 

Art and Design 

Computer Science 

Dance  

Drama 

Economics

Government & Politics 

Media 

Music 

Philosophy and Ethics 

Psychology 

Sociology 

OCR Extended Certificate 

Business 

Sport 

Health & Social Care 

 

Maths GCSE Resit 

English GCSE Resit 
KS5 Study Programme: How TCA meets the requirements:  
  • Substantial academic, applied or vocational qualifications that stretch students and prepare them for education at the next level or to employment 
  • We offer a range of Level 3 qualifications, including 9 facilitating subjects. We also offer a range of vocational Level 3 OCR qualifications. Students can select an Academic, Vocational or Mixed pathway. 
  • English and maths where students have not yet achieved a GCSE grade 4 (reformed grading) or grade C (legacy grading) 
  • All students who join TCA’s sixth form without a grade 4 in maths or English will receive timetabled specific resit lessons.
  • Work experience to give young people the opportunity to develop their career choices and to apply their skills in real working conditions 
  • All Year 12 students undertake two weeks of career relevant, high quality work experience. Placements are carefully designed and professionally managed.
  • Other non-qualification activity to develop students’ character, skills, attitudes and confidence, and to support progression 
  • Students experience a range of apprenticeship, employment and HE trips
  • Students receive a range of externally provided workshops on relevant topics including driving, substance abuse and mental health 
  • Students are placed in specific sixth form tutor groups. They follow a specific sixth form tutorial programme to ensure they have meaningful and purposeful tutorials relevant to their current academic position 
  • Year 13 students receive real life mock interview practise where they develop the necessary skills to succeed in both HE and employment interviews 
  • Sixth form students form and lead the Student Leadership Team. These students lead the Academy student voice process and have the opportunity to feedback and make changes in the ongoing progressions at TCA.
The Tutor Programme: PSHE, SMSC and British Values  

Our PSHE and SMSC programme is integrated into our tutorial and assembly programme over the academic year and covers a wide range of topics that enhance, equip and provide our students a greater understanding of “Our World”. We have external speakers and events – such as; motivation, careers, counselling, bullying, enterprise, drug, hate crimes and great historical events, rewards and celebration to name but a few. RSE is delivered through the tutor programme and through bespoke ‘drop down days’. 
 
Themes covered: 

  • British Values – Rule of Law, Mutual Respect, Tolerance, Individual Liberty, Democracy

  • Human and political rights 

  • Democracy (including elections) 

  • Freedom of speech 

  • Role of media in everyday life 

  • Law and the Justice System 

  • Living in a diverse society 

  • Tolerance 

  • Community Cohesion 

  • Anti – Bullying 

  • Ethical Issues 

  • Human and political rights 

  • UK Citizens 

  • Multicultural Societies 

  • Types of protest (historical and current) 

  • Crime and Laws 

  • Taxes 

  • Employer and Employee rights 

  • Volunteering 

CEIAG (Careers, Education, Information, Advice & Guidance) 

The CEIAG team at TCA deliver a comprehensive and inclusive service which covers: 

  • An introduction to careers pathways 

  • Options choices advice and option changes

  • Choosing the right A levels

  • Moving on advice – including applications to college, sixth form, apprenticeships and university 

  • Visits, trips, talks, careers events and experiences aimed at raising aspirations and broadening students horizons and employment opportunities. 

We are involved in a number of projects that encourage students to raise their aspirations and give them valuable experiences for the future including: 

  • NEACO (The Network for East Anglian Collaborative Outreach), which includes Cambridge University, the University of East Anglia, Anglia Ruskin and the College of West Anglia. This project aims to improve social mobility and encourage students into higher education. Over 280 of our students fall into the target group, which is based on their postcode. 

  • We are working with Anglian Water on a two year programme of delivery targeting Years 9 – 13, aimed at improving their employability skills and knowledge of career pathways. 

We work with a number of partners including: 

  • Oxford & Cambridge universities

  • Other universities including: Lincoln, Anglia Ruskin, University Centre Peterborough

  • The College of West Anglia & Peterborough Regional College

  • The Skills Service

  • Business in the Community – we are part of the Business Class programme

  • Employers – Metalcraft, Tesco, Nestle, Lamb Weston & Anglian Water to name but a fe

Students also have access to a wide variety of resources to assist in developing their future including: 

  • New Kudos – a careers information and search programme

  • Unifrog & UCAS – which assists students in researching their university & apprenticeships choices and 

  • Books, leaflets, prospectuses etc.