If you wish to find out more or more specific information about our curriculum please visit the Contact Us section of the website and send us a message via the online form. One of our colleagues will then be in touch to discuss your enquiry.
At Bishop Challoner, we deliver a broad and balanced curriculum, providing pupils with the education they need to succeed in later life. At our school, we aim to inspire pupils through our curriculum, and encourage them to seek the paths they desire for their future careers. The school intends to offer pupils new and exciting experiences through extracurricular activities that are designed to build resilience, confidence and self-esteem. Through the design of our curriculum, we seek to educate the whole person as made in the image and likeness of God. We strive to develop the spiritual, moral, social and learning attitudes of our pupils so that they may become the best that they can and live the best possible life.
Regular testing and assessment is integral to the curriculum with full reports sent to parents/guardians annually. Parents/guardians will be encouraged to co-operate with the school by monitoring their child’s work and activities, by frequent inspection of the homework diary and by attending meetings arranged for the purpose of discussing student’s progress.
The curriculum is designed to provide access and opportunity for all pupils who attend the school. Where required, pupils with SEND will receive the additional support they require both academically and with their personal development, in line with the school’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Policy.
This may include:
- Working with TAs in smaller groups to work on topics covered in lessons to ensure they do not fall behind their peers
- Taking measures to ensure pupils with SEND are not discriminated against in any way
- Teachers monitoring the progress of pupils with SEND and reporting this to the SENCO
- Adopting a close working relationship between the SENCO and teachers to help them break down any barriers pupils with SEND have to education
Timings of the School Day
|
Activity |
Start time |
End time |
|
AM Registration |
8:30 |
8:50 |
|
Lesson 1 |
8:50 |
9:50 |
|
Lesson 2 |
9:50 |
10:50 |
|
Break |
10:50 |
11:10 |
|
Lesson 3 |
11:10 |
12:10 |
|
Lesson 4 |
12:10 |
13:10 |
|
Lunch |
13:10 |
14:00 |
|
Lesson 5 |
14:00 |
15:00 |
|
PM Registration |
15:00 |
15:10 |
Key Stage 3
During KS3, lessons are taught as five, 60-minute lessons per day. The timetable is organised on a fortnightly rotation.
The table below outlines the subjects and number of lessons that are taught during Year 7, 8 and 9.
|
Subject |
Year 7 |
Year 8 |
Year 9 |
|
English |
8 |
8 |
8 |
|
Mathematics |
6 |
6 |
6 |
|
Science |
6 |
6 |
6 |
|
RE |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
History |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Geography |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
French/Spanish |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Computing/IT |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Technology |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
PE |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
Art |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Music |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Drama |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Dance |
2 |
2 |
2 |
In English (y7/8/9), Mathematics (y7/8/9) and Science (y9) pupils are taught in sets to appropriately allocate pupils within groups where they are amongst peers with similar progress and attainment. In order to group pupils into sets, information is used from prior attainment information during KS2; however, classroom teachers are responsible for reviewing throughout the year and may move pupils into different sets as appropriate
Key Stage 4
During KS4, lessons are taught as five, 60-minute lessons per day. The timetable is organised on a fortnightly rotation.
In KS4, pupils are taught five compulsory, core subjects, and are able to choose a further three choices from the optional subjects to study at GCSE level.
The table below outlines the subjects and number of lessons that are taught during Years 10 and 11:
|
Subject |
Year 10 |
Year 11 |
|
English |
9 |
9 |
|
Mathematics |
8 |
8 |
|
Science |
9 |
10 |
|
RE |
5 |
5 |
|
Option A |
5 |
5 |
|
Option B |
5 |
5 |
|
Option C |
5 |
4 |
The optional subjects are allocated to three blocks – pupils choose one subject from each block at the end of Year 9 to study at GCSE level, throughout Year 10 and 11 for timetabling purposes.
The blocks available are as follows:
|
Option A |
Option B |
Option C |
|
History Geography Business BTEC Media BTEC Sport BTEC Health and Social Care BTEC |
Spanish French Art Music Drama Computing PE Media History Geography Health and Social Care BTEC Triple Science Media BTEC |
Spanish French Product Design Food & Nutrition Economics Textiles Sociology History Geography Business BTEC IT |
Careers Education
The school will work to encompass careers education and guidance into subjects across the curriculum, in line with the Careers Policy.
The school will ensure that every pupil is exposed to the world of work by the age of 14.
The school will engage with and ensure pupils have access to local employers, businesses and professional networks, and providers of post-14, post-16 and post-18 education and training, including by inviting visiting speakers with whom pupils can relate.
The school will host a variety of career experiences throughout the academic year, on which pupils can participate in meaningful encounters with employers. These encounters will include:
Careers events such as careers talks, careers carousels and careers fairs. Transition skills workshops such as CV workshops and mock interviews. Mentoring, including online mentoring. Employer-delivered employability workshops. Business games and enterprise competitions.
PSHE and RSE
Our pupils benefit from a comprehensive programme of PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic education), RSE (Relationships, Sex and Health Education) and careers advice and guidance.
RSE for KS3, KS4 and KS5 is delivered through the RE and PSHE curriculum.
PSHE education is delivered via:
Dedicated Form Time Dedicated assemblies
All provisions made regarding RSE and PSHE lessons will be made in line with the school’s PSHE Policy.
- Mental Health
- Forms of Abuse
- Radicalisation
- Finances
- Drugs and Alcohol
- Gangs
- Digital Literacy
- Social Media
As part of the curriculum, the school will make provision for PSHE where everyday topics, such as raising awareness of different cultures or anti-bullying, can be addressed.
The school will hold 10 PSHE sessions per term. Topics covered within these sessions include the following:
- Anti-bullying
- Celebrating different cultures
- British values