Curriculum Information
At the heart of our curriculum is the firm belief that its fundamental purpose is to develop our learners as happy, confident and successful human beings who know their learning has prepared them for whatever lies ahead. This principle led to the development of our academy curriculum intent. Our curriculum is designed to ensure that all our learners increase their opportunities and life chances in preparation for life beyond Caistor Yarborough Academy, while crucially making progress in line with national expectations.
We ensure the curriculum allows students to become:
- Globally Aware – ensuring the curriculum helps students understand the world around them and how it is changing
- Culturally Aware – students understand other cultures and their locality
- Self-Aware – ensuring students can understand their emotions, their body and their actions
- Work-ready and Ambitious – ensuring students are prepared for the next stages of their lives
We offer a wide range of high quality academic and vocational courses. We follow a one-week timetable. Each day is based around five lessons periods, each one hour in length and one twenty five minute Tutor Period. This means students have 25 lessons over the course of a standard school week.
Key Stage 3
At Key Stage 3 we provide a broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum which ensures that all students, across the full ability range, have the opportunity to develop substantial knowledge, skills and understanding. Our aim is not only to prepare students for examination-based study in Key Stage 4 and beyond, but also to ensure they experience a rich and coherent curriculum in its own right — one that builds cumulative progression year on year, and fosters personal, spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Although our school (as an academy) is not required to follow the exact programmes of study of the National Curriculum, we ensure that the statutory duties (for example for English, maths, science, computing, PE, citizenship/RSHE and RE) are fully met and that our curriculum reflects both subject-specific rigour and the wider educational experience our students deserve.
In KS3 students will study all of their lessons, in the proportions specified below. In the majority of subjects, students are put into sets appropriate to their ability.
Year 7
| English 4 Lessons / 6 Groups | Maths 4 Lessons / 6 Groups | Science 4 Lessons / 6 Groups |
|---|---|---|
| Art 1 Lesson / 6 Groups | Computing 1 Lesson / 6 Groups | Music 1 Lesson / 6 Groups |
| Geography 2 Lessons / 6 Groups | History 1 Lesson / 6 Groups | RE 1 Lesson / 6 Groups |
| MFL 2 Lessons / 6 Groups | Physical Education 2 Lessons | Technology 2 Lessons on Subject rotation |
| Drama / PSHE 1 Lesson of each on Subject rotation |
Year 8
| English 4 Lessons / 6 Groups | Maths 4 Lessons / 6 Groups | Science 4 Lessons / 6 Groups |
|---|---|---|
| Art 1 Lesson / 6 Groups | Computing 1 Lesson / 6 Groups | Music 1 Lesson / 6 Groups |
| Geography 2 Lessons / 6 Groups | History 2 Lessons / 6 Groups | RE 1 Lesson / 6 Groups |
| MFL 1 Lesson / 6 Groups | Physical Education 2 Lessons | Technology 2 Lessons on Subject rotation |
| Drama / PSHE 1 Lesson of each on Subject |
Year 9
| English 4 Lessons / 5 Groups | Maths 4 Lessons / 5 Groups | Science 4 Lessons / 5 Groups |
|---|---|---|
| Art 1 Lesson / 6 Groups | Computing 1 Lesson / 5 Groups | Music 1 Lesson / 5 Groups |
| Geography 2 Lessons / 5 Groups | History 2 Lessons / 5 Groups | RE 1 Lesson / 5 Groups |
| MFL 1 Lesson / 5 Groups | Physical Education 1 Lesson | Technology 2 Lessons on Subject rotation |
| Drama / PSHE 1 Lesson of each on Subject rotation |
Key Stage 4
All students study at least 8 GCSEs (or equivalents) including English Language, English Literature Maths and Science (either combined or separate). In addition, students also take part in Games (PE), PSHE (Personal, Social, and Health Education).
Year 10
| English 4 Lessons / 4 Groups | Maths 4 Lessons / 4 Groups | Science Combined 6 Lessons / 4 Groups |
|---|---|---|
| Separate Science 6 Lessons / 1 Group | Games 2 Lessons | PSHE/RE 1 Lesson |
| Options 3 Subjects for 2 Lessons | ||
| GCSE Geography 2 Groups | GCSE History 2 Groups | GCSE Art |
| GCSE Drama | BTEC Graphics | GCSE Photography |
| GCSE Spanish | BTEC Health and Social | BTEC Sport |
| BTEC Travel and Tourism | BTEC Business |
Year 11
| English 4 Lessons / 4 Groups | Maths 4 Lessons / 4 Groups | Science Combined 6 Lessons / 4 Groups |
| Separate Science 6 Lessons / 1 Group | Games 2 Lessons | PSHE/RE 1 Lesson |
| Options 3 Subjects for 2 Lessons | ||
| GCSE Geography (3 Groups) | GCSE History | GCSE Art |
| GCSE Spanish | BTEC Health and Social | GCSE Photography |
| BTEC Travel and Tourism | BTEC Business | BTEC Sport |
KS4 computing is covered through the options and also through the completion of selected modules of the iDEA project.
In both Y10 and 11, students receive one hour of curriculum time per week dedicated to Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education and Religious Education (RE). This provision is delivered on a half-termly rotation, with PSHE taught for three half-terms across the academic year and RE taught for the remaining three half-terms. In addition, external workshops and speakers are used to further support the provision of PSHE and RE themes at Key Stage 4 and form time and assemblies are used to deliver further content. This ensures that, over the course of the year, all statutory elements of PSHE are addressed. It also ensures that our Key Stage 4 RE curriculum meets the expectations of the Lincolnshire Agreed Syllabus (2025–2030) by ensuring that all pupils have access to an ambitious, enquiry-led programme that develops religious literacy and promotes understanding of diverse worldviews.