Curriculum Overview
It is important for us to offer a wide range of subjects to our students. The curriculum at Sir John Leman High School is broad, balanced, and knowledge rich, ensuring progression and continuity for every student.
We believe a knowledge-rich curriculum is crucial because it provides students with a strong foundation of factual knowledge and understanding across a variety of disciplines. This not only equips them with the skills to excel in school, but also in further education and future careers. Furthermore, a strong depth of knowledge also empowers young people to become informed and engaged citizens.
Our curriculum is at the forefront of new courses and opportunities. We offer a number of vocational courses, providing appropriate pathways for all students. We also continue to maintain the best offer, including outcomes, in terms of a traditional academic curriculum.
Alongside our academic curriculum sits our bespoke “Forever Programme”, a bespoke blend of PSHE and Careers education. This programme ensures that we also empower our students to navigate the complexities of adolescence and make informed decisions about their future pathways. PSHE fosters personal and social development, equipping students with essential life skills such as critical thinking, communication, and resilience. Moreover, it promotes emotional well-being and physical health, enabling students to build healthy relationships and make responsible choices. Careers education, on the other hand, helps students explore their interests and aptitudes, develop career awareness, and make informed decisions about their post-secondary options. By providing opportunities for self-reflection, exploration, and planning, PSHE and careers education ensure that students at Sir John Leman High School are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
We expect our students to take responsibility for their own learning and develop good learning habits including co-operation, collaboration, persistence and resourcefulness. We encourage students to think about how they learn, how to solve problems and make decisions.
When they reach Year 9, students select GCSE courses in addition to their compulsory subjects. Extensive information and advice is available to parents and students. In Years 10 and 11 (Key Stage 4), students continue to study a range of subjects including Maths, English and Science; they are also given the opportunity to take subjects leading to the English Baccalaureate, Religious Education, Physical Education and PSHEE are taught to all and there are opportunities for more vocationally based-learning.
Curriculum subjects are organised into faculty areas as indicated below:
- Creative Arts
Art, Drama, Film Studies, Music, Music Technology, Media Studies, Performing Arts, Photography
- Business, Computing and Health & Social Care
Business, Computer Science, Creative iMedia, Digital Games Production, Economics, Health & Social Care
- English
English Language, English Literature
- Humanities
Ancient History, Geography, History, Law, Politics, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology
- Languages
French, Latin, Spanish
- Mathematics
Additional Mathematics, Mathematical Studies, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Statistics
- Personal Development
Extended Project, PSHEE and Careers, Personal Development
- Physical Education
PE
- Science
Applied Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Combined Science
- Technology
Design & Technology, Fashion & Textiles, Food Preparation & Nutrition, Food Science & Nutrition, Product Design