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Parent Guide to Assessment
Click below to find out more about how we assess students.
Mortimer Community College offers a broad and balanced curriculum, giving all students an ambitious and high-quality learning experience, in which all statutory requirements are fulfilled. The school’s curriculum is planned and sequenced to allow students to develop the core knowledge and skills that will become the foundation of future learning and experiences.
Each subject area has developed a bespoke curriculum offering for our students, taking into consideration the distinct context of our locality and student cohort. Subject curricula are designed to allow all students to make progress, regardless of their starting points. Our subject specialists have considered where students need to be by the end of a phase of learning (End Points), and the core knowledge, understanding and skills that are required to get there (Curriculum Constructs).
Year 7 and 8 are taught in nine classes which are split into three bands: K, W and Z. Year 9 are taught in eight classes which are split into two bands: K and W. In Design and Technology, classes are split up further into smaller groups to facilitate safe practical work.
Students are set by ability in English and Mathematics and are taught in mixed ability classes for all other subjects. Some students follow a basic skills programme and there is a designated special educational needs group who attend English and Mathematics lessons in our Learning Zone, which includes additional reading intervention. This ensures that students are given any additional support they need to fully reach their potential. Furthermore, EAL students receive additional lessons of bespoke support from our dedicated EAL department to allow them to access the curriculum.
SMSC and British Values are delivered at KS3 during Drama, our Form Time curriculum, assemblies and enrichment activities, ensuring that all statutory requirements are met. Furthermore, in Year 9, students receive a fortnightly Careers lesson.
The majority of staff are teaching their specialism.
The curriculum has been regularly revised over the last few years as the National Curriculum has changed. At Key Stage 3, students follow a three-year course which includes the following subjects:
The Key Stage 4 curriculum at Mortimer Community College is broad and balanced. We support students’ personal development by meeting the DfE requirements via our Personal Development curriculum, which runs alongside our Form Time curriculum.
Student experiences are extended by a wide selection of option subjects that students can choose from.
Setting takes place within English, Mathematics and Science. All other subjects are taught within mixed ability classes. Four option blocks are taught across each year group, with approximately 8-10 classes in each option block. Students continue to study Physical Education throughout KS4 and receive one Personal Development lesson per fortnight in which they receive ICT, Careers, RE and RSE lessons. A small number of students study three options, working towards Functional Skills in English and Mathematics in the additional curriculum time.
Additional work-related learning/careers education opportunities for all year groups take place throughout the year. Students have regular assemblies with local further education establishments and employers who visit school and inform students of potential opportunities. Parents/carers are also invited to our annual careers event which provides students with the opportunity to find out more about potential careers and future pathways.