Approach

Our curriculum has been expertly designed to ensure that every student has the opportunity to achieve success at the highest level. It is delivered by talented and committed members of staff using a variety of teaching methods, both inside and outside the classroom. Senior leadership regularly reviews subject content, teaching and learning styles in partnership with individual departments, to make sure that our practice is always improving. A focus on breadth, balance and differentiation at every level means that we are uniquely positioned to address the individual needs of our students.

Curriculum For Years 7 and 8

In the first two years of a student’s time at Fort Pitt, her lessons will cover the full range of National Curriculum subjects, together with Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHEE) and Careers Education and Guidance. To enrich this core academic curriculum, we have invested in a large number of peripatetic music staff, trained to give specialised, individual or group lessons.

During Key Stage 3 all students have the opportunity to study Latin and two of the three modern foreign languages available at the school.

Each period is one-hour long. The table below shows the current distribution of periods per subject across the 50-period, two-week timetable.

Curriculum for Years 9 – 11 – Key Stage 4

Students study GCSEs from the beginning of Year 9 and will complete their courses in Year 11, although in certain circumstances we provide the opportunity to take qualifications earlier, at appropriate times in Years 9 & 10. Our aim is to ensure that by the age of 16 all students have a strong core of GCSEs, including English, Mathematics and the Sciences, together with a variety of other subjects. All students continue to study Philosophy and Ethics (RE), PE, PSHEE and an ICT-focussed course throughout Key Stage 4. Students are encouraged to choose E-Bac subjects but this is not obligatory; we believe students are most successful when they are able to choose subjects they enjoy and excel at.

From the start of Key Stage 4 to the end of their time at Fort Pitt, our students receive information, advice and guidance relating to careers, higher education and future pathways. Our in-house careers adviser liaises with a range of external specialists to offer support that is tailored to each student’s individual aspirations.

THE EXTENDED CURRICULUM

Fort Pitt takes pride in offering a wide range of extension and enrichment activities. The exact programme may vary from year to year according to the expertise and interest of the staff, but we will endeavour to provide stimulating options to suit every student’s talents and interests.  Although these activities are not compulsory, they enhance and extend the classroom curriculum and give opportunities for students from different year groups to mix together. The following make up a representative selection.

Out of school:

• Cultural visits abroad. Recent overseas trips have taken students to countries as diverse as Morocco, Nepal, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Iceland and the USA.
• Fieldwork to supplement specific subjects, especially Geography
• Visits to historic buildings, galleries, theatres, museums and workshops to complement specific areas of the curriculum, especially Art, Geography, History, Philosophy and Ethics, and English
• Skiing trips
• World Challenge activities
• Army days
• Visits to universities and public lectures. Our 3As group has close links with Russell Group universities.

In school:

• Music. A wide array of clubs is available, including recorders, flute choir, ukulele group and jazz band.
• Drama clubs and house activities
• School productions involving music, drama and dance
• Debating Society and Philosophy Club
• Science “Endeavour” Club
• Open access to the information technology areas
• Sports clubs and teams. Fort Pitt athletes are able to take advantage of our well-equipped fitness room.
• Opportunities to participate in a variety of local and national competitions e.g. Mathematics Challenge, Mini-Enterprise, and various science events
• Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
• Surgeries and clinics to support learning in specific subjects
• Work experience to gain valuable experience in a variety of careers and professional environments
• Community and voluntary work for older students. This involves a regular placement at a local primary school, charity shop, residential home, or animal charity etc.
• Student mentorship opportunities
• National Citizenship Scheme (N.C.S.)

Further Information

If you would like to find out more about our curriculum, please contact us:

Telephone

01634 842359

Email

office@fortpitt.medway.sch.uk