Curriculum Overview
At Longdean School, we believe that all students are entitled to an education that will enable them to develop their full potential – intellectually, physically, creatively, emotionally, spiritually and socially.
- We want all our students to leave with the skills they need to contribute to, and benefit from, the world around them. We also recognise that all students have individual needs and put personalised learning at the heart of our teaching and lessons.
- We offer a broad, challenging and flexible curriculum combined with high-quality teaching. We update our options each year in line with demand.
From Key Stage 3, students are encouraged to follow a timetable that makes the most of their interests and talents. - Our specialism is Mathematics and Computing, and this is reflected in our specialist STEM stream in Key Stage 3 and our curriculum offer in Key Stage 5.
- In Key Stage 4, option subjects are offered as one- or two-year courses with the opportunity to sit exams in Years 10 and 11. This approach enables our students to develop a wider portfolio of qualifications than traditional routes, giving them a competitive edge.
- We also create opportunities to identify high-performance students and nurture them through differentiated lessons and inspiring enrichment activities, as well as supporting students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
We provide specialist Performing Arts and STEM streams for Years 7 and 8 that are open to anyone who applies. - While we are proud of our exam results – with 66% of our students achieving Grade 4 or above in English and Maths and 60% achieving grades A* to B at Key Stage 5 (placing us in the top 10% of A-Level providers in the UK), what is important to us is nurturing a love of learning that empowers students to be successful whichever pathway they choose.
Should you wish for more information on the curriculum please email admin@longdean.herts.sch.uk
To find out more about our curriculum please see our individual subject curriculum pages:
To find out about our Sixth Form curriculum please see our Sixth Form pages:
Key Stage 3
At KS3 our intention is to provide a broad and balanced curriculum designed to embed and develop students’ prior knowledge, understanding and skills.
Students are engaged and challenged through an imaginative curriculum which enables all students to thrive at the next level of their education. The programme of study fulfils the requirements of the National Curriculum with a mix of core subjects, like English, Maths and Science, together with a language, Performing Arts, the Humanities, Technology, P.E., Religion & Philosophy, PSHCE, Computer Science, Art and Food Technology.
When students join Longdean School in Year 7, the subjects they study are set for them. However, once they reach KS4 (Years 10 and 11) and KS5 (sixth form), they have more choice over the subjects they study.
Prior to joining in September, our new Year 7 students are invited to apply to follow one of two specialist pathways: Performing Arts and STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Maths). Both streams of students study the same basic curriculum (see list of subjects below) but spend more time studying their specialist pathway subjects.
Performing Arts pathway
If a student has a real passion for performing – be it acting, dancing, singing or playing a musical instrument (or even all of these) then this is the specialist stream for them.
Students are invited to apply to join the Performing Arts Pathway during the summer term before they join us in September. They are expected to prepare an audition piece and provide a recording of themselves performing. Between 25 and 30 places on the Performing Arts pathway are awarded each year.
Students are taught Drama, Music and Dance as a group to give them an enriched and integrated experience that links all three disciplines. They are given the opportunity to perform at a high level and to attend workshops and masterclasses with professionals to support their specialism.
Students follow the Performing Arts pathway during Years 7 and 8, and after this, they would be expected to pursue at least one Performing Art subject during Key Stage 4.
STEM pathway
Designed for students who have a real passion and aptitude for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), the STEM pathway is now in its fifth year at Longdean.
Students are invited to apply to join the STEM Pathway during the summer term before they join us in September. They are asked to prepare a presentation and attend a brief interview, and students’ maths abilities are also taken into consideration. Up to 30 STEM pathway places are awarded each year.
Students are taught as a group for Mathematics, Computing, Technology and Science (which they study as separate sciences – Biology, Chemistry and Physics). They are encouraged to make connections between these disciplines and explore them in greater depth; the study of robotics is a key feature. They are also offered the chance to go on educational trips and attend masterclasses as well as to join an extra-curricular STEM Club.
Students follow the STEM pathway during Years 7 and 8, and after this, are able to choose Triple Science as an option, as well as at least one of Computer Science, Design Technology or Electronics during Key Stage 4.
KS3 curriculum subjects
- Art
- Computing
- Drama
- English
- Food
- French
- Geography
- History
- Learning Skills and Competency
- Maths
- Music
- Physical Education
- Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE)
- Religion and Philosophy
- Science
- Spanish
- Technology
Key Stage 4
At Longdean School, our Key Stage 4 curriculum starts in Year 10 and finishes at the end of Year 11. In Key Stage 4, students follow a core curriculum of English, Maths, Science (Combined or Triple), Personal, Social & Health Education (PSHE), Ethics and Games. Selected students also study a foreign language (French or Spanish), while others can add an extra vocational two-year option.
Core Curriculum
- English
- Maths
- Science
- French and Spanish
- Games and Ethics
One and Two-Year Options
Students can choose three (language students) or four option subjects – one or two studied over a two-year period and two subjects each studied over a one-year period. Students discuss these choices during options process in Year 9 with members of staff. Most one-year option groups have a mixture of Year 10 and 11 students in them.
Two-Year Options
These subjects will be studied over two years with exams at the end of Year 11
One-Year Options
Students also have the option of studying one-year options which have exams at the end of the year of study. There is an extensive range of subjects to choose from – from GCSEs, which are more exam-based, to BTECs, CNATs or WTECs, which are more course-work based (but equivalent to GCSEs). If a student is seen to be falling behind in English and/or Maths in Years 10 or 11, they may also follow a catch-up programme instead of doing their one-year option
