How students finish and leave: Our offer at 14+

In the upper classes (Class 9 and Class 10), students will continue to participate in main lesson blocks of thematic study, as well as a programme of subject lessons including: languages, arts and crafts, religious studies, sports, drama and music.

 

Regarding the national exam offer in England, as from 2016, a school is now expected to offer a ‘core’ basket of GCSEs covering fields of study such as English, Maths, modern foreign Languages, Science and Humanities. In addition, students select two or three subjects from a basket of artistic, vocational and academic options.

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For this school and the students here, the first exam cycle begins in 2018. At this point, further policy changes and reforms notwithstanding, we will be offering the Progress 8 suite of exams.

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Progress 8: the Steiner Academy Frome offer

The phrase Progress 8 refers to the Government’s measure across the 5 “academic” GCSEs that comprise the so-called EBacc, plus a choice of 3 academic or vocational “Bonus” qualifications.

The Progress 8 measure makes clear that students have a right to a broad and balanced curriculum. The main thrust of the wording is to ensure that English, Maths and Science GSCEs are taught to all (hence the compulsory Group 1 and the EBacc Group 2). Science is statutory for all students up to age 16 (Key Stage 4). In addition, students should be offered a language and a humanities subject (Group 2 again). When that has been secured, students can take more “academic” subjects or branch out into subjects often called “vocational” (Group 3 subjects).

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