At Key Stage 3, in the Lower School, all boys study the full range of National Curriculum subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, Technology, French, History, Geography, Art, Music, Physical Education and ICT, as well as statutory Religious Education. A second modern language, German, is taken by the majority of pupils in Years 8 & 9.

There is a taught course in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) from Years 7 to 13, and aspects of ICT are widely used in all subjects throughout the school.

Throughout the school, boys are placed in mixed ability tutor groups for registration, Personal and Social Education (PSE) and tutorial guidance. 

In Year 7 boys are grouped by ability into two equal-sized bands of 60 boys for most lessons.  In most subjects, one band (U) is taught in two parallel groups of 30 boys and the other band (L) is taught in three groups so that additional support can be provided for those who need it.  Both bands are expected to cover the same work.   In Mathematics, there are five teaching groups with the flexibility to teach in sets appropriate to ability across the whole year-group.   In Years 8 and 9, there are three teaching sets in the U band, which grows to almost 90 pupils, and two teaching sets in the other band.

In Years 10 and 11, all students take English, Mathematics, Science (the Double Award course is taken by most boys), Technology, and French to external examination standard. Within Technology, boys choose to study either Resistant Materials or Graphic Products.  These subjects provide seven GCSEs for most boys.  English, Mathematics, Science and French are set across the whole year group.  ICT, Physical Education, Tutor Period (including PSE and Careers) and Religious Education are also compulsory.

All the remaining subjects available are placed in the option scheme. With guidance from the school, via tutors and an Options Evening, boys choose two subjects. Using this information the school designs a blocking system to meet requests as fully as possible. GCSE subjects in the current option scheme are Business Studies, Drama, History, Geography, Art and Design, Music, Physical Education, Religious Studies and German.  

We are constantly looking for other appropriate courses as alternatives to the GCSE options for some boys. Alternatives have included the GNVQ course in Leisure and Tourism, RSA Initial Awards and Citizenship, which some boys may take to GCSE Short Course level.

In addition to the above, students who do not choose the full GCSE course take a GCSE Short Course in Religious Studies and most boys also prepare for the GCSE Short Course in ICT.

The Sixth Form curriculum is described in the separate Sixth Form Centre Prospectus, published in November, which is available on request.