Curriculum
Students study the Key Stage 3 Curriculum in years 7, 8 and 9, and sit National Curriculum assessment examinations (SATs) at the end of this period.
In years 10 and 11, students choose which subjects they wish to continue to study (although English, Mathematics, Science, Core PE and ICT remain compulsory). Students must choose a Humanities option from a choice of History, Religious Studies or Geography. During the two years, students are assessed by external qualification bodies through both coursework and examinations, and are awarded GCSE or GNVQ qualifications in all subjects in which they pass at the end of the period. Subjects offered at either GCSE or GNVQ level by the school include: Art, Business Studies, Drama, Food Technology, French, Geography, German, Graphic Products, History, Information Communication Technology, Music, Physical Education, Religious Studies, Resistant Materials and Systems and Control.
Students opting for the vocational rather than traditional route in KS4 now study BTEC Media and can opt for other vocational choices such as childcare and land based studies.
Students who choose to remain in the school and join the sixth form for years 12 and 13 study for AS and A2 qualifications. Usually, students study four AS-level subjects in year 12, and then continue three of these into A2 during year 13. Over 28 subjects are available to choose from. Additionally, most students also take AS/A2 General Studies (although this is not taught). A large proportion of students go on to study at University or pursue other further-education opportunities after completion of their AS/A2 studies at Holmes Chapel.
The school has recently begun teaching astronomy GCSE, available to students in both years 10 & 12.
Read more about this topic: Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School
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“If we focus exclusively on teaching our children to read, write, spell, and count in their first years of life, we turn our homes into extensions of school and turn bringing up a child into an exercise in curriculum development. We should be parents first and teachers of academic skills second.”
—Neil Kurshan (20th century)