Key Stage 3
What is Key Stage 3?
Key Stage 3 is the foundation of the students' seven-year journey at St Simon Stock Catholic School. Their learning in Key Stage 3 prepares them for Key Stage 4, when students study for GCSE qualifications, and in turn for Key Stage 5, when students study for A Level, International Baccalaureate or BTEC qualifications.
Our Key Stage 3 curriculum from September 2021 currently consists of the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Science and Religious Education, all of which students continue to study to GCSE Level in Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11). The other timetabled Key Stage 3 subjects are Art, Computer Science and Information Technology, Design Technology, Drama, a Modern Foreign Language (either French or Spanish depending on the timetable band students are placed in), Geography, History, Music, Personal, Social and Health Education and Physical Education.
Please note that in 2020 we commenced a phased move towards a Three-Year Key Stage 3 (i.e. Years 7, 8 and 9) followed by a Two-Year Key Stage 4 (i.e. Years 10 & 11). This means that our current Year 7 students, who joined us in September 2020, are the first cohort to follow the pathway of a 3-Year Key Stage 3 in Years 7, 8 and 9 (commencing September 2020) followed by a 2-Year Key Stage 4 in Years 10 and 11 (commencing September 2023).
Key Stage 3
Summary of Curriculum Time 2022 - 2023
Years 7 to 8 – hour per fortnight
| Year 7 | Year 8 |
Religious Education | 5 | 5 |
English | 7 | 7 |
Mathematics | 6 | 6 |
Science | 6 | 6 |
Art | 2 | 2 |
Computer Science & IT | 2 | 2 |
Design & Technology | 3 | 3 |
Drama/Oracy | 2 | 2 |
French or Spanish | 5 | 5 |
Geography | 3 | 3 |
History | 3 | 3 |
Music | 2 | 2 |
Personal, Social & Health Education | 1 | 1 |
Physical Education | 3 | 3 |
The Key Stage 3 Curriculum
Further information about the Key Stage 3 curriculum, including detailed course outlines for each of the separate subjects, can be found on the Curriculum Intent page of our school website.
How we Assess Learning in Key Stage 3
In Key Stage 3 teachers assess the students' attainment using the criteria of Emerging, Developing, Secured and Mastered. In addition, we grade students Attitude to Learning.
Home Learning in Key Stage 3
Each subject sets one homework task per week although there may be some occasions where a longer project may be assigned that covers, for example, 2-3 weeks. Guided time per subject is 20-30 minutes and 60-90 minutes total per evening. Students are also taught how to use their time for Independent Learning of the topics they study, so that they can extend their learning through their own reading/research.