Benefactorum Recordatio Jucundissima Est

Things done well make the best memories

Sir Norton Knatchbull - 1637

The Knatchbull Baccalaureate (KnatchBacc)

Our students’ experience in school is built on four key pillars that make up the ‘The Knatchbull Baccalaureate’ (Knatch. Bacc.):

  • Academic The timetable, the subjects, the lessons, the assessments, the exam outcomes… A rigorous academic curriculum, taught in creative and demanding ways, developing students’ metacognition, recognising and acknowledging that secure understanding of knowledge underpins higher order thinking, synthesis (within and across subjects) and analysis.
  • Extra-Curricular Enrichment, Sport, Music, The Arts… Through a wide range of enrichment and extra-curricular activities which broaden students’ perspectives, knowledge, skills and talents; reinforcing that high quality outcomes in any field come as a result of commitment, targeted practice and teamwork, consequentially developing resilience, adaptability and learning through mistakes (albeit currently mitigated and frustrated by COVID19 restrictions.)                                               
  • Community Leadership, contribution – making a difference. Developing a sense (from experience) of how we gain from and how we can contribute to the communities in which we live, study and work. We can all make a contribution – leadership, fundraising, volunteering…
  • Excel and extend Stretch and challenge – Looking to stretch and challenge ourselves in at least one area of the three curriculum strands above.

How do we implement this?

KS3

Students follow a broad curriculum that builds on Primary experience but prepares them for GCSE study ahead of them:

English

Mathematics

Science

Geography

History

French or Spanish

Art

Computing

Drama

Music

Design & Technology

Physical Education

Personal Development

Religious Studies

   

KS4

In Year 9 students choose their GCSE options for the next 2 years and this decision is appropriate for NKS students, who are keen to challenge themselves in subjects that they enjoy and that meet their needs for future development. In Year 10, students take preparatory type work for the ten GCSE subjects they will sit at the end of Year 11; this has proved a popular and effective way of building the necessary skills needed for GCSE study, and to lay the foundations (knowledge, skills and concepts) to support students aspiring to the highest grades. During this year they get a real sense of what it is like to be a scientist, an artist, a musician, etc. and they are able to spend time developing their individual strengths and passions. This also supports students maintaining breadth of study across their GCSE subjects.

Students customarily begin their GCSE courses in earnest at the start of Year 10, and ours is a strongly academic curriculum with all boys studying for the EBacc suite of subjects:

  • English Language and English Literature
  • Mathematics
  • Science (Combined = 2 GCSEs)
  • A Humanity
  • A Language

Additionally, students select three from the following Option subjects:

Art

Computer Science

Drama

French

Geography

History

Music

Physical Education

Product Design

Religious Studies

Spanish

Triple Science

We also pride ourselves on sporting, musical and theatrical achievements and students’ participation in our extra-curricular programme enriches and deepens their academic learning as well as developing responsible, active, aware and kind citizens, fully prepared for the world of further study and employment.

KS5

Post-16, all students take three (and sometimes four) A Levels alongside a stimulating programme of EPQs, Enrichment/sport and bespoke UCAS/Careers advice. Supervised Study allows for supported study periods and our Sixth Form team specialise in guiding our Year 12 and 13 students towards rewarding destinations, whether in academia or work.

Subjects offered:

Art

Biology

Business Studies

Chemistry

Classical Civilisation

Computer Science

Design Technology

Drama

Economics

English Language & Literature

English Literature

French

Further Mathematics

Geography

History

Mathematics

Media Studies

Music

Physical Education

Philosophy

Physics

Politics

Psychology

Sociology

Spanish

Extended Project Qualification

   

Please see the “Sixth Form” section of the website for more detailed information about these courses as well as enrichment and extra-curricular information.

Below, you will find links to both our overall whole school Key Stage Curriculums and our individual subject Curriculum “Maps”. These are fluid documents, which remain under review given possible changes in circumstance bought about by COVID19 and any revisions by new Subject Leaders.

 

Curriculum Maps

Art Biology Business Studies
Chemistry Classics Computer Science
Design & Technology Drama Economics
English Language and Literature English Literature

English

French Geography German

History

Mathematics Media Studies
Music Personal Development Physical Education
Physical Education (Core) Physics Politics
Psychology Religious Studies Sociology
Spanish    

 

Excel and Extend

Art Computer Science Drama
Design Technology English French
Geography German History
Mathematics Music Physical Education
Religious Studies Science Spanish