KS3 Programme

The New Rickstones Academy KS3 curriculum is delivered in years 7 and 8.

At the NRA, students in Year 7 are allocated to one of three learning pathways according to ability. Initially this decision is based upon KS2 SATs results and teacher assessments from their Primary School. The allocation of students to pathways and sets is reviewed at the end of each half term allowing us to respond to on-going internal assessment data and Cognitive Ability Test scores. Where there is more than one group within a Pathway the students may be further divided into ‘sets’ for English, Maths and Science.

Our system of Pathways and sets allows us to devise a curriculum which is personalised to the needs of individual students. For example those who have had difficulty with numeracy and literacy skills are given more lessons to help them to gain confidence in these areas, whilst our most academically talented students are able to start GCSE French in year 8. The system also allows the teachers to design lessons that challenge the students at their own particular ability level. In this way we seek to meet the needs of each and every student entering the Academy.