Our Curriculum

Prendergast School Curriculum Intent

The intent of our curriculum at Prendergast School is to equip students with the knowledgePrendergast_School_Image_Gallery_1043 and skills to be successful in the modern world,  allowing them to make responsible and purposeful contributions to our community. We believe in a knowledge-rich curriculum that empowers students to apply that knowledge in an ever-changing world. We want our students to become independent, thoughtful, self-motivated learners who are able to apply their knowledge confidently in a range of contexts.  We want our students to meet, with confidence, the challenges of a diverse, rapidly changing global society. We believe all students have the right to succeed both academically and personally.  


  • Truth. We derive truth from our knowledge-rich curriculum. 

We provide students with a challenging, broad and balanced curriculum which is culturally rich, and inclusive, allowing all our students to succeed regardless of their socio-economic background.  Through the use of challenge in our curriculum, we enhance the wonder for each subject, giving each student the necessary knowledge and skills to carve out their futures. We ensure all students follow the same curriculum at KS3 and at KS4, including disadvantaged students’, ensuring that all students have access to a high quality, broad and ambitious curriculum. 


  • Honor. We are honourable in everything we do. 

We encourage and support students to make a positive contribution to our community and British society, now and in their future lives.  We have a rich and balanced pastoral programme which actively promotes the development of character through SMSC, Wellbeing, Anti-Racism, and embedding British values in their lives.  We believe that students should have access to meaningful opportunities to understand how to be responsible, respectful, active citizens who contribute positively to society. 


  • Freedom. We embrace the freedoms exhibited in an encompassing education.

We celebrate excellence and help students achieve this through our curriculum delivery. We want our students to be equipped with the core knowledge, concepts and skills of the curriculum. We have consistently high academic standards for our students. We ensure our students are taught in a safe, secure and caring environment where they can thrive as a learner. We ensure we provide creative, exciting and inspired opportunities to students both inside and outside of the classroom, expanding on their world view and cultural experiences and expand on this with our music scholarship programme.  


  • Courtesy. We display courtesy everywhere.

We develop our students’ sense of responsibility for their learning and respect for other student’s right to learn, through practicing common courtesy throughout our school. We invest in our staff’s professional development ensuring they have the tools and skills to equip our students for their futures and to fulfil their roles effectively in building a learning community which is built on a knowledge rich curriculum.  We work together as a community to support each other and act with kindness and compassion.


We want our students to be excited about coming into Prendergast School and aim to teach lessons that are challenging, focused and inclusive, inspiring them to achieve their best. We believe that the journey is as important as the destination. We want our students to enjoy every lesson, develop into independent, thoughtful learners and embrace all the school has to offer. 


The Curriculum

Students at Prendergast School follow a three-year Key Stage 3 curriculum. This will mean that options will be taken in Year 9 for GCSE courses.


Year 7, 8, and 9 curriculum

All students will study:

  • English
  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • French
  • Spanish
  • History
  • Geography
  • Personal, Social and Health and Economic Education
  • Computer SciencePrendergast_School_Image_Gallery_1094
  • Drama
  • Music
  • Physical Education
  • Religious Studies
  • Singing
  • Technology
  • Wellbeing
  • Art

Year 10 and 11 curriculum

All students study:

  • English Literature and English languagePrendergast_School_Image_Gallery_1053
  • Mathematics
  • Science (either Separate or Trilogy)
  • Core Physical Education
  • Religious Studies 
  • Personal, Social and Health and Economic Education
  • French or Spanish
  • History or Geography

Students then elect to study a further two subjects from this list:

  • ArtPrendergast_School_Image_Gallery_1073
  • Computer Science
  • Design and Technology
  • Drama
  • Music
  • Physical Education
  • Statistics
  • a second Humanities subject (History or Geography)

Year 12 and 13 curriculum

At Key Stage 5, students have a wide variety of choices to study the following Level 3 subjects:

  • Art
  • French
  • Physics
  • Biology
  • Geography
  • Politics
  • Applied Science BTEC
  • Business Studies BTEC
  • Product Design & Graphics Products
  • Chemistry
  • History
  • Psychology
  • Computer Science
  • IT BTEC
  • Religion, Philosophy and Ethics
  • Digital Film and Video Production BTEC
  • Maths
  • Sociology
  • Drama and Theatre
  • Further Maths (as 4th Subject)
  • Spanish
  • Economics
  • Music
  • Sport BTEC
  • English Literature
  • Photography
  • Textile Design
  • Extended Project Qualification


Prendergast_School_Image_Gallery_1090


Further details of all subjects can be found on our subjects pages.

Further details from the examination board from each subject can be accessed through our examination boards document.