Curriculum Information

At Royal Russell we offer a broad curriculum, which is enriched with a wide range of co-curricular activities, clubs and trips.

The curriculum at Royal Russell School provides opportunities for all pupils to excel in their learning.

Throughout Years 7 – 9, pupils follow the Key Stage 3 curriculum and experience a wide range of subjects and lessons. Our small class sizes enable our teachers to capture the interest of every pupil and extend their subject understanding with discussion, research and projects.

We run courses and assemblies for all our pupils on maximising their potential and effective study and revision skills.

Choosing GCSE Options

Pupils in Year 9 are asked to state their preferences about which courses they wish to study in Years 10 and 11 for GCSE or IGCSE examinations. This is an important phase in every pupil’s education as they begin the process of specialising in certain subject areas.

English Language and Literature, Mathematics, all three Sciences and a Modern Foreign Language form the seven core subjects studied at GCSE.

Pupils will add three more subjects of their own choice from a broad range. The main thing to consider is that pupils should elect to study subjects that they enjoy and believe they will be successful at. We do not expect pupils at this stage to have a definite idea of the direction they wish to progress in their studies in our Sixth Form, and as such, our curriculum is broad and balanced.

When considering subjects, pupils should consider what they will be studying in those lessons, and also how this fits in with co-curricular activities. We want to ensure that pupils continue to develop their skills outside the classroom, whilst being mindful of not taking on too much.

Helping You Choose

Pupils will give consideration to their possible choices in their Careers lessons. We have a well-developed and sophisticated Careers Department and the subject of Careers is firmly embedded in the School’s curriculum.

Our Head of Careers, will be pleased to advise you regarding the career opportunities associated with your choice of GCSE subject.

Further guidance on making selections for GCSE is provided at our GCSE Awareness Evening held in January and our Year 9 Parents Evening held in February.

Whilst this stage in a pupil’s school career can seem daunting, it is a stepping stone towards more critical and focused decisions later on.

Selecting the subjects a pupil will study at GCSE does entail some tough decisions, so subject teachers, House Tutors, Heads of Department and Housemasters and Housemistresses are all available to talk parents and pupils through this process.

Ultimately, these courses will equip pupils with the skills and knowledge to succeed in GCSE examinations in Year 11, and will form the foundation of their further studies in our Sixth Form in Years 12 and 13. The opportunity to choose is an exciting one, and we will support our pupils every step of the way through this important phase of their studies.

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The best way to understand Royal Russell is to come and see it for yourself. Walk the grounds, meet our pupils, talk to our staff, and decide whether this is the right place for your child.

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