personalised Pathways

Students will be allocated onto one of four pathways, The Ambition Pathway, The Skills Pathway, The Concepts Pathway or the Scholars Pathway. In accordance with the government's directions, the majority of our learners will follow the SCHOLARS' Pathway in years 10 and 11.

Whilst all our option subjects remain available for any student to choose, we are aware that students possess different attributes, skills, areas of interest and abilities and so we arrange students into pathways based upon the data we have for them, our professional judgement based upon their performance in subjects in school at Key Stage 3. We don’t want to set any student up to fail, nor do we want any to underachieve. These pathways will guide students through the process and will enable them to make the right decisions to develop their potential and to match their skills and interests and to help make them to be best prepared for the competitive world of future study and work.

• Our AMBITION pathway students will choose two option subjects, usually vocational subjects which will enable them to develop useful life and work-related practical skills. They will also receive three periods per week of additional support. Typically, Ambition students will leave school and enter an apprenticeship or college training programme. 

• Our SKILLS Pathway students will choose three option subjects typically following a mix of GCSE subjects and vocational subjects weighted more towards the vocational, which enable them to develop a range of skills both in academic studies and in work-related disciplines. Typically, most of our skills students will enter college or sixth form and may study a range of Vocational and A Level subject, typically building upon the vocational courses and disciplines they have studied up to year 11 and they will continue with these in college or sixth form. Students will then be ready to begin their next steps either at university, an apprenticeship or other training, or employment.   

• Our CONCEPTS pathway students will choose three option subjects typically following a mix of GCSE subjects and vocational subjects weighted more towards the GCSE choices, and many will choose three GCSEs. At least one of these subjects will be a humanities subject (History or Geography). Options post 16 will include A levels or technical qualifications either at sixth form or college. Students will then be ready to begin their next steps either at university, a degree or higher-level apprenticeship or employment. 

• Our SCHOLARS pathway students will choose three option GCSE subjects including at least one humanities subject (History or Geography), and a language. Choosing the Scholars pathway at GCSE gives students access to a full range of employment options when they leave secondary school and the broad knowledge that employers are looking for. This is the UK Government's preferred pathway for the majority of students at Key Stage 4. Typically, students on this pathway will attend sixth form continuing with A Levels and this suite of qualifications will place them in the best position to apply for courses at those universities or higher and degree-level apprenticeship opportunities with the highest entry requirements.