Key Stage 4 Curriculum

At the end of year 9 students finalise the subjects they wish to study in greater depth at KS4. Our Key Stage 4 curriculum has been specifically designed to ensure breadth and variety to provide students with the knowledge they need to be successful throughout their lives

Core Subjects

All Holyrood students study the core subjects of:

  • English

  • Maths

  • Science

  • Core PE

  • Personal Development Programme

  • Religion, Philosophy and Ethics, which is delivered through tutorials, PDP and Impact Days. From September 2023, RPE will be taught to all KS4 students through 1 lesson per fortnight in Year 10.

Option Subjects

The following option subjects are available at Key Stage 4:

  • Art

  • Business Studies

  • Computer Science

  • Creative Media

  • Dance BTEC

  • Design and Technology

  • Drama

  • Engineering

  • Food

  • French

  • Geography

  • German

  • Health and Social Care CNAT

  • History

  • Land Based Studies BTEC

  • Music

  • Religious Studies

  • Spanish

  • Sport BTEC

  • Textiles

The English Baccalaureate

The English Baccalaureate is not a qualification in itself, but rather a collection of GCSE passes at Grade 5 or better in specified subjects. This is an indicator of academic success at Key Stage 4 and may be one of the requirements for entry to some post-16 courses, training and employment, and for some university admissions in the future.

We are therefore strongly recommending that those students who are capable of gaining the English Baccalaureate include the subjects below in their choices at Key Stage 4. To be awarded the English Baccalaureate a student at Holyrood will need to achieve at least a Grade 5 at GCSE in each of the following:

English
Mathematics
History or Geography
French or German
and
Science
NB Computer Science is also considered to be a Science subject.

Personal Development

Throughout Years 10 and 11, all students take part in a Personal Development programme that includes:

  • Personal, Social and Health Education

  • Sex and Relationship Education

  • Citizenship

  • British Values

  • Introduction to the World of Work and Careers Education

See our dedicated page on Personal Development