Curriculum
Poltair School operates a fortnightly timetable of 5 one hour lessons per day. The 25 lessons are allocated to subjects according to the table below and through these the National Curriculum and other statutory responsibilities are delivered.
Subject | Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
English | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Mathematics | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Science | 3 | 3 | 3 |
ICT | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Art | 1 | 1 | 1 |
French | 3 | 3 | 2 |
PE | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Dance/Drama | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1 |
Citizenship/PHSE | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1 |
Music | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Religious Education | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Geography | 1 | 1.5 | 2 |
History | 1 | 1.5 | 2 |
Design Technology | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Total | 25 | 25 | 25 |
Pupils are placed into SETS or ability groups according to their previous attainment and progress. These are regularly reviewed. The timetable allows enough flexibility for pupils to move in CORE subjects ie. English or Maths or Science without affecting the rest of their timetable.
Key Stage 4 - Years 10 & 11
At Poltair School all pupils follow a broad and balanced range of subjects in order to prepare them for whatever career pathway they may take in the future. This is achieved by taking CORE subjects which are STATUTORY or compulsory plus a combination of optional subjects or ELECTIVES which allow pupils to develop their individual talents and aspirations.
There are four LEARNING PATHWAYS designed to provide challenge and choice for different levels of ability. The Pathways are named after famous Cornish people ho have contributed to human knowledge and culture in various fields.
• Adams Pathway - John Couch Adams was born near Bodmin and became a distinguished mathematician and astronomer. He identified the planet Neptune.
• Davy Pathway - Humphrey Davy was born in Penzanceand rose to become Britain's leading scientist in the early 19th Century. He made discoveries in chemistry, which helped to improve industries such as agricultur, tanning and mining.
• Hughes Pathway - Eleanor Hughes was born in New Zealand to Cornish parents and came to Cornwall to study. She became a leading painter of the Newlyn School and lived and worked in the Lamorna Valley.
• Rowse Pathway - A.L.Rowse was former pupil of the school. He was a leading Shakespearean scholar and historian particularly of the Elizabethan period. He was the first Cornish pupil to gain a University Scholarship to Oxford University.
CORE subjects:
English
English Literature
Mathematics
Science
ICT-Business & Communications Systems (Enterprise Education)
Physical Education
Religious Education
Personal, Social and Health Education (non-examination)
Citizenship (non-examination)
In addition all pupils in Year 10 undertake a two week Work Experience placement.