Curriculum

Our Curriculum

Our curriculum aims to provide a whole education for every student.

When we describe our curriculum, we are not just talking about the sequencing of lessons and subjects across the key stages, but also our varied Enrichment offer and Every Child Should strategy, which together enrich and broaden each student’s time at Hove Park School.

Our curriculum is built on a clear set of shared values and a learning journey that enables students to build on their individual strengths. We are ambitious for all our students and expect them where appropriate to retain a breadth to their learning through the study of EBACC subjects.

Our curriculum is about developing skills, knowledge and experiences that will enable all students to make a positive contribution to their community and prepare them for life beyond school.

Key Stages

Hove Park School’s taught curriculum is constantly reviewed and developed in response to student needs and local and national change. We carefully combine more innovative approaches within the framework of a traditional academic timetable.



Subjects are managed within 6 faculty areas: English, Humanities, Languages, Maths, Science & Technology, Sport & Creative Arts. 

Key Stage 3

In Year 7 students study a broad range of subjects, including, English, Maths and Science; Languages (on a carousel that includes Arabic, Chinese Mandarin, French, German and Spanish); Geography and History; Art, Computing, Drama, Design & Technology (which includes cooking), Philosophy & Religious Education, Physical Education and Music. In addition, students follow a tutor programme, that includes PHSE (personal health and social education) and literacy development.

After the first term, some students opt to specialise in learning Chinese by following the Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP) rather than continuing with the general languages carousel. The MEP is a nationally accredited government run programme that funds and supports schools to deliver intensive Mandarin study.

The school also provides Enrichment as a timetabled lesson once a week. Students can choose activities from different categories, such as sport, creative, and science & technology.

The programme of study that all students begin in Year 7 continues into Year 8, except that most students now focus on learning one modern foreign language in greater depth. The language they study is determined either by their participation in the Mandarin Excellence Programme, or through teacher recommendation of either French, German or Spanish, alongside consultation with students and parents.

Key Stage 4

At the end of Year 8 students make a guided choice, involving parents and carers, about some of the subjects they will study in Key Stage 4.

Year 9 is a bridging year between Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4. Students transfer from the Valley Campus to the Nevill Campus, and the Year 9 curriculum provides them with further opportunities to develop the skills they will need when they start their GCSE courses.

We expect students to retain a breadth to their studies at GCSE, by studying a broad range of subjects, but also continuing to engage with our extra-curricular provision, such as working towards the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award in Year 9.

At Key Stage 4, the majority of students study the following subjects as a core curriculum:

• English Language & English Literature.
• a Modern Foreign Language.
• a Humanity (either Geography or History).
• Mathematics.
• Science Combined (Double Award: 2 x GCSEs).

In addition to the qualifications above, students choose to study additional GCSE subjects from a list of different options, including: Art & Design, Business Studies, Computer Science, Creative iMedia, Design & Technology, Food & Nutrition, Humanities (a second humanity in addition to the choice as part of the core curriculum), Languages (a second language can be chosen in addition to the core curriculum choice), Music, Photography, Physical Education, Religious Studies and Separate (Triple) Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics).

We also offer Level 1 and Level 2 Award courses, such as Hospitality and Catering, Retail Business and Travel, to students who did not study a language during Key Stage 3, as an alternative to studying a language at Key Stage 4.

All students have PE lessons and follow courses covering Philosophy, Religion & Ethics (PRE) and Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE), which includes sex and relationships education. These are not examined courses.