Our Key Stage 3 Mantra:
“Do your best and mind your manners!”
Key Stage 3 Overview
At Key Stage 3, we provide a broad and balanced curriculum working on the skills to prepare pupils for Key Stage 4 and life after St Joseph’s. When your child joins us in Year 7, for many subjects they will be in set classes with pupils of the same or similar ability. This allows them to be taught at an appropriate pace and to be challenged whilst learning, encouraging them to achieve their best results.
During Year 7 and 8, in addition to the core subjects of English, Maths and Science, pupils will study Religious Education, Geography, History, French or Spanish, Art and Design, Food Technology, Textiles, Music, Computing, Performing Arts, Business Studies, and Physical Education. Additional literacy and numeracy lessons are provided for pupils who may need extra support in these areas. Find out more about KS3 subjects at the bottom of this page.
In Year 9 pupils will also choose a Pathway from our creative carousel. The options are Pathway A (Food Technology and Textiles) or Pathway B (Business Studies and Design). This affords the pupils a deeper exposure to these curriculum areas and helps them make informed choices at the end of Year 9 for their GCSE options.
Sets in Key Stage 3
In order to ensure all pupils are receiving the appropriate challenge and pace for their learning, we set all pupils according to their ability from the beginning of Year 7 in a variety of subjects.
As part of the induction day in the summer term prior to joining St Joseph’s, all year 6 pupils will take MidYIS tests. These are standardised tests that offer reliable results regarding the pupils’ cognitive ability. Reviewing these results in combination with Key Sage 2 data and information from their Year 6 teachers, we determine the beginning sets for Year 7.
We teach across 5 sets in Year 7-9; our ‘scholar set’ is made up of our gifted and more able pupils, sets 2-4 are mixed ability groups and our 5th set is our ‘nurture’ group which consists of a smaller number of pupils and a better teacher – pupil ratio meaning more targeted support for pupils who in this group.
Throughout KS3, these sets are reviewed twice a year with changes taking place at the start of January and then at the start of September. These changes are made to ensure that all pupils are in the most effective groups to maximise their progress.
Assessments in Key Stage 3
Assessment for Learning (AFL) in KS3 takes place within both theory and practical lessons across the school. Feedback is given regularly in lessons – this can be verbal and written and is often given in the moment to ensure pupils can improve work in a timely manner. More formal feedback happens at least once a half term for most subjects where we employ a system of Whole Class Feedback and / or ‘What Went Well’ (WWW), ‘Even Better If’ (EBI), and ‘My Response Is’ (MRI), pupils are able to identify their strengths, understand what they need to do to improve their performance, and act on the advice given.
For most subject areas, at the end of each half-term, pupils will be given a formal assessment of their learning to allow them to see how they are progressing. Then, in the final term, pupils will take end-of-year exams to test their knowledge and prepare them for the following academic year.
For useful resources, revision tips, and fun activities to support pupils’ learning, please see our Resource Hub.
How can I help with my child's learning in Key Stage 3?
Regularly check their exercise books for important notes, tasks or feedback, and check they understand teacher comments. You can also visit the curriculum pages on our website to see key terms and learning checklists for each module studied.
Talk through their classwork and homework with them to check that they fully understand the topic and they are completing their work. Take an active interest in their weekly home learning SPARX maths, English and Science activities and encourage them to share their SPARX learning scores with you.
Attendance has a major impact on your child’s learning, so make sure they have the best attendance possible and no unauthorised absence.
Explore Key Stage 3 Subjects
Resource Hub
Our Resource Hub is where you'll find information, guides and advice related to revision, exams, careers, and more, as well as other activities to support your learning. Explore the whole library, or use the filters to find exactly what you need.