11/11/2026During tutor time in November, students have been busy creating paper poppies in preparation for our House Captains and Prefects to create beautiful and meaningful remembrance wreaths.
The art room was a hive of activity on Monday lunchtime as staff and students worked together to produce a wreath for each House.
#ProudToAchieve #ProudToBelong- Home
- Curriculum
- Curriculum Overview
Curriculum Overview
INTRODUCTION
We aim to provide a broad, balanced, relevant and stimulating curriculum which is designed to meet ever-changing needs in a technological world. We strive to provide a learning experience that is suited to students' individual needs. Students will meet pace and challenge in lessons, aimed at helping them reach their full potential. Through this learning experience students become increasingly confident and independent learners.
THE CURRICULUM
The curriculum comprises the wide range of taught subjects (the Arts, Humanities, Languages, PE, Computing, English, Mathematics, Science and Technology) and the wide range of “co-curricular” activities that are available. During years 7, 8 and 9 all students follow a broad and balanced curriculum to develop skills and knowledge in all curriculum areas. Students choose their GCSE options in Year 9 and embark on these courses in Year 10, as a continuation of the work studied in Key Stage 3.
At Key Stage 4 students can choose from a wide variety of option subjects.
SMSC and British Values
SMSC (Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural Education) and British Values are themes that run throughout our whole curriculum. We have an extensive assembly programme which enables us to reinforce our values, as well as address current and relevant issues.
MONITORING PROGRESS
Students’ progress is monitored termly. All students receive an Aspirational Woolmer Hill Target Grade and parents are informed of their child’s achievements each term. Consultation evenings allow regular communication to take place between home and school. Regular monitoring by teachers, tutors and Heads of Year takes place to ensure that students are properly supported in order to achieve their targets.
HOW TO FIND OUT FURTHER INFORMATION
An overview of the curriculum for Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 can be found in the dropdown menus below.
For more detailed curriculum information related to each subject please visit our subject pages here
If you would like further information about a particular subject please contact the relevant Head of Department - contact details can be found on our website here.
Mr S Williams is our Assistant Headteacher who has responsibility for the curriculum - he can be contacted by emailing swilliams@woolmerhill.surrey.sch.uk
Key Stage 3: Years 7, 8 and 9
OVERVIEW
In Years 7, 8 and 9 students are taught: English, Mathematics, Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), Design Technology, Computing, French or Spanish, Geography, History, Religious Education, Art, Music, Drama, Physical Education and Identity (PSHE/RSHE).
ORGANISATION
During Key Stage 3, students are taught in mixed ability tutor groups for most subjects except Maths, Design Technology and PE. In Maths, students will be placed in Year 7 ability bands (upper and lower) based on their KS2 attainment and internal assessment. Design Technology and PE classess are re-distributed tutor groups to create smaller class sizes for health and safety reasons.
In Year 8, the Maths ability bands are modified to upper, middle and lower bands. All other groupings in Year 8 are the same as for Year 7. In Year 9 students are placed in ability bands for English, Maths and Science, with all other groupings being the same as for Years 7 and 8.
Students are allocated a language, either French or Spanish when they arrive at Woolmer Hill in Year 7. They then study that language throughout KS3.
This broadly-based curriculum enables each student to enhance their own particular strengths and interests and develop many transferable skills which will help them become life-long learners.
Key Stage 4: Years 10 and 11
OVERVIEW
In Years 10 and 11 all students are required to continue studying English, Mathematics and Science.
Currently Science is a Combined Science course leading to a double award (two GCSEs) for the majority of our students, while over 1/3rd of students study triple science, resulting in single Physics, Chemistry and Biology GCSEs.
At KS4 there are four further choices available to students, the choice currently being made from:
- Arts and PE: Drama, Music, Art and Design, PE and Health & Social Care;
- Mathematics: Statistics, Further Maths
- Design and Technology: Design Technology, Textiles and Hospitality & Catering;
- Modern Foreign Languages: French and Spanish;
- Humanities: Geography, History, Sociology and RE;
- Computing and Enterprise: Computer Science, Business Studies and Economics;
- Vocational: For some students this could include a vocational option provided through the Waverley Federation (see below).
In addition to these GCSE courses, there are non-examined courses for all students in PE and all students study Identity (PSHE/RSHE).
For GCSE courses, students are taught in groups of between 25 and 30. In English, Mathematics and Science students are taught in ability sets.
Great care is taken to ensure that the combination of option subjects chosen is balanced and appropriate to the individual student’s interest, ability and career plans. Detailed descriptions of all current courses for Years 10 and 11 are available in a separate Options Booklet, disseminated during the Spring term of Year 9. The options booklet for GCSE courses 2026-2028 can be found here
The KS4 options process is a 'guided' process and all students are placed into a recommended pathway, and receive 1:1 advice about their choices.
SPECIAL OPTIONS
For some students a vocational option at KS4 may be appropriate. These courses are provided through the Waverley Federation in partnership with a variety of local further education providers including Godalming and Guildford Colleges. The exact course offer changes from year to year depending on options available and student preferences. Details of each year's offer are provided through the normal options process each year.
co-curricular Enrichment Activities
To extend the curriculum opportunities further, we have a wide range of co-curricular activities.These activities are published termly and include details of all of the activities and clubs that take place after school or at lunchtime. We also have an activities week in July of each year when Years 8 and 9 take part in a wide range of activities. During this week Year 7 go on camp to experience a range of outdoor activities.
Other activities to enrich the curriculum take place at various points throughout the year, for example; visits to Art galleries, museums and theatres, sporting activities, concerts and careers events.
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