Third Form Curriculum 2023-2024

Introduction by
The Deputy Head
The first year of a new school is a significant milestone
in any young person’s academic development.
As our Third Form pupils embark on a voyage of
personal discovery which will ultimately define
their character as an adult, we take seriously
our responsibility to inspire a deep love of
learning and to bring them into contact with the
complexities of the wider world.
Our Third Form Curriculum, which we call
Origin, in a nod to our famous alumnus Charles
Darwin, goes beyond the routine expectation
of making sure pupils come up to a common
standard, ready to embark on their GCSE courses.
It is designed to make sure that all our pupils
encounter fresh ideas, are intellectually challenged
and are made to think critically about their
own learning right from the start. It provides an
opportunity for pupils to continue to develop
expertise in subjects they already know they enjoy,
to reignite their passion for subjects that they have
previously studied in different contexts and also
to study certain academic disciplines for the first
time.
This document sets out the academic year ahead
and the course content for each discipline. The
diversity and scope of opportunity is vast and yet,
at the same time, every faculty is united by three
common goals:
To ensure all pupils understand that academic
study is neither restricted by traditional subject
boundaries, nor determined entirely by routes
to qualification.
The Curriculum
Structure
The Origin curriculum combines both breadth and depth,
so that pupils get a wide range of academic experiences in
sufficient detail to make informed GCSE choices.
The list of subjects is below and a synopsis of the course content for each subject follows later in this
guidance document.
The Origin Curriculum - List of Subjects
Mathematics
English
Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science
Modern Languages: French, German, Spanish
Classical Languages: Latin, Classical Greek
Humanities: Geography, History, Philosophy & Theology (PT)
Practical Subjects: Art, Design & Technology (DT), Drama, Music, Physical Education (PE)
Personal and Social Development (PSD)
Subject Choice
To ensure a broad, exciting and balanced
curriculum, pupils will study all of the subjects
listed above, with the exception of languages,
where there is an element of choice. Pupils
will select two subjects from French, German,
Spanish and Classical Greek.
Pupils and their parents will make their choices
via an online form in the summer before arriving
at Shrewsbury. Information on each subject and
how to make these choices is provided later in
this document.
To ensure that all pupils reach a high level
of proficiency in key areas of competency:
Literacy, Numeracy, Physicality, Creativity,
Digital Skills, Cultural Appreciation and
Communication.
To ensure that all pupils engage actively in
their learning and participate wholeheartedly
in activities designed to build confidence, selfawareness
and reflection in conjunction with
the co-curricular aspects of their education.
It is our experience that by making sure
that all pupils are enjoying and contributing
wholeheartedly to a broad and holistic
education, they accrue the necessary knowledge,
understanding and skills to produce the sort of
exceptional exam performances reported year on
year at Shrewsbury.
Richard Kowenicki,
Deputy Head (Academic)
June 2023
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