Regents Review Autumn 2025 26

The Regents Review Autumn 2025

GENERAL NEWS Curriculum

and social care, BTEC sport, computer science and much, much more. To get the complete list, parents and students will need to attend the Year 9 Options Evening! Year 10s have already completed 20% of their KS4 curriculum with many students enjoying subjects not as available in KS3, as well as those core subjects which raise the challenge at GCSE level, such as English, maths and science. While Year 10s are still in the early stages of their courses, Year 11s are racing to the finish line. They have just completed mock GCSE assessments and these will inform any changes needed to curriculum planning, revision and interventions. With the end of Year 11 in sight, their attention will also turn to post 16, with Year 11s investigating the curriculum choices at colleges. Year 7s have adapted to learning in secondary school and moving from one curriculum area to another for subject specific resources and facilities. Over this term, students will have faced assessments in specific subjects and resulting set changes have already happened in maths and will now be extended to other subjects too. Sets are reviewed regularly to ensure that any progress is recognised and likewise where students struggle, appropriate support is put in place. Year 8s are halfway through KS3. They are lucky to still be experiencing a broad, balanced and full KS3 curriculum. This not only incorporates all subjects, but also the different disciplines within subjects. So, for example in DT, Year 8 students have rotations through the different disciplines from food technology to graphic design and PE students experience different sports and physical activities including swimming in the school pool. It is important that Year 8 embrace this wide learning and enjoy the opportunity to study such a breadth of subjects. In addition to their formal curriculum, Regents Park students also have a range of opportunities, as part of our extracurricular offer. This is both within and outside of the classroom. For example, a huge number of students are now involved in Duke of Edinburgh. After last year’s great success

As you will be aware, as from January, we will be joining United Learning. One of the many benefits of being part of such an academy chain is the amount of curriculum support a school gets. For example, schemes of work, resources and assessments are all provided to the school to adapt for learners. This means much of the curriculum is under review and curriculum areas are phasing in aspects of the United Learning curriculum over the year. Once we have formally joined, we will be able to access all resources and of course, update information shared with parents. Hot off the press is the Government’s response to the curriculum and assessment review. There are proposed changes to the National Curriculum, KS4 options and even allocated time for GCSE examinations. These are still to be confirmed, but we have already begun considering how this could affect our students, their curriculum offer and ultimately their progress. Having the backing of an academy chain will help here too. United Learning will provide guidance and advice for their schools in order to ensure they meet Government requirements and get the best for their children. As we move towards 2026 and the second term of this academic year, plans are underway for Year 9 options. There is a Year 9 Parents’ Evening where parents can get subject specific updates on their child’s progress and how they can improve. This is a critical parents’ evening as Year 9 forms the foundations for KS4 studies and it is important to identify gaps before students start GCSEs. This understanding of their children’s skills and abilities can also support when making choices about KS4 options. Shortly after, there is a Year 9 Options Evening, where the choices for this cohort will be revealed. This important evening will showcase the broad and balanced KS4 curriculum on offer, as well as explaining course content, links to post 16 and necessary skills for courses. At Regents Park, the KS4 offer for Year 9 is likely to include business studies, sociology, 3D design, photography, health

4