General information for students and parents/carers (PDF, 202 KB)

King Edward VI Sheldon Heath Academy is committed to developing responsible, aspirational, independent, happy and well-rounded young people with the self-belief to reach their goals. Our work will be underpinned by our core values and driven by our unequivocal belief in equality and tolerance. We will secure this through inspirational and enthusiastic teaching, the provision of a broad, challenging curriculum and excellent support and care. We want to ensure our young people fulfil and exceed their potential, be proud of who they are, be committed to lifelong learning and leave well-equipped to navigate their way through the challenges of the 21st Century; positively contributing to society both economically and socially.

The Academy therefore believes that every student is entitled to a curriculum that is rich and varied, challenging and inspiring which enables every individual to achieve her or his potential to the highest possible standard. The value of personal, social and moral development is taught within a broad and balanced curriculum. The Academy’s aim is to use the curriculum as a tool to nurture students’ aspirations through being relevant both to those aspirations and to local and national need and by providing strong and visible progression routes into further and higher education, apprenticeships, training and employment.

Curriculum organisation & provision

The curriculum has a rich blend of academic and vocational courses within the 14-19 phase, especially A-Levels, thus offering all students opportunities to excel. Recent curriculum developments have allowed for the introduction of 3 separate science subjects for all students and to examination level for those who seek academic excellence within science. There is also a strong emphasis on the learning of a Modern Foreign Language. The curriculum ensures the provision of wider learning experiences that include:

• educational visits including foreign visits, residential courses;
• the opportunity to perform in public and to represent the school;
• competitions and personal development qualifications such as Young Enterprise, Duke of Edinburgh Award, etc.

Finance is provided to ensure that all students may take part.

A wide range of extra-curricular activities is offered mainly related to the areas of science and PE as well as chess, reading clubs, homework and revision clubs, etc. There is an expectation that every student takes part in an extra-curricular activity. Students are provided with SMSC opportunities through the planned curriculum, independent study, extra-curricular events and personal tutoring sessions. Our SMSC provision is mapped for the whole year to ensure that themed assemblies and form time also cater for the SMSC development of all students.

Subjects offered at KS3 and KS4

Please click on individual subjects for more information on their content.

Key Stage 3

Key Stage 4

Sixth Form

Our Sixth Form offer and curriculum can be accessed through our Sixth Form page here.

Sixth Form prospectus (PDF, 13 MB)

Homework

Each Year group in Key Stage 3 and 4 has a homework schedule to ensure a manageable volume of homework is set throughout the week. Up to two homework tasks will be set each day. English, maths and science will be set once a week. Other subjects will be set once a fortnight. Post 16 students have varied timetables and homework will reflect the individual learning programme of each student. As students move through each year group, work set will begin to involve longer pieces of homework, reflecting their age.