The curriculum at Tibshelf School is ambitious and inclusive and designed to give all pupils the knowledge, skills and cultural capital to be successful. The measure of success includes, but is not limited to, outcomes at the end of year 11, along with developing outstanding citizens ready for the 21st century.

The school cycle has a 2-week timetable comprising 50 lessons per cycle (25 one-hour lessons per week). This is made up of the following broad curriculum diet for students: 

• Maths
• English
• Science
• Modern Foreign Language
• Physical Education
• Technology
• Performing Arts
• Humanities (inc RE)
• Art
• Computing
• Personal Development

In Key Stage 4 most students study for at least 9 qualifications.  These include core (compulsory) subjects and four optional choices.  The numbers next to each subject listed below denote the number of curriculum hours allocated to that subject over the 50-period cycle.

Compulsory subjects:

• English Language and English Literature (8)
• Mathematics (7)
• Science (9)
• Either History or Geography (5.5)
• Personal Development (2)
• Physical Education (2)

Optional subjects are chosen toward the end of year 8, as the year 9 curriculum is a transition year as pupils move towards examination courses and it is vital that the offer remain broad and varied. Our offer will enable pupils to select four areas of study in which they will build a strong and deep foundation in preparation for key stage 4. They will also continue to study all areas of the curriculum through a ‘short course’ programme of study. This ensures that there is absolutely no narrowing of the curriculum.  Towards to end of year 9, pupils will review their progress with teaching staff in the options they have studied at greater depth and decide if they are to continue this course of study at examination level in years 10 and 11. We would expect that the large majority of pupils continue these courses, but it would be possible to discuss changing these if the course is not suitable.