Middle & Upper School Curriculum

Inspiring Excellence from Year 7 to Year 11

Since our founding in 1948, countless pupils have benefitted from a Tower College education. They have been welcomed into the best sixth form colleges and then studied for degrees at prestigious universities. They have managed to make a difference in every imaginable field and endeavour. I am constantly amazed at the contributions they have made, and continue to make, to the world around us.

Everything we do here is guided by our core values of Resilience, Integrity, Scholarship and Enrichment and these values are evident in our pupils’ GCSE exam results, extra-curricular achievements, charitable fundraising and in the many enthusiastic endorsements we receive from current and former parents.

At Tower College, we provide our pupils with the opportunities to achieve not only academic excellence but to also gain fundamental life skills such as finding their own strong voice, being kind and considerate, being an effective listener, being creative and being able to solve problems both individually and as part of a team; skills that are necessary if they are to thrive in an ever-changing world.

It’s no secret that we place emphasis on favourable class sizes and on the standard of teaching as these are proven to have the largest impact on a child’s progress.

A structured curriculum is delivered by qualified and caring staff who inspire and challenge, enabling every pupil to achieve their full potential. Pupils certainly benefit from a tailored learning experience, delivered in a secure and nurturing environment that encourages a lifelong passion for learning and a genuine interest in the world.

At Tower College, Middle School begins in Year 7, when pupils are supported in moving to a more traditional secondary school setting. Pupils take more responsibility for their learning. Our form tutors ensure that the transition is smooth and new pupils are welcomed with great care and attention.

Staff take great care in supporting the pupils as they discover where their strengths and interests lie; and as they enter Upper School and Year 9, when they must begin to decide on their GCSE options.

Pupils continue to develop core skills in literacy, numeracy and scientific investigation. National Curriculum elements are supplemented to give our pupils a solid educational foundation for life inside and outside of school. Our pupils are encouraged to strive for excellence and by providing an inspiring curriculum and carefully designed enrichment programme, we hope that our pupils become their best selves.

Curriculum Design

The curriculum is designed to provide a broad and balanced education that equips pupils with the knowledge, skills, and understanding required for their future lives. The curriculum aims to inspire a love for learning, foster intellectual curiosity, and promote personal, social, and moral development. It will challenge pupils academically while also enriching their understanding of the wider world, culture, and society.

The curriculum reflects a carefully sequenced and structured approach, enabling pupils to build upon prior knowledge and understanding. The curriculum is tailored to meet the needs and aspirations of all pupils, offering a wide range of subjects and pathways. It is inclusive and provides opportunities for pupils to pursue their interests and talents, regardless of their background or ability. The school provides a supportive and nurturing environment that enables pupils to thrive, fostering positive attitudes towards learning and the development of skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and resilience.

The school provides a wealth of extracurricular activities and enrichment opportunities that complement the curriculum. This includes trips, visits, workshops, and clubs that broaden pupils’ experience and deepen their understanding of subjects. These activities also promote the development of social skills, teamwork, and leadership qualities.

Year Group	Key Stage	Curriculum
Year 7 & Year 8	KS3	English, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, Geography, Computer Science, Religious Education, Spanish, French, Physical Education, Music, Art, PSHE.
Year 9	Transition from KS3 to KS4	English Literature, English Language, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, Geography, Computer Science, Religious Education, Spanish, Physical Education, Music, Art, PSHE. Year 9 pupils will select their GCSE option subjects in the Autumn Term.
Year 10 & Year 11	KS4 (GCSE)	GCSE Compulsory Subjects: English Literature, English Language, Maths & Religious Education GCSE Option Subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, Geography, Computer Science, Spanish, Physical Education, Music, Art. All pupils will continue to participate in practical Physical Education lessons and PSHE. These subjects are not examined.

Homework

Pupils at Tower College in Middle and Upper School will be set homework each night that is proportionate and enriches and develops their understanding. Parents and pupils will be able to log-in to our E-Praise system to view homework instructions. Homework can be monitored more closely and all pupils have clear instructions for completing homework activities.

Homework tasks will vary from subject to subject and will consist of a range of both practical, creative and paper based activities. For homework to be an effective tool to support each pupil’s progress, the type of homework activity will be at the discretion of the subject specialist teacher, in accordance with the curriculum demands and the work that pupils are completing in class.

Personal Development

Our curriculum integrates Personal, Social, Health, and Economic (PSHE) education, ensuring students develop emotional intelligence, resilience, and ethical understanding. This holistic approach prepares pupils to navigate the complexities of modern life with confidence and integrity.

Enrichment Opportunities

Beyond the classroom, Tower College offers a robust enrichment programme that complements academic learning:

Clubs & Societies: Including Science Club, Debating Society, and Creative Writing workshops.
Sports Teams: Opportunities to participate in football, netball, athletics, and more.
Performing Arts: Involvement in school productions, choir, and instrumental ensembles.
Duke of Edinburgh Award: Encouraging personal development through expeditions and community service.
Educational Trips: Visits to historical sites, museums, and international excursions to enhance learning experiences.

Assessment & Support

Assessment is an incredibly useful tool within education, and teachers will assess your child’s progress in a variety of ways that are specific to the teaching of that subject.

Our aim as a school is to ensure that every pupil achieves their very best. To support our pupils in achieving this, we need to collect quality data about the progress each child is making. The most effective way to gather this information is through formal assessments.

The school has two formal assessment points across the academic year.

Spring Half term 1
Summer Half term 2

The assessment week will consist of one assessment in each subject.

Teachers will mark your child’s assessment and then provide detailed feedback. The mark your child is awarded, and how this reflects in terms of their progress, will be reported to you in the next School report. The data gathered will further be used to inform the development of teaching and learning across the school.

Assessment is a critical element of teaching and learning that is key to enhancing your child’s education. Assessments provide pupils with the opportunity to:

Identify any misconceptions they may have
Identify topics or areas of learning where they need to improve
Test the revision strategies they are using to make sure they are working
Build up confidence and resilience with sitting assessments

We would ask that you encourage your child to revise, so they are prepared to sit the assessments. Teachers will provide pupils with a revision list on E-Praise. This will give pupils several weeks to prepare for their assessments. In the weeks leading up to an Assessment Week, teachers will no longer set homework activities as pupils will be expected to use this time to revise. This will be communicated to you via email from the Head of Teaching & Learning. We would recommend that pupils follow the homework timetable to structure their revision.

We know that some pupils may have some anxiety surrounding assessments, but we would like to reassure all parents that teachers are here to provide appropriate support. Pupils will have a study skills session aimed at providing useful advice and guidance on how to revise in a form periods.

School Reports

Your child will receive 6 reports throughout the academic year, informing you of the progress that your child is making.

October Half Term	Progress report	Effort and attainment rated on a scale of 1-5 in each subject
End of Autumn Term	End of term report	A full-written report with qualitative and quantitative data regarding your child’s progress in each subject
February Half Term	Assessment report	A compilation of assessment data following examinations in each subject.
End of Spring Term	Progress report	Effort and attainment rated on a scale of 1-5 in each subject
May Half Term	Progress report	Effort and attainment rated on a scale of 1-5 in each subject
End of Summer Term	Assessment report with end of year comments	A full-written report with qualitative and quantitative data regarding your child’s progress in each subject