Curriculum

At Croxley Danes School, we aim to instil the core values of excellence, respect and trust in everything we do. 

Our curriculum is designed with the following intentions:

• To inspire students to be active, creative and curious learners.

• To provide a broad, balanced and knowledge-rich education that supports, challenges and develops every student.

• To equip students with the skills and confidence to apply their learning beyond the classroom.

Teaching and Learning

At Croxley Danes, our teaching is characterised by:

• A deep understanding of every student in the class

• High expectations for all learners

• Strong relationships with students and parents

• Expert subject knowledge

• Effective use of assessments

• Encouraging rapid progress and nurturing a love of learning

Our learning environment promotes:

• A love for learning in a safe, happy space

• Mastery of literacy and numeracy skills at KS3

• Confidence in creativity and calculated risk-taking

• Resilience in overcoming academic or personal challenges

• Opportunities for independent learning

• self-awareness of well-being

Subject offering

Croxley Danes School provides a broad and balanced curriculum, carefully designed to give every student the chance to explore a diverse range of subjects, uncover their strengths, and develop a lifelong love of learning.

The following subjects are taught in Year 7:

Art (2 lessons per two-week timetable)

Year 7 students follow a course which allows them to observe, experiment and produce a variety of final outcomes, experimenting with different materials and techniques. Students study the formal elements of art, work in 2D and 3D, looking at a range of different artists that will set the foundation for their art learning throughout Key stage 3, GCSE and on to A Level. 

Computing (2 lessons per two-week timetable)

The Computer Science curriculum is designed to build up the knowledge and computing skills that you began to use during your time in primary school. The primary focus of the curriculum is to provide an understanding of how computers work (make use of computers improving your digital literacy (ICT) skills). You will also learn a structured approach to problem solving called Computational Thinking. The knowledge and skills you learn in Computer Science are particularly useful in GCSE Computer Science but they are transferable to any academic subject or future career path you wish to follow. 

Drama (2 lessons per two-week timetable)

Drama is an enjoyable, creative and practical subject, where students explore and develop skills in communication and group work through theme-based units of work, including; Greek Theatre, Commedia Dell’Arte and Twisted Fairy tales. Drama enables students to build their confidence in performance but also learn and explore the other areas of drama, such as technical design and costume. Throughout the year, students are formally assessed in either a performance or written evaluation in each topic. 

English (8 lessons per two-week timetable)

Students study a variety of modern and classic literature texts, including prose, poetry and drama. In addition, material from the everyday world such as media texts, biography and autobiography , articles, reports, blogs and speeches, will also be explored and analysed. These texts are used as a springboard for discussion and writing tasks relating to linguistics, contemporary issues and wider cultural awareness. To support the development of essential literacy skills, our English curriculum includes weekly lessons focused specifically on reading and grammar.

French or Spanish (4 lessons per two-week timetable)

Students will be allocated either French or Spanish at the start of Year 7 and will continue with this language through Years 7–9. If your child has a strong preference for either French or Spanish, please complete this form by Thursday 13th June to indicate your choice. While we will do our best to accommodate preferences, allocations may be subject to class sizes and timetabling.

Studying a foreign language encourages respect for others and deepens our understanding of the wider world. It promotes tolerance, broadens perspectives, and supports the development of mental agility, communication, and problem-solving skills. Our aim is for students to achieve full fluency in their chosen language and to develop a profound cultural understanding of either the Francophone or Hispanic world.

Geography (3 lessons per two-week timetable)

Students study the following units: Becoming a Geographer - a topic designed to equip students with the essential navigation and map skills they will need during Key Stage 3; Geography. Secondly, Exploring Britain which is a unit that introduces students to both the physical and Human Geography of the country. Thirdly, Coasts and Islands introduces students to the physical processes of our coastline and how sea level rise is resulting in more need for management and protection. These will be assessed through a series of short answer, timed tests. During the Summer Term, students will sit an end of year test, drawing upon the content of the year. The final part of the year focuses on Extreme Weather and Tourism, where students complete project based work, fieldwork and presentations on these important topics.

History (3 lessons per two-week timetable)

Students are introduced to three key themes in history: Power and Control, People Adapting to Change and Expansion and Empire. They will study four topics, Historical Skills, the Norman Conquests and the Middle Ages, the development of Castles and the Tudors. There will be an opportunity to enter a Castles competition in the Spring Term,  and to visit Hampton Court Palace in the Summer Term.

Mathematics (7 lessons per two-week timetable)

Students consolidate their mathematical capability from Key Stage 2 and extend their understanding, developing fluency, mathematical reasoning, and competence in solving increasingly sophisticated problems. Topics fall into four broad categories of Number, Algebra, Geometry and Statistics, and students move between these interconnected representations of mathematical ideas. The application of mathematics to other subjects and the real world is taught, whilst fostering a sense of enjoyment and curiosity.

Music (2 lessons per two-week timetable)

Students study topics that develop practical, listening and composition skills.  In the Autumn term they begin by reviewing the ‘Elements of Music’ and receive an 'Introduction to Keyboards'. In the spring term they study ‘Singing’ and ‘The Orchestra’. In summer term they work on ‘Composing’ and learn the ‘Ukulele’.  

Personal Development (1 lesson per two-week timetable)

The Personal Development programme is taught by Form Tutors and covers a range of topics including personal issues, physical and emotional changes, resilience, citizenship, careers and enterprise education and guidance, and online safety.

Physical Education (4 lessons per two-week timetable)

Students have four lessons of PE per fortnight. Students have the opportunity to develop their skills in a wide variety of sports. The girls participate in netball, football, hockey, rugby, basketball, athletics, gymnastics, dance, tennis, and rounders and learn about Health Related Exercise (HRE).

The boys also participate in football, rugby, handball, table tennis, badminton, athletics, basketball, netball, hockey, dance, cricket and tennis. Both boys and girls will develop skills such as leadership, creativity and communication. Games lessons also involve a number of inter-house competitions throughout the school year.

Religious Studies (2 lessons per two-week timetable)

The curriculum for REPS for KS3 is planned across three years and covers a variety of content. Students study three units in Year 7: ‘Existence of God?’ in which students will develop an understanding of arguments both for and against the existence of God; ‘Hinduism and Sikhism’ in which they study both religions before identifying similarities and differences between the two faiths and ‘Jesus’ in which students explore different perspectives of Jesus and then concentrate on Christian beliefs.

Science (7 lessons per two-week timetable)

Students follow the Activate course from Oxford University Press. In Year 7, they study all Sciences (Biology, Chemistry and Physics). They also have 2 key assessments throughout the year taking place. The first key assessment is in the first term and the final key assessment is at the end of the year. The final key assessment is the End of Year assessment and includes all the topics they have been taught that year. Normally students are told which topics will be on the assessments in lessons and this is often communicated on Google Classroom as well. The topics which the students are taught throughout the year are: Cells; Reproduction; Body systems; Working Scientifically; Acids and alkalis; Particles; Elements and Compounds; Chemical Reactions; Sound; Forces; Space and Light. It is worth noting that students will do End of Topic tests after each topic to help them understand which parts of the topic they need to improve. Students will also have access to the course textbooks through the Kerboodle website but bitesize also has good resources for these topics.

Technology (3 lessons per two-week timetable)

Students work in a different focus area in each of the three terms, so that by the end of the year they have experienced a breadth of different design and technology activities. In food, the emphasis is on developing skills and understanding the concept of healthy eating. In textiles, students will learn a range of embellishment techniques where the practical work culminates in the production of a cushion. In product design students will learn about designing and making and use timber, plastic and electronics to make a mood light for a client of their choice.

NB -  Assessment is ongoing throughout the year. Subject teachers will give their classes information about when and how to revise for assessments.

Extracurricular Activities 

We offer a wide range of  extracurricular activities which take place before school, during lunch time and after school. Our provision is published on a half termly basis and circulated to parents and students with start and finish times and locations. If you are happy for your child to take part in these activities (including after school clubs) please consent via your child's Arbor account once this has been set up. Please note that it is the responsibility of your child to let parents know that they are staying behind for clubs.

Literacy and Reading

At Croxley Danes, we are passionate about reading. Our incredible Learning Resource Centre (LRC) is fully equipped to cater to a wide range of student interests, offering a welcoming space where every child can discover books they love.

We encourage all parents and carers to continue nurturing the strong reading habits developed in primary school. Creating a culture of literacy in our school is about more than just improving academic outcomes; it’s about unlocking potential, broadening horizons, and fostering a lifelong love of learning. Building this culture, however, is a shared effort. Encouraging reading at home—whether through shared family reading time, dedicated quiet reading spaces, or personal reading goals—greatly enhances the impact of classroom learning.

For practical tips and resources on how to support your child’s reading journey, please visit our Literacy Page. There, you'll find ideas, reading lists, and guidance tailored to help make reading an enriching part of your child’s everyday life.

By working together, we can ensure that reading becomes a powerful and lasting habit—one that benefits your child across all areas of learning and beyond.