Curriculum & ILTs
At St Paul’s Catholic College, we are dedicated to providing a curriculum that nurtures the academic, spiritual, and personal growth of every student. Our aim is to offer a well-rounded education that challenges students to develop holistically, enabling them to fulfil their God-given potential.
To achieve this we have to continue to be determined to develop, grow and change. Currently at St Paul’s our results place us consistently within the top ten percent of schools nationally, our aim in the improvement plan is to get into the top five percent.
Students don’t get a second chance in education. This means that we have to cherish every lesson as an opportunity to learn, equally we need to invest in high quality teaching, research and development to nourish and develop outstanding learning and teaching in all we do.
Curriculum Intent
Our curriculum is designed to:
Challenge and Support
Encourage students to achieve excellence while providing the necessary support to succeed.
Broaden Horizons
Offer a diverse range of subjects that promote intellectual, moral, spiritual, creative, and physical development.
Foster Engagement
Cultivate a love for learning that extends beyond the classroom.
Ensure Coherence
Provide a structured progression of knowledge and skills across all key stages.
Nurture the Whole Child
Develop empathy, integrity, and resilience alongside academic achievements.
Maintain Relevance
Equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate a rapidly changing world.
Uphold Rigor
Implement evidence-based teaching strategies to enhance learning outcomes.
OUR MISSION
Inspiring a living faith with hope and love.
Curriculum Implementation
As an 11–18 school, we continuously adapt our curriculum to meet the evolving needs of our students and the wider educational landscape. Each subject area is meticulously planned and regularly reviewed to ensure:
Alignment with National Standards
Compliance with the National Curriculum requirements.
Personalised Learning
Differentiated instruction to cater to diverse learning styles and abilities.
Integration of Technology
Utilisation of digital tools to enhance teaching and learning experiences.
Professional Development
Ongoing training for staff to stay abreast of best practices in education.
Partnerships and Development
St Paul’s is actively involved in teacher training, leadership development, and school improvement initiatives through our leadership of the Inspire Teaching School Alliance and Sussex Maths Hub.
These partnerships enhance the quality of education we provide and contribute to the broader educational community.
Curriculum Impact
The effectiveness of our curriculum is reflected in:
Academic Excellence
Consistently strong outcomes at all key stages, placing us within the top ten percent of schools nationally.
Student Progression
High rates of students advancing to further education, employment, or training.
Holistic Development
Students demonstrating growth in character, faith, and social responsibility.
Key Stage 3
A traditional, broad and balanced curriculum over three years
We have made a firm commitment to retain a broad and balanced curriculum.
Even during times of significant curriculum change we have invested in ensuring that all subjects flourish at St Paul’s. RE and spiritual life remain at the core of life at St Paul’s as a faith school. Core subjects have flourished alongside a wide variety of curriculum areas including humanities, languages and the arts
KS3 Curriculum (Timetable Allocation)
Key Stage 4
Investing in depth and a love of each subject
We have committed to most students doing ten GCSEs at Key Stage 4.
With all students doing RE, English, Maths, Science, Humanities and Languages. During the options process we guide each student to choose subjects that will stretch and challenge them as well as meeting their interests and aspirations.
KS4 Curriculum (Timetable Allocation)
CAMNAT Business (10)
| Key Stage 4 Curriculum | Timetable Allocation |
|---|---|
|
12 |
|
|
18 |
|
|
10 |
|
|
10 |
|
|
10 |
|
|
10 |
|
|
10 |
|
|
10 |
|
|
10 |
|
|
CAMNAT Business |
10 |
|
8 |
|
|
18 |
|
|
22 |
|
|
10 |
|
|
10 |
|
|
10 |
|
|
10 |
|
|
10 |
|
|
10 |
|
|
10 |
|
|
2 |
Key Stage 5
Success leading to the next chapter
Students study three A level, or equivalent qualifications, at Key Stage 5.
We have invested extra curriculum time and teaching in the Key Stage 5 provision. This has allowed us to nurture, support and challenge our students to ensure they are successful at Key Stage 5. This can lead them on to further education and employment, up to 85% achieving their first-choice university and one in four successfully applying for Russell group universities.
KS5 Curriculum
KS5 Timetable Allocation
BTEC Double Subject (44)
BTEC Single Subject (22)
Sports Leaders (8)
GCSE Maths (10)
Independent Learning Tasks (ILTs)
Independent Learning Tasks (ILTs) are an important part of our students’ development. They are set weekly by each subject to help students consolidate learning, practise key skills, and prepare for future lessons and examinations.
What Parents Can Expect
- Regular homework: Every subject will set an ILT each week, designed to link directly to what students are learning in class.
- Clear instructions: All ILTs are shared on EduLink/Teams with clear outcomes, guidance, and deadlines so students (and parents) know what is expected.
- Consistency: Tasks are set in a similar way across classes in the same year group, so that expectations are fair and balanced.
- Purposeful learning: ILTs are designed to build knowledge and skills, such as retrieval practice, independent reading, research, or revision, not simply “finishing off classwork.”
- Feedback: Teachers will use quick and effective ways to check ILTs, such as short quizzes, reviews in class, or self/peer assessment.
What We Expect from Students
- Engagement: Complete ILTs each week to the best of your ability, meeting the deadlines set.
- Independence: Take responsibility for organising your time and resources so that tasks are completed on schedule.
- Effort: Put care into your work, aiming for high standards and using feedback to improve.
- Preparation: Bring completed tasks to lessons, ready to contribute and build on your learning.
Weekly Time Guidance
As a rough guide, students should expect to spend the following amount of time each week on ILTs across all subjects:
- Year 7: ~7 hours
- Year 8: ~8 hours
- Year 9: ~9 hours
- Year 10: ~11 hours 20 minutes (8 hours subject ILTs + 3 hours 20 minutes revision)
- Year 11: ~13 hours (8 hours subject ILTs + 5 hours revision)
Contact Us
For more information about our curriculum: