Teaching & Learning
Our Curriculum
Marlborough students in school; happy learning and making exceptional progress
Curriculum Intent
Our curriculum at Marlborough is a dynamic, carefully crafted and student-centred provision that we believe prepares our students well to meet the rigours of adulthood and employment with confidence and emotional intelligence, all underpinned by our key values of dignity, kindness, compassion, courage and endeavour.
One size does not fit all and our curriculum pathways are designed to:
- Stretch and challenge all abilities.
- Offer breadth and balance.
- Inspire the sense of awe and wonder that makes teaching exciting and learning effortless.
- Respond to an increasingly technological world and when required adapt to national events.
- Keep students safe.
- Remove barriers to support attendance.
- Adapt teaching to ensure all students make progress through a variety of teaching styles to ensure high quality teaching.
- Ensure all students are prepared to follow their dreams, whatever level they are working at.
- Offer enrichment and creative activities that compliment and support learning as well as opening up the world and the opportunities travel and learning can provide.
- Ensure that all students have respect for themselves and others within a multicultural society.
- Give students opportunities to express themselves intelligently and with regard for good manners and the law.
- Provide opportunities to partake in enrichment activities which develop students' character and enhances the curriculum.
- Develop ambitious plans for the future through high quality, age-appropriate Careers Information Advice and Educational Guidance (CIAEG) to support future choices.
The curriculum is never 'done', it is reviewed annually in light of our cohorts and statutory requirements. We will always choose the right courses and means of assessment with our students' best interests at heart; we will never stand still.
We have an ASPIRATIONAL curriculum. Our curriculum builds on the National Curriculum and is broad and balanced with key focus on retention, application and transferable skills. Our curriculum is personalised to the needs of our community - we understand our context and build in additional cultural capital opportunities.
Click here to view a copy of our Curriculum Policy.
Click here to view our Faculty Pages.
Key Stage 3
The curriculum is designed to be broad and balanced in line with the National Curriculum, legislation on the teaching of Philosophy and Ethics, Relationship and Sex Education (RSE), Citizenship, Careers and Economic Education. Religious Studies is taught throughout the school using the Hertfordshire County agreed syllabus.
At Key Stage 3, our curriculum consists of three different curriculum pathways in order to provide a more personalised approach and meet the needs of all our students. The three pathways are:
- The main curriculum
- Rapid progress curriculum
- Fast track curriculum
| Year 7 | Year 8 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subjects | Periods | % | Periods | % |
| English | 7 | 14% | 7 | 14% |
| Mathematics | 7 | 14% | 7 | 14% |
| Science | 6 | 12% | 6 | 12% |
| Art | 3 | 6% | 3 | 6% |
| Computer Science | 2 | 4% | 2 | 4% |
| Drama | 2 | 4% | 2 | 4% |
| Geography | 3 | 6% | 3 | 6% |
| History | 3 | 6% | 3 | 6% |
| Languages | 5 | 10% | 5 | 10% |
| Music | 2 | 4% | 2 | 4% |
| Physical Education | 4 | 8% | 4 | 8% |
| PSHE including RSE | 1 | 2% | 1 | 2% |
| Ethical Studies | 1 | 2% | 1 | 2% |
| Technology | 4 | 8% | 4 | 8% |
| TOTAL | 50 | 100% | 50 | 100% |
PSHE including RSE is taught through one discrete lesson each cycle at Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4, with the addition of some PSHE events.
RAPID PROGRESS
The Rapid Progress students’ curriculum is designed to enable students to catch up and make rapid progress in their literacy and numeracy skills and to enable them to fully access the secondary curriculum.
FAST TRACK
Our Fast Track course is designed to stretch the more able. There is a Fast Track group in English, Mathematics and Science. Students on our Fast Track curriculum are also invited to take part in our Latin Club, where students learn about Ancient Rome and Greece (Classics) and take modules from the Cambridge Latin course.
Key Stage 4
At Key Stage 4 our curriculum consists of three different curriculum pathways. All students in Years 9, 10 and 11 study English Language and Literature, Mathematics, Science, Ethical Studies, Sport, Citizenship, PSCE including RSE and Careers.
In addition, students on the:
- Atom Curriculum follow the English Baccalaureate and are able to choose four more subjects including a Humanities subject, a language plus two further subjects.
- Proton Curriculum are able to choose four more subjects including a Humanities subject, plus three further subjects.
- Neutron Curriculum follow the King's Trust programme to develop their life skills and support them with their learning. They also study British Sign Language plus two further subjects.
The Key Stage 4 curriculum structure that is currently in place is:
| Year 9 | Year 10 | Year 11 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subjects | Periods | % | Periods | % | Periods | % |
| English | 7 | 14% | 8 | 16% | 8 (10*) | 16% |
| Mathematics | 7 | 14% | 6 | 12% | 7 (10*) | 14% |
| Science | 10 | 20% | 10 | 20% | 10 | 20% |
| Physical Education | 4 | 8% | 4 | 8% | 3 | 6% |
| PSHE/RSE/Careers | 1 | 2% | 1 | 2% | 1 | 2% |
| Ethical Studies | 1 | 2% | 1 | 2% | 1 | 2% |
| Option 1 | 5 | 10% | 5 | 10% | 5 | 10% |
| Option 2 | 5 | 10% | 5 | 10% | 5 | 10% |
| Option 3 | 5 | 10% | 5 | 10% | 5 | 10% |
| Option 4 | 5 | 10% | 5 | 10% | 5 (*) | 10% |
| TOTAL | 50 | 100% | 50 | 100% | 50 | 100% |
NB: Year 11 (*) Students on the Proton and Neutron curriculum have additional lessons of English and Mathematics per cycle and, as a result, do not take a fourth option.
Optional subjects include:
| Art and Design: Fashion and Textiles | Food Preparation and Nutrition |
| Art and Design: Fine Art | French |
| Art and Design: Graphic Communication | Geography |
| Business Studies | Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy |
| Child Development | History |
| Classical Civilisation | Latin |
| Computer Science | Media Studies |
| Creative iMedia | Music |
| Dance | Philosophy, Religion and Ethics |
| Design and Technology: Resistant Materials | Physical Education |
| Drama | Spanish |
| Engineering | Statistics and Further Mathematics |
Click here to view the 2025-26 Curriculum Offer booklet.
Key Stage 5
We organise our curriculum in conjunction with our learning partners: Loreto, Nicholas Breakspear, St Albans Girls School, Samuel Ryder and Townsend.
Students can follow a programme of Level 3 study. Courses are offered both at Marlborough and at our learning partners’ schools. All students study a core curriculum which includes Games, Careers, PSHE including RSE, Leadership and preparation for life.
Students can study up to four subjects, which can be a combination of advanced level or advanced vocational qualifications (these courses may vary from year to year):
| Art and Design | Geography |
| Biology | Graphics |
| Business Studies | History |
| Chemistry | Mathematics |
| Classical Civilisation | Media Studies |
| Computer Science | Music |
| Creative and Performing Arts - Acting | Music Technology |
| Dance | Philosophy and Ethics |
| Design and Technology: Product Design | Photography |
| Drama and Theatre Studies | Physics |
| Economics | Politics |
| English Literature | Psychology |
| Film Studies | Sociology |
| French | Spanish |
| Further Mathematics | Sport Development, Coaching and Fitness |
Click here to view the Post 16 Options booklet for 2025.