Year Groups

Preparation for Stonyhurst College

Pupils in KS3 experience an exclusively specialist teacher model which prepares them for their move into the latter years of Stonyhurst College and beyond. Pupils aged 11 begin their Stonyhurst journey in Aloysius House, our friendly and welcoming co-educational house for both day pupils and boarders. We believe Aloysius House offers the perfect introduction to Stonyhurst life, combining expert subject specialist teaching with a supportive, close-knit community as a springboard to the wider College experience. The curriculum is taught by talented and creative subject specialists, which ensures that Year 7 and 8 children are stretched and challenged academically. Children are encouraged to discover how they learn best and are supported in developing an independent and responsible approach to their studies. In addition, every pupil has a Tutor who oversees their academic journey and provides pastoral care and support.

In Figures and Rudiments (Years 7 and 8), pupils have the opportunity to study languages from a choice of French, Spanish and German. Pupils are taught in streamed sets, based on their academic performance, in mathematics, English and languages in order to maximise progress but, for all other subjects and activities, children are taught in mixed ability groups, broadening their social horizons. 

A curriculum centred around you

Our aim in Lower Grammar (year 9) is to build on the content and skills that pupils learn in Figures (year 7) and Rudiments (year 8) and to begin to specialise in a limited number of subjects, namely arts subjects and modern languages in preparation for GCSEs.  In a Jesuit school we stress the importance of an academic curriculum for each individual. This means a broad and stretching experience for those who can cope with it and a suitably tailored offer for less able pupils. At the end of the LG year each pupil continues with a core of English, Maths, Religious Studies, and at least one language and one science, and then makes a choice to pursue typically four more subjects to GCSE.

Pupils are placed in sets for English, Maths and Languages, according to their performance in Rudiments (year 8), or other relevant assessments such as Common Entrance. It is perfectly possible for a pupil to be in Set 1 for one subject and a lower set for another, as pupils have different aptitudes in different subjects.  For other subjects our pupils are assigned to teaching groups based on their general ability.

In Grammar and Syntax, pupils can choose between GCSE's to go on to study A-levels or the Pre-IB programme to go on to study one of the two IB pathways.

GCSE

For the GCSE pathway, pupils can choose to sit up to 10 subjects. We offer curriculum support to less academic pupils who might take fewer options and concentrate on one, rather than both, English GCSEs.

All pupils study three or four core subjects: Religious Studies, Mathematics, English Language and/or English Literature. PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) is core to the curriculum but is not an examination subject.

We then ask pupils to choose one Language and one Science option plus four further options from French, Spanish, German, Latin, Greek, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, History, Music, Art, Information Technology and Physical Education.

For pupils joining Stonyhurst College in Syntax (Year 11) we offer a one-year GCSE Stonyhurst pre-IB (International Baccalaureate) course which is excellent preparation for our two-year IB Diploma course and is equally suitable preparation for studying A Levels at Stonyhurst College.

Note: Occasionally courses are oversubscribed or timetable restrictions apply, in which case pupils will be admitted to their choice of course according to their priorities and on a first come basis.

Pre-IB

For the Pre-IB pathway pupils can choose to sit up to or 6-7 subjects. Pre-IB pupils They have more lessons than GCSE pupils per subject in one week, to ensure that they have covered the syllabus before the examinations in May/June.

The Pre-IB programme is designed to prepare non-UK pupils for Stonyhurst’s IB Diploma Programme. It also aims at rapidly integrating non-UK pupils into the academic, social, spiritual, and co-curricular life of the College.

The Pre-IB curriculum is primarily designed to be tailored to the likely future IB subject choices of each pupil, with a programme which offers breadth of study across a range of subject areas (languages and literature, humanities, sciences, mathematics, and, possibly, arts). The individual pupil’s academic interests and university/career ambitions drive the process.

Learn more about Pre-IB