Curriculum Information - KS3/KS4

The curriculum at Selby High School offers an engaging, challenging and well-rounded education, covering the full range of national curriculum subjects, alongside a carefully designed programme to develop resilient young people who will become confident global citizens.  

All students study the following subjects at key stage 3:

Developing confident readers is central to our curriculum approach.  All students in year 7 to 9 take part in our Accelerated Reader programme, and with over 10,000 titles in our Learning Resource Centre, alongside a vibrant Online Library, we create a culture where everybody can find books they love to read.  The carefully structured teaching of High Challenge Texts is part of our every day approach to teaching in all subject areas.

In addition to their subject-based curriculum, we offer an exciting Enrichment Curriculum, through which all students take part in exciting additional activities and clubs as part of their timetable.  All students in years 7 and 8 opt for a weekly activity to extend current talents and hobbies and to engage students in new experiences.  Students choose three different activities each year, and sessions range from sports, drama and music activities, to chess club, arts and crafts, and debate.  In year 9, students spend two hours a week on a selected activity designed to extend their curriculum interests.  Current year 9 projects include bike mechanics; film making; and sports leaders. For all year groups The Selby Challenge encourages participation in a wide range of activities both within and beyond the curriculum to equip students with the skills needed to play an active and enjoyable role in society.

In addition to our core enrichment offer, students in all year groups are encouraged to take part in the wide range of additional curriculum opportunities, which range from sporting fixtures, to school productions, to a wide range of trips, visits and residentials, including visits to London, Paris and Madrid. 

At Key Stage 4 students study a core of English, Maths, Science, Spanish, PE, Life Development and Religious Studies, and either History or Geography; most students also study Spanish.  Selby High School is proud of the rich and broad curriculum on offer and students can choose from a wide range of subjects to suit their talents and ambitions, all taught in up-to-date facilities with subject specialist teachers.  Students at Selby High are able to study Triple Science, and alongside GCSEs and vocational courses in  all of our key stage 3 subjects, we offer Business Studies, Sociology, Photography, Sports Science, Child Development and Engineering.

All students in year 10 have a week of work experience and our Careers programme offers many other planned opportunities, starting from year 7, to prepare for life beyond school.  This includes enterprise days, practice interviews with members of the local business community, visits to college and university and a “dreams and ambitions” programme featuring talks from our extensive Selby High School alumni.

Our Values Curriculum spans Key Stage 3 and 4, and is where students learn the valuable knowledge, skills and understanding that they need to succeed as active, global citizens in a modern world.  Students develop a sense of personal responsibility and an appreciation of what it means to live in an inclusive and diverse society.  Students also gain an understanding of the importance of maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle, and staying safe.  Weekly Life Development lessons are supported by assemblies and three Diversity Days.  In each Assembly we celebrate the achievements and successes of students within the year group, and explore a theme linked to the Values Curriculum.

Outstanding pastoral care is central to our school curriculum.  Students have three Personal Development sessions with their tutor each week, supporting students to make the most of their time at school, develop as good citizens of the school and the wider community, and learn how to become strong independent learners, with a mature approach to home learning and revision.