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Curriculum journey maps 2026-27

We lead and believe in a progression based, knowledge and literacy rich curriculum, that is sequenced to allow the appropriate accumulation of knowledge, at each stage of a student’s progression through school. The curriculum is fully mapped, and this mapping can be seen for each subject in our curriculum journey maps. Please see the link below.

2026-2027 Priory Curriculum Journey Maps

Faculty – Communication
Subject	Head of faculty	Curriculum Leader	Exam board
English	Harriet Widlake hwidlake@priorysouthsea.org	Olivia Stitt ostitt@priorysouthsea.org	AQA
As an English team, we firmly believe that our students should experience an accessible, creative yet challenging curriculum. We encourage students to develop their own critical voice and English lessons expose students to a depth and breadth of literature. Poems, plays, novels and non-fiction texts from the 1500s to the present day are used to develop both reading and writing skills in order to foster a love of literature. We want students to not only hear a wide range of voices but also empower them to critique, question and challenge the status quo to gain a wider knowledge of the society around them. Through this, students deepen their understanding of literacy, develop their analytical skills, and form connections both between texts and the contexts in which they are written. Our curriculum is designed to take students on a learning journey through ‘big ideas’ empowering students with the confidence not only to understand the world around them, but also to be active participants. Our curriculum endeavours to get students to ‘think bigger’ and think ‘beyond’ the classroom. Students are encouraged to celebrate their successes and reflect on their own learning to seek further opportunities to improve. We promote a culture of confidence by explicitly teaching revision and retention skills to prepare students for their GCSE examinations. Overall we hope that all students can become game changers within the English curriculum on offer at Priory.
Subject	Head of faculty	Curriculum Leader	Exam board
Modern foreign languages	Harriet Widlake hwidlake@priorysouthsea.org	Mary Merritt-Smith mmerritt-smith@priorysouthsea.org	AQA
KS3:Our vision is to embed the foundations for students to become World Citizens and lifelong language learners. During KS3, all pupils have the opportunity to learn about different languages, cultures and traditions. Pupils will be able to introduce themselves and express their ideas in another language and understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and writing. KS4:By KS4, our pupils will communicate with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity, using a variety of grammatical structures that they have learned. Students continue to develop their resilience and skills as an independent language learner. Our vision is to embed the foundations for students to become World Citizens and we aim to achieve this by nurturing a linguistic curiosity and an intrinsic motivation to explore and respect other cultures and people.
Faculty – Maths
Subject	Head of faculty	Curriculum Leader	Exam board
Maths	Gemma Hebburn ghebburn@priorysouthsea.org	Shane Lawrence slawrence@priorysouthsea.org	Edexcel
KS3 and KS4: At Priory school, we believe that Mathematics is essential for everyday life and understanding our world. It is also essential in science, technology and the world of engineering. It is fundamentally important to ensure that all pupils have the best possible mathematics education. This will produce aspirational and resilient learners who understand the progress they are making in order to give them the best possible life chances and opportunities once they leave school.Pupils must master and enjoy mathematics so that they leave Priory with the ability to solve problems and are fluent in developing and applying their mathematical skills so valued in today’s knowledge based interdependent world.
Faculty – Science and Physical Education
Subject	Head of faculty	Curriculum Leader	Exam board
Science	Alex Parker aparker@priorysouthsea.org	Jariya Sime jsime@priorysouthsea.org	AQA
The Science Department at Priory School is dedicated towards providing a curriculum which is designed to enable our students to solve the problems they will encounter throughout their lives. The breadth of knowledge that we cover equips our students with the understanding they need to succeed in further and higher education. It will also provide solutions to problems in many areas of life. Skills such as teamwork, trial and error and evaluating are integral to any successful career. The science curriculum encourages students to learn from their mistakes and will build up confidence over the 5 years to enable them to be successful. KS3: Our Key Stage 3 offer is based on our trust model of precise learning points. These are lists of important knowledge and ideas that students need to master to help them understand the world around them. It also enables our students to have the best foundation possible for their GCSE that starts in year 9. KS4: Our Key Stage 4 is based on the AQA Science GCSE Specification. We build on a successful key stage 3 with the higher level GCSE knowledge and work towards providing students with the skills and understanding they need to be successful in their GCSE examinations in year 11. We do not stop there, however. We use real life contexts to engage and challenge our students wherever possible so that the value of science learning can be seen and applied to a life after school.
Subject	Head of faculty	Curriculum Leader	Exam board
Physical Education	Alex Parker aparker@priorysouthsea.org	Rob Andrew randrew@priorysouthsea.org	Pearsons BTEC
Within the Physical Education Department at Priory School efforts are made to encourage students to be positively interested in their own physical condition. High levels of activity and involvement in sport are encouraged. Opportunities are provided for students to experience a wide variety of activities. Through these, there is an emphasis on physical skill, personal conditioning and the development of students’ social values and self confidence. Students are encouraged to derive enjoyment from sporting activities and increase specific knowledge and interest in a few, therefore enabling them to develop interests beyond their compulsory school years. Above all else, effort and hard work are rewarded in lessons. The PE Department firmly believes that through physical education students can become the game changers of the future.Students in KS3 have two lessons per week. These are predominately taught in single sex classes, although some classes are taught to mixed groups in order to best support our students’ learning. Some activities are taught twice within a year to ensure depth of delivery. Students in KS4 have one lesson per week where students are again predominately taught in single sex classes, with some classes taught in mixed groups in order to best support our students’ learning. Students in year 9 can also opt to take BTEC Sport or Dance where they will receive a further three lessons per week in year 9, 10 and 11. BTEC Sport students will study a range of practical and theoretical components about the body, principles of training, diet and nutrition amongst other things designed to improve their grade. Students will learn and develop their leadership skills through sport. In Dance the course enables students to work on increasing their self-confidence and self-esteem. It is designed to cater for both experienced and inexperienced dancers. They will learn how to apply their knowledge, both on their own and as a member of a group, to develop their skills and abilities.
Faculty – Humanities
Subject	Head of faculty	Curriculum Leader	Exam board
History	Jo Weston jweston@priorysouthsea.org	Dan Tyler dtyler@priorysouthsea.org	Eduqas
To empower our students with the historical knowledge and skills to understand the past and, through it, the present. History is far bigger than a GCSE exam. At KS3 we aim to empower our students to understand the past in order to understand the present world. Students follow a chronological study of History that starts with 1066 and the Norman Conquest and culminates at the end of Year 8 with studies on the 20th Century. Alongside a chronological study of the past, students in their History lessons are also encouraged to link to one of 4 key themes: Power, Beliefs, Ordinary lives, Empire and conflict.Students start their GCSE journey at the start of year 9 where they begin by studying the changes that took place in Britain between from the medieval to the modern era. By the end of Year 9 students will have begun studying their second module; the Development of the USA 1929-2000. In Year 10 students will continue studying their module on the Development of the USA before studying the origins and fall of the Weimar Republic as well as the rise of Hitler as part of the Germany in Transition, 1919-1939 module. Year 10 students will finish the year by beginning their study of the Elizabethan Age, 1558-1603. Upon their return in Year 11, students will complete this module along with a site study that is linked to medicine before spending the remainder of Year 11 preparing for their final exams.
Subject	Head of faculty	Curriculum Leader	Exam board
Geography	Jo Weston jweston@priorysouthsea.org	Harriet Whitfield hwhitfield@priorysouthsea.org	AQA
We firmly believe that all children, irrespective of their starting point, are entitled to a broad, balanced and inclusive Geographical curriculum. It is fundamental that pupils understand their role in the world and how they, as global citizens, have a part to play in its future. Children will have a firm understanding of contrasting places, both local and global, to develop understanding of culture, diversity and empathy for others around the world. We promote a love of learning both inside and outside of the classroom where students are encouraged to enquire and draw their own conclusions.Students will master Geographical skills based on the development of their knowledge, understanding and application of both the physical and human environment. Students are challenged to question, which will allow them to develop critical thinking and apply their understanding to a range of differing Geographical contexts. We aim to develop Geographers with the skills to tackle current and future global issues. At KS3 we have aimed to equip our students with a broad understanding of a variety of geographical skills and knowledge. Our main priority is to give students a full and well rounded education if they were to finish their geography journey at the end of year 8 yet give them the building blocks of key knowledge and skills needed for them to succeed at GCSE. At KS3 we study a variety of topics from rivers and coasts to development to topical units such as climate change and resources. KS4: Students start their GCSE journey at the start of year 9 where we revisit our key skills and equip our students with the further skills they need to succeed. Students move on to looking at ecosystems, rainforests and cold environments. After Christmas we explore resource management a topic from our second paper. The final unit in year 9 is rivers. In Year 10, pupils will look at hazards and the issues of urbanisation. The areas that they will cover include: the challenge of natural hazards, urban challenges and physical landscapes of the UK with a coastal focus.. In Year 11, pupils will study ‘challenges in the human environment’. Pupils will look at the complexities of the interaction of humans, place and space. They will find out about the changing economic world before finally developing their understanding of economies in the UK and Nigeria.Finally, pupils will work on Geographical applications. This is a change from previous years and covers the coursework element that is no longer assessed. Pupils will need a fundamental knowledge of how to conduct research and the different types of research that can be undertaken, in different settings. This builds on what they have completed at KS3 and key skills and knowledge that will be developed throughout KS4. Pupils will need to be able to apply their understanding of different techniques and analyze their effectiveness.
Subject	Head of faculty	Curriculum Leader	Exam board
Religious Education	Jo Weston jweston@priorysouthsea.org	Paula Withers pwithers@priorysouthsea.org	AQA
Religious Studies allows students the opportunity to explore, and engage with, life’s ultimate questions – considering their own opinions towards topics as well as a range of religious perspectives. We provide students with the skills required to become reflective and critical thinkers. We promote respect for the right of others to hold beliefs different from their own, show an understanding of the influence of religion on society and an appreciation and understanding of different cultures, religions and traditions. KS3: RE is included in PSCRE at KS3. It is core RE and Citizenship. There is one lesson a week where we cover key issues to do with RE, Citizenship and British Values. KS4: Students will also gain an appreciation of how religion, philosophy and ethics form the basis of our culture. They will develop analytical and critical thinking skills, the ability to work with abstract ideas, leadership and research skills. All these skills will help prepare them for further study. Students study Christianity and Buddhism. They will also study themes – Theme A: Relationships and families.Theme B: Religion and life.Theme C: The existence of God and revelation.Theme D: Religion, peace and conflict.Theme E: Religion, crime and punishment.Theme F: Religion, human rights and social justice.
Subject	Head of faculty	Curriculum Leader	Exam board
Citizenship	Jo Weston jweston@priorysouthsea.org	Helen Blachford hblachford@priorysouthsea.org	AQA
KS3 & KS4 Core:The Core Citizenship and RE curriculum at Priory equips students for life beyond school, through critically engaging with religious scripture in the context of the social, political and cultural issues in today’s world. Through our core RE and citizenship provision, we want to develop empathetic, religiously literate, well-rounded individuals who are responsible global citizens who are empowered to be the gamechangers in today’s world. Students will develop a respect for others and have the opportunity to reflect upon their own beliefs. The engaging curriculum provides an opportunity for students to grow socially, spiritually, morally and culturally. KS4 GCSE Citizenship Studies: All students will leave Priory School as active, informed and responsible citizens – citizens who are willing and able to take responsibility for themselves and their communities and are passionate about the contribution they can make to the political process and society asa whole. We want to equip our students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to enable them to drive change and to make a positive contribution to their society in which differences and diversity are celebrated. All of our students will leave Priory School having been exposed to a Citizenship rich experience which builds upon their sense of civic action.
Faculty – Business, Economics, Computer Science and Creative IMedia
Subject	Head of faculty	Curriculum Leader
Business	Barry John Silver bsilver@priorysouthsea.org	Dan Rackley drackley@priorysouthsea.org
Economics	Barry John Silver bsilver@priorysouthsea.org	Dan Rackley drackley@priorysouthsea.org
Computer Science	Barry John Silver bsilver@priorysouthsea.org	Barry John Silver bsilver@priorysouthsea.org
Computer Science is deeply concerned with how computers and computer systems work, and how they are designed and programmed. Pupils studying computing gain insight into computational systems of all kinds, whether or not they include computers. Computational thinking influences fields such as biology, chemistry, linguistics, psychology, economics and statistics. It allows us to solve problems, design systems and understand the power and limits of human and machine intelligence. It is a skill that empowers, and that all pupils should be aware of and have some competence in.
Creative IMedia	Barry John Silver bsilver@priorysouthsea.org	Barry John Silver bsilver@priorysouthsea.org
Faculty – Dance, Drama and Music
Subject	Head of faculty	Curriculum Leader	Exam board
Expressive Arts is the beating heart of Priory, pulsating with creative energy, artistic inspiration and physical perspiration. We fill our school with life and our students with a sense of optimism, expression, awe and wonder.It is our mission and our passion to provide all pupils with a wide-ranging expressive experience – opportunities to explore, be creative, be challenged – so that they may expand their horizons and discover their voices, with the confidence and physical ability to do so.That is our vision, and this is how we realise it:We provide a contemporary curriculum that develops mastery of skills, and elicits deeper understanding and appreciation of artistic and physical endeavour.We create a safe, supportive environment that encourages pupils to explore ideas, make mistakes, reflect on them with feedback and improve.We celebrate performance in all its expressive forms – productions and shows, exhibitions and workshops, recitals and concerts.We provide opportunities and enrichment through a multitude of extracurricular clubs, trips, visitors and workshops.We promote vocational aspirations in the Arts and avenues of progression in the Creative Industries.
Dance	Anna Mazzola amazzola@priorysouthsea.org	Anna Mazzola amazzola@priorysouthsea.org	Pearson BTEC
Subject	Head of faculty	Curriculum Leader	Exam board
Drama	Anna Mazzola amazzola@priorysouthsea.org	Stephanie Shorrock sshorrock@priorysouthsea.org	AQA
KS3: In Year 7 & 8 pupils have 1 lesson of Drama per week. In these lessons they will experience a range of different activities tailored around exploring, rehearsing, performing and evaluating both scripted and devised work. They will develop their confidence in working with others and their ability to express their ideas creatively. They will explore presentation and performance skills while developing their physical and vocal skills along with many other transferable skills. KS4: At Key Stage 4 pupils can choose to study Drama as an AQA GCSE qualification which develops on from the knowledge and skills gained in Year 7 & 8. GCSE Drama students will explore a variety of scripted and devised performances over the three year course. Alongside the practical coursework we will delve into the written elements of the Drama qualification through exploration of theatre roles & terminology, the study of a set text, live theatre review and devising logs.
Subject	Head of faculty	Curriculum Leader
Music	Anna Mazzola amazzola@priorysouthsea.org	Bethan Alderslade balderslade@priorysouthsea.org
Faculty – Art, Photography, Health and Social Care, Leisure and Tourism
Subject	Head of faculty	Curriculum Leader	Exam board
Art	Laura Spear lspear@priorysouthsea.org	Olivia Owen oowen@priorysouthsea.org	BTEC Pearson GCSE AQA
Art gives students the opportunity to study different Artists styles and experiment with artistic techniques and media in a supportive and creative environment. We strive to promote independent and creative thinkers who can use techniques they have learnt to create meaningful and thoughtful work. We promote artist appreciation and encourage students to decode artwork to understand the deeper meaning behind the work and how it links to the world around them.
Photography	Laura Spear lspear@priorysouthsea.org	Laura Cooper lcooper@priorysouthsea.org	AQA
Health and Social Care	Laura Spear lspear@priorysouthsea.org	Laura Spear lspear@priorysouthsea.org	Pearson BTEC
Health and Social Care actively engages students to develop a critical and analytical approach to problem-solving within the sectors of health, social care and the human lifespan. We promote a love of learning that is applied to a vocational and ‘real world’ context. This course of study will prepare our students for the world of work in the 21st Century. It will give learners the opportunity to gain knowledge and build skills that show an aptitude and a passion for further learning both in the sector and more widely.
Leisure and Tourism	Laura Spear lspear@priorysouthsea.org	Sharon Male smale@priorysouthsea.org	Pearson BTEC
Faculty – Design Technology and Food
Design Technology is an evolving, inspiring, practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that address real life issues and problems. Pupils acquire a broad range of subject knowledge, drawing on disciplines such as mathematics, science and art to develop effective designs.At Priory all pupils study Food and Nutrition and Design Technology in KS3. Pupils explore a wide range of issues to enhance their knowledge and understanding before they work with wood, plastics, metal, electronics, fabric and food to apply their knowledge and ideas.They learn to work swiftly and efficiently and produce high quality products and have the chance to utilise new technologies including 2D Laser Cutting and 3D Printing. Pupils learn how to take risks; becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens.Through the evaluation of past and present designs and artefacts, they develop a critical understanding of technology’s impact on daily life and the wider world. Design and Technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.Pupils can opt to study GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition and GCSE Design Technology.
Subject	Head of faculty	Curriculum Leader	Exam board
Design Technology	Kay Coghlan kcoghlan@priorysouthsea.org	Kay Coghlan kcoghlan@priorysouthsea.org	Eduquas
Food	Kay Coghlan kcoghlan@priorysouthsea.org	Alice Elkins aelkins@priorysouthsea.org	Eduquas

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