2026 / 2027
THIRD-FORM CURRICULUM GUIDE
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WELCOME TO THE THIRD FORM OPTIONS BOOKLET Education at LWC is about more than just what happens inside the classroom; it is about preparing our pupils for a world that is ever-changing. As we guide our pupils through their learning journey, we remain committed to equipping them with the Attitudes, Approaches, Routines, and Habits (A2RH) that will serve them well, both academically and in life beyond school. This booklet provides a window into the exciting opportunities available in 3rd Form, offering pupils the chance to explore subjects that inspire curiosity, creativity, and independent thinking. These choices are an important step towards a broad and balanced education, setting a strong foundation for GCSEs and beyond. As you explore the options ahead, we encourage you to think not just about academic interests but also about the skills, challenges, and experiences that will help shape a fulfilling and lifelong learning journey.
Angela Watson Deputy Head Teacher - Academic
OPTIONS EVENING, 12TH MARCH 2026 We are running a presentation evening on Thursday 12th March 2025 at 6.30pm to 8.00pm to explain the process and to answer any questions you may have. After the presentation, you will need to complete an online form to submit options.
WHAT IS THE 3RD-FORM CURRICULUM? Our aspirations are to develop curious, creative, collaborative and tech-savvy pupils, but more importantly pupils who develop the right skills for learning within an academic curriculum that allows time and space for questions to be asked, ideas to be explored and learning to happen. These pupils, your children, will be our 3rd Form cohort in September, and I am delighted to set out here how the curriculum is structured. The curriculum is structured to ensure that: It meets the demands of the College’s expectations that pupils are curious, creative, collaborative and tech aware. It is an appropriate bridge between the 1st and 2nd Form curriculum and the GCSE curriculum. It has breadth but allows greater depth and rigour. In several subjects (The Sciences, Geography, History and Languages in particular), pupils start to cover GCSE content in the 3rd Form, to ensure that all skills and topics are covered by the GCSE exams. The LWC 3rd Form curriculum is a less-cluttered curriculum than many in equivalent schools. This means that pupils have more class time in most of their subjects and can access a full range of subjects for GCSE.
UNDERSTANDING THE OPTIONS Students are required to select subjects totaling 5 allocations. One full allocation equals 6 lessons, while a half allocation equals 3 lessons. Subjects are divided into two groups.
GROUP 1 Group 1 consists of full-allocation subjects (1 allocation each), from which students must choose 3 to 5 subjects, including at least one Humanity subject such as History, Geography, Latin, or Religious Studies; other options include PE, French and Spanish. Students must choose one Modern Foreign Language
GROUP 2 Group 2 consists of half-allocation subjects (0.5 allocation each), including Art, Design, Drama, Computer Science and Music, which can be added to complete the total of 5 allocations. In most subjects pupils will have the same number of lessons as they will have at GCSE (3 periods per week), and 1.5 periods per week for creative subjects, to allow for breadth of choice.
SUBJECTS
OPTIONS
GROUP 1 (value of 1 allocation)
GROUPS 2
STUDENTS MUST CHOOSE SUBJECTS THAT TOTAL 5 ALLOCATIONS
(value of 0.5 allocations)
Subjects fall into 2 groups: (One compulsory Humanity and Modern Foreign Language)
GROUP 1 – Full Allocation Subjects (1 allocation each) Students must choose between 3 and 5 subjects from this list.
History
Art
Geography
Design
Latin
Drama
Religious Studies
Computer Science
PE
Music
French
Spanish
At least ONE must be a Humanity subject and ONE must be a Modern Foreign Language. History (Humanity) Geography (Humanity) Latin (Humanity) Religious Studies (Humanity) PE French Spanish GROUP 2 – Half Allocation Subjects (0.5 allocation each) These subjects count as half an allocation. Art Design Drama Computer Science Music
OPTIONS
PROCESS OF SELECTION
HOW STUDENTS REACH 5 ALLOCATIONS Students can combine subjects in one of the following ways:
Option 1 5 subjects from Column 1 (At least one Humanity and one Modern Foreign Language) Total = 5 allocations
Option 2 4 subjects from Column 1 (At least one Humanity and one Modern Foreign Language) 2 subjects from Column 2 (2 × 0.5 = 1 allocation) Total = 5 allocations
Option 3 3 subjects from Column 1 (At least one Humanity and one Modern Foreign Language) 4 subjects from Column 2 (4 × 0.5 = 2 allocations) Total = 5 allocations
Lord Wandsworth College Long Sutton, Hook, Hampshire, RG29 1TA
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