KS3 Curriculum

Key Stage 3 at Morriston Comprehensive School
Years 7 – 9
Welcome to Key Stage 3
Years 7, 8 and 9 are some of the most important and exciting years of your child's education. At Morriston Comprehensive School, we are committed to ensuring that every pupil who joins us in Year 7 feels welcomed, supported and inspired, and that by the time they reach Year 9, they are confident, capable and ready to make the most of the opportunities that Key Stage 4 will bring.
Our KS3 curriculum is ambitious, broad and carefully designed to develop the whole child, not just what they know, but who they are becoming.
Our Curriculum
At Morriston, our Key Stage 3 curriculum is built around the core principles of Curriculum for Wales. As such, rather than a rigid list of content to be delivered, it provides a flexible framework that allows us to design a curriculum that is genuinely right for our pupils and our community.
Learning is organised across six Areas of Learning and Experience (AoLEs):
Within these areas, pupils at Morriston study a rich range of subjects including English, Mathematics, Science, Welsh, History, Geography, Art and Design, Performing Arts, Computing, Physical Education, Religious and Values Education, Technology, Health and Wellbeing, and International Languages. Every subject is taught by specialist teachers who are passionate about their subject and know our pupils well.
Our curriculum is designed to make meaningful connections across subjects. A topic explored in Science might connect to ideas in Geography or Humanities; skills developed in English support pupils across every area of their learning. This integrated approach helps pupils develop a deeper understanding of the world around them, rather than seeing their learning as a series of separate, disconnected boxes.
The Four Purposes
Everything we do at KS3 is shaped by the four purposes of the Curriculum for Wales. We want every Morriston pupil to leave us as:
These four purposes are not abstract ideals. They shape the way our lessons are planned, the way our teachers work with pupils, and the opportunities we offer both inside and outside the classroom.
Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Competence
At Morriston, we believe that reading, writing, communication and numeracy are everyone's responsibility, not just the job of the English or Maths department. Across every subject, pupils are supported to read with confidence and understanding, write clearly and accurately, reason with numbers, and use technology purposefully and safely.
We place a particular emphasis on oracy, the ability to speak and listen effectively. Whether contributing to a class discussion in History, presenting a topic in English, or performing in Performing Arts, our pupils are regularly given opportunities to develop their voice and their confidence.
These cross-curricular skills are woven into the fabric of everything we do, because we know they are the skills that matter most in further education, in work, and in life.
Additional Support in Reading and Numeracy: No Pupil Left Behind
At Morriston, we hold a simple but fundamental belief: every pupil who walks through our doors deserves the opportunity to succeed, and it is our job to make sure nothing gets in the way of that.
For some pupils, gaps in reading fluency or core numeracy skills can quietly become barriers that affect their confidence and progress across every subject. Left unaddressed, these gaps widen. At Morriston, we do not let that happen.
Reading Support
Reading is the key that unlocks every subject. At Morriston, we take our responsibility to develop every pupil as a confident, fluent reader extremely seriously, and for pupils who would benefit from additional support, we offer a structured reading programme delivered by trained staff and carefully tailored to each individual.
The strongest, most ambitious schools identify what their pupils need and act on it early. This is exactly what we do. Our reading support is part of what it means to be a Morriston pupil; a member of a community where every young person is known, valued and given what they need to move forward with confidence. A pupil who struggles to read with fluency and understanding will find History harder, Science harder, Welsh harder; every classroom becomes a more difficult place to be. That is why we identify pupils who would benefit from additional reading support as early as possible, and we act on what we find.
Numeracy Support
Strong numeracy underpins success not just in Mathematics, but across Science, Technology, Geography and beyond. Pupils who need additional support with core numeracy skills are identified early and offered structured, targeted sessions designed to build both their competence and their confidence.
We believe that every Morriston pupil is capable of developing the numerical fluency they need to access the full curriculum, and we will not accept a situation where a skills gap quietly limits what a pupil believes they can achieve.
How we identify and respond
We use a range of nationally recognised assessment tools at the start of Year 7, and at key points throughout KS3, to build an accurate and up-to-date picture of every pupil's reading and numeracy levels. This information is shared with teachers across all subjects, so that support is consistent, joined-up and visible in every classroom, not just in intervention sessions.
Parents and carers are always informed and involved. We see this as a partnership, between our staff, our pupils, and the families who know them best.
Our commitment
No pupil at Morriston should feel that their early difficulties define their future here. The support we offer exists because we believe in every young person who joins us, and because we know that with the right help at the right time, there is no ceiling on what they can achieve.
Assessment at Key Stage 3
Assessment at KS3 under Curriculum for Wales looks and feels different from what many parents will remember from their own school days. Rather than awarding levels or grades at fixed points, our approach to assessment is designed to give a genuinely meaningful picture of how your child is progressing at key points in the year, and what they need to do next.
At Morriston, assessment in KS3 works in the following ways:
Ongoing Formative Assessment in the Classroom
Every lesson, our teachers are assessing how pupils are progressing, through questioning, discussion, class circulation, written work and practical activity. This continuous assessment informs how teachers plan the next steps in learning and allows them to identify and address any gaps quickly.
Three Assessment Weeks Per Year
At Morriston, we hold three formal Assessment Weeks across the academic year. During these weeks, pupils complete assessed tasks and activities in their subjects, giving both teachers and pupils a clear snapshot of progress at that point in time. These assessments help us identify where pupils are excelling, where additional support might be needed, and how pupils are progressing over time.
Reporting to Parents and Carers
Following Assessment Weeks, parents and carers receive updates on their child's progress. We believe that the partnership between school and home is essential, and we are committed to keeping families informed and involved throughout KS3.
Progression, Not Just Attainment
Curriculum for Wales recognises that learning does not always follow a straight line. Pupils develop at different rates and in different ways, and our assessment approach reflects this. Teachers use detailed descriptions of learning to plan and assess, ensuring that every pupil, whatever their starting point, is making meaningful progress and building on what they already know and can do. This allows for personalised learning pathways that respond to individual needs, strengths and interests.
Well-being at the Heart of KS3
We know that pupils cannot learn well if they do not feel well. Well-being is central to our approach at Morriston, particularly during the transition from primary to secondary school, which can be a significant moment in a young person's life.
Our dedicated pastoral team, including Progress Leaders, form tutors, and wellbeing officers, works closely with pupils throughout KS3 to ensure they feel safe, supported and part of our school community. The Health and Well-being Area of Learning and Experience addresses physical, emotional and social development, helping pupils to build resilience, develop healthy relationships and take care of themselves and others.
We are proud that Morriston is a school where pupils are known as individuals, not just as names on a register.
Transition into Key Stage 3
Starting secondary school is a big step, and we work hard to make it as smooth and positive as possible. Our transition programme begins before pupils arrive in September, with visits, taster activities and communication between our staff and primary school colleagues. Throughout Year 7, we continue to provide structured pastoral support to help pupils settle in, make friends and develop the confidence and independence they need to thrive.
Preparing for Key Stage 4
By the end of Year 9, pupils will have developed a broad base of knowledge and skills across all areas of the curriculum and will be ready to make informed choices about their GCSE options. Throughout KS3, we track pupil progress carefully, intervene early where needed, and work with families to ensure every pupil is on the best possible pathway.
Our GCSE Options process begins in Year 9, with dedicated guidance sessions, one-to-one support and access to Careers Wales advisors to help pupils and their families make choices that reflect their strengths, interests and ambitions.
At Morriston Comprehensive School, Key Stage 3 is not simply a stepping stone to GCSE. It is a rich, ambitious and purposeful stage of education in its own right, one that we are proud to offer every pupil who joins our community.