Vision & Strategy

We are a comprehensive Church of England school serving a traditional market town and surrounding villages. A high proportion of our students are high prior attainers. 

Within our community we have Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), Pupil Premium (PP), a minority who arrive “not secondary ready”, girls, boys, non gender specific students, all sexualities, ethnicities and cultures. Approximately 70% of our students stay for our sixth form, with 30% going onto college or apprenticeships to study courses from levels 1-3.

At Tring, academic progress and personal development are woven together. Our curriculum offers personalised opportunities for every student to thrive and be ready to compete with the best in the next stage of their learning journey. Every subject insists upon all students being readers, in every subject opportunities to promote diversity and inclusion are taken, and in every subject passions are ignited and fuelled.  Our curriculum intent complies with the Equality Act 2010 and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014.

In Years 7 to 9, all students follow a curriculum designed to develop essential skills and knowledge in a broad range of subjects. 

Each department offers a relevant, balanced and differentiated curriculum that has regard to the National Curriculum. 

During Years 7, 8 and 9 your son or daughter will have been following the programmes of study for Key Stage 3 of the National Curriculum.

By Year 9 most students are ready to start making decisions about their courses for GCSE, and many have developing ideas about their future careers.

Choosing subjects to study in Key Stage 4 can be an exciting time, but it can also be difficult for some students. The most important feature of any course of study up to the age of 16 is that it provides balance and does not “close doors” to possible future careers. It is for this reason that we place some constraints on the option choices and so ensure that all students follow a basic core of subjects. However, we hope that the choice available allow individual students to follow their developing interests.

There is close co-operation between parents, pupils, teachers and the Careers Service.

Check List for the Autumn Term:

1. Consult family, teachers, Careers Service and any others who may be able to help
2. Read the GCSE Options Booklet 2026-27 (booklet will be available Autumn 2026)
3. Attend the Year 9 Options Evening to be held on 5 November 2026
4. Understand what is involved in the study of the subjects in terms of the topics to be covered, amount of coursework to be completed, meeting deadlines etc
5. Be interested and successful in these subjects lower down the school  This, of course, is impossible to answer for totally new subjects.
6. Study a subject because it may be helpful in your future career
7. Follow the rules concerning the choice of a balanced curriculum

Further Information can be found on our Year 9 into 10 Options page.

In Years 10 & 11, students follow a curriculum designed to prepare them for GCSE examinations and post-16 opportunities. 

The curriculum includes compulsory (core) and four optional subject areas; each element can be differentiated to suit the individual needs of students. 

Tring is committed to offering a broad range of optional subjects so students can pursue their areas of interest.  The core subjects are currently: English Language; English Literature; Mathematics; the Sciences and Philosophy & Religious Studies.  Parents/carers have the  right  Detailed guidance is offered to students and parents in order to ensure each student follows an appropriate curriculum, particularly in light of the recent major changes to GCSE specifications.

In Key Stage 4, students are generally taught in mixed-ability groups in their option areas; Art, Business, Creative Media, Catering, Drama, D&T, Geography, Health & Social Care, History, Music, Retail Business, PE (GCSE & BTEC) & Sociology.  Academic setting is used mainly in Maths.  English, PRS & Science currently have a blended model.

In Years 10 & 11 all students follow the Life Skills programme (non-examined), which is delivered over one hour per fortnight. The programme incorporates statutory sex and relationship education and includes other topics such as careers guidance, personal finance and political understanding.  Outside speakers are arranged as much as possible to give the students as broad an understanding as possible of the subject matter. All students participate in PE lessons at Key Stage 4.