Our Curriculum
At Churston, we present an exciting and engaging programme of learning from Year 7 right through to Year 13. Our rich array of subjects is supported by an educational approach that nurtures curiosity and self-motivation, and complemented by a menu of enriching extracurricular options.
The subjects our students learn
Our carefully designed sequence of study takes students through a fascinating diversity of subjects, equipping them with the skills and understanding they need, while encouraging creativity and independent thinking.
Art & Design
Real creative freedom, backed by genuine craft.
Working across Pop Art, photography, drawing, mixed media and textiles, students develop a visual language that is entirely their own, building a portfolio grounded in experimental thinking and hard-won technical skill.
Biology
Understanding the mechanics of life, from microscopic cells to entire ecosystems.
We encourage students not just to learn how the natural world functions, but to engage with it critically, developing the environmental awareness and problem-solving instincts required to champion a sustainable future.
Chemistry
Uncovering the fundamental building blocks of matter and the reactions that shape our daily lives.
By blending rigorous laboratory investigation with deep analytical thinking, we empower students to question what things are made of and discover how they can be transformed to solve real-world challenges.
Computer Science
Behind every app, every algorithm and every piece of cybersecurity is a Computer Scientist.
Real programming skills in Python are developed alongside a deep understanding of how digital systems function, built for students who love solving complex problems in creative, logical ways.
Design and Technology
Ideas become physical reality in D&T.
Using wood, metals, plastics and smart materials, students design and make real products like engineers who balance creativity with sustainability, function and craftsmanship. Hands-on in the workshop and genuinely rigorous in thought.
Drama
Performance, analysis and collaboration, with the confidence that comes from all three.
Students devise original theatre, perform from published scripts and study productions critically. Whether the goal is the stage or something entirely different, the communication skills built here open every door.
Economics, Business Studies and Politics
Three subjects that shape our engagement with the modern world.
The market is shifting and our students are the ones who understand how. From fiscal volatility to global power dynamics, students investigate real-world systems through case studies of international trade and governance, developing the strategic insight to navigate a complex, interconnected economy.
English
Two GCSEs, one coherent journey.
Language and Literature work in tandem to build confident, curious communicators who can analyse real texts, craft compelling arguments, and find the power of storytelling across everything from Shakespeare to modern fiction.
Food and Nutrition
Food is science, creativity and culture all at once.
Students develop cooking skills from the fundamentals through to complex techniques, building serious knowledge of nutrition, food science and sustainable production. Practical, purposeful and genuinely satisfying.
French
Connect directly with another school in Brittany through a real pen pal exhange.
This course is one of the few subjects where the learning reaches beyond the classroom. Reading, writing, speaking and listening are developed across themes from personal identity to global issues, building genuine confidence in one of the world’s great languages.
Geography
The world is changing and geographers are the ones who understand why.
From volcanic hazards to urban inequality, students investigate real global issues through fieldwork at places like Dawlish Warren, developing the analytical instincts to read a complex, shifting planet.
German
Germany sits at the heart of European culture, innovation and business.
Students develop all four language skills across real-world topics, building an understanding of the German-speaking world alongside abilities that carry serious weight with universities and future employers.
History
Questions that still matter, answers that must be earned.
Students piece together the past through real evidence, working across medieval kingship, the Western Front, the American West and Nazi Germany. Building a rigorous, reasoned argument is at the heart of everything.
Mathematics
Numbers, patterns and logic that go far beyond the classroom.
Students develop the sharp analytical thinking behind everything from architecture to artificial intelligence, discovering that Maths is less a subject and more a way of seeing the world clearly.
Music
From film scores to world rhythms, this course is as broad as music itself.
Students perform, compose and analyse across five areas of study, building real musicianship alongside the creative discipline that sets them apart in any field. A passion for music is the only real entry requirement.
Philosophy and Religious Studies
What do people believe, and how does it shape the way they live?
Exploring Christianity, Islam and big philosophical questions around justice, suffering and human rights, this GCSE rewards intellectual curiosity. The lateral thinking it builds is something universities and employers genuinely value.
Physical Education
More than sport, this is the science of performance.
Students explore the human body, sports psychology and the social forces that shape physical activity, then apply that knowledge across three chosen sports. The course makes athletes into thinkers and thinkers into better athletes.
Physics
Exploring the underlying forces, energy, and laws that govern the universe we live in.
We push students to ask the biggest questions about how everything works, cultivating a highly logical, mathematical approach to problem-solving that builds resilience and intellectual curiosity far beyond the lab.
PSHE
Real conversations, practical guidance and skills that actually matter.
Health, relationships and life in the wider world are all explored here, preparing students not just for exams but for everything that follows. Sessions covering mental wellbeing, money, careers and digital safety make this one of the most relevant programmes on the timetable.
Psychology and Sociology
Society is evolving and social scientists are the ones who understand who we are.
From cognitive development to systemic social change, students investigate real human behaviours through observational research and data analysis, developing the empathetic rigor to decode a complex, diverse population.
Spanish
Spanish opens up more of the world than almost any other language.
Spanish is spoken across more than 20 countries by over 500 million people. Students build fluency and cultural awareness through engaging, real-life themes, developing skills that genuinely connect continents.
Academic rigour with authentic development
As you would expect from a high-achieving grammar school, academic excellence is something we always strive for. However, at Churston, this learning is interwoven with our strong values and a determination to cultivate well-rounded, responsible citizens.
Learning with purpose
Education here is never just about passing exams. We connect every syllabus directly to the real world, challenging students to think critically and act compassionately. Knowledge becomes a practical toolkit they can actually use to shape their future and impact their community.
Fostering self-motivation
Curiosity cannot be forced. Instead, we give students the autonomy to take the lead in their own education. By handing them real choices and meaningful responsibilities, we build confident learners who know exactly where they are going and how to get there.
Doing well but also being well
High performance should never come at the cost of mental health. We expect great results, but we know that when personal foundations are secure, fulfilling academic potential happens naturally. Our priority is always building an environment where students feel genuinely supported, comfortable and valued.
Enriching experiences
We prefer the term co-curricular over extra-curricular, because these opportunities are a core part of the Churston experience. From demanding overseas expeditions to 26 different sports clubs, our enrichment programme is designed to test limits, build resilience and shape completely rounded young people.
Our curriculum in detail
Whether you are looking ahead to Year 7 or planning for Sixth Form, explore our subject overviews to see exactly how learning takes shape at Churston.
Answers to popular questions
These are responses to some of the more common queries people have about the Churston curriculum. If there’s anything else you would like to know, please feel welcome to ask us.
