Whitburn Church of England Academy

Key Stage 3 setting and streaming – a parent/carer guide

Setting and Streaming

Setting usually involves grouping pupils in a given year group into classes for specific subjects, such as mathematics, but not across the whole curriculum.

Streaming usually involves grouping pupils into classes for all or most of their lessons, so that a pupil is in the same group regardless of the subject being taught.

Pupils in different sets or streams usually follow the same curriculum but may, in a few subjects, follow a different curriculum.

How it works at Whitburn September 2023 to July 2024:

In most medium to large secondary schools each individual year group is split into two ‘halves’ or occasionally four ‘quarters’ for timetabling purposes. At Whitburn we have two halves ‘P’ and ‘Q’.

Both halves are equal in ability; as are all groups within each stream. Please note the Academy is not able to group students based upon friendships.

Year 7 – students are taught in broad streams

Year 8 – students are taught in broad streams, except maths

Year 8 maths – students are taught in sets

Year 9 – students are taught in broad streams, except maths and science

Year 9 maths & science – students are taught in sets

If you require any further information please contact the Main School Office, who will be able to forward your query to the appropriate member of staff.