The number of periods per week in the curriculum at Oaklands is 40 plus 1 tutorial period. Each period lasts 35 minutes, although all subjects are taught in blocks of 2 periods (double periods) i.e. 1 hour 10 minutes. In order to ensure the maximum number of double periods, Oaklands operates a 2 week timetable. There are, therefore, 20 double periods per week, plus the Tutorial period, which lasts 60 minutes, and operates on a different day according to the time of year.

The Curriculum in the first two years is designed to provide a wide range of educational experiences and all students follow a common course. On entry, students are placed in mixed ability forms which will be their teaching groups for the whole of the first year. This allows subject staff to plan more accurately each child's progress through the school.

The needs of different subject areas vary a great deal and, in Year 8, departments may regroup students to suit the particular teaching approach preferred. In practice this allows some departments to group students by ability (setting) whereas others will continue mixed ability teaching until Year 9. The overall range of subjects offered in Years 7 and 8 remains essentially the same as shown below.

All students will study: