Curriculum
The Secondary Curriculum
Within the whole-school curriculum, individual subject disciplines are clearly demarcated on the school timetable (Key Stage 3 -5) or taught as part of a thematic curriculum in the Primary Stage (Key Stage 1 – 2). Our School Curriculum is broad, balanced and challenging for pupils to ensure they engage and all achieve.
Curriculum Intent
The curriculum intent framework is: Collaborative planning and consensus about the knowledge and skills that learners need. Objectives, outcomes and standards are clear and define what needs to be achieved.
Our Secondary curriculum has been carefully designed to ensure that every pupil can, ‘Learn, Enjoy and Grow’. Our holistic approach to learning is bespoke to the needs of all pupils. Our curriculum is not just about appropriate subject-specific knowledge but also about using skills and understanding, to use across the curriculum and become compassionate citizens. We want to develop individual and collaborative learning experiences, a positive growth mindset, a sense of responsibility and challenges that take them beyond the classroom expectations.
Curriculum Implementation
The connected curriculum incorporates the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum and other experiences and opportunities, which best meet the learning and developmental needs of the pupils in our school. Our curriculum provides pupils with memorable experiences, in addition to diverse and rich opportunities from which pupils can learn and develop a range of transferable skills.
Those who are most able are challenged and supported through being offered tasks which provide opportunities for greater depth, and those who struggle are encouraged and given targeted support to embed skills, to develop at their own pace or simply to learn in a style that best suits their individual needs. Our highly inclusive classrooms are autistic-friendly. Our staff are experienced and trained in a variety of well-being strategies. Engaging in the outdoor environment is one unique strength for the school. The school has an established Forest school and offers Outdoor Education on a seasonal basis.
Teachers present the subject matter clearly and promote appropriate discussion about the subject matter being taught. They check pupils’ understanding systematically, identify misconceptions accurately and provide clear, direct feedback. In so doing, they respond and adapt their teaching as necessary without unnecessarily elaborate or individualised approaches. At the heart of this is responsive teaching, purposeful questioning to expose what pupils have understood and to address misconceptions.
Curriculum Impact
It means that the school curriculum needs to develop pupils' character, including their resilience, confidence and independence, and help them stay physically and mentally healthy.
Curriculum impact, finally, is about pupil achievement as assessed by external tests and/or exam results. Pupil achievement will also be assessed using progression and destinations data, recognising that good outcomes are not just measured in qualifications but in how successfully pupils are developed as well-rounded citizens.
A successful curriculum must pay attention to the underlying purposes of education, must cover essential content and must be flexible as we are living in an ever-changing world.
The development of English, Mathematics, Science and Creative Media as central to our curriculum work, balanced with humanities, expressive arts, technology and physical activities. The experiences of the children will also be enriched by a range of planned extra-curricular activities and curriculum days.
We strive to provide a curriculum that all pupils will find enjoyable and helps them to understand the relevance of their lessons. This can only be achieved by using the experience, enthusiasm and specialism of individual teachers who provide interesting, engaging and differentiated lessons in a structured well-ordered classroom environment.
The school, promotes a safe, happy and caring community so that pupils are able to enjoy their education and are able to maximise their achievement. Pupils are assessed and monitored across the school on a regular basis to ensure that they are making progress in each curriculum area.