Our Curriculum
1. Curriculum Vision
Our curriculum sets out to be rigorous, exciting and balanced, with the national curriculum at its core. It is underpinned by the school values:
Everyone associated with the school will:
- Strive for excellence and encourage resilience
- Participate, work together, and contribute positively to the community
- Expand our horizons
The organisation of the curriculum and our approach to teaching and learning allows every child to shine. We believe that our curriculum should inspire pupils to become curious, confident, socially attuned, independent thinkers who go on to be happy and successful in 21st century society. Good communication skills are key to this and will be nurtured from the outset to enable our children to articulate their enthusiasms, expectations and aspirations.
2. Curriculum Aims
Our curriculum aims to be transformational, equipping our students, regardless of their starting point, with a wide range of knowledge and skills, enabling them to fulfil their potential and realise their ambitions.
The curriculum aims to:
- be broad, balanced and relevant, developing all the essential knowledge, understanding and skills, regardless of gender, ability, ethnicity or social background
- ensure equal access to learning for all pupils, with high expectations for every pupil and appropriate levels of challenge and support
- encourage students to enjoy their learning and get a sense of success through their achievements
- foster scientific, technical, cultural and sporting achievement
- support pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development
- support pupils’ physical development and responsibility for their own health, and enable them to be active
- generate a wealth of cross-curricular activities including events, clubs, performances and trips which will be open to all
- equip pupils with the knowledge and cultural capital they need to contribute positively to their community
- promote British values, including the rule of law, democracy and individual liberty. We will instil in students the importance of tolerance, fair play and a generosity of spirit
- prepare students for the next stage in their lives by encouraging resilience, self-reliance and an understanding of their responsibility to take ownership of their own learning
3. Curriculum Design:
Careful thought is given by school leaders to curriculum design, ensuring that our implementation closely reflects our values and local needs (our curriculum intent). As subject specialists, subject leaders are empowered to develop their own department’s curriculum. There is a strong emphasis on progression within each subject, with lessons carefully sequenced in order to maximise learning and supported by timely and appropriate assessments. All students follow the national curriculum. It is acknowledged that some students might find it hard to access some aspects of the curriculum. For this reason and where it is deemed to be educationally beneficial, alternative provision may be provided to a small number of pupils. Where any aspect of alternative provision is offered, we are fully committed to ensuring that it is delivered by subject specialists with clear timescales of review established from the outset.
Key Stage 3
We ensure a smooth transition from KS2, by collaborating closely with our partner primaries and with early experiences organised for new pupils and their parents. All pupils study the same subjects, including English, Maths, Science, History, Geography, Computing, Art, D&T, PE, Drama, a Modern Foreign Language, Music, RE and PSHE (which includes careers guidance). The model will develop lifetime skills and inspire our students to gain mastery of the core curriculum.
Key Stage 4
All students in Years 10 and 11 will study English Language, English Literature, Maths, Double Science, Physical Education (Core) and PSHE (including RE and Careers Guidance). Other subjects will be optional but we expect the vast majority to choose a combination that will meet the criteria of the English Baccalaureate. The assumption is that all students will study GCSE courses. The final list of subjects offered will be confirmed when the pupils are in Year 9, however these are likely to include: Business, History, Geography, Computer Science, ICT, Art, D&T Product Design, D&T Textiles, D&T Food & Nutrition, Drama, French, Spanish, Music, RE, PE, Health and Social Care.
