Curriculum Overview
Curriculum Overview
Our curriculum is inspired by our belief that children need to BELONG, build positive RELATIONSHIPS, then ACHIEVE and MOVE ON into positive destinations. Our curriculum is structured to create as many opportunities as possible for future success and personal development for all students.
The aims of our curriculum are:
- To offer a relevant, balanced and accessible learning experience.
- To develop pupils as learners who grow in confidence and are able to continue into relevant and positive destinations post 16.
- To support our pupils with the most up to date information, advice and guidance on opportunities that they will have after leaving, using in house careers guidance, mock interview day and through the work of the Transition Coaches.
- To offer an enhanced and individually bespoke PSHE/SMSC curriculum which involves both tutor and group work as well as 1:1 work targeting the behaviours that have led to children not accessing mainstream environments.
The Key Stage 4 Offer
We review our Key Stage 4 Curriculum annually, and our aim is to develop a curriculum which maximises the chances of pupils gaining relevant qualifications which enable them to move onto a positive destination post 16. If we get this right then pupils stand a significant chance of being able to engage positively in education, employment or training.
In developing our Key Stage 4 curriculum, our main aim has been to maximise the chances that, after have left us our students will engage positively in education, employment or training. Having been assessed as part of their induction, our students will find themselves on a pathway that is either vocational, academic or a combination of the two.
Key Stage 4 Curriculum Offer:
Subject | Accreditation/Board | Qualification |
English Language | Cambridge Assessment International Examinations Edexcel/Pearson Edexcel/Pearson | iGCSE First Language English L1/L2 Functional Skills Entry Level Qualifications |
English Literature | Edexcel/Pearson | GCSE |
Mathematics | Edexcel/Pearson Edexcel/Pearson Edexcel/Pearson | GCSE L1/L2 Functional Skills Entry Level Qualification |
Art & Design | AQA | GCSE |
Photography | AQA | GCSE |
Textiles | AQA | GCSE |
| Media Studies | AQA | GCSE |
Biology | AQA | Entry Level GCSE |
Occupational Studies | NCFE | L2 Award |
| Public Services | Edexcel/Pearson | BTEC L1/L2 Award |
Sport | Edexcel/Pearson | BTEC L1/L2 Award |
Hair & Beauty | VTCT | L2 Certificate Entry Level Award |
Home Cooking Skills | Edexcel/Pearson | BTEC L1/L2 Award |
Personal Development & Employability Skills | Princes Trust | L1/L2 award, Certificate & Diploma |
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award |
| Bronze Award |
Finance | LIBF | L2 Award |
The aims of the Key Stage 3 curriculum are:
- To prepare pupils for a reintegration back into a mainstream school or to assess and prepare them for a move to another more appropriate school
- To give pupils an opportunity to address the reasons why they are no longer in their previous school and to demonstrate that they are in a position to return to a mainstream environment.
- To work with families to support their child’s education
- To support schools and pupils to give them the best opportunity to make a successful transition.
Key Stage 3 Curriculum Offer:
Subject | Number of Lessons per Week |
Mathematics | 3 |
English | 3 |
Science | 2 |
PSHE | 1 |
Art including Textiles & Photography | 3 |
Humanities | 2 |
Princes Trust | 1 |
Food | 1 |
Hair and Beauty | 2 |
Design Technology | 2 |
Outdoor Education | 4 |
BOOST
The BOOST Group is a specialist provision for girls aged 14-16; all students either have an Education Health Care Plan or are undergoing an EHCNA assessment and have a range of complex and diverse needs. Our aim is to provide a nurturing environment where a range of therapeutic interventions, fully adapted curriculum and highly skilled staff ensure that all students leave with a well-rounded and balanced educational experience, meaning they confidently move on into positive post 16 destinations.
The BOOST Group is a small provision of up to 16 girls who are taught in small groups with a bespoke curriculum based on the needs of each individual student. Our provision allows the students to explore a broad range of educational, emotional and social experiences through GCSEs and vocational qualifications, one to one interventions, trips, guest speakers and outdoor education.
Staff at the BOOST Group work collaboratively to create a nurturing and caring environment which allows students to feel confident in expressing their needs and as a result, students develop and learn in an environment that encourages growth, resilience and respect.
Admission to the BOOST Group is through consultation with Local Authorities. If you are a Local Authority and would like to arrange a visit to the Boost Group, please contact Rachael Carvill our SENCo.
Pupil comments:
‘Before I came to the BOOST Group, I wasn’t sure I would like it. Now, I have settled in well. Being in the BOOST Group makes me feel confident about coming into school. I really enjoy it. All of the staff make me feel welcome.’ (Year 10)
‘My time at the BOOST group has helped me with a lot of things. My English and Maths are higher; you get 1:1 sessions that help me with my speech and language. The teachers are very caring and they are always willing to listen to what you say.’ (Year 11)