Curriculum Policy
CHETWYNDE SCHOOL: THE CURRICULUM
Curriculum Intent:
Chetwynde School prides itself on offering a rich and varied curriculum. Our choice of study enables our pupils to develop key skills, extend their knowledge and develop a life-long love of learning. We aim to foster the intellectual, social, creative, physical, moral and spiritual development of all our pupils. Underpinned by our three core school values Resilience, Responsibility and Respect. We see each child as a unique person. Each of us – pupil, school, home and the wider community – plays a vital role in realising our vision. In order to help our pupils to develop we believe it is important they explore all their talents and experience a wide range of opportunities. To this end we look to ensure our curriculum is broad, balanced, relevant, and personalised.
Curriculum Design:
Our curriculum is designed to create:
- Successful learners who enjoy learning; make good progress and achieve excellence.
- Confident and resilient individuals who are able to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives.
- Responsible citizens who can make a positive contribution to society.
- It is essential that the curriculum is organised in such a way that it provides students with the opportunity to learn expected behaviours and be successful in their learning so that we can deliver our mission and aims.
Curriculum Aims:
Our key aims are to develop a curriculum which:
- Creates an aspirational, high achievement culture.
- Takes account of individual needs.
- Allows everyone to experience success.
- Raises standards of attainment and progress.
Curriculum Principles:
- There should be depth as well as breadth.
- Ensure that pupil progress is in line with national expectations.
- To have exemplary transition process in place.
- Curriculum enrichment activities are offered for Sports, the Arts, Speech & Drama, Latin, Music, outdoor education, Forest Schools, catch-up classes and additional academic challenges (e.g. Master Classes) through a co-curricular and extra-curricular programme.
Curriculum Implementation:
Primary School:
Chetwynde School recognises the importance of a child’s early years in school and throughout the Foundation Stage our children partake in a wide range of activities, based on the ‘Early Learning Goals’, which encourage development physically, academically, socially, morally and artistically.
Our younger Primary children follow a broad and well-balanced curriculum, delivered by well qualified and experienced staff who ensure that work is both stimulating and rigorous and that our children are well prepared for moving on to the next phase of their school life.
The curriculum is further enhanced by access to extensive facilities and specialist staff from across the school. Children are encouraged to be polite, considerate and to work independently or quietly in groups either indoors or outdoors within the school’s attractive grounds.
They can also benefit from a community in which the older members of the school care for them and provide excellent role models in a safe family atmosphere. Every child is known personally and encouraged to participate in the life of the school.
When progressing through the Primary Department our curriculum is regularly reviewed to reflect the needs of pupils. Excellent pupil progress is the main priority and emphasis is given to the thorough grounding needed in Maths, English and Science. The rich, balanced curriculum includes: Religious Education, History, Geography, Music, Art, Sport, IT, French, Drama, PSHE and DT.
Teaching methods incorporate a careful blend of the best of traditional and less formal approaches to ensure that work is both stimulating and rigorous. Particular attention is paid to meeting the individual needs of each pupil.
Our extra-curricular programme offers Primary pupils from Reception to Year 6 the chance to join a wide selection of weekly clubs. These range from musical ensembles and dance lessons to art, science, a wide variety of sports and engineering clubs. All activities are run by members of staff or external providers with a passionate enthusiasm for the subject.
Senior School:
We offera broad KS3 Curriculum covering a range of subjects meeting all the national curriculum requirements. This is delivered in 60 periods (each of 50 minutes) of contact time per fortnight. Pupils also have a 35-minute structured tutor period each day – this is used for two assemblies (Whole School & Key Stage) careers and other form business.
We recognise reading as a foundation block for the whole curriculum; to that aim KS3 pupils have daily DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) time for 20 minutes.
Key Stage 3:
Our Key Stage 3 curriculum model includes:
- English
- Mathematics
- The Sciences – Biology, Chemistry and Physics
- French
- Humanities – Geography, History and Religious Studies
- Art & Design
- Design Technology
- Drama
- Computing
- Physical Education
- PSHE
Key Stage 4:
All pupils must study the following
- English – Language & Literature
- Mathematics
- Further Maths
- Trilogy Science
- Biology, Chemistry, Physics
- Games
- PSHE
Pupils may choose up to four of the following optional subjects
- Further Mathematics GCSE
- Humanities – Geography OR History OR RM (Religion and Morality) GCSE
- French GCSE
- Art & Design GCSE
- Creative iMedia
- Performing Arts (from Sept 2020)
- Computing or IT GCSE
- Design Technology GCSE
- National Certificate in Engineering Design
- Physical Education GCSE
- ASDAN/COPE
- Entry level Core
Our curriculum offers flexibility and choice within a guided structure. Within this framework, which can accommodate the ‘English Baccalaureate’, pupils can take between six and nine GCSEs according to their abilities. Predominantly our level 2 courses are GCSE, though we also offer the Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (COPE) for those who need a curriculum adjustment to support their exam courses, and we have also introduced BTECs and V. Certs in Computing/IT and Design Technology. In creating our offer, we are careful to listen to pupil feedback.
For pupils across both Key Stages who are working significantly lower than age expectations or have particular special educational needs, we also offer additional support which is provided through the Learning Development Unit (LDU) to experience a tailor made, alternative curriculum designed to meet their needs.
Whole School Personal Development:
Equally important to our taught curriculum is the range of experiences to enable personal and social development, develop citizenship and community work and develop resilience. These include work experience in Year 10, a range of foreign and domestic visits and trips (for example Paris, outdoor residentials, Auschwitz, the Malta Netball Trip, the Valencia Football trip, Rewards Trips and Geography fieldwork), a wide range of well attended extra-curricular opportunities, including the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze and Silver Awards, fundraising events (such as the Sponsored Walk), supporting others, mentoring and representing the school. For the last three years, for example, we have entered and made it to the final of the Top of the Form Competition organised between local secondary schools and we have had a number of pupils achieve very highly in the Maths Olympiad. All these activities have the aim of helping our young people to develop their identity so they are ready and equipped to fully engage with life beyond school.
Additional lunchtime/after-school enrichment includes a range of sporting activities, music, Speech & Drama and Minecraft Club to name but a few. There is also daily support for homework in the Computing Suite.