Curriculum

Key Stage 3

At Key Stage 3, students are divided into three groups – Green, Orange and Blue. The Green group is academically the most able and follows a curriculum closely modelled on a mainstream KS3 curriculum. The week is divided into 40 periods of 35 minutes each and is divided as follows:

• English – 6 periods
• Maths – 6 periods
• Science – 6 periods
• Humanities – 2 periods
• Religious Education – 2 periods
• Music – 2 periods
• Physical Education – 4 periods
• Forest School – 2 periods
• Art – 2 periods
• Design and Technology – 3 periods
• Personal, Social and Health Education – 1 period
• Information and Communication Technology – 4 periods

Students also have 25 minutes of form time daily that is used for assemblies twice weekly and for additional literacy and PSHE time on other days.

Students in the Orange and Blue groups at KS3 are class based for English, Maths, Science, Humanities, RE, ICT and PSHE. They have the following specialist lessons:

• Music – 2 periods
• Physical Education – 4 periods
• Forest School – 2 periods
• Art – 2 periods
• Food Technology – 2 periods

Key Stage 4

Students in the Blue group in Key Stage 4 (those with the highest level of need) follow the same curriculum as the Blue group students in Key Stage 3.

Students in Green and Orange group study Maths and English for 6 periods each, Science, ICT and Core PE for 4 periods, Core RE for 1 period and PSHE for 1 period. They then study one subject from each of three options:

• Option A: ASDAN, Employability or Independent Living (4 periods)
• Option B: Art, PE or Performing Arts (5 periods)
• Option C: Design and Technology, Food Technology or Computing (5 periods)
• Students study for accredited qualifications.

Key Stage 5

At Key Stage 5 students follow one of four pathways:

Skills for Life (24 periods) is offered to student with the highest level of need. This is complemented by 3 lessons of Creativity, 2 lessons of Enterprise Education, 1 lesson of ICT, 4 lessons of Literacy, 4 lessons of Numeracy, 1 lesson of Pet Therapy and 1 lesson of World Studies.

Other students follow one of three vocational pathways working towards a Btec Diploma at Entry 2-Level 1 for 16 periods weekly:

• Horticulture and Land Based Studies
• Retail
• Hospitality and Catering

In addition, all vocational pathway students spend a full day (8 periods) weekly working towards the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award.

Vocational students then study the following academic lessons:

• Literacy (4 periods)
• Numeracy (4 periods)
• ICT (1 period)
• Life Skills (2 periods)
• PSHE and Citizenship (2 periods)
• Physical Education (3 periods)

Complex Needs

The two designated complex needs groups, class A and class B, follow a curriculum comprised of:

• Access Studies: 10 periods
• Core Studies: 20 periods
• Enrichment Studies: 10 periods

Learning is sensory based and students have access to sensory rooms, a sensory playground, a sensory garden, interactive projector, hydrotherapy and rebound therapy.