Curriculum

Our goal is to ensure that all pupils make the best possible academic progress, so as to enable successful re-integration to mainstream school or successful progression to post-16 education, training or employment.

Our teaching week comprises 6 lessons per day of 45 minutes duration

Key Stage 3

All KS3 pupils are provided with the following compulsory subjects each week:

English	4 x 45 mins
Drama/Media Studies	2 x 45 mins
Maths	4 x 45 mins
Science	3 x 45 mins
ICT	2 x 45 mins
PE	2 x 45 mins
Food	2 x 45 mins
Nurture Group	1 x 45 mins
Art	2 x 45 mins
Land Based Studies	2 x 45 mins
Technology	2 x 45 mins
Photography	2 x 45 mins
SEAL	2 x 45 mins
Assembly	1 x 15 mins
Tutor Time AM/PM	4 x 15 + 5 x 5 mins
Breakfast/Break/Lunch	5 x 15 + 5 x 10 + 5 x 25 mins

Total Time: 28 hours and 20 mins

Key Stage 4

All KS4 pupils are provided with the following compulsory subjects each week:

English	5 x 45 mins
Maths	5 x 45 mins
Science	5 x 45 mins
ICT	1 x 45 mins
PE	4 x 45 mins
Life Skills	1 x 45 mins
History	3 x 45 mins
Assembly	1 x 15 mins
Breakfast/Break/Lunch	5 x 15 + 5 x 10 + 5 x 25
Tutor Time AM/PM	4 x 15 + 5 x 5

All KS4 pupils choose 2 from the following 4 options each week:

Art	3 x 45 mins
Food	3 x 45 mins
Animal Care	3 x 45 mins
Design Technology	3 x 45 min

Total Time: 28 hours and 20 mins

Art and Design

Curriculum Content at KS3	During Key Stage 3, Art and Design students will have the opportunity to explore, experiment and respond to ideas. Our partnership project with Hampshire Cultural Trust and the Horizon 20:20 project means that KS3 students get the opportunity to regularly work with local professional artists in various art forms from drama to singing, glass to willow. Students will begin to develop skills in media which interest them and they will be encouraged to make independent choices. The art room is a safe place to test out ideas, make mistakes, adapt, try again, and try something new. It is a space where students can develop confidence and an inquiring mind whilst expressing themselves. This supports the development of good life and learning skills.
Curriculum content at KS4	We will build up a tool box of skills and experience in various media whilst looking at art that is relevant to individual students. Our artists are encouraged to work independently on projects inspired by them. Students must bring their own interests, beliefs, experiences and creativity and be prepared to experiment and explore. We encourage an interest for the subject by evaluating the work of relevant and contemporary artists to which students may relate.
Qualifications offered in this subject	At KS4 pupils study GCSE in Art and Design which, when combined with other GCSEs, can lead to A level courses in the subject. At KS3 some students will have the opportunity to gain their Bronze Arts Award.
Assessment at KS4 e.g. exams and coursework	Students are assessed equally over 4 areas - research, experimentation, the recording of their ideas and journey and their final response. 60% of the final grade will be from course work which makes up a portfolio. This consists of more than one extended collection of work chosen from work produced over 2 years. A final project including a 10 hour exam spread over 3 days accounts for the remaining 40% of the grade.
What are the benefits of this subject Post 16 and beyond?	Qualifications in Art and Design are highly respected by many employers and places of further education. They indicate a creative and inquisitive mind – someone who can learn from mistakes, solve problems and show perseverance and resilience. Students of GCSE Art and Design can progress to A level courses in similar and related subjects, as well as to employment and apprenticeships.

Food Technology

Curriculum Content at KS3	Students develop their practical cooking skills, extend their knowledge of food products and develop a love of cooking, both for pleasure and as a life skill.
Curriculum content at KS4	In KS4 students follow the Eduqas GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition course. This is a two year course - in year 10 students learn about food, where it comes from and how to cook it. In year 11 they are required to complete 2 Non Examined Assessment (NEA)tasks, which are set by the examination board. Students also complete a written exam in the summer term of year 11.
Qualifications offered in this subject	Year 11 GCSE
Assessment at KS4 e.g. exams and coursework	Year 11 GCSE The final assessment will be a written exam and an 2 internally assessed Non Examined Assessments (NEA
What are the benefits of this subject Post 16 and beyond?	The GCSE course may be used as a stepping stone into work in a food based environment, or it may be used to support an application to providers of further education or training, for academic study and / or apprenticeship. It also enables students to gain an essential life skill.

Information and Communication Technology

Curriculum Content at KS3	At KS3, pupils will undertake different projects, focusing on different areas of ICT, including: • The Microsoft Office Suite of software • Scratch computer programming • Photography • Adobe Photoshop • Website creation • Video editing
Curriculum content at KS4	At KS4, there is a specific focus on the Microsoft Office suite of software, requiring the acquisition of detailed knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Pupils will also study: • The use of ICT in everyday life • Computer law • Computer security • Hardware • Software • Networks
Qualifications offered in this subject	BCS ECDL ICT Qualification Functional Skills ICT
Assessment at KS4 e.g. exams and coursework	Functional Skills: One 2 hour exam ECDL: 4 x 40 minute exams covering: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Improving Productivity.
What are the benefits of this subject Post 16 and beyond?	Pupils completing the ECDL qualification will have attained a qualification that is recognised by colleges and workplaces worldwide.

Physical Education

Curriculum Content at KS3	Pupils will learn and participate in different sports, focusing on key areas of the national curriculum, including: • Using a range of different tactics and strategies to overcome opponents • Developing techniques to improve performance in competitive sports • Taking part in outdoor adventurous activities which present intellectual and physical challenges • Analysing their own and other pupils’ performances to achieve their personal best • Seeking to engage in physical activity outside school within the local community.
Curriculum content at KS4	The aim is to attain NCFE Level 1 or Level 2 qualification in Health and Fitness. The focus is to enable breadth and depth of study of health and fitness. Students will also develop core transferable skills such as communication, problem solving and research skills. Pupils will study: • Introduction to health, fitness and exercise • Understanding a healthy lifestyle • Planning an exercise session • Understanding a personal fitness programme
Qualifications offered in this subject	WJEC in Healthy Living and Fitness
Assessment at KS4 e.g. exams and coursework	Three internally assessed units with a portfolio for evidence. One externally assessed unit. All work will be moderated against the grading criteria.
What are the benefits of this subject Post 16 and beyond?	Pupils completing the NCFE course will attain a qualification that is recognised by providers of further education and training and employers worldwide.

Design Technology

Curriculum Content at KS3	Pupils are taken through the design process in the manufacture of a number of projects; some of the products we have made over the past few years include: wooden toy, bookends, jewellery box, sensor, timer, MP3 amplifier, pop-up card and game although we are constantly looking to expand this repertoire. The design process includes: investigation, development of ideas, making and evaluation, although we try to put more emphasis on making at KS3.
Curriculum content at KS4	In Year 10 we build on the designing and making skills gained in KS3 through the production of a number of short projects, which do not count towards their final GCSE grade. At the outset of the summer term in Year 10 pupils start to design and make their final project for assessment at Easter in Year 11, which gives them one year for completion. There are twelve GCSE Design Briefs set by the exam board, one of which the student chooses for their final piece of work; they are not prescriptive and give the student plenty of scope to design and make something of their own choosing, in agreement with the teacher. In the design and manufacture of their project, they will be taken through the following steps of assessment: 1. Investigating the Design Context - Up to 8 marks 2. Development of Design Proposal (including modelling) - Up to 32 marks 3. Making - Up to 32 marks 4. Testing and Evaluation - Up to 12 marks They will also be marked on Communication - Up to 6 marks All of these marks together are worth 60% of the final GCSE grade. Alongside this they will learn about the subjects detailed below: 1. Materials and components 2. Design and market influences 3. Social, cultural, moral, environmental and economic issues 4. Sustainability 5. Health and safety 6. Processes and manufacture 7. Systems and control 8. Information and communication technology 9. Industrial practices. They will sit a 2 hour exam focused around some of these subjects at the end of Year 11, which is set by the exam board. The marks for the exam are worth 40% of the final GCSE grade.
Qualifications offered in this subject	AQA GCSE Design Technology: Resistant Materials
Assessment at KS4 e.g. exams and coursework	GCSE A*-G 60% Controlled Assessment 40% Examination
What are the benefits of this subject Post 16 and beyond?	Qualifications in Design Technology are highly respected by many employers and providers of further education. They indicate a creative and inquisitive mind – someone who can learn from mistakes, solve problems and show perseverance and resilience. Students may choose to go on to study Resistant Materials or other Design Technology subjects at AS level and beyond, or may use this qualification to apply for an apprenticeship or employment requiring practical skills.

Science

Curriculum Content at KS3	At KS3, all students are provided with an investigative Science curriculum, linked directly to the National Curriculum guidelines. KS3 Science, like GCSE, covers all three of the main Science disciplines, Chemistry, Physics and Biology. Students will develop enquiring minds, critically analysing the information they obtain through a range of teaching styles, resources and materials. Many of the lessons involve practical activities and will encourage students to put theories, already known or recently taught, into practice. Science topics at KS3 range from drink, drugs and alcohol use and abuse to waves, electricity, plant cells and chemical reactions. A progressive learning style, combined with a carefully considered curriculum, ensures that all students develop the strong foundations needed to make a successful transition from KS3 to KS4 and GCSE courses of study.
Curriculum content at KS4	Science is a core subject. It explains why we do things the way we do and why we make things in certain ways and it provides reasons for how we live our lives. Science gives us the power to question things, to try and understand them, to explore the world and the environments in which we live so that we get the most from them. Science helps us to stay healthy and live longer. Employers and colleges are keen to see students leave school with a qualification in Science, since it is an indication that we have a fundamental understanding of the world in which we live. The course is broken down into the three main scientific disciplines – biology, chemistry and physics. The biology units covers cells structure and transport, cell division, the digestive system, differences between animals and plants, communicable diseases, preventing disease, non-communicable diseases, photosynthesis, respiration, human nervous system, hormonal coordination, reproduction, variation and evolution, genetics, adaptations and competition, ecosystems and biodiversity. The chemistry units cover atomic structure, Periodic table, bonding, chemical equations, chemical changes, electrolysis, energy changes, rates of reaction, crude oil and fuels, chemical analysis, Earth’s atmosphere, Earth’s resources. The physics units cover energy, energy transfers, energy resources, electrical circuits and electricity in the home, molecules and matter, radioactivity, forces, motion, waves, the electromagnetic spectrum and electromagnetism.
Qualifications offered in this subject	A GCSE, or Entry Level, or both, depending on start date, attendance and ability.
Assessment at KS4 e.g. exams and coursework	There are 6 modules, each taken as a separate examination for GCSE. Each module is worth 16.7 %. There are two biology exams, two chemistry exams and two physics exams. There is no controlled assessment for GCSE science.
What are the benefits of this subject Post 16 and beyond?	An Entry Level or Science GCSE can lead to many things. Science is a core subject. This qualification is often a basic requirement when applying to further education institutions or training providers. Many employers seek potential employees who possess GCSE Science.

Work Skills, Personal, Social, Health & Religious Education

Curriculum Content at KS3	Health and wellbeing: • Mental and emotional health and wellbeing, including sexual health • Managing risk and keeping safe • Consequences of teenage pregnancy Relationships: • Health relationships within a range of social/cultural contexts • Developing parenting skills • Recognising and managing emotions within a range of relationships • Dealing with risky behaviour and bullying • Managing loss • Respect in a diverse community Living in the wider world: • Rights and responsibilities • Citizenship • Making informed choices and being enterprising and ambitious • The economic and business environment • Personal finance
Curriculum content at KS4	Units: • Self-management • Self-assessment • Managing your own money • Searching for a job • Preparing for a job • Interview skills • Contributing to a meeting • Benefits of unpaid work • Developing a product • Working in a team • Career progression
Qualifications offered in this subject	BTEC Level 1 – 2 Award/Certificate/Extended Certificate/Diploma in Work Skills
Assessment at KS4 e.g. exams and coursework	All units are coursework based with no external examination. There is an assignment booklet for each unit that must be completed within a set time frame.
What are the benefits of this subject Post 16 and beyond?	Students with BTECS in addition to GCSEs and A Levels have been found to earn 20% more over their lifetime in the workplace. Work Skills BTECs are accepted as being on a par with GCSEs, allowing students to gain entry to their preferred post-16 pathway by adding points to their applications to further education institutions and training providers for academic study and / or apprenticeships.

English

Curriculum Content at KS3	Present and perform a variety of tasks to develop Speaking and Listening skills Study the Shakespeare play ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Create storyboards to consolidate learning SMSC related topics e.g. Halloween, Remembrance Day and Christmas stories, poems and films Creative & descriptive writing tasks/short stories/creating characters and setting an instant/Superhero’s - Spelling rules Informative/Persuasive and argumentative writing skills Read and study the novel the Hunger games Grimm Fairy tales – Creative writing projects Read and study the book ‘ The Island at the End of Everything’ by Kiran Millwood Hargrave.
Curriculum content at KS4	Year 10 Begin their GCSE English Language and GCSE course by starting with developing writing skills, practice annotation and analysis skills for fiction and non-fiction texts Commence studying the set texts for GCSE English Literature course and analysing literary traditions, social and historical contexts, and writers’ use of language. Speaking and Listening tasks to develop confidence Exam paper questions as practice Year 11 Complete 3 Speaking and Listening examinations Prepare and revise for GCSE in June series Complete Functional Skills Level 1 and/or 2
Qualifications offered in this subject	EDEXCEL Functional Skills – Level 1 and 2 GCSE English Language GCSE English Literature
Assessment at KS4 e.g. exams and coursework	Year 11 GCSE English Language 100% final exam and one speaking and listening component GCSE English Literature 100% final exam Year 10 – One end of Key Stage exam in the summer term
What are the benefits of this subject Post 16 and beyond?	Functional Skills English aims to ensure pupils are confident and capable in using communication skills to adapt to a wide range of audiences and contexts. Achieving a C grade or above in GCSE English can open doors to a variety of college places and Apprenticeships.

Maths

Curriculum Content at KS3	Number Algebra Ratio, proportion and rates of change Geometry and measures Probability Statistics
Curriculum content at KS4	Number Algebra Ratio, proportion and rates of change Geometry and measures Probability Statistics
Qualifications offered in this subject	GCSE in Mathematics– Specification (8300) Foundation and Higher Tier; Entry Level Certificate
Assessment at KS4 e.g. exams and coursework	GCSE Mathematics (8300) has a Foundation tier (grades 1 – 5) and a Higher tier (grades 4 – 9). Students must take three question papers at the same tier. All question papers must be taken in the same series. Paper 1: non-calculator written paper: 1 hour 30 minutes 80 marks 33⅓% of the GCSE Mathematics assessment Paper 2: calculator written paper: 1 hour 30 minutes 80 marks calculator allowed 33⅓% of the GCSE Mathematics assessment Paper 3: calculator written paper: 1 hour 30 minutes 80 marks calculator allowed 33⅓% of the GCSE Mathematics assessment Content from any part of the specification may be assessed in any of those papers.
What are the benefits of this subject Post 16 and beyond?	Studying maths helps you develop skills in logical thinking and statistical or strategic knowledge, which are valued by employers across many job sectors. It is also the government requirement now for all pupils to achieve at least Grade 4 in Maths GCSE.

Land Based Studies

Curriculum Content at KS3	Learners will have the opportunity to experience a range of practical activities taught on site. These include growing plants from seed and cuttings, plant propagation techniques, health and safety, soil science, plant and shrub maintenance and preparing planting containers for display and animal care.
Curriculum content at KS4	As above learners will have the opportunity to experience a range of practical activities taught on site. More able learners will have the opportunity to gain extra credits and work towards a Diploma.
Qualifications offered in this subject	Pearson BTEC Level 1/2 First Award in Animal Care Awarding Body - EDEXCEL Unit 1: Animal Health Unit 2: Animal Handling Unit 3: Animal Welfare Unit 4: Maintain Animal Accommodation Unit 5: Principles of Animal Behaviour The course is a mixture of practical assessments, written assignments and a written exam. You will be spending some time outside with the farm, as well as spending sometime in a classroom. There will be opportunities for visits to other farms and other animal care associated industries throughout the course.
How will your work be assessed?	Complete an Exam which counts for 25% of your overall grade Complete written assignments implementing independent research Carryout practical assessments Your work will be assessed at the end of the course: ● Exam =25% of overall grade ● Externally assessed assignments = 25% of overall grade ● Internally assessed assignments = 50% of overall grade
Progression	● A level or level 3 study at college in animal management, in equine studies, in agriculture, in horticulture, and in Veterinary nursing. ● Apprenticeship in animal care, equine, agriculture and horticulture. ● Leading on to university following a chosen field, for example agriculture, veterinary nursing, animal behaviour, zoology, wildlife and conservation etc. ● A career in Vet nursing, dog groom, animal trainer, animal care technician, landscaper, grounds keeper, florist, game keeper, zoo keeper, wildlife conservationist, a role within the RSPCA or Dogs Trust, pet shop worker/owner, agricultural labourer, farm manager and many more.