Curriculum
Our Curriculum Intent
At Woolton High School, we endeavour to ensure that our school community is ‘Safe, happy, healthy and learning’
We aim to support our learners to achieve their potential through access to a broad and balanced, personalised curriculum with opportunities for real meaningful progression in a range of academic and vocational areas.
We help learners make meaningful progress in a safe, structured and caring environment and ensure they are able to build positive relationships with adults and peers alike.
Pupils are also encouraged to take responsibility for, and have ownership of, their own personal development and behaviour so that they can become young people with the skills and attitudes required to become valued members of society.
In order to achieve these aims, we endeavour to create a learning environment that is positive, friendly and supportive of all learners.
We work very closely with Governors, Parents /Carers and our multi-agency partners to ensure that their child’s education is a purposeful, productive and positive experience which helps to prepare them for their next stage of their development.
Our Implementation goal
To HELP our pupils to be academically, personally and culturally prepared.
We believe that learning is a continuous process which involves acquiring core knowledge and skills, underpinned by the reinforcement of vocabulary, reading and oracy. We re-teach, test and adapt our pedagogy to ensure that children know and remember more and use this feedback effectively.
How we organise our curriculum
– Our Curriculum is broad, balanced, challenging and engaging.
– Pupils are organised into Year Groups 7-11 and have a pastoral (FORM) base.
– There are 2 Engagement Centres (KS3&4) that have mixed year groups
– All students access a range academic subjects, as well as a carousel of vocational courses as part of their curriculum offer.
– We offer a pathway for progression towards the following qualifications: Level 1 and Level 2 Qualifications such as GCSE, BTEC, CAMNAT, Entry Level Certificate and Functional Skills.
Careers/Business Studies
Overview
At Woolton High School Careers is a vital part of the curriculum. At WHS Careers is :
- designed for all students to have outcomes that link to the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks
- is delivered to years 7-11 with the aim of all students gaining as many realistic and engaging opportunities as possible during their time at the school.
- a wide range of experiences which allow them to realise their true potential.
How we organise our currciulum
- Years 7 and 8 will follow ASDAN’s Employability Skills and Development Curriculum. This will introduce students to careers and begin to develop their understanding.
- Years 9-11 will follow BTEC’s Workskills curriculum. This will cover a number of topics that relate directly to employment whilst also helping students have a better understanding of the opportunities in both education and the workplace after Year 11.
Further Information
View Full Curriculum Plan Year 7-8
View Full Curriculum Plan Year 9-11
English
Overview
English is at the heart of our currciulum. It is the aim of the department to make pupils develop an understanding, love and passion for English that will enable them to access learning and employment opportunities in the future. At WHS English is :
- A pathway to the rest of the curriculum and is fundamental to their educational success
- A gateway to the human experience through meaning and ambiguity as well as the beauty and power of language
- Enhanced by the programme of reading develops pupils’ phonics, accuracy and speed
How we organise our curiculum
During their KS3 journey, pupils access Entry level qualifications (Levels 1, 2 and 3). These qualifications are seen to give pupils a basis in “Literacy skills for life”. They also set pupils up for their next step at KS4.
In year 10 and 11 pupils will undertake a Functional Skills course (Level 1 and 2). Once they have achieved these qualifications they can begin an AQA GCSE course of study.
This approch aims to give pupils their best chance of maximising their potential within the subject whilst also allowing them to achieve qualifications relevant to college courses they wish to enrol on.
Further Information
Engagement Centre TEC1/TEC2
Overview
Our Engagement Centres aim to provide an inclusive learning environment tailored to suit individual needs and learning styles, ensuring opportunities for progress towards achievable qualifications. We take an innovative approach in delivering a well-rounded curriculum, in a supportive setting. At WHS the Engagement Centres are :
- a safe, inspiring environment and consistent approach to routine.
- Underpinned by the National Curriculum to cover a broad range of topics and experiences.
- Focussed on Literacy and Numeracy skills to a level which will support them beyond the classroom and in later life.
- Passionate about termly educational visits to reinforce, extend and consolidate pupils’ learning and develop partnerships with outside organisations to enrich pupils’ school experience.
How we organise our currciulum
- In the same way as KS3 and KS4
Further Information
View Full TEC1 Curriculum Plan
View Full TEC2 Curriculum Plan
Humanities
Overview
To inspire in pupils, a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. At WHS Humanities is:
- A way to improve literacy, culture and develop creativity through the study of Geography, Art, Languages, History, Music and Religion.
How we organise our currciulum
- Each topic is broken down in to the core skills and knowledge required
- We aim to ensure that pupils know and are able to use that knowledge
- Learning is covered across the 6 humanities study areas relating to each continent.
Further Information
ICT
Overview
ICT as a subject is focused initially on ensuring that pupils have the core transferable skills, by utilising packages for the presentation of work. Throughout ICT pupils will develop the skills and knowldge necessary to prepare them for modern technologies in the outside world. At WHS ICT is:
- based on prior knowledge when selecting teaching approaches
- strongly linked to the intended subject content and helps achieve curriculum goals.
- led by worked examples to help pupils solve problems
How we organise our currciulum
- In line with school policy (see Further Information)
- Pupils have access to a well-resourced, modern computer suite where they are encouraged to work independently, using facilities for presentation of work, examinations and for research.
Further Information
ICT Intent, Implementation and Impact
Maths
Overview
Mathematics teaches us how to make sense of the world around us through the development of a child‘s ability to calculate, reason and solve problems. It enables pupils to understand the relationship between number and their everyday lives. It can also be a tool in the expansion of a child’s horizons, giving them the opportunity to consider new ways of thinking and calculation. At WHS Maths is:
- About promoting it’s enjoyment while showing an enthusiasm for learning and the award of qualifications.
- An exploration, discussion and discovery of the important elements that we use to promote learning in maths.
- A curriculum area where we are proud of our success rate in each of the qualifications that we offer.
How we organise our curriclum
- Pupils will take some or all of the following accreditation: Functional Skills Level 1, Functional Skills Level 2 and GCSE. see further information.
Further Information
PE
Overview
In Woolton High School, PE is a strength of the school. At WHS PE is :
- An opportunity to be actively engaged in a range of phyical activities.
- A positive experience for all learners, regardless of ability
How we organise our currciulum
- At Key Stage 3 we change the sport in school every three weeks to give our pupils the opportunity to participate in an array of activities, such as handball, badminton, short tennis and Health related fitness.
- At Key Stage 4 pupils are given the opportunity to choose the Cambridge Nationals Level 1/2 Award or Certificate.
- This is broken down into either a 2 unit award or a 4 unit certificate assessed by OCR. This allows our pupils to perform presentations, assignments and portfolios in both a practical and theory setting.
Further Information
Personal Development / PSHE
Overview
Personal Development is an integral part of life at Woolton High School for every learner. It provides opportunities for pupils to understand and appreciate how to develop techniques to better regulate their own behaviour, as well as developing the knowledge, skills, and personal attributes that they need to manage their lives now and in the future.
The Personal Development curriculum at school creates opportunities to for pupils to experience growth and resilience through the promotion of qualities like honesty, integrity, courage, teamwork and communication. These qualities enable our pupils to take important steps towards becoming better prepared for post-16 transition and life after school.
This is fundamental component at Woolton High School. “Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education is a school subject through which pupils develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to manage their lives, now and in the future.”
PSHE at WHS is :
- At the heart of our pastoral currciulum
- Is delivered to all year groups
- Underpinned by key safeguarding messages
How is it organised
- It is taught directly on the currciulum during breakfast club, form and EHCP time
Further Information
Reading Development
At Woolton High School, we are passionate about developing pupils’ language and literacy skills. As part of this approach, we promote an appreciation of reading through the use of quality and diverse texts and exposure to a range of authors. Reading opportunities support our pupils in developing core skills such as fluency, comprehension, inference and language development as they read increasingly challenging material, through a wide range of ability appropriate texts, across a range of genre.
Allocated Reading Time is timetabled through ability level ‘streamed’ groups to ensure that Reading groups are working through texts that are appropriate to every pupil’s stage of learning, rather than pupil age.
Reading is embedded across all subjects and as such, teachers harness opportunities to reinforce the development of literacy skills, including reading, across all areas of the curriculum.
Science
Overview
The Science curriculum is designed to offer all pupils the opportunity to explore and experience the beauty and wonder of Science. At WHS Science is
- in a variety of environments, both indoor and outdoor.
- structured in a way that the pupils can learn both vocational and practical skills which link to the theories and principles of Science covered in the classroom
- is underpinned with educational visits which are designed to encapsulate learning.
How our currciulum is organised
Further Information
View Full Science Curriculum Plan
Science Assessment Guides Level 1-2
Science Assessment Guides Level 2-3
Science Assessment Guides Level 3-4
Science Assessment Guides Level 4-5
Vocational Studies
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Wellbeing
Overview
At WHS we promote the development of a range of personal development life skills such as resilience, confidence, inter-personal realations, independence and how to keep mentally healthy.
At WHS Wellbeing is:
- organised around a whole-school five step approach: leading change, working together, understanding need, promoting well-being and supporting each other
- an integral part of our pastoral and cultural curriculum
How our curriculum is organised
- We are working with Restorative Thinking to develop and improve our wellbeing offer.
