Curriculum

Curriculum Statement

Intent: Learning and Succeeding Together

2019-2020 saw school start an ambitious curriculum review designed to give all pupils the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life, retaining ‘What Went Well’ and recognising the significant value of both the full and wider curriculum. The resulting curriculum model is known as the Flight Path Model. There are 4 Flight Paths. Each has been coherently planned and sequenced towards developing increasing challenge and opportunities to secure and retain sufficient knowledge and skills for future learning and employment.

Implementation

Our full Flight Path offer (including our residential provision) identifies early, the needs of pupils, recognising their wide and varied starting points. The Flight Path curriculum model involves a baseline year in Year 7 from which pupils are placed on one of 4 Flight Paths. Flight Path descriptors detail the likely pathway a pupil might make with strategies, support and interventions that gain positive outcomes. Through Flight Paths pupils access the full National Curriculum with an opportunity to specialise in the Foundation Curriculum through options.

The Key Stage 5, sixth form curriculum model broadens opportunities for students as part of their preparation post 16 and beyond. This includes Employability, Business Enterprise, Careers, Citizenship, PSD and Sport for Life in addition to Functional English, Mathematics and Computing to Level 2.

Impact

Pupils’ capacity & confidence to read widely is high. The rigorous and sequential approach to the teaching of phonics and reading enables pupils to access the full curriculum offer. Knowledge gaps are filled and opportunities identified to gain the skills to communicate for future learning. Effective modelling by teaching staff supports the implementation of these skills.

Pupils capacity to excel within English Language and Maths is tracked closely in KS3, to identify challenge within ‘Flight Paths’ at Pre-Entry, Entry Level and GCSE for a very small minority of pupils. This investment has been well served in terms of end of excellent course grades.

There is no significant gap in the progress between disadvantaged groups and their peers.

Pupils are very well prepared and ready for the next stage of education, employment or training (including internships). Well planned transition visits into the next key stage or college to experience courses that meet their interests and aspirations result in high engagement, retention and 0% NEET figures. Post school pathways are well matched to pupils’ own interests and aspirations as evidenced by schools tracking systems beyond school which confirm pupils complete the courses they start successfully and enjoy them.

We are proud of a curriculum that is unique in meeting the needs of all students. The journey continues….

Ofsted Report 2017 

'A line of enquiry for the inspection was whether pupils were recieving a suitably broard and balanced curriculum.  Pupils are offered a rich curriculum that is closely linked to their needs and interests.  Many teaching opportunities involve physical experiences such as outdoor actvities or visits around the local area.  Pupils and parents highly value and appreciate the contribution that staying in the school's residential facility offers pupils to develop vital life experiences and skills.  Resources across the school are of a good quality and pupils are offered excellent opportunities to benefit from a varity of experiences, both real and simulated. As a result, pupils are enjoying making vibrant puppets for a Christmas production and were excited to design, build and then race colourful go-karts around the school cycle track.  A striking feature is how well teachers link many activities around an aspect of personal development or life skills.  This contributes enormously to pupils' success in developing self-confidence and social communication skills.'

If you wish to find out more about our curriculum please send an e-mail to contactus@greenbank.cheshire.sch.uk