Curriculum
Curriculum Intent
Our curriculum is designed to meet the needs of the wide range of learners that access our school. Every aspect of our curriculum is focused on “Beyond School”, preparing our learners with the relevant qualifications and experiences they require to make that positive transition to the post 16 world of education or work based learning.
Students are at the heart of our curriculum and it is their views which shape curriculum development based on their future ambitions and aspirations. (Student futures survey).
Our curriculum is relevant and reflects what the young people in this area value, preparing them for the opportunities in further education, apprenticeship and employment that this area can offer.
Our outstanding CIEAG provision ensures that students are exposed to local employers and understand the qualities that will make them desirable employees through our links with Enterprise Group, Colleges and Training providers all of whom attend our annual Career and Apprenticeship Fayre.
It is our intent that all students will have a positive onwards destination built on the strong foundations of the curriculum we provide them.
Curriculum Content
The McKee curriculum has been crafted to meet the needs of a very diverse group of learners, all of whom have different aspirations and ideas on what constitutes education. From the academic to the vocational, our curriculum content meets the needs of all our learners.
We use our split site to give specific curriculum focus;
- College House – Full academic curriculum
- Blakiston House – Vocational training with essential education
- Breck House – KS3 SEN assessment and support
All sites offer full time provision.
College House Curriculum Offer
Students are provided with a standard curriculum in a 25 lesson week.
| KS3 | Lesson Allocation |
| English | 5 |
| Maths | 5 |
| Science | 4 |
| Geography | 2 |
| History | 2 |
| Art | 2 |
| Physical Education | 2 |
| Religious Education | 1 |
| Coding | 1 |
| Enrichment | 1 |
| KS4 | Board | Lesson Allocation |
| English Language/Literature | WJEC | 4/5 |
| Maths | AQA | 4/5 |
| Science Trilogy Double Award | AQA | 4 |
| Religious Education | AQA | 2 |
| Geography | AQA | 4 |
| History | AQA | 4 |
| Art | AQA | 4 |
| Physical Education | BTEC | 4 |
| Enrichment | 1 |
Options – Choose 2
The majority of students accessing this curriculum are on Medical Placement or short term placements and will be returning to mainstream settings. It is therefore vital that we can offer a comparable curriculum to support smooth transition back to mainstream. Many learners start with us with gaps in their education but our small class size and curriculum mapping expertise helps to quickly address gaps in knowledge with students making rapid progress.
Enrichment is built into the timetable and this time can be used to provide alternate activities for students eg support in a GCSE which is not timetabled ie IT or French. It can also be used for trips and visits to enrich the “Cultural Capital” of out students.
Blakiston House Curriculum Offer
The curriculum consists of three parts;
- Essential Education (2 days)
- A Career Pathway (2 days)
- Personal Development (1 day)
| Essential Education
· English up to GCSE · Maths up to GCSE · Science up to GCSE |
|||
| Choose a Career Pathway | |||
| Construction Skills | Creativity | Public Service | Motor Mechanics |
| Joinery
Plasterwork Brickwork |
Beauty Therapy
Child Care Food for Children |
Fitness
Command Skills Leadership |
Vehicle mechanics with some construction. |
| Formal Accreditation | |||
| BTEC Level 1 in Construction
First Aid |
BTEC Level 1 in Beauty Therapy
BTEC Level 1/2 in Child Care. First Aid Food Preparation and Hygiene Level 2 |
BTEC Level 1/2 in Public Services
First Aid |
IMIA Level 1/2 in Motor Mechanics. |
| Leading to | |||
| CSCS Card
Apprenticeship College Level 2 construction |
Apprenticeship
College L2/L3 course |
Armed Forces
Public Service College Level 2/3 in Public Services |
IMIA Level 2/3
Apprenticeship |
| Personal Development
· Additional GCSE in Art or BTEC Physical Education · AQA Units in Personal Finance and Life Skills delivered in partnership with AFC Fylde · AQA units in Sport Leadership delivered in partnership with AFC Fylde · Work Experience · Mentoring · CIEAG |
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Breck House Curriculum Offer
This is our specialist provision, working with the most complex learners at KS3, most with undiagnosed and un assessed need.
Our team of highly skilled professionals work closely with school SENCO’s, SEND and EP services to identify need and meet need through our bespoke, personalised approach to each student.
Students at Breck House can expect to have a full needs assessment undertaken which will support the development of their learning support plan, a tool which can then be used by other teachers to meet that particular child’s needs.
The curriculum is underpinned by nurturing principles and much of the Literacy and Numeracy is delivered through a thematic approach. Groups are small and students enjoy a high staff to pupil ratio.
Students will typically work with 2 teachers in the centre but will get specialist input from other teaching staff ie Geography, History, Science and PE. The model is similar to that of a primary school with one main teacher developing strong working relationship with students.
A typical day would be;
| Form | Session 1 | Session 2 | Break | Session 3 | Session 4 | Lunch | Session 5 | Form |
|
Breakfast Daily briefing Teacher 1 |
Literacy based task
Teacher 1 |
Numeracy based task
Teacher 2 |
Toast and drink.
Free time |
History
Specialist Teacher |
PHSCE
Teacher 1 |
Eat as group.
Take on roles ie server. Free play |
PE
Specialist Teacher |
Reflection Teacher 1 |
The centre is managed by an SEN specialist teacher who administers the assessments and develops the personalised plans, instructing staff on how to implement them effectively.
Students are withdrawn from sessions to undertake assessment or work in smaller groups on specific tasks eg Lexia or IDL.
Trips out of school are a large part of the programme to not only enrich “cultural capital” but to work on social skills and to promote active learning.
Curriculum Justification
It is at the heart of our curriculum that we are offering our students the curriculum they want, allowing them to make informed choices which provide the end goal they desire.
For the majority of our students the “mainstream” curriculum offer has not met need. The additional support combined with the culture and ethos within the school enable more than 50% of students to continue with a full academic curriculum. The other 50% want something different, something tangible, something that is relevant to them.
Our students inform us as to what they think is important in a curriculum, we respond to that.
Our curriculum is referred to as “Beyond School” because it is designed to do just that, prepare students for what happens next.
