THE NEW SCHOOL CURRICULUM POLICY                                                     

 

The New School is committed to providing a broad and balanced curriculum which will enable

pupils not only to make progress in their learning and achieve high academic standards but also to enjoy learning for its own sake and develop the skills and understanding to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives.

 

All pupils of compulsory school age receive either full or part‐time, supervised education, in which they experience a range of linguistic, mathematical, scientific, technological, human and social, physical and aesthetic and creative aspects appropriate to their age and aptitude.

Pupils acquire speaking and listening, literacy and numeracy skills. They participate in a personal, social, health and citizenship education scheme appropriate for their age and experience and which reflects the schoolÕs aims and ethos called Life Skills.

All pupils receive work experience opportunities, if they so wish and careers guidance which enables them to both select courses at GCSE and post‐16 and to consider the impact of their decisions upon their futures.

 

Where children admitted to the school have a statement of special educational needs agreed by the local authority, The New School undertakes to provide the curriculum in accordance with the terms of the statement and participate in an annual review.

 

Aims of the policy

The purpose of the Curriculum is to help pupils to:

á          Build on pupilsÕ prior experiences, skills, knowledge and understanding

á          Develop lively, imaginative and enquiring minds

á          Offer both support and challenge to all pupils, taking into account their different needs and learning styles

á          Acquire knowledge and skills relevant to adult life and a world of rapid and continuous technological change

á          Encourage pupils to recognise and develop individual skills and enthusiasm

á          Have sound numeracy and literacy skills

á          Develop personal and moral values, respect for shared values and for other cultures, religions and ways of life.

á          Develop an understanding of the world in which they live

á          Appreciate human achievements and aspirations

á          To support children and young people in making increasingly informed, independent decisions

á          Take their place in society as informed, confident and responsible citizens

 

Main Principles

The Curriculum should have the following characteristics:

á          Breadth, balance, relevance, differentiation, progression, continuity and coherence

á          Promote knowledge and understanding whilst mastering intellectual, physical, and interpersonal skills and personal qualities, values and attitudes

á          Equality of access for all pupils to academic experiences

á          Provide appropriate tasks and teaching techniques to support high expectations and appropriate challenge

á          Parents should be provided with curriculum information relevant to their child

á          The curriculum should be subject to planned evaluation and review

 

Outcomes

The curriculum should:

á          Deliver the current and future statutory requirements

á          Be broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated

á          Enable pupils and young people to fulfil their potential

á          Prepare pupils to make informed and appropriate choices post 16

á          Meet the needs of the full range of abilities within The New School

á          Ensure continuity and progression within the school and between phases of education

á          Foster teaching styles which will offer and encourage a variety of relevant learning opportunities

á          Encourage a respect for The New School and its environment so that learning is a positive and pleasurable experience for all

á          Help pupils develop lively, enquiring minds, an ability to question and argue rationally and an ability to apply themselves to tasks

á          Help pupils and young people acquire understanding, knowledge and key skills relevant to school, adult life and employment in a fast-changing world

á          Help pupils and young people to use language and number effectively

á          Help pupils and young people develop personal moral values, respect for religious values and tolerance of other races, religions and ways of life

á          Help pupils and young people understand the world in which they live

á          Help pupils and young people appreciate human achievements and aspirations

 

The New School therefore will endeavour to provide:

á          An environment which pupils and young people of all abilities are able to develop the skills and attitudes which will facilitate lifelong learning and sustained personal development

á          Creating a flexible curriculum, making best use of The New SchoolsÕ facilities and  individual specialism and strengths

 

The New School is committed to:

á          Raising standards of achievement, particularly in Science and Mathematics for our pupils and young people

á          Extending the range of opportunities available to pupils and young people which best meet their needs and interests

á          Developing a unique identity which is reflected in the ethos of The New School

á          Benefiting other schools in the area

á          Strengthening the links between schools and the wider community

 

Each area of the curriculum is allotted sufficient time to make its specific contribution, but not so much that it squeezes out other essential areas.  PSHE is time-tabled as lessons with cross curricular links and specialist support.  Citizenship is addressed predominantly through the Life Skills programme.  The amount of time allocated to each subject is discussed by Subject Leaders annually. There are currently twenty five one hour sessions over a five day week timetable.  Provision, as far as possible, is made within The New School for all pupils and young people with special needs with additional support provided for pupils and young people within the session if necessary.  The flexibility within the creative curriculum stretches all ability groups and enables them to take up to nine GCSE and equivalent qualifications as well as the ASDAN Youth Achievement Awards in Year 11. 

 

Years 10 and 11

Pupils and young people continue to follow the majority of their referral requirements whilst at The New School and by close partnership working some may continue with their National Curriculum subjects at school as well as embarking on public examination courses leading to GCSE and other qualifications.  All pupils and young people study Mathematics (5 sessions out of 25), English (3 sessions), Philosophy and Ethics (2 sessions), Science (2 sessions), Media (2 sessions), Travel & Tourism (2 sessions), Business & Finance (2 sessions), Catering & Hospitality (2 sessions), Life Skills (2 sessions), Youth Achievement Award (2 sessions), Art (1 session).  The timetable is currently under review to include physical education for approx 5 sessions also 3 themed days exposing young people to cultural issues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  This policy was agreed and approved by The TCHA Board of Directors

 

      on behalf of Tamworth Cornerstone Housing Association

 

      was reviewed............2011.....................

 

      next review due...........2013.....................