Our Curriculum Rationale
‘I came that you may have life in abundance’ John 10:10
The curriculum is central to the formation of our pupils, providing the foundation for academic, spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Based on our core values of Respect & Compassion, Confidence & Resilience, Honesty & Responsibility and Self-Belief & Justice the curriculum enables our pupils to become fully alive, developing their God-given gifts and talents. As a Catholic School, we exist to serve the children of our local community especially those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds. Education is the greatest tool for ensuring social justice, opening opportunities for our pupils and broadening their horizons. We are ambitious for our pupils and want the best for them. This means enabling our pupils to achieve a broad range of strong qualifications and engender a love of learning, giving our pupils the powerful knowledge and experiences that will enable them to contribute positively to society, lead happy, fulfilled lives making manifest the Glory of God which lies in every child and helping them to be the person God is calling them to be.
In order for all pupils to achieve their full potential, we will enrich their learning by providing quality teaching which is shaped by:
- High expectations
- Strong pupil-teacher relationships
- Providing a coherently planned and sequenced curriculum building knowledge and skills.
- Evidence-based pedagogy
- High-quality subject expertise
Our Curriculum Intent
Our Curriculum is shaped by the backgrounds of our pupils, designed to develop the powerful knowledge, skills and experiences required to be informed and thoughtful members of our community who understand and share in our values and contribute positively to society. To do this we need to take a holistic view and consider the different needs of our pupils. The long term driver for success is a broad and balanced curriculum that motivates pupils and provides appropriate qualifications that reward pupils for their learning. Our school curriculum aims to reduce barriers to learning where they exist, seeking to close the gaps existing from disadvantage, challenging pupils raising their aspirations, enabling pupils to engage fully with their learning and preparing them for their next steps in education or employment.
Our School Curriculum
All pupils study the following 5 subjects throughout Key Stage three and four; these are referred to as the core curriculum.
- Religious Studies
- Mathematics
- English Language and Literature
- Science: Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
- Physical Education
Religious Studies: As a Catholic community Religious Studies is at the core of our school curriculum, not only is the subject very successful academically, it provides important moral and spiritual education which is vital to the formation of every child and adult. Religious Studies develops a deeper understanding of the world in which we live, our interconnectedness as human beings and our relationship with God. At Our Lady and St. Bede, we believe Religious Studies provides an understanding and perspective that is central to the long term success of our pupils.
English & Maths: High levels of literacy and numeracy are crucial to future success, health, and opportunities of pupils whether they go straight into the world of work, apply to college or for an apprenticeship. As such pupils study English Language, English Literature and Mathematics as part of the core curriculum. Developing a love of reading is central to our whole school curriculum, pupils are expected to have a reading book and all subjects dedicate time to reading both subjects specific material and incorporate time for reading for pleasure.
Science: An understanding of science is essential to all pupils to help make sense of the world around them and develop real curiosity, creativity and problem-solving skills. Qualifications in STEM subjects provide the skills to drive the growth in our national economy and open the doors to many exciting careers for our pupils. All pupils study all three sciences at key stage three and four and will study towards GCSE’s in either Combined Science or the Separate Sciences.
Physical Education: Physical Education is essential to a pupil's health and wellbeing. All pupils participate in core PE but this is not an examined subject. If pupils would like to attain a qualification in PE then they can opt to study BTEC Sport or GCSE PE at key stage 4.
The core curriculum at Key Stage 3 is complemented by a range of academic subjects which broaden our pupils' horizons and expertise in Art, Music, Drama, Design Technology, French or Spanish, Geography, History and Computing.
The English Baccalaureate and Curriculum at Key Stage 4
The EBacc is made up of subjects that are considered essential to many degrees and the needs of business and the UK economy. These subjects are English Language, mathematics, science including computer science, history, geography and a foreign language; and are considered enabling subjects which significantly increase the life chances of pupils who study them. Research shows that a pupil's socio-economic background impacts the subjects they choose at GCSE and that this determines their opportunities beyond school. A study by the University College London Institute of Education shows that the EBacc provides pupils with greater opportunities in further education and increases the likelihood that a pupil will stay on in full-time education. The Sutton Trust research reveals that studying the EBacc improves a young person's performance in English and Mathematics.
At Our Lady and St. Bede, we strive to ensure that our pupils are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful and to compete effectively for the best opportunities in further education and the labour market. For this reason, high and mid prior attainers will go on to study the full English Baccalaureate at Key Stage 4, with all pupils having the choice to study at least one English Baccalaureate subject in addition to the core curriculum, with the additional option to study the full English Baccalaureate by opting for a humanity and a modern foreign language.
| GCSE | BTEC | Cambridge National |
|---|---|---|
| • English Language (AQA) | • Digital Information Technology (EDEXCEL) | • Health & Social Care (OCR) |
| • English Literature (AQA) | • Sport (OCR) | |
| • Mathematics (EDEXCEL/OCR) | ||
| • Science dual award (AQA) | ||
| • Separate Science (AQA) | ||
| • Religious Education (EDUQAS) | ||
| • Computer Science (OCR) | ||
| • French (AQA) | ||
| • Spanish (AQA) | ||
| • History (AQA) | ||
| • Geography (AQA) | ||
| • 3D Design (AQA) | ||
| • Fine Art (AQA) | ||
| • Photography (AQA) | ||
| • Textiles (AQA) | ||
| • Music (EDUQAS) | ||
| • Drama (AQA) |
