Curriculum Overview
Roundwood Park is a place to flourish. We provide a rich, broad and balanced curriculum that is underpinned by our Values of Excellence and Potential. It stimulates curiosity, values diversity and offers challenge. We help every student to love learning for life, to follow their passions and to reach their full potential.
Our intention is to:
- promote a commitment to lifelong learning and learning for life through ASPIRE*
- provide the depth that enables students to master the key knowledge and skills essential for each subject
- provide a rich variety of learning experiences that will challenge and inspire all students regardless of their ability, gender, ethnicity or social background to achieve their full potential
- encourage a love of learning by providing a variety of engaging activities, enabling all students to develop their intellectual, creative, moral, social, physical and personal skills to the full
- encourage a natural curiosity, a spirit of enquiry and an ethos where we have high expectations of all our students
- develop creativity and innovation whether its applied in the arts, design or the sciences which results in scientific, sporting and cultural achievement
- enable our students to become confident, articulate and responsible citizens who can make a positive contribution to society
- prepare our Roundwood Park Leavers for the next stage of their education or training
*ASPIRE is a clear framework of learning habits for all members of the Roundwood Park community; students, staff and families, as life-long learners, to develop and inculcate whilst at school and beyond.
At Roundwood Park we aim to help every student fulfil their potential by offering the widest possible range of opportunities. The curriculum is subject to constant review to keep abreast of educational developments.
The curriculum is organised into the three secondary school Key Stages:
- KS3 (years 7 to 9)
- KS4 (years 10 and 11)
- KS5 (years 12 and 13)
Programmes of study are planned carefully to allow smooth transition between the key stages.
Careers lessons are built into the curriculum at Key Stages 3, 4 and 5. We have a well-equipped careers area and as well as offering advice from specially trained members of staff and Services for Young People (Herts), we also enlist the help of parents and alumni to give talks, mock interviews and individual advice on career matters.
The school has specialist suites for all major subjects, including nine science laboratories, an art block, large music and drama suites, modern technology facilities, Sixth Form centre, Sports Centre, 3G pitch and extensive playing fields. There are also specialist computer rooms and online access to ICT facilities throughout the school using Wi-Fi. In addition, the library is a very important part of the school. As well as a large stock of fiction, reference, and information books, it offers newspapers, magazines, a Careers and Higher Education area, and access to the school network and the internet. It is open throughout the day and after school, and professional library staff are always available to help students find the resources they need.
If you require any further information about the curriculum please see our Curriculum Policy Statement or contact Mrs Barter, Deputy Headteacher.
The Curriculum
The school week is divided into 25 teaching periods, each of 1 hour. This excludes registration time. The lesson allocations are shown in the following charts.
Although we are an academy, our KS3 is consistent with the requirements of the National Curriculum. Topics required by the National Curriculum, but not covered in specific lessons, e.g. Relationships, Sex and Health Education, citizenship and careers, are delivered in a variety of ways. In Years 7, 8 and 9 they are taught in weekly PSHCE lessons and in Years 10 and 11 as part of National Curriculum subjects such as English, history, PRE and physical education. There are also regular specialist one day workshops with outside speakers throughout the year.
