Curriculum
Through our curriculum at Roundwood Park School we aim:
- To promote a commitment to lifelong learning and learning for life through ASPIRE.
- To provide a rich variety of learning experiences, both inside and outside the classroom, which will inspire all students regardless of their ability, gender, ethnicity or social background to achieve their full potential.
- To encourage the love of learning by providing a variety of relevant and enjoyable activities, enabling all students to develop their intellectual, moral, social, physical and personal skills to the full.
- To enable our students to become confident, responsible citizens who can make a positive contribution to society.
In order to achieve this, we provide a curriculum which:
- Delivers a broad, balanced and engaging curriculum in which knowledge is valued.
- Is knowledge rich where teachers are the experts whose role it is to convey their knowledge and expertise to students.
- Is appropriate for our students and consistent with the requirements of the National Curriculum.
- Develops creativity in the arts, design and sciences which results in scientific, technological, sporting, creative and cultural achievement.
- Promotes and supports “Inclusion” at all Key Stages.
- Is perceived by the students to be challenging, inspiring and relevant to their preparation for adult life – to promote a commitment to lifelong learning and learning for life through ASPIRE.
- Enables students to acquire the cultural capital they need to succeed in life.
- Encourages a natural curiosity, spirit of enquiry and an ethos where we have high expectations of all our students.
- Explicitly teaches key literacy skills needed for success in each subject.
- Encourages students to use subject specific, technical and academic vocabulary well.
- Prioritises and celebrates reading.
- Gives the students a sense of success through their achievements.
- Encourages students to appreciate and admire the achievement of others, both in the school community and at a global level.
- Provides a wealth of cross curricular activities in terms of clubs, trips, events and performances, which are open to all students.
- Provides an opportunity for all students to gain an insight into the world of work though work experience placements.
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 Connexions, we also enlist the help of parents and ex-students to give talks, mock interviews and individual advice on career matters.
The school has specialist suites for all major subjects, including ten 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. 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 calendared throughout the year.
KS3 (Yrs 7 to 9)
Subject & Lessons Yrs 7
When students enter the school in Year 7, they are placed in mixed ability form groups. They are taught in these groups for most subjects throughout the year. The mixed ability groups help students settle into their new school and help our staff get to know them and their needs. In maths, students are set across two bands (X side has 4 classes (3 forms) and the Y side has 5 classes (4 forms)), from the October half term.
There is a need for some students to study maths and English for a greater proportion of the week. These students are identified very early in September and will receive extra tuition in English, maths, or both, as appropriate.
Subject & Lessons Yrs 8 & 9
In Years 8 and 9, students continue in mixed ability groups for their pastoral care and for most subjects. In Year 8, ability banding is extended to mathematics. All other subjects are taught in mixed ability groups. The Year 9 science curriculum builds on the knowledge and skills gained during Years 7 and 8. Year 9 is a transition year covering biology, chemistry and physics topics taught to GCSE standard. Each school term contains elements of each of the three sciences with an assessment test at the end of each section. The topics chosen, along with the assessments, give the faculty a good indication of each student’s suitability for either the Combined Science or Separate Science courses at KS4.
All students in Year 9 continue with their study of MFL. They have the following options, either: Focus on one language (French, German or Spanish) for 3 hours a week. Spanish is a fast paced beginners course and feeds into the GCSE option.
OR
Continue with the study of two languages (staffing and timetabling allowing). Students will study each language for 2 hours a week. For 2021-22 students will be able to study the following dual languages French and Spanish / French and German / German and Spanish.
| Subjects | Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Mathematics | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Science | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Art | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Design & Technology* | 1 | 2 | 1 or 2 |
| Drama | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Geography | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| History | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Computing / ICT | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Modern Languages* | 3 | 3 | 3 or 4 |
| Music | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| PE | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Health & Relationships Ed / Citizenship | – | – | 1 |
| PRE (Philosophy, Religion & Ethics) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Tutorial | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Option (French, German, Spanish, DT) | – | – | 2 |
KS4 (Yrs 10 & 11)
Subject & Lessons Yrs 10 & 11
Students have a mixture of core subjects (those which are compulsory) and option subjects. The option choices are made in February of Year 9. Each option subject is taught for 3 hours per week.
Maths and English are set across half year groups in Year 10 and across the full year group in Year 11.
For a number of students it is appropriate that at least one of their options is a guided support option.
Relationships, Sex and Health Education, Citizenship and Careers are delivered through a series of one day workshops.
| Compulsory Subject | Year 10 | Year 11 |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 4 |
| Mathematics | 4 | 4 |
| Science (Core & Additional) | 5 | 6 |
| Ethics (non-examined PRE) | 1 | 0 |
| Games | 2 | 2 |
| Option 1 (from geography/history/computer science if a student does not take an MFL subject) | 3 | 3 |
| Option 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Option 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Option Subjects: | ||
| Art & Design Art & Design (Textiles) Business Studies Computer science Creative iMedia Design & Technology Drama Economics French | Food preparation & nutrition Geography German Health & Social care History Music PE PRE | Combined Science or Separate Sciences (Grade C at end of Yr9 Required) Spanish Guided Support Options:- Curriculum support |
| Total Hours / Wk | 25 | 25 |
