Our curriculum is designed to enable our young people to grow in subject knowledge, skills and understanding, whilst developing pupil confidence and resilience so they can successfully move onto further education, training and employment; so that they may live a life that has purpose and meaning to them and enables them to engage positively in their relationships with their local community and with society in general.
High quality teaching with therapeutic experiences including Thrive, lead to sound academic and personal development. Our curriculum is founded on developing and in some cases, restoring self confidence and self esteem focusing initially on the development of a thorough understanding of the young person and developing trusting relationships between the young person and staff.
Curriculum Aims (Pre-16 and Post-16)
The New Skill Centre’s aim is to deliver a broad and balanced curriculum for all secondary aged pupils that builds their experiences and helps all to become successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens.
A bespoke curriculum is devised with each young person and their family in our Post 16 setting. Young people have the opportunity to select subjects of interest from a wide range of courses at differing qualification levels and will continue to study English and Mathematics unless they have previously achieved GCSE grade 4 or equivalent.
Specifically, the aims of our curriculum are to:
- Ensure pupils achieve high standards and make good/excellent progress.
- Enable those not achieving age-related expectations to narrow the gap and catch up with their peers.
- Ensure pupils have and are able to apply key literacy, numeracy and digital skills.
- Challenge and stretch pupils to achieve their potential.
- Encourage pupils to enjoy learning.
- Meet the needs of all pupils
- Provide equal access for all pupils to a range of learning experiences.
- Help pupils develop lively, enquiring minds, an ability to question and argue rationally and an ability to apply themselves to tasks and physical skills.
Curriculum Outcomes (Pre-16 and Post-16)
Pupils will have:
- Made measureable progress across the range of subjects to allow them to achieve qualifications and or accreditation that reflect their ability and allows them to progress.
- Literacy and communication skills which enable access to the full curriculum, future courses, to enter the workplace and match the underlying ability of the pupil and enable them to access.
- Numeracy skills which enable access to the full curriculum, future courses, to enter the workplace and match the underlying ability of the pupil.
- Digital skills required to access to future courses or enter the workplace including the knowledge and skills to use safely.
- Developed the knowledge and skills to maintain their health and wellbeing.
- Developed their understanding of the world in which they live and how they can have a positive impact.
- Developed the skills and knowledge to make informed choices for their future.
- Developed personal, social and emotional skills which will ensure their inclusion in the wider community and the ability to maintain positive, healthy relationships.
- Developed moral values, respect and tolerance of other races, beliefs and ways of life.
- Developed learning, organisational and thinking skills to support their next steps and future goals.
Subjects and Allocation
Year 9 subjects and allocated time lesson time per week
- English 3 lessons
- Maths 3 Lessons
- Science 3 lessons
- Humanities 3 lessons
- PSHE 2 lessons
- PE 2 Lessons
- ICT & digital skills 1 lesson
- Thrive activities 1 lesson
- Languages 1 lesson
- Animation 1 lesson
- Cooking 1 lesson
- Music 1 lesson
- Art 1 lesson
2 optional lesson choices from creative, social and physical option blocks
Year 10 and 11 subjects and allocated time lesson time per week
- English 4 lessons
- Maths 4 Lessons
- Science 4 lessons
- Humanities 2 lessons
- PSHE 2 lessons
- PE 2 Lessons
- ICT & digital skills 1 lesson
- Animation 1 lesson
- Careers and your future 1 lesson a fortnight
- Learning and organisational skills 1 lessons a fortnight
4 optional lesson choices from creative, social and physical option blocks
Optional Choices include:
Resistant materials, Hair and Beauty, Art, Music, Drama, Cooking, Social games, CAD (Computer aided design)
Post 16
The Post 16 students have bespoke timetables which are co-constructed with them and their parents. They are expected to arrive from 9:30 and are greeted by staff on arrival. Lessons start at 9:40 and end at 3:10 pm.
In the Post 16 setting, English and Mathematical skills will continue to be developed through their bespoke curriculum. If a young person has not yet achieved GCSE grade 4 or equivalent in English and/or Mathematics they will be required to attend English and/or Mathematics lessons.
The current Post 16 offer consists of:
Social Sciences
- Psychology – GCSE
- Sociology – GCSE
- Child Development – Level 2
English
GCSE, Functional Skills
Maths
GCSE, Functional Skill, Entry Level 1, 2, 3
Science (Combined Synergy)
GCSE, Entry Level 1, 2, 3
History (Modern and Ancient)
GCSE
Creative options
- Animation – Arts Awards (Discover, Explore, Bronze, Silver, Gold)
- Art – Arts Awards (Discover, Explore, Bronze, Silver, Gold)
- Music – Arts Awards (Discover, Explore, Bronze, Silver, Gold)
Community
Towards ASDAN
Extended Project Qualification
(Subject of student choice)
Stand alone qualification equivalent to 0.5, Level 3
Cooking
Towards ASDAN
Resistant Materials
Individual project
Living Independently
Towards ASDAN
Citizenship (2022-23)
GCSE
Courtesy, good manners, respect and consideration for others, together with self-discipline and resilience are all important aspects of a child’s education. The New Skill Centre encourages pupils to treat others as they would wish to be treated themselves and supports them in this by providing a welcoming and friendly environment in which they feel valued, trusted and where they are supported to develop high self-esteem and confidence.
Personal development is fostered through our PSHE and personalised curriculum offer and is enhanced through activities, visits and trips that enable pupils to gain a wider understanding of themselves, the local community and understanding of the world around them.