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The King’s School Curriculum Review

The King’s School Curriculum Review . Parents’ Forum, 17 September 2013. Why a new curriculum?. It’s about time! A changing educational and employment landscape We want to ensure that we are offering the best possible academic education and preparation for work and lifelong learning skills.

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The King’s School Curriculum Review

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  1. The King’s SchoolCurriculum Review Parents’ Forum, 17 September 2013

  2. Why a new curriculum? • It’s about time! • A changing educational and employment landscape • We want to ensure that we are offering the best possible academic education and preparation for work and lifelong learning skills

  3. The journey so far • January 2013: staff consultation • February–April: working party meetings • February – April: parental consultation • May – June: research and SMT discussion • June 2013: draft curriculum published • June/July 2013: further staff consultation • October 2013: further parental consultation and presentation to the Education Committee • September 2014: implementation

  4. Key Principles • A refinement rather than a revolution • to ‘challenge pupils to aspire, work hard and achieve’ and ‘to develop lively and enquiring minds’; • to ‘develop a distinctive King’s curriculum that provides breadth with academic challenge and makes independent learning a reality.’ • a range of subjects to ensure breadth of knowledge • greater opportunity for developing key learning and thinking skills and the ability to study independently. • a more efficient and streamlined curriculum, whilst still allowing choice

  5. A Thinking Curriculum • ‘Critical Thinking’ as a separate subject in Years 7 and 8; • ‘Philosophy for Children’ taught through Religion and Philosophy and Drama • ‘Let’s Think in Science’ • Building Learning Power across the curriculum – building on the work in the Infant and Junior school • Individual projects to encourage independent study in Year 9

  6. Critical Thinking • Develops higher order thinking skills • Requires students to be active learners rather than passive receivers • Education for life • Transferable skills • Provides an opportunity to develop ideas and explore a range of cultural, moral and spiritual issues • Requires students to express themselves with clarity and precision in speech and writing

  7. Years 7-9 • Increased contact time in all subjects, particularly the core subjects • Languages: the same experience in Year 7 (Latin, French with German and Spanish tasters) and then two options chosen from the four, to be studied in Year 8 and Year 9 • Creative subjects (Art, D and T, Drama, Music) as now: two chosen in Year 9 in preparation for GCSE • ICT given more time to complete the ECDL by the end of Y9 • Critical Thinking in Year 7 and Year 8

  8. Years 10-11 (GCSE) • A more flexible approach allowing 9 or 10 GCSEs • GCSE Options designed to encourage breadth of study: managed choice • The same amount of time given to triple science and dual science • Compulsory options in MFL, Humanities, Creative and Technical and then a further option block to allow specialism • More contact time in the majority of subjects • No timetabled ICT for all (ECDL already completed) but the option of GCSE Computing.

  9. Years 12 and 13 (A Level) • Very similar to the current model in terms of time and subjects (subjects to stay the same) • Extended studies in y12 and y13 to allow greater breadth and more vocational subjects alongside academic subjects • PSHE and Activities sessions remain to ensure a breadth of experience • Further Maths to be in the option blocks

  10. The New School Day

  11. What are the benefits? • Greater contact time and greater frequency of lessons • A breadth of subjects and managed choice • A stronger focus on thinking skills and independent study • A more flexible approach to GCSE to respond to pupils’ needs and the opportunity to study for 10 GCSEs • ECDL to be taken earlier in Key Stage Three • GCSE Computing and Critical Thinking as new subjects • A better shape to the day within a similar framework • Extended Studies in Year 12 to develop wider skills

  12. What do you think? • Final parental consultation open until Friday, 11 October • Please let me know your thoughts and opinions, positive or negative, by letter or by e-mail. • There is a specific e-mail address for responses to the curriculum review, which is: curriculumreview@kingsmac.co.uk

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