National Curriculum

The Curriculum

Greenshaw’s curriculum embraces everything the pupils experience at or through school. Our fundamental aim is to meet the individual needs of all pupils across the full ability range, by delivering a differentiated and supported curriculum which has high expectations, encourages active learning, delivers academic success and builds self worth. More specifically, the chief aims of the education provided by lessons, homework and curriculum enrichment activities are as follows:

To help all pupils to achieve in all areas of learning and experience, through a broad and balanced curriculum which is differentiated according to the varying ability and motivational needs of the pupils;
To fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum and to help all pupils secure the maximum possible success in public examinations;
To help pupils to develop a wide range of mental attributes such as will assist them in their chosen career and aid them in the development of their learning throughout their lives;
To help pupils to acquire a wide range of physical and practical skills and to help them utilise those skills in a variety of different contexts;
To engender in pupils a love of learning for its own sake, helping them to recognise the pleasure and enjoyment that can be gained from the acquisition of new knowledge and understanding and the development of new skills;
To help pupils to develop such qualities of character and personality as will help them to take their place as active citizens in a pluralistic, multicultural, democratic society;
To help pupils to develop an awareness of moral values, to recognise the existence of moral values other than their own and to respect the moral values implicit in the ethos of the school;
To help pupils to acquire knowledge and skills that will contribute to their development as mature adults, helping to prepare them for their future lives at home, at work, at leisure and in continuing education;
To create a curriculum that allows for progression and continuity within and between key stages and which is coherently implemented and organised;
To facilitate equality of access to the curriculum for all pupils;
To teach the curriculum through a wide variety of teaching styles and through the creation of learning situations appropriate to the needs of the pupils;
To create an environment that is conducive to learning, where pupils feel free to adopt a positive attitude towards their education and where all forms of success and achievement are recognised and celebrated.

The National Curriculum

There are approximately 1380 pupils on roll who are taught in accordance with the National Curriculum by an exceptionally well qualified staff. The size of the school affords us an excellent range of specialist facilities and general resources.

There is a common curriculum in the first three years (Years 7-9) consisting of art, design and technology (including food, resistant materials and textiles), drama, English, French, Spanish or German, geography, history, information technology, mathematics, music, physical education, religious studies and science.

In Years 10 and 11, pupils follow courses that they have selected after discussion with their parents and teachers. In order that they receive a balanced education, their course includes a modern language study (French, Spanish or German), mathematics, English (language and literature), double award science (covering all the core elements of biology, chemistry and physics), a technological subject, an arts course, a humanities subject, physical education and religious studies. Thereafter, a pupil may choose one further course from : child development, information technology, a second humanities subject, a technology subject or a second modern foreign language. All pupils study information technology. Courses will be modified as the National Curriculum Orders require.

Religious studies involves an exploration of the origins of religion and the development of all major world religions, especially Christianity. If parents wish, for reasons of religious conviction, to withdraw their child from these lessons, they should discuss the matter with the Headteacher.

Sex education conforms to the policy of the governing body, a copy of which is available to parents on request. Sex education is taught through certain elements of the national curriculum, for example science and physical education, and as part of religious studies and the tutorial programme. The content includes reference to and discussion of family relationships, birth control, child care and development, hygiene, health and morality.

Careers education is delivered partly through the tutorial programme and partly through work experience for all pupils in Years 11 and 12. Our Careers Education Co-ordinator arranges for all pupils in Year 10 to take part in an Individual Action Planning process. In Year 11 all pupils have the opportunity to have interviews with members of Prospects Careers Service. These take place in the careers interview room, which is equipped with a database to which all pupils have access.

Any parents who are concerned about the curriculum being offered at the school should please contact the Head or one of the Deputies. Should they not be able to resolve the matter, it may be referred to the Governors or the Director of Education. The procedure for formal complaints is available on request from the Headteacher.