Teaching & Learning
The Curriculum
Curriculum Intent
Our curriculum is ambitious, diverse and inclusive. It ignites curiosity in our students to achieve academic excellence through building character, resilience and cultural capital.
Our curriculum is built on our core values and will enable students to show:
Ambition: They will aspire to achieve great things and will strive for success.
Courage: They will find the strength to persevere and overcome challenges.
Integrity: They will live by our values and do the right thing – even when nobody’s looking.
Respect: They will treat others with empathy and compassion; they will take care of our environment.
The national curriculum is extended and contextualised in our school to meet the specific needs of our community.
Curriculum Implementation
We believe that high quality teaching and use of assessment are the key to making a great curriculum a reality for all students. Our school’s pedagogical approach is Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction where reviewing material, questioning, sequencing concepts and modelling, and practice will allow our students to progress to excellence in all subject areas. We also draw on the Embedding Formative Assessment Programme, where teachers use a variety of techniques to ensure we can measure the progress of all our students throughout our lessons, and are therefore able to support them the best we can.
The experiences on offer both within the timetable and in our co-curricular programme are designed to give our students a broad and balanced experience. We believe that this is achieved through:
- A well-sequenced learning journey from age 7 to 18;
- No curriculum narrowing;
- Appropriate pathways and a robust assessment system to ensure that all students are motivated, supported and able to achieve;
- Great teachers with excellent subject knowledge and an ability to communicate the skills and knowledge students need to become life-long learners;
- A philosophy that education is more than just what happens in the classroom.
Curriculum Overview
Curriculum Delivery Structure
The school runs a two week timetable with six lessons of 50 minutes each day – in a 2-2-2 formation. The percentage of time allocated to each subject area is reviewed annually. Saturday enrichment has an allocation of three 50 minute sessions – in a 2-1 formation.
Key Stage 2 Curriculum Delivery
Our Key Stage 2 Curriculum Description:
The number of lessons allocated to each subject per fortnight is summarised below:
* KS2 Technology:
This is delivered in a carousel. Students will change between DT, Food Tech and Art each half term.
** Key Stage 2 Enrichment:
In the Junior School, pupils have the opportunity to sign up for their choice of enrichment activities each term. These activities provide an exciting chance to enhance learning, develop new skills, and explore a variety of interests. Each enrichment session runs for half a term and at the end of each term, students will have the chance to sign up for a new enrichment activity, ensuring they experience a diverse range of activities over the course of the academic year. In the Autumn term, this includes:
- Netball
- Film Making
- Outdoor Learning
- Mythical Creatures
- Arts & Crafts
- Around the World
Key Stage 3 Curriculum Delivery
Our Key Stage 3 Curriculum Description:
The number of lessons allocated to each subject per fortnight is summarised below:
* KS3 Technology:
This is delivered in a carousel. Students will change between DT, Food Technology, Art and Textiles throughout the year.
** KS3 Enrichment:
Our aim for every student is to enrich their experience at school through an exciting programme of sport, the arts, music and other academic societies which stretches beyond the taught curriculum. Each term these activities will change to offer students a wide variety of opportunities. These may include:
- Sport: rugby, netball, football, basketball, badminton, table tennis, cricket, hockey and fitness
- The arts & music: Art society, Music Technology and the school performance
- Academic societies: Young Enterprise, Film Studies, Introduction to Psychology, Digital Leaders and debating
Key Stage 4 Curriculum Delivery
Our Key Stage 4 Curriculum Description:
The number of lessons allocated to each subject per fortnight is summarised below:
* Personal Development:
This includes Religious Studies, PSHE and Careers Education. This is delivered in one lesson as well as one 25 minute tutor time each week.
** KS4 Enrichment:
Our aim for every student is to enrich their experience at school through an exciting programme of sport, the arts, music and other academic societies which stretches beyond the taught curriculum. Each term these activities will change to offer students a wide variety of opportunities. These may include:
- Sport: rugby, netball, football, basketball, badminton, table tennis, cricket, hockey and fitness
- The arts & music: Art society, Music Technology and the school performance
- Academic societies: Young Enterprise, Film Studies, Introduction to Psychology, Digital Leaders and debating
- Year 11 support classes: Autumn – Art, DT, Food & Media support, Spring – Core subjects support, Summer – Revision
Key Stage 5 Curriculum Delivery
Our Key Stage 5 Curriculum Description:
The number of lessons allocated to each subject per fortnight is summarised below:
* Options: Students are advised to do 3 subjects at A-level, however some students are able to pursue 4 if they have predominantly Grade 8s & 9s at GCSE.
Additional Information
More information about the National Curriculum can be found here. The School’s Set Change Protocol can be found here.
Religious Education (RE)
Religious Education (RE) forms part of the curriculum at Royal Alexandra & Albert School. RE is taught as part of the school’s curriculum and, where applicable, may be delivered alongside or within other areas of learning.
The school also provides Collective Worship in accordance with its Collective Worship Policy.
Parents and carers have the legal right to request that their child is withdrawn from all or part of Religious Education (RE). Parents and carers who wish to exercise this right should contact the school to discuss their request.
Requests for withdrawal should be made in writing to the Head of School, Mr Gale, on headofschool@gatton-park.org.uk.
Remote Education Provision
The school is committed to supporting students to continue their education when they are unable to attend school, where appropriate.
Where remote education is required, the school will provide students with access to suitable learning activities and resources appropriate to their age, year group, and curriculum. Details of the arrangements for remote education, including how students will access learning, communicate with their teachers and receive feedback, will be provided to students and parents/carers as appropriate.
Parents and carers who require further information about the school’s remote education provision should contact the school directly.
Further Information
If you would like to find out more about the curriculum in the Senior School please contact the Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Office on 01737 649000.