Curriculum Intent
Our school’s Christian values and our commitment to fulfilling the Church of England’s vision for education with Jesus’ promise of “Life in all its fullness” are at the heart of our curriculum. Our mission is to provide an excellent education within a Christian environment to fulfil individual potential and to prepare students for life and service in a rapidly changing world. We aim to offer a first class, well-rounded education in which all students are encouraged to have unlimited ambition, through a broad and enhanced curriculum from 11 to 18.
The core offer for all our students throughout Key Stages 3 & 4 of English, Maths, Science and Religious Studies ensures academic rigour and a breadth of key gateway qualifications to support transition into the next phase of their education. A full complement of National Curriculum subjects are offered covering a range of disciplines in KS3. The opportunity to study a second modern foreign or ancient language is available to students from Year 8. This is enhanced at GCSE level with the opportunity to select 3 further subjects. This diversity and choice provides breadth and enables students to flourish and be successful.
Every student is unique, so we ensure that all students are provided with an appropriate level of challenge and support to maximise our impact on their progress. We are committed to developing well-rounded individuals and achieve this through the delivery of a timetabled PSHE curriculum across all key stages, which helps students develop important British values, their own moral compass, a sense of purpose and an appreciation for different cultures, opinions and beliefs.
Moreover, comprehensive extra-curricular provision and a focus on developing students’ literacy through reading for pleasure, further enhances, broadens and adds depth to the timetabled curriculum offer. Therefore, all students have the opportunity to learn beyond the classroom and experience life in all its fullness.
Academic rigour is maintained throughout the KS3 and KS4 curriculum subject offer. Three languages are available, both ancient and modern, while our humanities offer expands beyond History and Geography to include Ancient History & Geology. A full suite of Technology disciplines, and Performing Arts subjects together with PE, Sport, iMedia and computing offers a breadth of areas of study so every student can find a combination of subjects that works for them and maintain the purpose of GCSEs in offering a general education.
All students in Year 9 have individual progress interviews with a member of staff and their parents to consider career plans and ambitions to ensure option choices support breadth and do not limit aspiration. Students and their guardians are encouraged to consider the EBacc pathway, although mandatory streaming on prior attainment is not a strategy the school employs. As a school we do not wish to be led by accountability mechanisms to force students through an identikit set of subjects. We feel that this hierarchical approach to KS4 subjects would have the impact of alienating and dispiriting many of our students.
In Year 11 a further individual progress meeting supplements the rigorous independent careers advice and guidance that the students are entitled to. This ensures next steps to Key Stage 5 and beyond are considered and planned for. The Key Stage 5 offer in the 6th form (over 27 A Level subjects) builds on the GCSE offer and ensure a pathway for the majority of subjects offered at Key Stage 4.
Canon Slade School’s approach to the curriculum is one that is fully inclusive and ensures that it is accessible for those with disabilities and/or special educational needs. This is done in compliance with the Equality Act (2012) and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations (2014) and in accordance with both the Bishop Fraser Trust’s Equality & Diversity and Canon Slade School’s SEND policies.
Our Curriculum
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Art
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Business
Business
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Computer Science
Computer Science
We will deliver an ambitious, challenging and well planned curriculum, adapted for all students, which covers the core concepts and knowledge students need to become confident and safe users of computer systems in the modern world.
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Dance
Dance
Studying dance enables our pupils to explore their creativity, maintain their physical and mental health whilst building their resilience and confidence – all invaluable life skills.
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Design & Technology
Design & Technology
Design and Technology is a practical and valuable subject that enables children and young people to actively contribute to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of themselves, their community and their nation. It teaches how to take risks and so become more resilient, resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable.
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Drama
Drama
We aim to foster a love of the Arts and use Drama as a tool to enable students to develop key skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing that will prepare them for their future.
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Economics
Economics
Economics will give you an awareness of how modern-day society works. You will develop a greater understanding of how businesses function and what roles we play in affecting the economy.
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English
English
The study of English provides the foundation for all other learning and better literacy skills have (through various studies) been linked to greater success, increased happiness and even an improved lifespan. Therefore, we believe that the English curriculum is at the heart of living ‘life in all its fullness’.
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Geology
Geology
Geology provides the foundations for understanding the science of ‘how the Earth works’: its structure, evolution and dynamics, and its mineral and energy resources.
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Geography
Geography
We want to instil a sense of awe and wonder in the world we live. ‘It’s about being able to learn about and name things that are, for many, outside their daily experience’.
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History
History
We aim to develop historians who can tell everyone’s stories through the provision of a rich and broad curriculum. We use the stories of a variety of individuals to help students engage with the past in a more personal way.
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Languages (MFL)
Languages (MFL)
Through the study of modern languages, we aim to broaden students’ understanding of the world in which they live, so that they can grow into global citizens; developing expertise in languages and allowing them to become confident communicators. Through the study of ancient languages, we want our students to understand how influences from the past have shaped our world.
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Latin
Latin
We believe that Media Studies provides our students with the skills and understanding to examine the world around them, looking closely at how messages and meaning are constructed in a wide range of media texts.
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Maths
Maths
We aim to create confident and enthusiastic mathematicians who have a love of learning.
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Media Studies
Media Studies
We believe that Media Studies provides our students with the skills and understanding to examine the world around them, looking closely at how messages and meaning are constructed in a wide range of media texts.
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Music
Music
In a world surrounded by music, which has links to both academic progress, social development and mental wellbeing, we strive to provide a rigorous musical education with a wide range of extra-curricular ensembles, musicals and instrumental opportunities.
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PE
PE
PE isn't just about sports. You'll learn a lot about health, well-being and the human body. You'll learn a wide range of skills when studying PE that will help you in your future career.
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PSHE
PSHE
Our vision is to support our young people in developing a greater knowledge and expression of their great worth, as well as enabling our pupils to be equipped to engage effectively and positively with the rapidly changing world.
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Psychology
Psychology
Psychologists work in many areas of society such as business, health, education and sport. They use scientific methods and knowledge about human mind and behaviour to help deal with practical problems.
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RS
RS
We believe that Religious Studies at Canon Slade School enables every child to flourish and to live ‘life in all its fullness’. (John 10:10). It helps to educate for dignity and respect, encouraging all to live well together.
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Science
Science
We aim to provide students with skills and knowledge of the most important ideas in science in order for them to become science literate, so when faced with choices they can make decisions about what is best, for them and the planet, based on scientific fact and observable evidence.
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Sociology
Sociology
Sociology focuses on the complexities of human behaviours within society and is a fascinating area of study. By studying Sociology you’ll broaden your understanding of society in many ways.
An Overview of our Curriculum
We are proud of our curriculum, which is broad, balanced and ensures every student has the opportunity to reach his or her full potential. In KS3, students study the full range of National Curriculum subjects. In Year 9, they have the opportunity to select from a number of options in addition to the core offer.
Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9):
When students join us in Year 7, they are initially taught in broad mixed ability groups based on KS2 data/information.
In Year 7, students will study the following subjects:
Art(1), Computing (1), Drama (1), English (3), Geography (2), History (2), Maths (3), Music (1), PE (2), PSHCE (1), RS (1), Science (3), Spanish (2) & Technology (2).
In Year 8 students continue to study all these subjects, but also have the opportunity to study Spanish, French or Latin as a second language in place of one period of PE and one period of Technology. This continues into Year 9 where one period is taken from PE and the other is in place of students' additional creative choice subject. (see below).
In Year 9, the curriculum remains broad with all students studying English, Maths, Science, Religious Studies, Spanish, History, Geography, Computing, Technology, Art & Design, Music, PSHE and PE. Students who have not opted for an additional language in Year 8 are require to make an additional creative choice. This will be one period per week in one of the following: Drama, Dance, Digital Design, Engineering, Architecture, Materials, Textiles & Fashion and Home Cooking Skills.
Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11):
Students opt for their KS4 courses at the end of Year 9, making final choices about which subjects they will study for their GCSEs. Students receive a wealth of information and guidance when choosing their options; we know this can be a very difficult process. Students follow a core curriculum of English (5), Maths (4), PSHCE (1), PE (1/2), RS (2) and Science (5 or 6 periods as top sets complete 3 separate sciences and have 2 periods for each). They then choose three option subjects from the wide range of courses on offer, which they have twice a week:
Ancient History, Art & Design, Business Studies, Computer Science, Creative iMedia, Dance, Design and Technology, Drama, Food Preparation and Nutrition, French, Geography , Geology, History, Latin , Media Studies, Music , Music Technology (NCFE Level 2), Physical Education, Spanish.
This guided option process ensures that students follow a broad and balanced curriculum with an appropriate academic diet.
10-11):
At KS4, students are taught the core subjects in 2 half-year groups. Each half-year group is split by ability for English, Maths, RS & Science. The options are taught across the full year group with some setting by ability, and some mixed ability groupings.
We also offer a personalised curriculum for a small number of students via our Inclusion
Department. These students (with agreement from parent/carers ) are supported with their core subjects in place of one or more of their option choices.
Key Stage 5:
The majority of our sixth form students embark on studying 3 A levels or Level 3 courses:
A Level courses offered are:
Art & Design, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Classics, Computer Science, Dance, Design Technology, Economics, French, Geography, Geology, History, Latin, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, PE, Politics, Psychology, RS, Sociology, Spanish, Textiles, Theatre Studies, Music & Music Technology.
A number of students study a Level 3 Diploma in Sport and Exercise Science.
Each subject is allocated 5 periods a week, smaller subjects run as enrichments on 3 periods a week. A wide range of options are available and all students also receive one period of PSHCE per week, alongside a weekly Enrichment Lecture Programme in year 12
Each subject teacher indicates extra activities that students should undertake independently to improve their learning. Quiet, supervised study rooms, along with a number of ICT facilities are provided for this purpose.
All students also participate in our enrichment programme. Students are offered work experience opportunities through a formal work experience week. Students' progression is further supported with extra-curricular activities that develop their character, broader skills, attitude and confidence such as the Extended Project Qualification and the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Click for more detail on sixth form courses
Contact
Should you wish to find out any further information about any of the curriculums on offer at the school, do not hesitate to contact the relevant Head of Department or email contact@canon-slade.bolton.sch.uk.
