Innovating the Curriculum

Aims

• Share the KTS story about changing the curriculum to improve “performance”

• National picture – innovations utilised by other schools

• Share our own thoughts about our own schools

What is your story?

• Strengths and weaknesses of current curriculum

• Desires..• Concerns or threats..

New in post….

• Staff• Students• Parents/Govenors• Exam results• Curriculum models – time allocations• Option choices

• Excellent pathway structure at KS4– Diploma/WRL/GCSEs

• KS3 SATS results high ~ 90% • Consistently gaining ~ mid 70% 5A*-C inc

En/Ma and overall

• Small number (~10%) not making 2 levels of progress L3 on entry

• ~25% of new intake students had reading/spelling age 2yrs below chronological age

75% 5A*-C and beyond..

• Combination of students not making 2 levels of progress at KS3 and students with low levels of literacy/numeracy made up our 25% below threshold?

• Intervention at KS4 not working• Intervention at KS3, even at year 7 for

these students• Can we support these students to L5 by

year 9?• What other issues could we address

through this approach?

Process & Solution?

Planned Model 4 hours of support

Selection

Combination of a number of data sets•KS2 TA levels•Reading and Spelling ages•Information from year 6 teachers•Parents informed and advised

•Used the above as a baseline but no frequent testing

Resources

• Maths investigator– Spy based maths investigations– Solving puzzles– Cross curricular themes – Emphasis on fun – not extra maths

• English– Used resources to produce own materials– Guided reading scheme in year 8

• Top team of staff delivering• Self esteem

So far…

• Students love the lessons– Small group– Really like the teachers– “This is the lesson I am best at” (English)

• Improvements in confidence and engagement in the support lessons

• 2/18 cohort are still at level 2b from 2c• Rest are on line to reach a L5 if they

continue to make the same progress

Next steps

• 3 students are moving out of the group at the end of year – another opted to remain

• Extra support for a term to enable students to catch up in French

• Extra two hours for support in year 8 – introduce guided reading based in the library

Other examples

• Cramlington Learning Village, Northumberland, 2300 pupils

• Outstanding (Feb 2009)– From 6 x 55 to 4 x 75 minute lessons– School closes at 14:15 on Wed for 2hr staff

INSET– Focus on KS3 innovation – SECURE

(Stretch, Explore, Catch up, Rescue, Extend)

Eng/Num, second language, G&T masterclasses, independent projects

– L2L embedded in thematic humanities course

Outwood Grange Academy – West Yorkshire

8:30-9:30 Period 1

9:30-10:30 Period 2

10:30-10:45 Mentor Time

10:45-11:00 Break

11:00-12:00 Period 3

12:00-13:30 Period 4 (30 minute rolling lunch)

13:30-14:30 Period 5

14:30-15:30 Enrichment Opportunities

• One week timetable – 2100 students• Two year KS3 if students reach suitable targets at the

end of year 8• Complete two GSCE options per year for 3 year KS4• Enrichment is not accredited

Walton High - Buckinghamshire

Curriculum rationale“…capability to handle uncertainty and respond positively to change, to create and implement new ideas and new ways of doing things, to make risk/reward assessments and to act upon them in a variety of personal and working life contexts.”

•56 one hour lessons

1 2 3 4 5 6

Mon Lesson Lesson Lesson Lesson Tutor Pd

Tue Lesson Lesson Lesson Lesson Lesson Lesson

Wed Lesson Lesson Lesson Lesson St Course

Thur Lesson Lesson Lesson Lesson Lesson Lesson

Fri Lesson Lesson Lesson Lesson Tutor time Tutorials

• Interesting mix of approaches at Walton High

• 4 tutorial periods in a fortnight compared to 2/3 lessons in foundation subjects

• Thematic projects in cross curricular groups• 6 Advanced learning days in a year (G&T

master classes/projects/trips/enrichment• Huge emphasis on Business and Enterprise

across the whole school

Summer reading

• Curriculum Design in Action files• SSAT curriculum design website• Curriculum design exchanges

  2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 RPA (17)

Year 7 

Pathway 1Pathway 2 – Lit/Num support

Pathway 1Pathway 2 – Lit/Num supportNew Language Structure

Pathway 1Pathway 2 – Lit/Num supportNew Language Structure

Pathway 1Pathway 2 – Lit/Num supportNew Language Structure

Pathway 1Pathway 2 – Lit/Num supportNew Language Structure

Year 8 KS3 

Pathway 1Pathway 2 – Lit/Num support

Pathway 1Pathway 2 – Lit/Num supportNew Language Structure

Pathway 1Pathway 2 – Lit/Num supportNew Language Structure

Pathway 1Pathway 2 – Lit/Num supportNew Language Structure

Year 9 KS3GSCE Science

KS3GSCE Science

Pathway 1Pathway 2 – Lit/Num support/Alt Course3rd Language Option?GCSE Science

Pathway 1Pathway 2 – Lit/Num support/Alt Course3rd Language OptionGCSE Science

Pathway 1Pathway 2 – Lit/Num support/Alt Course3rd Language OptionGCSE Science

Year 10 Traditional GCSE routeDiplomasWRLFoundation Learning

Traditional GCSE routeDiplomasWRLFoundation Learning

Traditional GCSE routeDiplomasWRLFoundation LearningHigher Project as Option

Traditional GCSE routeDiplomasWRLFoundation LearningHigher Project as Option

Traditional GCSE routeDiplomasWRLFoundation LearningHigher Project as Option

Year 11 Traditional GCSE RouteDiplomasWRL

Traditional GCSE routeDiplomasWRLFoundation Learning

Traditional GCSE routeDiplomasWRLFoundation LearningPost Project Course

Traditional GCSE routeDiplomasWRLFoundation LearningPost Project Course

Traditional GCSE routeDiplomasWRLFoundation LearningPost Project Course

Year 12/13 Traditional AS/A2Diploma

Traditional AS/A2Diploma (college)ApprenticeshipsExtended Project

Traditional AS/A2Diploma (college)ApprenticeshipsExtended ProjectLevel 2 courses (in prep of RPA)

Traditional AS/A2Diploma (college)ApprenticeshipsExtended ProjectLevel 2 courses (in prep of RPA)

Traditional AS/A2Diploma (college)ApprenticeshipsExtended ProjectLevel 2 courses

• Spend 15 minutes completing parts of the curriculum map

• We will review after 15 minutes and close with final thoughts