Our Curriculum Structure

Our college mission statement, like the “Declaration of Independence”, clearly sets out to state we are a community that always strives to be a place where equality, human rights and self-determination is at the core of our Christian Catholic Community. We believe in a curriculum that supports all students from Year 7 through to Year 14 and not Year 7 to 11.

Our KS3 curriculum in Years 7, 8 and 9 offers learners a wide range of subjects. During this time, learners will have opportunities not only to enhance learning skills and knowledge but undertake enquiry-based, problem solving and decision-making activities. KS3 learners will have the scope to develop the broad curriculum skills and capabilities in greater depth. To facilitate the richness of the curriculum design further, all learners will embrace cultural capital not only within our curriculum component choices, but within the experiences that supports their learning in these areas. Equally, all subject areas offer bespoke careers experiences in each year group, which is intrinsically mapped out. These fundamental practices allow learners to demonstrate a diverse range of skills in a wide range of subjects.

At the foundations of our curriculum offering across all key stages is reading. At Archbishop Beck Catholic College, we are on a journey in creating a culture of reading across the College. We are in a fortunate position, that we have an extended form period each day, which allows our form teachers to deliver an effective ‘reading for pleasure’ programme to all our learners and enables them to have the opportunity to become immersed in a range of forms of literature. Equally, the time is also utilised to support those learners who need further support with their reading, comprehension, deduction and inference through tailored support programmes. Our belief is ‘reading more, reading better’ will support our student’s curriculum development across all subject areas and further enable them to flourish in learning and be competent readers – ‘a reader today, a leader tomorrow.’ Reading is intrinsically taught across the subject domains, alongside tier 2 and tier 3 vocabulary, which is supporting our vision for disciplinary literacy across the College.

Year 7 learners will undertake a transition programme in all subject curriculum areas when they begin Archbishop Beck Catholic College in the new academic year. A ‘Nurture Group’ has been formulated for some of our more vulnerable learners to support them both academically and emotionally as they venture into our secondary setting. Some of our learners are entitled to be a part of intervention programme to support their academic needs, if they did not achieve the expected standard in their KS2 curriculum assessments. This is co-ordinated carefully with Subject Leaders and our SEND Co-ordinator. KS3 will build on the fundamentals of KS2 and prepare learners for KS4.

The KS4 curriculum in Years 10 and 11 offers a breadth of subjects. Our Options process at the end of Year 9 is based on the interests, abilities and aptitude of learners and we are proud to offer an organic option choice for all our learners. They are supported at an individual level to help them choose the subjects that are appropriate for them and their destinations post-16. We offer a range of GCSE and Vocational qualifications and adapt every year to meet the needs of the learners.

All learners can complete the full English Baccalaureate suite of subjects. Consequently, the College will provide open guided learner choice at KS4, whilst building on the strengths and interests of the individual and maintaining breadth and balance, which is built on the intent for their aspirations for the future and is ultimately equitable for the learner. All students will study GCSE’s in: English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Religious Education, Combined Science, Dance or general PE.

Our KS5 curriculum is fully inclusive, students can follow academic routes, vocational routes, or a combination of both to ensure progression into Higher Education, Russell Group, Higher Apprenticeships, Further Education or relevant employment. A full RE programme is incorporated into the student’s study programme and supported with external visits and external delivery on the college site. Students follow an enrichment programme to support their vocational studies or Higher/Further Education application.

Students are also involved in a ‘work inspiration’ programme that includes guest speakers, employability interviews and a bespoke week’s work placement in their preferred area of interest. There are elite sporting academies in basketball, performing arts, football and mixed martial arts, in which students can follow academic/vocational programmes, and outside of the curriculum receive focussed coaching and competitive fixtures.

Method of Implementation

All students at KS4 will study English Language and Literature, Mathematics, Science, PE/Dance and RE. All students at KS4 will be able to access the full suite of English Baccalaureate subjects. All students at KS4 will receive appropriate advice and guidance to ensure they are supported fully in making the most suitable options. The outcome of the KS4 curriculum is learners will be obtaining a wide range of GCSEs to Vocational Qualifications over the course of the two years, which have been built on the foundations delivered during the course of KS3.