Our Intent:

To unlock the belief in our students that they can change society for the better through a knowledge rich curriculum which provides the best of all that has been thought and said.

Aims of the Curriculum:

Curriculum Principles:

Balanced, rigorous, coherent and vertically integrated

As an 11-18 academy our subject leaders considered the knowledge, skills and aptitudes that are required to achieve academic excellence in each discipline. With the aim of creating future subject specialists in mind we then engage and deliver a balanced, rigorous, coherent, vertically integrated, focused and relevant curriculum underpinned by the very best established research in how pupils learn.

Each subject has its own unique sense of mastery achieved through the acquisition of the very best that has been thought and said in its own discipline. Our heads of department make clear what end points the curriculum is building towards, what pupils need to know and be able to do to reach the end points and plan and sequence the curriculum to that end.

Local Context:

Local labour market information in Berkshire tells us that 36% of all jobs in Berkshire require degrees with 42% of all residents holding degree level qualifications. A further 56% of jobs demand mid-range qualifications however only a third of residents have their highest qualification at this level. However future market trends suggest with the rise of automation that these students holding only mid-range qualifications are four times more likely to use their jobs than the average (Gillian Tett, FT, 7/9/19).

EBaccalaureate at the Core of our Curriculum:

We are ambitious for our students, and see it as an issue of moral and social justice that our students do not settle for jobs less than their potential suggests they are capable of. In other words, should they have the potential, our students should have the opportunity and confidence to aim for the 36% of jobs which require a degree in the locality or greater. With Europe’s largest Industrial Park on our doorstep, we aim to provide our students with the qualifications to uptake every possible opportunity. That means putting the EBacc at the core of the curriculum.

Implementation:

All of our lessons are rooted in the best evidence about how pupils learn. The units studied in each department by students is sequenced so that knowledge is retrieved and developed leading to them becoming culturally literate (Hirsh, 1987). The study is coherently aligned so there is clarity to teaching and each student will have a curriculum map in their books so that they can clearly see where their learning fits into the bigger picture of each subject.

Lessons are delivered in line with Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction (2012), students have access to slideshows used in lessons as well as supporting material and resources to extend their work.

During the options process at the end of KS3 students are guided towards the differentiated pathway which best suits their individual needs. They will select a combination of traditional GCSE subjects or vocational options as appropriate.

Year 7 Curriculum Map 2020-2021

Year 8 Curriculum Map 2020-2021

Year 9 Curriculum Map 2020-2021

Year 10 Curriculum Map 2020-2021

Year 11 Curriculum Map 2020-2021

Covid-19:

Covid-19 has meant that schools have put in extra measures to keep students safe, whilst at the same time to continue to offer and allow students to study a broad and balanced curriculum. At St Joseph’s, we have ensured all students continue with all of their option choices, whilst making sure the practical subjects such as, Dance, PE, DT and IT are all ensuring the safety of students. We are proud to have been able to offer our full option programme in the 2020-21 year.

Continuing the work done during the original lockdown period in March 2020, students self-isolating are able to access the lessons and curriculum delivery on offer. Subject teachers provide all students with necessary work should they be off via Microsoft Teams. This has meant that no student will miss out on any learning opportunity. Further information regarding our Remote Learning Policy can be found on the website.

Further information on our curriculum pathways can be found here;

Key Stage 4 Options Booklet - Pathway 1

Key Stage 4 Options Booklet - Pathway 2