The Purbrook Park Curriculum 2024/25

The Purbrook Park School curriculum is based upon the fundamental principles of equality, inclusivity, diversity, democracy and mutual support. Within and across subjects and Personal Development time, our ambitious curriculum provides pupils with powerful knowledge, deep understanding, and effective skills, to keep them safe and healthy, as well as to engender a lifelong love of learning.

Our rich and relevant curriculum develops pupils as critical thinkers, powerful communicators, and confident, caring, and active citizens.

It explores cultures and perspectives, within and outside the classroom, on a personal, local, national and global level. It challenges and inspires pupils, igniting their imagination, prompting awe and wonder, and catalysing critical thinking, creativity and innovation, through collaborative dialogue, experimentation, problem-solving, and discovery.

At the end of the Purbrook Park experience, our pupils can compete with anyone, anywhere, professionally and personally, in the world that is their future.

Purbrook Park School operates a two-week timetable with 50 taught lessons throughout week A and week B. Each lesson is 1 hour long. The school closes to pupils at 3:00pm (Monday to Thursday).  On Fridays, pupils finish at 2:20pm, this allows for an hour of dedicated extra curricula time for each member of staff, each week. 

Pupils benefit from Personal Development Learning throughout their time at Purbrook Park School.  From 1:30pm-2:00pm (Monday to Thursday), pupils in all year groups participate in a programme of carefully planned activities across a term, including: ethos activities, study skills, discussion skills, and assemblies.

Our five-year curriculum is designed to be ambitious, and to give all learners the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life. At Purbrook Park School we believe that a carefully planned and structured curriculum is the foundation upon which excellent learning and development is built. The curriculum is designed and implemented in such a way that it builds on prior knowledge, and prepares pupils for the next stage in their education.  Our teachers are experts, and we value each subject and its set of essential ideas, facts, stories and concepts, which comprise the knowledge we teach to our pupils.  Our curriculum planning interweaves subject specific skills, and ensures that pupils build on what they have previously learnt.  We have ensured that our Key Stage 3 curriculum is of equal ambition and breadth to the national curriculum.

Pupils receive excellent information and guidance when selecting their GCSE options. Most pupils study four option subjects. Disadvantaged and SEND pupils are encouraged to opt for challenging pathways.

Lead Teachers carefully construct a curriculum that promotes a deep understanding of a wide range of topics. Teachers plan learning that allows pupils to embed and recall knowledge through techniques such as careful sequencing, modelling, and retrieval practice. This builds firm foundations for progression to the next level, and to exam success.

Support for learning

Disadvantaged pupils, and those with SEND, are at the centre of our curriculum thinking and planning. In particular, we ensure that our curriculum meets the needs of vulnerable learners (this includes disadvantaged, SEND, and Young Carer pupils) by: 

• prioritising the knowledge and skills that will enhance the cultural capital of these pupils 
• deliberately teaching tier 3 vocabulary in each subject area 
• emphasising the outward-facing and global dimension to our curriculum
• designing our curriculum in such a way that it benefits all pupils and disproportionately benefits vulnerable learners. Elements of this curriculum design include: careful sequencing of knowledge and skills, quizzing and other methods to ensure the retention of knowledge over time, deliberate practice of key skills. 
• deliberately tilting systems and structures in their favour e.g. hands-down questioning, marking books and intervention

Subject allocation for each year group is as follows (numbers given are hours per fortnight):

Key Stage 3 - Years 7 & 8 2024/25

All pupils in Years 7 follow a broad and balanced curriculum, studying:

Subject	Lessons per Fortnight	Comments
English	7
Reading	1
Mathematics	7
Science	6
History - Year 7	4
History - Year 8	3
Geography - Year 7	3
Geography - Year 8	4
Religious Studies	3
Information Technology - Year 7	2
Information Technology - Year 8	1
Art	2
Design Technology	2	Includes, Textiles, 3D Design, Graphics & Food Technology. Pupils rotate through a carousel structure
Dance	2
Drama	2
Music	2
Physical Education	4
PSHE	1
Spanish	3

Personal Development Learning is delivered for 30 mins a day for four days a week, by tutors.

Setting in Years 7 & 8

In Year 7, pupils are taught in set classes in Mathematics. In Year 8, pupils are in set classes in English & Maths.  These sets are determined by KS2 data, internal assessments, and class work. Regular assessments inform changes of class according to the educational needs of individual pupils.

In all other subjects, pupils are taught in mixed attainment groups.

Key stage 4 - Year 9 in 2023/24

At Purbrook Park School we believe in pupils pursuing their interests and gaining success in the context of a broad and balanced education. The rationale behind our three-year Key Stage 4 is to create a less stressful and more personalised route of study for pupils, ensuring that a broad offer of four option subjects can be followed.

Pupils complete their full national curriculum entitlement at KS3 in all subjects, taught discretely. Pupils are engaged and challenged from day one. There is no behaviour dip or drop in standards.

Maintaining pathways to KS5 is a priority which would be seriously compromised by three options over two years, rather than four options over three years. Equally, the profile of our pupils and rigorous careers guidance, embedded within the options process, mean that pupils are stretched and challenged to select subjects that will benefit them as they move up the school.

By structuring KS4 over three years, pupils are calm, healthy and balanced, whilst maintaining greater options for KS5. Pupil and parental feedback repeatedly tells us that studying GCSEs over three years reduces workload, anxiety and stress.

The core curricula of English, Maths and Science have different routes available through them, suited to the ability of each pupil. The Key Stage 4 Curriculum is designed to include Core Subjects studied by everyone and Option Choices made by individual pupils. The Core Curriculum includes the following subjects: English and English Literature, Mathematics, Science, Physical Education, Religious Studies and Personal Development, including Careers, Relationships & Sex Education.

All pupils study:

Subject	Lessons per Fortnight	Comments
English	8	Both Language and Literature are followed
Mathematics	8	Students are prepared for both Foundation and Higher Tiers depending on target grades.
Science	8	Combined and Separate Sciences followed – this is determined at the end of year 9
Religious Studies	4	All pupils follow the GCSE in Religious Studies
Option Subjects	4 per subject (16)	Each option subject receives 4 hours per fortnight. Pupils 'opt' for four subjects, with bespoke guidance, to ensure that a balanced curriculum is maintained.
Physical Education	5
PSHE	1

Personal Development Learning is delivered for 30 mins a day for four days a week, by tutors.

Key stage 4 - Year 10 in 2024/25

All pupils study:

Subject	Lessons per Fortnight	Comments
English	8	Both Language and Literature are followed
Mathematics	8
Science	8	Combined and Separate Sciences followed Separate Sciences have an additional 2 hours
PSHE	1
Option Subjects	4 per subject (16)	Each option subject receives 4 hours per fortnight. Pupils 'opt' for four subjects, with bespoke guidance, to ensure that a balanced curriculum maintained.
Religious Studies	4
Physical Education	4	Separate Sciences pupils have 2 fewer hours

Personal Development Learning is delivered for 30 mins a day for four days a week, by tutors.

Key stage 4 - Year 11 in 2023/24

All pupils study:

Subject	Lessons per Fortnight	Comments
English	8	Both Language and Literature are followed
Mathematics	8
Science	9	Combined and Separate Sciences followed (Separate Sciences use one option block)
Option Subjects	4 per subject (16)	Each option subject receives 5 hours per fortnight. Pupils 'opt' for four subjects, with bespoke guidance, to ensure that a balanced curriculum is maintained.
Religious Studies	4
Physical Education	4
PSHE	1
Enrichment	2

Personal Development Learning is delivered for 30 mins a day for four days a week, by tutors.

Religious Studies in Year 9, 10 & 11

All pupils in Year 9 & 10 follow the GCSE in Religious Studies.  Religious Studies is a compulsory subject at KS4 on the National Curriculum.  We believe that studying GCSE Religious Studies develops pupils’ all-round character, and promotes a mutual respect for, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, and for those without faith.  It encourages pupils to form opinions around many ethical issues in the world around them, and promotes healthy opinions, and how to share these in a mature and sensitive way.  Pupils are taught how to listen to and respond to other pupils' viewpoints in a respectful and non-judgmental way.

GCSE Option Subjects 2023/24

The wide range of option choices encompasses both academic and vocational qualifications, and allows for learning pathways both within and beyond Key Stage 4.  Pupils must select one subject from History, Geography, French or Spanish, and then they can select 3 others.

Year 9		Year 10		Year 11
History	Geography	History	Geography	History	Geography
French	Spanish	French	Spanish	French	Spanish
Cam Nat Sport	Dance	Cam Nat Sport	BTEC Dance	Cam Nat Sport	BTEC Dance
Drama	Photography	Drama	Photography	Drama	Photography
Cam Nat Enterprise & Marketing	Art	Cam Nat Enterprise & Marketing	Art	Art	Cam Nat IT
3D Design	Sociology	3D Design	BTEC Food	3D Design	Textiles
Textiles	Food Preparation & Nutrition	Sociology	Textiles	Sociology	Food Preparation & Nutrition
Music		CNAT iMedia

All subjects are GCSEs unless stated otherwise.

Vocational Subjects

Pupils are permitted to choose a maximum of 2 Vocational Subjects.  The subjects that we offer are:

• Cambridge National Sports Studies

These qualifications allow our pupils the greatest chance of achieving their full potential. Pupils engage well with the course and often surpass their target grades. They develop important skills that GCSE PE cannot, with the varied presentation of coursework, as well as the non-negotiable deadlines, leading to improved time management and the ability to work under pressure. Throughout the course, we also teach pupils leadership skills which develops many of the social and employability skills that tie in so closely with our core curriculum.

• BTEC Performing Arts (Dance)

The BTEC is more reflective of the performing arts industry. The GCSE really only allows you to study Contemporary dance, whereas the BTEC allows the flexibility to study many different styles, and is more useful for those wishing to enter the industry as a performer.

• Cambridge National Enterprise & Marketing & Cambridge National iMedia

Enterprise & Marketing and IT are both subjects in which pupils need practical as well as theoretical skills.   The Cambridge Nationals qualification, as opposed to a GCSE, allows pupils to produce practical work (using Awarding Body set assignments) to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the skills they have gained.  By giving pupils the opportunity to demonstrate practical skills (producing and delivering a pitch, for example, in Enterprise & Marketing, or producing a database/spreadsheet under a client’s requirements in IT) they are able to show an understanding, practically, as well as in theory.  The Cambridge Nationals are designed to allow transferable skills, whereas the GCSEs in these subjects, tend to be based more on the theory rather than the practical application.

If you would like any further information about any aspect of our school curriculum, please contact the lead teacher in each subject directly, or alternatively, email us at admin@purbrook.hants.sch.uk