Curriculum
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Information about each faculty
Curriculum Intent - whole school
Curriculum Intent by Key Stage
Level 3 Extended Project Qualification
Our aim is that every student, regardless of ability or circumstance, leaves Denefield with the foundations for a rich and fulfilling life.
Success for Life means:
- Developing the academic success and subject knowledge necessary to understand and enjoy the world around them, and to progress to the next stage of education, training or employment;
- Becoming economically independent and enjoying a rewarding career or occupation;
- Developing strong and positive relationships with adults and peers;
- Respecting and contributing to the community and the environment;
- Maximising physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing.
Success for Life is underpinned by the curriculum that we teach and the qualifications that students gain, and by the CHARACTER values that are embedded throughout the school.
Denefield curriculum intent statement – whole school
Our ambitious, knowledge-rich and engaging curriculum is the principal means of achieving the school’s vision and of embedding the school’s values. The intention of our subject-based curriculum is to ensure all students develop detailed knowledge and cultural capital across a range of academic, creative, practical and technical subjects. This will enable them to access the best that has been thought and said in each discipline, as well as to develop the nine Denefield CHARACTER values. The intention of our Success for Life curriculum is to ensure all students develop the essential knowledge, life skills and CHARACTER values to thrive in the modern world. The intention of our extra-curricular offer is to develop all students’ participation, leadership and communication skills, and to enhance their contribution to the community and society.
Our curriculum intent by Key Stage
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Subject-based curriculum |
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Success for Life curriculum |
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Extra-curricular offer |
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Key Stage 3 |
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The intention of our engaging subject-based Key Stage 3 curriculum is to ensure that all students have a knowledge-rich foundation into the workings of each subject discipline. They will develop their subject ambition, courage and resilience, and their desire for further study. |
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The intention of our engaging Success for Life curriculum at Key Stage 3 is to provide students with the knowledge and tools they need to confidently and happily navigate the twin transitions into secondary school and into early adolescence, and to manage the new opportunities and experiences these bring. |
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The intention of our engaging extra-curricular offer at Key Stage 3 is for students to increase students’ participation, develop collaboration and communication and develop their values of tolerance, empathy and respect. |
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Key Stage 4 |
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The intention of our engaging subject-based Key Stage 4 curriculum is to ensure all students use their detailed subject understanding, ambition and courage to apply detailed knowledge to new and challenging situations. |
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The intention of our engaging Success for Life curriculum at Key Stage 4 is to provide students with the confidence and self-awareness to become increasingly independent during the middle stage of adolescence, and to be able to happily manage the pressures from themselves, their peers, their school and their society. |
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The intention of our engaging extra-curricular offer at Key Stage 4 is for students develop further their values of tolerance, empathy and respect through, leading activities for their peers and younger students. |
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Key Stage 5 |
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The intention of our engaging subject-based Key Stage 5 curriculum is to ensure all students develop mastery in their chosen subject areas as a result of their courage, ambition and resilience, and to develop an ambitious mindset leading to further study, training or employment. |
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The intention of our engaging Success for Life curriculum at Key Stage 5 is to provide students with the knowledge and tools they need to confidently and happily navigate the twin transitions into adulthood and into further education, employment or training. |
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The intention of our engaging extra-curricular offer at Key Stage 5 is for students to advance further their values of tolerance, empathy and respect through initiating, planning, organising and leading activities for their peers, younger students and members of the outside community. |
The curriculum at Denefield runs on a two-week timetable of one-hour lessons; five lessons per day.
Denefield has recently changed the length of its Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 curriculum. For all year groups except Year 11, Key Stage 3 is now three years long and Key Stage 4 is now two years long.
At Key Stage 3, students study the full range of National Curriculum subjects, ensuring that they have a broad and balanced curriculum. These subjects include English, Maths, Science, one or two Modern Foreign Languages, History, Geography, Religious Studies, Music, Drama, Art, Technology, Computing and ICT, PE and Success for Life (PSHE). In addition, there is a daily tutor period which includes a weekly assembly.
Approximately two-thirds of students take two foreign languages out of French, German and Spanish in Years 7 and 8; they then continue with one or both into Year 9. The remaining third take one language from Year 7-9. In general students are expected to continue with at least one language to GCSE.
Baseline and end of year assessments together with external English, maths and science tests identify where students may require additional support and this information will then be used to place students in the most appropriate groups to ensure that the most effective curriculum can be delivered.
Key Stage 4 and the English Baccalaureat
All students take English Language and English Literature, Maths and either Separate (Triple) Science or Combined (Double) Science. Students make four option choices, to include either History or Geography and one of the three foreign languages on offer thus giving students the English Baccalaureate suite of qualifications. In addition, students have they have lessons in PE and Success for Life (PSHE), as well as a daily tutor period including a weekly assembly.
Current GCSE and Level 2 option choices
- Art and Design GCSE
- Art, Craft and Design GCSE
- Business Studies GCSE
- BTEC Level 2 Digital Information Technology
- BTEC Level 2 Enterprise
- BTEC Level 2 Health & Social Care
- BTEC Level 2 Sport
- BTEC Level 2 Travel and Tourism
- Computer Science GCSE
- Design Technology GCSE
- Drama GCSE
- Film Studies GCSE
- French GCSE*
- Geography GCSE
- German GCSE*
- History GCSE
- Level 2 Hospitality and Catering
- Music GCSE
- Philosophy and Ethics GCSE
- Physical Education GCSE
- Sociology GCSE
- Spanish GCSE*
*In the past, languages were taught on a rolling programme at Key Stage 3, with two out of French, German and Spanish being taught in any one year. This is reflected in the language choices that current GCSE students were offered.
Students who have met the entry criteria for Sixth Form at the end of Key Stage 4 are given the opportunity to study for A-Levels and/or Level 3 vocational courses. Denefield offers a wide range of courses that can lead to a wide variety of careers Post 18. Teaching and learning within Key Stage 5 is designed to promote self-study and independent learning whilst still providing a supporting framework that will help each learner achieve.
In the Sixth form all students are expected to study a minimum of three Level 3 courses, although some of the most able students embark on four options. As well as choosing their Level 3 courses students also have timetabled independent study lessons, and are encouraged to engage community service in or outside school. Sixth Form students are encouraged to take a leading part in the School Council and take an active part to support younger learners.
Students are taught the skills needed for Success for Life through the tutorial and assembly programme. This includes focusing on individual progression routes including careers, apprenticeships and university applications, financial skills such as money management, tax, mortgages, and life skills included mental health awareness and enhanced drugs awareness.
Subject choices at Key Stage 5
Current Key Stage 5 option choices
- Art and Design A Level (Fine Art)
- Biology A Level
- Business Studies A Level
- Business Studies BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate
- Chemistry A Level
- Criminology WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate
- Drama and Theatre Studies A Level
- English Literature A Level
- Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) Level 3
- Film Studies A Level
- Geography A Level
- Health and Social Care BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate
- History A Level
- Information Technology BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate
- Mathematics and Further Mathematics A Level
- Modern Foreign Languages A Level (French, German and Spanish)
- Photography A Level
- Physical Education A Level
- Physics A Level
- Psychology A Level
- Sociology A Level
- Sports BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate
- Sports Coaching and Player Development Programme
- Travel and Tourism BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate
We also run a football coaching and player development programme as a fourth enrichment offer where students achieve a Level 1 coaching qualification as well as the Level 3 Sports Leaders qualification which carries UCAS points.
Finally, students who wish to take on a fourth qualification, but not a full A Level, can opt to complete a Level 3 Extended Project Qualification. Again, this qualification develops a wide range of skills such as data handling and analysis, refined researching skills and enhanced report writing skills. This qualification carries valuable UCAS points for any students needing a few extra points to aim for the best universities.
For further information on our curriculum provision please contact:
Mrs Holley – Assistant Headteacher and Director of Key Stage 3 – hol@denefield.org.uk
Mrs Davis – Assistant Headteacher and Director of Key Stage 4 – dav@denefield.org.uk
Mr Peacock – Acting Head of Sixth Form and Director of Key Stage 5 – mpk@denefield.org.uk