Our Lady's Catholic High School
Our school is a diverse and wonderful community and our curriculum provides equality of opportunity for all. It helps our pupils to understand what it means to ‘Be One of Ours’. It is designed to develop literate, numerate, confident speakers; pupils who are solvers of problems by negotiation; true to their faith; caring of others and for their environment; pupils who are creative and appreciative of the arts; ambitious pupils who are motivated and believe in their abilities; who understand the impact of previous generations both locally and on our world and can use their skills, knowledge and values to create a better world for all.
Our curriculum develops our pupils in ways that go far beyond the academic. It is enriched by numerous opportunities for, spiritual growth, personal and moral development, living safely, cultural awareness and personal challenge. Our pupils are educated in the Our Lady’s virtues, ensuring they are continually challenged, enabling them to develop and mature as people whilst at our school.
Our pupils’ knowledge must be secure and provide a strong foundation for their future learning and progression, supported by individualised and meaningful careers provision throughout their time at our school. Academic, vocational and technical ambition are offered and celebrated with equal distinction and EBacc subjects will be studied by all our pupils through the 3 years of KS3 and be made available to all our pupils at KS4, through an open option process.
By ‘Being One of Ours’, our pupils will leave our school having developed into literate, numerate, and confident speakers who will be solvers of problems by negotiation; be true to their faith; be caring of others and for their environment; be creative and appreciative of the arts; be ambitious, motivated and believe in their abilities; be people who are mindful and respectful of the nine protected characteristics; be people who understand the impact of previous generations both locally and on our world and can use their skills, knowledge and values to create a better world for all by positively contributing to society.
They will have achieved their God-given potential in external examinations, having made strong, personal progress. ‘Being One of Ours’ guides our pupils into further education, employment and training, following a path best suited to their ambition.
Our curriculum aims to provide our pupils with a broad, balanced and well-sequenced programme of learning for all pupils. We achieve this for all pupils at Our Lady’s by:
- Ensuring they have access to a wide and varied curriculum which allows them access to experiences to enhance their life chances;
- Helping pupils to meet and conquer any barriers to their learning, and supporting all pupils, including those with educational needs to achieve their very best;
- Supporting and developing pupils’ skills particularly in the areas of literacy and numeracy;
- Ensuring all pupils have access to curriculum enhancing opportunities both within and outside of the classroom.
Our core curriculum is ambitious and challenging; it allows all pupils to experience a rich and engaging education that will enable them to confidently make independent choices about their future ambitions and make significant contributions to the wider world.
At the heart of our curriculum design is a shared commitment to sequence and adapt a programme of study that considers our local context and the individual needs of each pupil. All pupils experience quality first teaching and we expect them to display a thirst for knowledge and a love of learning.
Each subject has a clear sequence, based upon a pupils’ learning from Key Stage 2, building upon this knowledge to challenge and develop ideas, address any misconceptions and ultimately consolidate this information into a working knowledge that can be used to solve novel problems. By developing the knowledge and skills in each curriculum, we ensure that pupils will be successful when they leave our school, securing their future in society.
All pupils are able to select from a range of subjects - academic, practical and vocational styles are all catered for. At Key Stage 3 we teach a broad and balanced curriculum giving all pupils access to a foreign language, the arts in both drama and fine art alongside a large variety of practical technology subjects. Alongside this our RE curriculum develops the spiritual side of our pupils and is supplemented by planned PSHE days with Futures days highlighting the potential careers available to all pupils.
Our curriculum at Key Stage 3 offers the following subjects:
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- RE
- French
- Spanish
- Geography
- History
- Computer Science
- Art
- Design Technology
- Graphics
- Food Technology
- Textiles
- Music
- Drama
- PE
During Year 9 our pupils will select their options for the following year. We offer a range of subjects which cater for the needs of the pupil. We do this by offering an open options process which allows pupils to choose the subjects which are suitable for them. We offer a complete range of subjects, meaning that each pupil has access to the English baccalaureate however should they feel a more vocational option is better, we pair with our local colleges to offer courses designed to offer a more practical route. This ensures that all pupils are provided with a programme of study which ensures they are ready for the next stage of their life once they leave us.
Through our Futures Days, pupils are prepared for their option choices by offering advice on career paths, financial needs, and prospects, focusing on the GCSE subjects available to them. By offering advice and further guidance through school events, assemblies and meetings with parents, we ensure that the pupils select the subjects that are most suitable for them and thus provide them with a pathway through Key Stage 4 and beyond.
Pupils follow a two-week timetable consisting of 25 lessons per week.
In addition, the following subjects are taught on an 9-week carousel:
| Subject | Lessons per fortnight | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 | |
| English | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Maths | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| RE | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Science | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Geography | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| History | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| French | 4 | 3 (B & C band) 4 (T & M band) | 3 (B & C band) 4 (T & M band) |
| Spanish | N/A | 2 (B & C band only) | 2 (B & C band only) |
| Music | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| PE | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Art | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Drama | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Computer Science | 2 | 2 | 2 |
In addition, the following subjects are taught on an 9-week carousel:
| Subject | Lessons per fortnight | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 | |
| Food Technology | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Graphics | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Resistant Materials | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Textiles | 4 | 4 | 4 |
At KS4 we offer a broad, balanced curriculum based around the core GCSE subjects which includes RE as a compulsory examination subject. In addition to this, pupils will choose four subjects from a wide range of different subjects to study as a part of our options process.
| Subject | Lessons per fortnight | |
|---|---|---|
| Year 10 | Year 11 | |
| English | 7 | 7 |
| Maths | 7 | 7 |
| RE | 5 | 5 |
| Science | 9 | 9 |
| PE | 2 | 2 |
Option Subjects
| Subject | Lessons per fortnight | |
|---|---|---|
| Year 10 | Year 11 | |
| Art | 5 | 5 |
| Business Studies | 5 | 5 |
| Computer Science | 5 | 5 |
| Drama | 5 | 5 |
| Food Technology | 5 | 5 |
| French | 5 | 5 |
| Geography | 5 | 5 |
| Graphics | 5 | 5 |
| History | 5 | 5 |
| ICT | 5 | 5 |
| Music | 5 | 5 |
| PE | 5 | 5 |
| Resistant Materials | 5 | 5 |
| Separate Science | 5 | 5 |
| Spanish | 5 | 5 |
| Sociology | 5 | 5 |
| Textiles | 5 | 5 |
| Vocational Construction | 5 | 5 |
| Vocational Hair & Beauty | 5 | 5 |
| Vocational Motor Vehicle Maintenance | 5 | 5 |
