Our Intent

The curriculum delivers opportunities for students to learn to be successful and to gain useful, transferable skills. It works to address any gaps in skills and knowledge from KS2 into KS3 and deepens this in specialist subject areas. We will develop the baselines for their learning and ensure they have a successful transition from primary school to secondary school.

Key Stage 3 has a curriculum overview based on a three-year rolling programme. The rolling programme allows students to be placed in mixed age classes of years 7 and 8. This therefore allows students to be grouped in classes based on a range of factors e.g. student needs, abilities and outcomes.

The Key Stage 3 curriculum aims to:

• Create successful learners who are ready to learn, make progress and achieve.
• Create responsible citizens who are going to make a positive contribution to society and the community they live in.
• Create confident young people who live safe and fulfilled lives
• Empower students to recognise their success and build resilience

The Key Stage 3 curriculum intent will be implemented by offering a broad and balanced curriculum that builds firm foundations across all subject areas.

Key Stage 3 teachers will carefully assess each student's abilities. Teachers will work with parents / carers and any linked professionals to target the next key steps in priority areas. These will be agreed though 12-month outcomes set as part of the EHCP process.

Teachers will also plan the next individual student steps in all curriculum areas, which will be informed by planned and sequenced knowledge and skills in all areas. Alongside this, teachers will identify the strategies that each student needs to access the curriculum to achieve and make progress.

This will be individual to each student. Teachers will use a range of strategies to support students to develop their skills and learn and retain knowledge. Strategies will include:

• Zones of Regulation
• Structured visual and communication support
• Work/ reward
• Multisensory delivery
• Repetition/pre-teaching

Through PSHE, students' social, moral, spiritual, and cultural knowledge and skills will be developed as well as being taught about good mental health. This includes relationships, emotional regulation, healthy living, and keeping safe.

Because of our curriculum, Key Stage 3 students feel happy, safe and respected. Students develop their levels of independence and demonstrate high levels of engagement in activities / lessons whilst developing their speaking, listening and social skills. They are able to use self-identified tools to self-regulate and identify their emotions and communicate their wants and needs.

Due to the highly effective curriculum, students’ self-esteem and confidence improve as they move through the key stage, and they foster a sense of self-belief and aspiration for their future. By the end of Key Stage 3, students are well prepared for the next stage of their education at Windmill Hill School.