Curriculum

Statement of Intent

The Curriculum we offer at Christ the King provides a wide and comprehensive range of subjects that are undertaken over 30 periods per week to deliver a broad and balanced curriculum that develops the whole person. However, at Christ the King, our curriculum is not just a framework of subjects – our philosophy is to develop each student to be open and responsive to the responsibilities and experiences of the wider world around them, and to be the best they can be. To ensure each student has the strong academic foundations they need to fully access GCSEs, A Levels, Apprenticeships or the University pathway of their choice in their future. As a school we also place a strong emphasis on creating a positive culture for learning and promote the development and well-being of the whole person.

Religious Education is a strong feature of the curriculum at Christ the King, as it enables students from a wide range of faiths, cultures and nationalities to identify with the distinctive Catholic ethos of the school and its core British values of respect, tolerance and understanding of all individuals. It is a key aspect of enhancing the Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural awareness of each student, and facilitating their engagement with the society and inclusive community around us.

We are committed to developing the Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural development of each student in our care which we deliver through a number of sessions that take place each morning in House Group time between 8.40 and 9am, where students either: undertake Collective Worship in their nurturing pastoral House Tutor group and/or in a Chapel session; watch and discuss age-appropriate news (Newsround et al), read together or gather collectively as a House for weekly House Assemblies. Students may also: engage in the ‘Reading Buddies’ scheme which aims to enhance the reading skills of younger students; meet in Prefect Teams or as a Student Council, or enhance their own literacy and/or numeracy skills in specific and targeted intervention programs during this time. We also emphasise the wider skills of citizenship and personal, social and health education across the curriculum with regular Extended Learning Days in a rolling program for students of all year groups over the school year.

Christ the King places a dedicated focus on charitable work which promotes a real understanding and empathy for people in real world situations, led by our dedicated and democratically elected Student Council and our volunteer Chaplaincy group. Our actions are embodied within our mission statement ‘Love one another as I have loved you’ (John, 15). Regular Inter-House challenges promote healthy competition and sportsmanship with a range of sporting and/or creative challenges that engage students of all skills, talents and interests. Enterprise events are held regularly which develop entrepreneurial skills, and facilitate the understanding of the need of working together as a team to achieve a common goal.

Peripatetic Music teachers provide school-subsidised music tuition for all students who demonstrate a dedicated interest in brass or woodwind instruments, drum or guitar, and there are a number of opportunities for all students to showcase their creative talents in a variety of clubs, performances and shows throughout the school year. The award-winning PE department engages all abilities with a wide range of sporting activities that are available daily. With an extensive extra-curricular timetable, there is something to engage and support everyone at Christ the King, each activity designed to develop and demonstrate excellence beyond the classroom.

The CtK extra-curricular timetable is available to view here.

Our specialist and dedicated staff regularly update their teaching practices using established research based evidence to ensure that all lessons are of high quality and challenge all students to achieve their full academic potential. The classrooms and the virtual learning environment (Firefly platform) is equipped with effective digital information technology and teaching and learning resources, which our staff strive to continuously update and share. The SEND team of Teaching Assistants are strategically deployed to ensure that all students who require additional support are fully supported in all aspects of their school life to enable full access to the whole and wider curriculum. Homework clubs are provided at both lunchtimes and after-school for all students, and voluntary and/or compulsory study sessions are available for all Key Stage 4 students every evening after school, provided by specialist subject teachers to ensure all students achieve at their full potential.

Overview of provision

At Key Stage 3, the rich and varied curriculum includes a program of creative arts (Music, Art and Drama), practical subjects (Food Technology, Resistant Materials, Ceramics, Physical Education and ICT), a Modern Foreign Language (Spanish) and Humanities (History and Geography) alongside the provision of the core subjects of English, Mathematics, RE, Science and PSHE.  Our ‘Learning and Life Skills’ program for Key Stage 3 features a multi-layered approach to developing and practicing the literacy, numeracy, and oracy skills that are required to fully access an academic curriculum at a functional level and is available where required. All subjects are assessed according to the Key Stage 3 Assessment Ladder which is designed to encourage all students to continuously strive to reach the highest standards.

There are x 6 periods per day so x 30 timetabled lessons per week. The subjects are allocated as follows:

*Learning and Life Skills take place instead of Spanish for appropriate groups.

In Year 9, we discuss individual curriculum pathways with students and their parents as students prepare for the transition to Key Stage 4. Personalised programs are created to develop students’ particular strengths while enabling them to make good progress in all subjects at GCSE level or equivalent.

At Key Stage 4, students undertake a more focused approach to both compulsory Core GCSE subjects and individually chosen Optional GCSE or equivalent level Vocational or Technical Award subjects, each taught by specialist teachers. Core subjects include English, Mathematics, RE, Science (Combined Science or the three separate Sciences: Biology, Chemistry and Physics), Digital Information Technology, and non-GCSE PE.

Optional subjects are selected from the full range of the English baccalaureate subjects (Computer Science, Modern Foreign Languages, History and Geography) or from the extensive provision of GCSE (or Technical Award equivalent) subjects including Health & Social Care, Catering and Hospitality, Performing Arts, Design Technology, and PE. Additional GCSE subjects that are held after-school in Art and Performing Arts may be available to opt in to, depending on an individual’s appropriate pathway.

There are x 6 periods per day so x 30 timetabled lessons per week. The subjects are allocated as follows:

At Key Stage 4, PSHE is delivered via scheduled events.

# There are 3 lessons per week allocated to the delivery of optional subjects that are additional to the compulsory Core subjects (grey).

The Key Stage 4 curriculum is supplemented by an extensive Careers Education/Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) program over 3 years and individual Work Experience placements in the city of Preston during Year 10 when possible. The Christ the King CEIAG program was recognised by the Gatsby Foundation as the first in Preston to achieve all of the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks and this program is supported and enhanced by a range of activities including visiting speakers, ‘taster visits’ to Further and Higher Education institutions, an on-site Careers Fair and specific themed workshops and events that enable students to fully explore post 14 & 16 progression routes. This rich program has strong links with industries, businesses, colleges, training providers, Universities and the Armed Forces and provides valued support to help students to develop their employability skills and guide them through their application processes.

Students are continuously assessed throughout the year using a variety of methods to ensure that each individual is making their expected rate of progress. Staff regularly provide written feedback (in accordance with their Departmental Assessment and Feedback Policies) on written work produced by students which not only celebrates areas of success within the task (‘What Went Well’), but also identifies exactly where each student could improve and which steps are required to successfully improve the outcome of their task (‘Even Better If’). Feedback may also include targets designed to improve their literacy or numeracy.  All students are then given directed time within lessons to make the suggested improvements and develop a professional dialogue with their teacher. Parents/carers will receive an Interim Report to inform of progress in Spring, and a Written report to inform of summative progress in Summer.

We believe that our program of study will develop confident and enthusiastic learners of all ages, who have a hunger for learning and a flair for solving real world problems.

For further information, please contact Mrs J O’Connor, Assistant Headteacher (Curriculum).

The breakdown of curriculum provision per subject per year group is available to view here