Curriculum

Curriculum Intent

The Aim, Aspire, Achieve curriculum at Banovallum School is underpinned by our core belief of Be Your Best.

Our fundamental belief at Banovallum School is that there is no limit on what students can achieve, and our curriculum empowers students to be able to achieve the highest possible grades and mastery of their subjects.

The Banovallum School curriculum develops students’ academic, personal, social, and physical development. The school is built upon the foundation of good relationships where everyone wants our students to develop into confident, resilient, inquisitive, respectful, and independent people who are truly their best selves.

Our curriculum is broad, balanced, challenging, engaging, and relevant, allowing all pupils the opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills, and cultural capital they need to be successful. In KS3, students study a broad range of subjects throughout our Communications, Mathematics, Humanities, Creative Arts Design & Technology, and PE & Health faculties. Students are offered a free option choice when selecting their KS4 subjects. Banovallum School offers a 3-year KS4 programme which allows students to gain full mastery of their subjects and develop the necessary skills to be successful.

The Banovallum School curriculum is designed to offer support and challenge wherever it is needed.

• The Target 9 programme identifies and challenges students who show an aptitude in a particular subject.
• Our Learning Support department offers support to those students who need it.
• Our Pastoral team ensures students have the best possible environment to work in.
• Homework is used in a supportive manner with an optional challenge task approach in KS3, and a more formal approach in KS4 focussing on revision skills and consolidating subject content.

The academic curriculum is supported by a well-established Relationship & Sex Education programme, up-to-date post-16 and careers guidance, a wide array of extra-curricular activities, a vibrant house system, and the promotion of SMSC and British Values, to allow students the chance to truly discover their best selves. Underpinning all lessons is a whole school commitment to improving students’ reading, with students being encouraged to read both academically and for pleasure throughout the school day.

Our overriding intention underpinning everything in our curriculum is that students should be their best.

Curriculum implementation

Every subject taught at Banovallum School has a planned and logical curriculum structure, with a clear emphasis on what students are expected to know, do, and understand at every point in their time here. Individual subject curriculums are sequenced in a way that allows knowledge to be developed and revisited over time, and in an appropriate way to ensure that all students in KS3 gain a clear grounding in every subject even if it is not a choice with which they continue in KS4.

When students join the school, they are placed on Advanced, Higher, Intermediate, or Foundation flightpaths depending on their prior attainment, and teacher judgement. Student progress is measured against these flightpaths. However, they are not seen as a limitation, and more as a minimum expectation. All students, regardless of their ability are consistently challenged to be their best.

Students receive regular feedback from their teachers regarding the progress they are making in their subjects. This takes the form of informal verbal feedback in lessons, formative comments on specific pieces of work, and more formal assessments such as end of unit tests and mock exams.

Curriculum Impact

Whilst curriculum impact is measured by more than just the results students receive, it is worth noting that Banovallum outperforms many schools locally in terms of pupil progress and many students gain results above the national average.

The vast majority of students go on to secure their first choice of post-16 destinations with many choosing to attend local Sixth Forms to study A Levels, colleges for more vocational courses, or go on to complete apprenticeships.

The curriculum at Banovallum School is always developing through staff professional developments, taking on board the views of our students, and operating a critical approach to reviewing our provision.

Working together, the curriculum at Banovallum School helps everyone to be their best.

The above text can be downloaded here:

• Aim Aspire Achieve Curriculum