INNOVATE . FOCUS . ACHIEVE

At Boldon School, all aspects of the school ethos, ‘Innovate, Focus and Achieve’ are underpinned across each subject area. In English, we strive to embed these principles within our curriculum:

Innovate: To create innovative and progressive schemes of work which are well-sequenced to ensure excellent student outcomes.

Focus: A clear drive and focus key threads for reading, writing and spoken language;
A relentless drive to sharpen key knowledge concepts and ensure understanding of portable themes.
To ensure that all lessons widen the scope and appreciation of grammar, vocabulary and subject content.

Achieve: The aim is to ensure proficiency in reading, writing and oracy; this is key to social mobility. Our robust curriculum is designed to build strong foundations in knowledge and understanding which lead to academic and personal success. We want our students to enjoy the subject, and be inspired to be innovative in their responses, to focus on skill acquisition and implementation and, ultimately, to achieve their true potential. Students will be well-skilled to succeed in their next steps, whether it be education, further training or the world of employment.

Each of our curriculum areas are carefully designed with the students at the heart of our thinking. The intent is for the framework for each programme of study in the National Curriculum to be well planned and sequenced to enable all students to build their knowledge and skills towards the agreed end points at each key stage. We consider how this is taught in order to support our students and ensure this is implemented effectively. For the desired impact to be reflected in the outcomes that students achieve through the education they have received.

This is embedded across each subject area: Art

Intent:

Our KS3 Curriculum is designed to cover the statutory requirements for the National Curriculum, but to have the needs of our learners at Boldon in mind also. Students work on 6 projects a year at KS3 which are sequentially designed. The projects are designed to ensure that each year students embed and build upon previous knowledge and skills.High quality teaching comes from specialist subject teachers. There are skills, knowledge and levels of understanding that are non-negotiables and form the focus of the T&L and assessments. These are highlighted in our ‘question alerts’  sheets in assessment sheets. Literacy and key subject vocabulary form part of every lesson . All faculty staff constantly review the curriculum and adapt as required to meet the needs of all our learners.

Implementation:

Outstanding subject knowledge and strong teaching pedagogy is central to our art curriculum. Specialists are constantly available for guidance and support in all aspects of the planning and implementation. As a large and diverse subject area staff are supported by regular training on new techniques. Skills are sequenced from year 7-11 to ensure that students progress each year and that they can use different skills from project to project. This is carried out by high quality questioning throughout practicals and demonstrations and an emphasis on learning outside the classroom. 

Within each project students are assessed against a set of skill based criteria. Assessment sheets are used to show students what they are working at and how to progress to the next level with skills and knowledge. The assessments are clear and easy to use for staff and students making more time for high quality teaching within lessons.

Impact:

Historically KS3 and KS4 examination results are above national average. The analysis and evaluations of data are discussed through examination meetings with the Deputy Headteacher and the Headteacher. These are also reported to other senior leaders and the governing body to ensure challenge and accountability. Faculty learning walks are scheduled into the monitoring calendar for each academic year.  Student voice is used to survey the impact of the curriculum and evaluate the impact of the rotations on our students’ learning and enjoyment; these outcomes are used to help reshape the curriculum going forward. Our students tell us they enjoy art, and they like the time to be creative in the more relaxed environment of the studios.