CURRICULUM
.INTENT
Newman College serves a diverse community to achieve a Catholic 'common good.' We aim to be the envy of other schools, because of our achievements and our lived mission. We have the courage to offer a whole education, supporting students to reach their potential, and lead healthy, independent, and fulfilled lives.
Our students leave knowing 'no door' is closed to them enabling them to live out their vocation, relying on their strong literacy, numeracy, and social skills. Our parents have faith in us, knowing we act with love. Our staff know their service means the highest expectations of excellence, to secure the greatest reward: dignity for all.
At Newman College we believe that our curriculum is based on three components: Gospel values to ensure a passion for lifelong learning, the Academic Curriculum, and the Holistic Curriculum.
Gospel Values
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At the heart of all we do, including our curriculum, we place Jesus and his Gospel values. These vales arise from his life and in particular his teachings, The Beatitudes.
We have taken the Gospel values and interpreted them into our Newman values of Love, Service, Courage and Dignity.
We believe our values underpin the education of the whole person and allow pupils to develop their own spiritual beliefs, to encounter God in daily life and allows all pupils to witness Christ in their modern world.
We encourage all pupils to be actively participate in our values, as we aim for them to lived and breathed in every area of our school life so pupils can eventually take them out into the world as servant leaders and role models for Catholic Social Teaching.
Our KS3 Curriculum
All pupils study the full KS3 national curriculum over three years. Our curriculum is built upon the foundation of knowledge and skills achieved at KS2 to ensure that no time is wasted. Our learning journey maps show a clear progression from Year 7 to Year 11 which ensures that pupils and staff know what the end points are and how the schema builds on prior knowledge. We demand that all staff and curriculum areas make it their business to improve Numeracy and Literacy skills; overcome barriers to learning; promote understanding of how to live safe and healthy lifestyles and prepare pupils to make informed choices about their next steps in education.
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We ensure that pupils of all abilities access the breadth and depth of this curriculum by ensuring all pupils:
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Read at least two Shakespearean plays including Othello and Romeo and Juliet.
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Read texts in MFL in the target language.
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Study the Holocaust in Year 9 and other significant equality issues.
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Receive at least 10 hours teaching on the glaciation curriculum in Geography in Year 8.
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Be introduced to Pythagoras’ Theorem and Trig ratios by the end of Year 9.
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Read at least five books per year including form readers.
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Create 3D models in Art.
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Keep safe online with E-safety being updated every year in IT.
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Learn about British Values and Careers in Life Skills lessons.
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Study Food Technology and Hygiene.
Our KS4 Curriculum
The KS4 Academic Curriculum, comprises English Language, English Literature, Maths, Science, RE, Geography and/or History, French, Life Skills and Core PE. Pupils have the following option subjects to choose from: Art, Photography, Construction, Music, Drama, Sport, Business, iMedia, Health and Social Care, Statistics, AQA Unit Awards and Functional Skills in English/Maths.
We ensure that our curriculum grows and evolves each year. All Subject Leaders identify misconceptions to ensure that these are addressed and work with their teams to adapt the curriculum to ensure that all pupils learn more and remember more each year.
Implications for our curriculum include:
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Leaders challenge evidence that suggests a higher proportion of disadvantaged pupils increases the likelihood of failure.
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Leaders demanding that the curriculum offer and expectations for higher prior attaining pupils, exceed that of other institutions.
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Leaders expect rapid and sustained improvement for those who are below their peers in Numeracy and Literacy.
The Holistic Curriculum
The Holistic Curriculum allows all pupils to develop fully into responsible, well informed and fulfilled adults. This includes the following opportunities and many more:
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Leadership - School Council, Prefects, Head Student team.
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Extracurricular - PE competitions and clubs, Combined Cadet Force, Duke of Edinburgh, Peripatetic Music lessons, Drama club, Art club, School choir.
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Careers - College taster days, KS4 Pathway Marketplace, Careers appointments with an independent advisor, University visits, External speakers, leading to our compliance with the Baker Clause.
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Faith - Liturgies and masses, Pupil Chaplains, Visits to places of worship, Net Ministry, Confirmation programs, Fundraising, Prayers, Savio House Trip.
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PSHE- Drop down days based on Anti-bullying, knife crimes, safe and healthy relationships, LGBTQ+.
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Literacy- Debate Mate, Oracy, Form time reading, Phonics support, Reading support.
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Cultural capital- Visits to Theatres, Galleries and Museums.
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SMSC - KS3 experiences, Pupil Chaplaincy, Pupil Leadership, Net Ministry and extra-curricular activities.
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KS3 and KS4 Life Skills – being secondary ready then British Values, Preparation for Life and Preparation for Working Life including, Financial Maths, First Aid, Future Education and Careers, Organisation, Oracy,
Consequently, we take pride in the growing numbers of pupils who:
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we enter for the EBaccalaureate
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progress into college, training or full time supported by our extremely low NEET figures
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exceed their reading age
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compete in sporting events
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learn new languages
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perform locally and nationally as part of our Debate Mate team
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receive promotions in CCF
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complete the DOE Bronze and Silver…And much more.
The KS3 Curriculum
Lessons per year group and subject, per fortnight
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Subject | Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
English | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Mathematics | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Science | 6 | 6 | 6 |
RE | 5 | 5 | 5 |
French | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Design & Technology | 1 | 2 | 2 |
History | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Geography | 4 | 4 | 3 |
PE | 3 | 3 | 3 |
IT | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Art | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Drama | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Music | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Food | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Life Skills | 1 | 1 | 1 |
The KS4 Curriculum
Lessons per year group and subject, per fortnight
Subjects | Y10 & Y11 |
|---|---|
English | 9 |
Mathematics | 8 |
Science | 10 |
RE | 5 |
Subject X | 5 |
Subject Y | 5 |
Subject Z | 5 |
PE | 2 |
Life Skills | 1 |
Courses at KS4
Maths | EBacc | English | Open |
|---|---|---|---|
GCSE Maths | GCSE Geography | GCSE English | GCSE Art |
GCSE Statistics | GCSE History | GCSE English Language | GCSE Photography |
GCSE French | GCSE Drama | ||
GCSE Science Combined | GCSE Music | ||
GCSE Triple Science | Educas Construction | ||
Cambridge National Sport | |||
Cambridge National iMedia | |||
GCSE Business (from 2023) BTEC Enterprise | |||
BTEC Health & Social Care | |||
GCSE RE |