Unless otherwise stated this college policy includes Early Years and out-of-school care and has been written with safeguarding of all pupils in mind.

With Shoreham College maintaining a non-selective admission policy it is important that the curriculum be broad and balanced to meet the various needs of the pupils. We aim to identify and remove, where possible, barriers to learning for all our pupils.

The overall curriculum is reviewed annually as part of the college development plan and each department conducts subject reviews at the end of each year. The curriculum broadly reflects the National Curriculum in as much as it enables each subject to prepare the pupils for GCSE.

Each subject within the curriculum must clearly illustrate the use of differentiation that will be of benefit to those children requiring learning support, including those pupils who are able.

Shoreham College is a non-selective co-educational independent college from 3-16 years. We operate a full time teaching day from 8.50am-3.50pm with additional clubs and activities available from 4.00pm-5.00pm. All teaching and learning activities are supervised by an appropriately qualified or experienced member of staff.

We offer a broad and balanced curriculum which provides opportunities for pupils to experience and become confident in a wide range of subjects.

Early Years – KS2

Pupils in Early Years follow the statutory EYFS curriculum. In Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, we broadly follow the National Curriculum and QCA guidelines. In addition the Junior curriculum enhances pupils learning opportunities by offering discrete lessons in French (Key Stage 1 and Years 3-6), Design Technology, Drama and Food Technology (Years 5-6).

Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9)

At Key Stage 3, we offer a broad and balanced curriculum which enables pupils to experience and become confident in a wide range of subjects which include:

Art, Biology, Chemistry, Design and Technology, Drama, English, French, Geography, History, ICT, Mathematics, Music, Physics, Physical Education, Religious Studies and Spanish.

Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11)

At Key Stage 4, pupils study English (inc. English Literature), Mathematics, Science (Dual or Triple) and a language (either French or Spanish). There are occasions where, due to the nature of a pupil’s special educational need they refrain from studying a modern foreign language at GCSE and are encouraged to develop their other GCSEs, whilst receiving additional support from our Learning Support Team. A further three or four optional subjects (depending on whether they opt for separate Science) are chosen from the following:
Art, Business Studies, Design and Technology, Drama, Geography, History, ICT, Music, Religious Studies and Physical Education.

Being a non-selective college, we are very aware that we have pupils of different abilities including pupils with learning difficulties as well as those that are able. Each teacher in the school is responsible for the setting of appropriate work (differentiation) so that the individual educational needs of all pupils are met. Learning Support offers support, advice and assistance to staff and pupils and draw up individual programmes of learning for pupils of all ability ranges as appropriate to their learning needs.

All departments in the College are responsible for providing opportunities for pupils to gain the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding to help fulfill the requirements of the Curriculum.

At Shoreham College the principal language of instruction is English. However, if we do have pupils in the future that have EFL (English as a foreign language), then the Curriculum would be modified to suit the pupil’s academic needs. This would be done under consultation with senior management, subject teachers and the pupil’s parents or guardians.

Pupils with Statements of Educational Needs are provided with appropriate support and mentoring. The head of Learning Support liaises with parents and outside agencies to ensure that all requirements are met.

Junior Department

PSHE activities take place across the Key Stages. This includes circle time and dedicated PSHE lessons in Years 5 & 6. This is supplemented by assemblies and specialist, enrichment days and activities. Pupils in Year 5 undertake a three day team building exercise and Year 6 pupils attend a three day residential course prior to moving into the Senior Department.

Senior Department

All pupils in the Senior Department follow a prescribed PSHE course which is delivered in whole day workshops once every term. All senior staff (working on PSHE days) are responsible for delivering aspects of the PSHE curriculum. Where possible, outside agencies aid us in the delivery of more sensitive issues such as drugs and sexual health and awareness. Whole school (Years 7-11) individual teacher assemblies on Thursdays also allow coverage of facets of the PSHE course.

The emphasis of PSHE at Key Stage 4 is to prepare pupils for further education, the work place and for an introduction into adult life – workshops on pregnancy and childbirth, life skills (bereavement wills, dealing with loss and change) and money matters.
The delivery of PSHE is taught discretely throughout the year for the Junior and Senior Department, but it is also covered indirectly through the delivery of the wider curriculum.

We offer a wide variety of help and advice on careers and post-16 opportunities coordinated through our Careers Advisor. These opportunities are outlined below:

1. At the start of Year 9, we offer an Options Evening (usually in November) which gives pupils and parents the opportunity to discuss appropriate academic choices for GCSE. This information evening is enhanced by the presence of the Connexions Service who input further into option choices.
2. Also available is a software package called Careers Advantage which allows pupils to access Pathfinder – a programme that enables pupils to access careers information about occupations and subject linked choices with an element of psychometric testing attached to it.
3. In the Senior Library there is a section dedicated to careers and post-16 educational establishments.
4. Shoreham College provides a work experience opportunity for all Key Stage 4 pupils in Year 10. This is usually scheduled in June. The majority of our pupils have attained a school age of 15 years by this time.
5. Our PSHE programme (particularly at Key Stage 4) covers the creation of CVs, College applications as well as careers interviews.

All pupils follow the curriculum as set out by the College. At each key stage the curriculum will be differentiated to meet the academic needs of the pupils. Any request for further enhancement will be implemented by the appropriate teaching staff.

At Shoreham College we provide a safe and secure learning environment in which pupils have the opportunity to learn and progress. Many subjects use the outline of the National Curriculum and QCA guidelines as a basis for their curriculum – this will ensure that preparation is made for GCSEs. At Key Stage 4, subjects will decide on their specific curriculum and this will be reflective of the exam board they have opted to study (AQA, Edexcel etc.).

Differentiation in all subject areas is important to ensure that the individual educational needs of all abilities are probably provided for. It is the responsibility of teaching staff to ensure that work is appropriate for the pupils they are teaching and that progression is being made. Pupil progress is assessed in a variety of ways:

1. standardised reading and spelling testing take place from Key Stage 1 and is continued into Key Stage 3. Standardised testing in mathematics takes place in Key Stage 2.
2. Cognitive Ability Tests are completed in Year 7 and Year 9 and these help monitor progress made in Key Stage 3 and aid GCSE predictions.
3. Class and prep work in all subjects is monitored and assessed for progress. Teachers note progression through their mark book (paper-based or electronic). Departments set academic targets to ensure progression is made in the future.
4. End of year assessments in a number of subjects also enable teachers to check on progress and common misunderstandings. These are then sent home to parents as an exam mark order for Key Stages 3 and 4.
5. Michaelmas and end of year reports are completed for all year groups across the Curriculum. These indicate current progress and will often include subject set targets for further progress and improvement. Not all subjects are examined at Key Stage 2 and examination results are sent home as part of the Junior Department reporting process.

The outcome of these tests help assist teaching staff in the setting of appropriately, differentiated work, so that future progression can be seen. Also, the setting of pupils at Key Stages 3 and 4 will ensure that the learning made is appropriate for the level of ability.

At Shoreham College, we prepare our pupils for all the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life. This is covered by our PSHE programme and our careers guidance. Please see the relevant sections of this policy for more specific information.

The term “Able” denotes pupils who demonstrate a notable/ marked intelligence, knowledge, skill, competence or talent in a subject

September 2009
To be reviewed September 2010

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