Curriculum

We are very proud of our curriculum at King Ecgbert School.

Below, you will find our Curriculum Intent, setting out our values and vision for the curriculum, as well as specific details related to key aspects of it, such as SEN provision and Citizenship.

For the curriculum for individual subject areas, please follow the links at the right of the page, or click on the link below to see what your child will be learning in the various individual subjects we teach.

Click here to view our teaching sequences for each subject.

CURRICULUM INTENT

Our curriculum is designed to develop the three core school values:

Academic excellence for all

Together, we strive for personal and academic excellence: King Ecgbert School wants the best outcomes for every member of our school community, whatever their background or role in our school.

Our sequential curriculum is academically rigorous. It is built around the principles of knowledge retention and teachers work together to develop strategies to ensure that learning is embedded in the long term memory and cognitive overload is avoided.
We teach the cultural capital and wider knowledge that will enable disadvantaged students to close gaps, achieve the best grades and succeed in life.
We believe in choices. At KES the curriculum model is inclusive for all, ensuring every student enjoys and achieves equally. It develops academic, social and cultural capital and also meets the specific needs and aspirations of individuals.
Students learn in a school environment that is exciting and inspiring, leading to opportunity, success, personal growth and further study.

Showing respect at all times

Our inclusive and diverse school community is one in which: every individual is welcomed, understood and valued; we respect each other and embrace our diversity; we actively promote fairness and social justice; our staff and students care about their community and together we all care about the wider world and our place in it.

We have high expectations of all our students and these are underpinned by our ‘Consistent Behaviour Model’.
Our assembly programme, L@kes curriculum and post-16 tutorial programme provides all students with PSHCE education that will make them respectful students who support and value each other.
Our pupil premium strategy seeks to close the gaps between disadvantaged and advantaged students in the school by providing funding and opportunity for those who need it most.
Students are part of a school culture where pastoral care and well-being are central to everything, where maturity and commitment are expected from everyone and where making the right choices secures the very best outcomes.

Having high aspirations and personal goals that go beyond your time in school

Together, we are committed to educating, supporting and encouraging every individual to develop the skills and character that will help them become the best they can be and make a real difference in the world. We expect every member of our own school community to become active, successful members of the wider communities we are part of: Sheffield, the United Kingdom and the global community beyond.

We want our students to develop a love of learning.
We encourage as many of our students to stay on at KES in the sixth form and offer a full and varied A level and BTEC programme. We want to equip our students with the skills and knowledge for their next steps to higher education or employment.
Our students are provided with a wide range of creative and stimulating learning activities both in and out of the classroom.
We teach our students to develop the character and resilience to be able to succeed and become happy and healthy individuals.

FURTHER INFORMATION

At King Ecgbert School, our intent is informed by all aspects of the Mercia Learning Trust Curriculum Framework. All of our curriculum development will be guided by the principles of this framework: Learning, Knowledge, Memory, Feedback and Assessment, Language and Leadership.

Knowledge - Our sequential curriculum is built around the principles of knowledge retention and teachers work together to develop strategies to ensure that learning is embedded in the long term memory and cognitive overload is avoided. All teachers are involved in TLGs which meet throughout the year to share good practice and learn about research informed practices. The long term areas of focus for the TLGs are knowledge retention and closing the vocabulary gap. All homework set is appropriate, develops learning and affords teachers with an opportunity to provide meaningful feedback in many forms. Formative and summative assessments provide opportunities to help retrieve and embed knowledge whilst allowing teachers to identify and then tackle misconceptions.

Reading - The school provides every student in Y7 and Y8 with weekly lessons in ‘Accelerated Reader’. This programme encourages individual extended reading and requires students to show knowledge of what they have learned. Our school focus on vocabulary supports reading in all areas of the curriculum. All staff are being trained in delivering lessons to develop students’ skills in literacy and aspects of grammar.

Ebacc - All of our students have access to a full range of subjects including the Ebacc subjects. We encourage students to continue with their study of a Modern Foreign Language at Key Stage 4; the cognitive demands of which will benefit their overall literacy skills and provide opportunities for further study and employment in the future.

Enrichment - Our students are entitled to a wider curriculum and our comprehensive offer includes a broad range of activities which we encourage all our students to participate in. We are committed to removing any barriers to participation and will endeavour to support any students who wish to access and enjoy any of our activities on offer. We provide opportunities out of lesson time and also through a programme of visits, residential trips and experiences co-ordinated through subjects and via our careers education programme.

TASS - We are proud of our accreditation as a Dual Career Talented Athlete school, supporting elite athletes as they excel in their sports.

Citizenship - Our L@KES curriculum for all students provides a forum for discussion and learning about topics that will enable our students to become well rounded and informed individuals. The curriculum is regularly updated taking into account current affairs and other relevant issues that will support our students’ education. It also meets statutory requirements to provide knowledge about sex and relationships education, citizenship and careers. The curriculum is also complimented by visiting speakers from external organisations like Amy Winehouse Foundation, LGBT groups, City of Sanctuary and other charity groups.

Pastoral care and wellbeing - Our team of highly qualified year managers, safeguarding leads and pastoral teams are the bedrock of support for all of our students. We have a strong and determined emphasis on good attendance which we regularly communicate through the pastoral team and our Edulink app. Our House system and school council provide opportunities to celebrate our school community, giving students a voice and promoting responsibility through student prefects. Our staff and student wellbeing policy reflects our commitment to building good mental health and positive relationships for all. Opportunities include art therapy, counselling sessions and support from external agencies such as the Community Youth Team and MAST.

Inclusion - At KES we are privileged to have an Integrated Resource for Autistic students which is staffed by specialist SEND staff and offers wider support to the school in order to promote respect and tolerance within our school community. We provide support for our SEND students through our Curriculum Intervention Assistants, Inclusion Support Workers and our quality first teaching in the classroom. Extra opportunities for SEND pupils include the FRIENDS programme, Lego therapy, additional literacy support and nurture groups.