Woodside Academy Curriculum

Rationale

Our curriculum is ambitious for all learners, all of the time and enables the children and young people to develop academic and lifelong learning skills which empower and engage them to drive forwards into employment or future study or training. It is designed to be ambitious, personalised and to promote a love of learning and reading. We are building a community of learners, fully inclusive of the most disadvantaged, who are resilient, independent, creative and kind. The curriculum is broad, balanced and progressive. It builds on knowledge, understanding and skills from individual start points as children progress through the school. The child-centred curriculum is bespoke and is always under review to ensure suitability and ambition.

Woodside’s bespoke curriculum has a strong focus on reading and seeks to equip all learners with knowledge, skills, independence and autonomy for success and achievement.The curriculum meets the needs of all learners and is being significantly adapted to match changes in cohort need and increased complexity from September 2024-2025.So that children can accumulate knowledge and skills as they move through the school, our curriculum is sequentially planned to be progressive, providing opportunities to revisit and overlearn. The curriculum is enriched with a range of experiences and opportunities planned to promote cultural capital, equality and diversity.

The provision is delivered via 3 pathways; Engage; Discover Explore. Learners may span more than one pathway through the areas of learning. Our pathways ensure that we can plan and capture short step progress so that children meet curricular goals. Our curriculum is underpinned by a focus on personal development, PSHE and RSE are referred to as RSHE.

The needs of the children dictate particular emphasis on communication, independence, reading, RSHE, and personal development and increased timetabled opportunities for learning in these areas are inbuilt.

In Early Years-KS1 we follow the EYFS 7 areas of learning. Communication Language and Literacy ( CLL), Mathematics, Physical Development (PD), Interactions, Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED), Expressive Arts and Design (EAD), Understanding the World (UTW)

From KS2-5, children follow one of three curricula and assessment routes; Engage, Discover and Explore. Specifi subjects are grouped into one of the 7 areas of learning.

These are enriched by the following learning areas as appropriate across the school; Creative and Performing Arts, Geography, History, PE, Computing Food Tech, Futures and the World of Work.

At KS4 and Post 16 , young people in all pathways pursue qualifications in English, Maths, Science, Digital skills. Vocational options reflect student preference, ability and developmental stage. Vocational options currently include; Construction, Independent Living skills, Art and Design, Catering and Hospitality.

It is important to note that GCSEs are not offered at Woodside as they are not appropriate qualifications for our cohort.

Work Experience and Creative carousels have been introduced across KS4 -5 to further broaden children’s experiences, knowledge and skills in preparation for adulthood.

In P16, young people continue to study English, Maths and Science alongside their vocational qualification and focus on developing greater confidence and independence in readiness for life after school.

Special arts weeks and themed days further enrich and broaden our offer, providing opportunities to try something new and develop new skills and interests. Practical, artistic, technical, physical, creative and therapeutic opportunities and support all contribute to the whole. Themes have been chosen to be accessible, relevant to all and rich in cultural opportunities flavoured with a range of other languages. Each of the half termly themes run throughout the school, providing commonality across all phases. The progression of skills within each theme is designed to be spiral, with children given opportunity to revisit and build upon prior learning. This also enables children who are working at a different level to their peers to easily access work at the level correct for them- dipping into the work being undertaken in a neighbouring phase as appropriate, but still sharing the same overarching theme.

The curriculum meets the needs of all learners and is adapted to match changes in cohort need and complexity, year-on-year. WIthin their phase, children are grouped by stage not age.

So that children can accumulate knowledge and skills as they move through the school, the curriculum is sequentially planned to be progressive.

Click on the links below to view our Curriculum by phase.

2024-2025

Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 Curriculum Overview - 2024-2025

Key Stage 2 - Explore Curriculum Overview - 2024-2025

Key Stage 2 - Engage and Discover Curriculum Overview - 2024-2025

Key Stage 3 - Explore Curriculum Overview - 2024-2025

Key Stage 3 - Engage and Discover Curriculum Overview - 2024-2025

14-18 - Explore Curriculum Overview - 2024-2025

14-18 - Engage and Discover Curriculum Overview - 2024-2025

2023-2024

Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 - 2023-24