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
We believe that at the heart of the curriculum lie the Gospel Values of: Love, Courage, Service, Faith and Dignity.
We believe that our values underpin the education of the whole person and help develop pupils’ own spiritual beliefs allowing all pupils the opportunity to witness Christ.
We encourage all pupils to live out the Gospel values to ensure that all pupils achieve their best and use their learning to make a difference in the world.
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. The learning 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.
We ensure that pupils of all abilities access the breadth and depth of this curriculum by ensuring all pupils:
-
Read at least two Shakespearean plays including Much Ado About nothing and Romeo and Juliet.
-
Read texts in MFL in the target language.
-
Study the Holocaust in Year 9 and other significant equality issues.
-
Receive at least 10 hours teaching on the glaciation curriculum in Geography in Year 8.
-
Be introduced to Pythagoras’ Theorem and Trig ratios by the end of Year 9.
-
Read at least five books per year including form readers.
-
Create 3D models in Art.
-
Keep safe online with E-safety being updated every year in IT.
Our KS4 Curriculum
The KS4 Academic Curriculum, comprises English Language, English Literature, Maths, Science, RE, Geography and/or History, French 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, English as a Second Language, ASDAN 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:
• Leaders challenge evidence that suggests a higher proportion of disadvantaged pupils increases the likelihood of failure.
• Leaders expect rapid and sustained improvement for those who are below their peers in Numeracy and Literacy.
• Leaders demanding that the curriculum offer and expectations for higher prior attaining pupils, exceed that of other institutions.
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:
-
Leadership- Oldham Pledge, School Council, Prefects, Head Student team.
-
Extracurricular- PE competitions and clubs, Combined Cadet Force, Duke of Edinburgh, Peripatetic Music lessons, Drama club, Art club, School choir.
-
Career- College taster days, Pathway Marketplace, Careers appointments with an independent, University visits, External speakers, Compliance with the Baker Clause.
-
Faith- Liturgies and masses, Pupil Chaplains, Visits to places of worship, Net Ministry, Confirmation programs, Fundraising, Prayers, Savio House.
-
PSHE- Drop down days based on Anti-bullying, knife crimes, safe and healthy relationships, LGBTQ+.
-
Literacy- Debate Mate, Oracy, Form time reading, Phonics support, Reading support.
-
Cultural capital- Visits to Theatres, Galleries and Museums.
-
SMSC -
-
KS3 Life Skills – Financial Maths, First Aid, Futures including Organisation, Oracy, being secondary ready and Food.
Consequently, we take pride in the growing numbers of pupils who:
-
we enter for the EBaccalaureate
-
progress into college, training or full time supported by our extremely low NEET figures
-
exceed their reading age
-
compete in sporting events
-
learn new languages
-
perform locally and nationally as part of our Debate Mate team
-
receive promotions in CCF
-
complete the DOE Bronze and Silver…And much more.
The KS3 Curriculum
Lessons per year group and subject, per fortnight
Subject | Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
English | 8 | 7 | 8 |
Mathematics | 7 | 8 | 8 |
Science | 6 | 6 | 6 |
RE | 5 | 5 | 5 |
French | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Design & Technology | 0 | 3 | 2 |
History | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Geography | 4 | 4 | 3 |
PE | 3 | 3 | 3 |
IT | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Art | 0 | 3 | 2 |
Performing Arts | 6 | 0 | 4 |
Life Skills | 1 | 1 | 0 |
The KS4 Curriculum
Lessons per year group and subject, per fortnight
Subjects | Y10 & Y11 |
|---|---|
English | 10 |
Mathematics | 8 |
Science | 10 |
RE | 5 |
Subject X | 5 |
Subject Y | 5 |
Subject Z | 5 |
PE | 2 |
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 | BTEC Construction | ||
Cambridge National Sport | |||
Cambridge National iMedia | |||
Business and Enterprise BTEC | |||
GCSE RE |