Curriculum Offer - Parkside PRIDE
The curriculum at Parkside School is designed to be balanced, challenging and relevant. It is also innovative and personalised, built around students’ individual needs and based on their ability and potential.
At Parkside School, we want our students to be highly successful in their learning. We offer a broad range of subjects at all levels preparing students for further education and future careers. We are also responsive to the national agenda thus ensuring that our students can compete robustly with all students nationally.
At all key stages the curriculum is underpinned by the Aspire2b programme which includes an extensive extracurricular programme, CEIAG and preparation for the world beyond school alongside development of the individual learner and the wider skills needed to positively contribute to society. All students study PSHE on a weekly basis, this is planned to cover all elements of the personal, social, health and economic education programme throughout the year.
Curriculum Intent:
Our curriculum intent is based on our vision of PRIDE in Parkside, with our students being:
· Prepared for success at Parkside and beyond
· Respectful people who embrace and celebrate diversity
· Independent and responsible learners
· Determined people who strive to improve
· Excellent people with a breadth of experiences
(Please see the Parkside PRIDE Curriculum section of the website for further details).
Key Stage 3
During key stage 3 (Years 7-9) Parkside students follow a very broad and challenging curriculum consisting of a wide range of diverse subjects. This comprises of the core subjects: English, Maths, Science, Core PE and PSHE. Students also study a foreign language (French or Spanish), Geography, History, Religious Studies, Drama, Art, Music and Technology; which includes Engineering, Food, Product Design and Textiles.
In addition, students experience careers education and guidance through the Parkside Aspire2b programme. All of which provide students with a wide-ranging experience on which to build in the next stage of their learning.
Key Stage 4
At key stage 4 (Years 10 and 11) all students will follow a similar compulsory core curriculum consisting of 5 academic GCSE subjects: English Language, English Literature, Mathematics and Combined Science, which is worth 2 GCSE grades. Students will also continue to study PSHE as part of their personal development and Core PE to promote an active and healthy lifestyle.
Further to this, students will make 4 further option choices from the broad spectrum of academic, practical, creative and vocational course that are on offer at Parkside. The vast majority of KS4 courses lead to subjects that can be studied at Parkside 6th form.
Courses offered as part of the KS4 options process at Parkside School:
Ebacc Subjects:
French, Spanish, Geography, History, Separate Science, Computer Science.
Practical / Creative /Technical Subjects:
Art, Business, Dance (Performing Arts), Design Technology, Drama, Engineering, Health & Social Care, Hospitality & Catering, ICT (Creative Media), PE, Photography, Religious Studies, Sports Studies.
The Aspire2b programme continues to offer a range of careers information and guidance as well as enterprise education. This includes CV writing, a work experience placement day, bespoke Higher Education visits and all students also receive independent careers advice and take part in a mock interview process with a local employee.
Key Stage 5
Students in Parkside 6th form study 3 A Level, or equivalent, courses. There is a broad offer of academic and vocational qualifications with specific subject course requirements. This study leads to higher Education, Apprenticeships or advanced employment.
However, Parkside 6th form is not just about work, our students are actively involved in an enrichment programme on a Wednesday afternoon as well as being involved in the community through local charity work and work experience. Enrichment provides students with the opportunity to either study further academic and creative courses such as Further Maths and or/and participate in work with the community, student support and assisting with students in the Specialist Provision. The Aspire2b programme also continues through 6th form with students experiencing a wide variety of careers information and guidance.
Courses offered as part of the KS5 options process at Parkside School:
Mathematics, Further Maths, English Lang Lit, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, French, Spanish, Geography, Religious Studies, History, Law, Psychology, Sociology, Product Design, Art, Photography, Applied Science, Business, Food & Nutrition, Health & Social Care, ICT, Performing Arts (Drama/Dance), Sports Studies.
In addition, all students continue to study PSHE as part of their personal development.
Parkside P.R.I.D.E Curriculum
Curriculum Intent:
Prepared for success at Parkside and beyond
- Developing employability skills and entering the working world
- Positively contributing to society
- Articulating their goals and how they will achieve them
Respectful people who embrace and celebrate diversity
- Empathetic to the learning and needs of all
- Understand the importance of tolerance
- Experience an inclusive learning environment
- A willingness to participate with enrichment opportunities
- Continued focus on improving standards of literacy and numeracy
- A mature approach to learning a breadth of knowledge
Independent and responsible learners
- Application of metacognitive skills
- Accepting and acting on feedback positively
- Making full use of learning opportunities in school and at home
Determined people who strive to improve
- Being resilient with a positive attitude
- Actively contributing to learning
- Having the courage to learn from mistakes
Excellent people with a breadth of experiences
The curriculum is progressive, throughout all of these PRIDE elements students will build on prior knowledge enabling them to access future knowledge.
Curriculum Implementation:
In order for students to deepen their understanding across all subjects at Parkside we are implementing the ‘Parkside PRIDE’ curriculum. This is based on Rosenshine’s principles of instruction:
- Sequencing concepts
- Questioning
- Modelling and practice
- Reviewing material
Lessons therefore are progress focused, with steps made to:
- Plan for groups of learners and individual needs
- Recap essential knowledge
- Teach the new knowledge / skill
- Independently practice until a level of consistency is reached
- Apply the knowledge accurately in a range of contexts
Alongside our teaching, learning and subject development we continue to embed our PRIDE behaviour expectations, promote outstanding attitudes to learning and personal development.
Curriculum Impact:
Each unit studied has a ‘Knowledge and Skills Expectations’ list. Student achievement is measured by assessing the knowledge and skills from each unit. Each student has an expected range to meet, using their prior attainment as a start point.
Following each assessment, a learning review is carried out to address mistakes, challenge misconceptions and practice metacognitive skills. Students have the opportunity to improve their score to reach their expected range and beyond.
Parkside PRIDE Assessment Expectations
How do the teachers assess at Parkside School?
For most subjects there will be a minimum of 2 assessments per term
- After each assessment, diagnostic analysis will identify areas that your child needs to improve on (the questions that your child got wrong). These areas for improvement will be followed up in Learning Review lessons where your child will complete work to develop their knowledge and understanding. Lessons may include re-teaching of the knowledge, application of knowledge and independent learning tasks to support their learning.
- If your child is in Year 7-9, they will receive a score and percentage for their assessment. They will also be given a quintile colour (see below for more information). Grades are not used for Year 7-9 students.
- If your child is in Year 10-13, they will receive a score and where applicable, a grade for their assessment.
- Some assessments will be synoptic, including knowledge from the current unit as well as some relevant essential knowledge covered in previous units.
What does the Parkside assessment system do?
The assessment system:
- Tracks the knowledge and progress of students and pinpoints their areas for development.
- Provides students with start points based on their KS2 SAT scores (where these are not in place they will be informed by school based KS2 scores).
- Removes target grades to prevent the capping of progress.
- Incorporates ‘Knowledge and Skills Expectations’ for each unit of work that are progressive, based on a ‘what I need to learn’ format and include the essential knowledge for future learning.
What information will I receive about my child’s progress?
- There will be one data collection every term.
- Parents will receive 3 reports a year via EduLink One.
- The Year 7-9 reports will show the percentage that your child scored on their assessments, and the quintile colour that they achieved in that unit of work. By the end of the year, you will be able to see all assessments on this report.
- The Year 10-13 reports will show the grades that your child is currently working at. The current grade is the grade the student is currently working at, taking into account assessments and controlled assessment (if applicable) for the whole course.
- In addition if your child is in Year 10-13, you will receive the mock grade your child achieved (when relevant).
What are the expected ranges at Parkside School?
- Expected ranges have been set up for every child at Parkside School.
- Your child’s teacher will know the expected range for your child and will plan their lessons accordingly.
- If your child is consistently working above their quintile / grade range, this will be increased to further challenge the student. Progress will be measured from the original start point.
KS3 (Y7-9)
- If your child is in KS3 (Y7-9) we have used their average KS2 (Year 6) data as a starting point.
- At KS3 (Year 7 -9) students should be aiming to achieve as high as they can, at their percentile and beyond.
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For example, if your child achieved a KS2 score of 100, they would be in the amber quintile. As a minimum, we would expect them to achieve 41% or better in all assessments and aspire towards achieving higher.
KS4 (Y10 -11)
- If your child is in Y10-11, we have used their average KS2 (Year 6) data as a starting point.
- The aim at KS4 (Year 10 and 11) is that students aspire to achieve the highest grade in their range by the end of their course.
- All students will be given an expected grade range that has been calculated from their start point data, and can be found in the tables below:
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For example, if your child achieved a KS2 score of 100, they would be expected to achieve within the 4 -6 grade range for their GSCE subjects. If your child also sat an assessment in a vocational subject, such as Business Studies, we would expect them to achieve within the M2 – D2 grade range.
Please note:
- English expected ranges may be different as they also consider your child’s score on their KS2 English assessment as well as their average.
- Maths expected ranges may be different as they also consider your child’s score on their KS2 maths assessment as well as their average.
KS5
- If your child is in Year 12 or 13, we have used their KS4 (Year 11) data as a starting point.
- The aim at KS5 (Year 12 and 13) is that students aspire to achieve the highest grade in their range by the end of their course.
- All students will be given an expected grade range that has been calculated from their GCSE grade start point data, and can be found in the table below (for A-level subjects):
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- All students will be given an expected grade range that has been calculated from their GCSE grade start point data, and can be found in the table below (for vocational subjects):
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For example, if your child achieved a GCSE grade of 6, they would be expected to achieve within the C- A grade range for their A-level subjects. If your child also sat an assessment in a vocational subject, such as ICT, we would expect them to achieve within the M-D* grade range.
What are Attitude to Learning Scores at Parkside School?
- The reports that you receive will also give your child an AtL score for each of their subjects.
- Your child’s teachers have chosen a score between 1 and 4, using the information below to help them to decide:
- Please note that AtL scores of a 1 are reserved for those students who are working at an outstanding level, meeting all criteria described in the table above.
- If your child receives an AtL score of a 3-4, your child’s teacher have concerns that your child will not achieve within their expected ranges and steps will be put in place to support your child.
