The Pinetree School

The Pinetree School

Curriculum Overview

At The Pinetree School we are committed to supporting every student in overcoming their personal barriers to learning and enabling them to make the best progress possible.

We want all adults and children to participate in learning and we celebrate all members of our community. We have an inclusive culture in our school and we aim to always be responsive to the diversity of children’s backgrounds, interests, experience, knowledge and skills.

We value high quality teaching for all learners and actively monitor teaching and learning in the school. Our school improvement plan is about developing learning for all and details are planned continued professional development (CPD) opportunities for all staff. We aim to create a learning environment which is flexible enough to meet the needs of all members of our school community.

We carefully monitor the progress of all our learners, and staff continually assess ensuring that learning is taking place. Our whole school system for monitoring progress includes progress checks every half term.

For further information please contact the Head of School James Rice: Jrice@pin.unity-ed.uk 

 

2022 Exam Policy https://pinetreeschool.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Specialist-Exam-Policy-2022-2.docx 

Key Stage 3 Curriculum

Subject No. of lessons/week
English 3
Maths 3
ICT 2
Science 2
DT 2
Food 2
PE 3
Art 2
RSHE 2
Life Skills 2
Reading1

 

Key Stage 4 Curriculum

SubjectNo. of lessons/weekExpected Accreditation
English4GCSE English Language and Literature
Maths4GCSE Maths
ICT2Creative iMedia L1/L2
Pathways DT/PE/Food Tech6GCSE/BTEC
Options - Art, DT, Hair and Beauty, Food Tech2GCSE/BTEC
PE3Entry level
RSHE1GCSE
Careers1ASDAN
Learning for Life1Pinetree Pillars
National Curriculum objectives

The National Curriculum provides pupils with an introduction to the core knowledge that they need to be educated citizens. It aims to:

  • embody rigour and high standards and create coherence in what is taught in schools
  • ensure that all pupils are taught the essential knowledge in the key subject disciplines
  • go beyond that core, to allow teachers greater freedom to use their professionalism and expertise to help all pupils realise their potential.
Curriculum Intent

At The Pinetree School, our curriculum reflects the ethos of our school, incorporating the statutory National Curriculum, alongside other meaningful learning experiences and opportunities that are tailored to the individual learning, social, emotional and mental health needs of each child.

The curriculum offer is over 25 hrs a week, offering a broad and balanced range of experiences that provide them with opportunities to learn and discover in many different ways.  Planning focuses on engagement, pupils individual needs and differentiation.

Our curriculum is designed to recognise children’s prior learning experiences, filling gaps and is focused on improving the outcomes for all our learners. Our curriculum provides pupils with opportunities to develop their social skills, British Values, and SMSC understanding, and offers a balance between core subjects and creative subjects to improve and develop levels of engagement and behaviour for learning skills as well as emotional and physical well being.

Our curriculum develops the fundamental skills pupils will need both for their onward journey and for life in the adult world.                     At Key Stage 3, pupils experience a wide range of different subjects to meet both their academic and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. Pupils develop resilience, self-esteem, confidence, communication and tolerance as part of their discrete lessons.              At Key Stage 4 pupils continue to build on the knowledge, skills and understanding taught during Key Stage 3. They focus on their qualifications in both core and optional lessons but maintain the broadness of the curriculum through a range of Learning 4 Life lessons. Learning 4 Life has a range of academically and personal development, behaviour and welfare (PDBW) focused lessons, which aims to enhance both the key life skills needed and also give our pupils a better understanding of the whole world around them. 

Pupils work towards qualifications which ensure they reach their full potential. Woven into all lessons is a relevance to everyday understanding alongside a higher focus at Key stage 4 on career routes. PSHE runs through the whole curriculum with the emphasis on improving pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the key aspects and becoming a well-rounded individual. The ability to learn is underpinned by the teaching of basic skills, knowledge, concepts and values with a vision to prepare for life beyond our school.

We want our pupils to succeed and have opportunities to experience achievement. We do this through the variety of levels of qualifications and accreditations each subject offers. We have high aspirations and expectations for our learners, believing that individual circumstances do not limit opportunities to attain and be successful.

Implementing the curriculum at The Pinetree School
  • Is broad and rich, giving all pupils the opportunity to follow the core and foundation subjects of the national curriculum at KS3 and KS4. It aims to inspire pupils and raise aspirations. Pupils work towards a range of accreditations and qualifications including Entry Levels, Functional Skills and GCSEs.
  • Cross curricular links are encouraged
  • Careers information, advice and guidance offered at the school aim to set pupils up for the next stage of their education. Subject teachers are expected to include aspirations and future careers in their teaching. Bespoke careers education such as trips, theme days, mock interviews, in-house CIAG, external opportunities included fairs and visits to industries and apprenticeships workshops are planned to support and inspire our pupils.
IMPACT

Academic impact is measured through termly formative and summative attainment data analysis, termly assessed reading ages, success in external assessments including GCSEs.

Social, emotional and Mental Health impact is measured through stakeholder voice (pupil, parent and staff), annual NEET data, daily credit card percentages, attendance, and access to the school reward system. It is also measured through an analysis of the pupils’ ILP, EHCP, PEP, behaviour, attendance and ILP targets.

The curriculum is reviewed annually to ensure that it best meets the needs of the pupils.

Impact measures are shared regularly with the Director and Principal of Specialist Provision and termly with Governors and Trustees who review data, and challenge leaders.