Our Curriculum
Curriculum
In designing our curriculum we have taken account of a wide range of factors. All of our pupils present challenging behaviour and/or experience significant emotional or social difficulties. All have also been unsuccessful in mainstream education.
The curriculum is divided into the following stages:
- Key Stage 1 (Chaffinch Brook and Rainbow Class)
- Key Stage 2 (Beckmead, Chaffinch Brook and Bramley Bank)
- Key Stage 3 (Beckmead and Chaffinch Brook)
- Key Stage 4 (Beckmead, Beckmead College)
- Key Stage 5 (Beckmead College)
Primary Curriculum
At Beckmead School our curriculum aims to support our pupils in two ways: firstly we need to help young people understand their feelings and manage their behaviour in ways that will enable them to be happier and more successful in their lives. Secondly we want to enable them to re-engage with learning and acquire skills and qualifications which will serve them well in school. In designing our curriculum we have taken account of a wide range of factors. All of our pupils present challenging behaviour and/or experience significant social, emotional or mental health difficulties.
The primary curriculum is divided into the following stages:
- Key Stage 1 (Chaffinch Brook and Rainbow Class)
- Key Stage 2 (Beckmead, Chaffinch Brook and Bramley Bank)
At Key Stage 1, children use Rapid Phonics reading books and Letters and Sounds and Phonics Play
Primary Assessment
Key stage 1
Key stage 1 tasks and tests cover English reading, English grammar, punctuation and spelling and Mathematics – arithmetic and reasoning. Key Stage 1 teacher assessment covers English writing, Speaking and listening and Science. The tasks and tests are taken in May. Your child’s teacher will also use their work to assess how well your child is working in each of those areas. We will inform you at the end of the school year whether your child is working at, working towards or working at greater depth than the expected standard.
Year 1 phonics screening check takes place in June when your child will read 40 words out loud to their teacher. You will be told how your child did, and we will talk to you if your child needs extra help with reading. If your child doesn’t do well in the check it will be repeated in Year 2.
Key stage 2
Year 6 SATs tests take place at the end of year 6 for all children nationally.
Secondary Curriculum and Assessment
The secondary curriculum at the Beckmead Family of Schools has been carefully designed to enable all pupils to achieve meaningful qualifications, whilst at the same time enabling them to flourish as human beings and acquire skills which will serve them well in school, post-school and as citizens in the community.
GCSE | Assessment is through exams taken in May / June of year 11. You will kept informed on how well your child is progressing from starting their GCSE, including what grade they can expect to achieve if they continue to work at the current level. |
BTEC (Level 1) | BTECs are taught over a 2 year period and are assessed through a continual process of coursework and practical assignments. |
Other qualifications | Assessment is continual throughout the 2-year course and consists of a range of written and oral questioning, written reports and assignments, observation of practice and practical activities. |
For further information on Primary and Secondary Curriculum and Assessment at The Beckmead Family of Schools, please contact your child’s teacher or Andy Millard, Head of Chaffinch Brook Upper School.
Get in touch
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