Curriculum Overview

Priory School Curriculum Vision

We firmly believe that all children, irrespective of their starting point, are entitled to a broad, balanced and inclusive curriculum. The core curriculum is fundamental but one part of our broad and deep offer including an extensive extracurricular provision. We promote substantive and disciplinary knowledge, skills and qualities. Students master the knowledge, competencies and dispositions that prepare them to be informed, skilled and collaborative citizens who can be critical and lead the common good in today’s knowledge-based, interdependent world.

We lead and believe in a progression based, knowledge and literacy rich curriculum, that is sequenced to allow the appropriate accumulation of knowledge, at each stage of a student’s progression through school. 

The professional development of our curriculum leaders and all leaders is a priority for our school, to ensure the consistency and growth of our curriculum vision – and improved outcomes for all students every year.

We are dedicated and realise the importance of our students’ articulation and understanding of our curriculum vision and narrative, to ensure independent lifelong learners that are engaged with their curriculum.

Key stage 3

At Priory school our key stage 3 is a two year curriculum across year 7 and 8. In key stage 3, students will study curriculum within a wide range of subjects. The core curriculum for key stage 3 learners is English, Maths, Science, History, Geography, Modern foreign language (either German, French or Spanish), PE, DT, PSCRE, Art, Computer Science, Drama and Music.

Key stage 4

At Priory school our key stage 4 is a three year curriculum across years 9 (a transition year),10, & 11. In key stage 4, the students core curriculum is English, Maths, Science, Core PE, PSCRE and four selected subjects. Year 9 is a transition year 

The subjects to be selected from at key stage 4 include Geography, History, RE, Citizenship, Computer science, Business studies, Digital information technology, Spanish, German, French, Leisure and tourism, Health and social care, Food, Design technology, Art, Photography, Dance, Drama, Music and PE. 

More in depth information on the curriculum of these subjects can be found on their subject specific pages. 

Gamechanger curriculum

We define curriculum as ‘the totality of student experiences that occur in the educational process’. 

Our curriculum, therefore, is far broader than the timetable, encompassing extra-curricular clubs, careers, sailing trips (Year 7) the outdoor programme, Duke of Edinburgh and trips and visits programme together with all other aspects of delivery to students.

Literacy 

The Literacy strategy at Priory sits under the umbrella of the Trust’s Virtual School Plan. Using a  threefold approach the strategy focuses on ‘Quality teaching’, ‘Intervention’ and ‘Love of Literacy’.Literacy is an integral part of all classroom  practice. 

This academic year we will strive to develop our practice on (not exclusively) the following- 

• Rephrasing of verbal feedback- promoting and scaffolding academic level conversation. Students’ encouraged to talk as experts in that academic field. 
• Exploration of texts as a class. No presumptions regarding students’ knowledge of language. Students become ‘word conscious’. 
• Explicit vocabulary teaching- key Tier 2 and 3 vocabulary for each module of learning. 
• Teacher models reading, decoding and doesn’t take for granted students’ comprehension of texts. 

• Talk to write/ writing on a ‘sea of talk’ strategies. 

Updated November 2021

BET Curriculum Statement