Academic subjects
In KS4 students will have the opportunity to access qualifications in core subjects. For most students, this will involve working towards GCSEs. Lower level qualifications (e.g. at entry level) will also be available, where required.
Students will continue to study computing, physical education, religious education and PSHE (including citizenship, relationships & sex education, and careers).
The for each student curriculum will be dictated by their individual strengths and interests and their future plans. This will include working towards qualifications (GCSE or lower alternatives) for many subjects. For example, a student who wishes to study history at university may spend KS4 working towards GCSEs in humanities subjects, giving them the requirements they need to access A levels in KS5.
A student who wants to study computing at college may work towards a KS4 qualification in computing but also spend extra time on their core English if this is a difficult subject for them and college requires a pass at GCSE.
Communication & Interaction
Students will continue to access timetabled social communication lessons within the school week. These will be taught in groups and will focus on areas such as body language, conversation skills and friendship skills as well as work place skills. Students who need additional communication and interaction support will be able to access group or 1:1 intervention with educational staff or our speech and language therapist.
Wellbeing
Our group and individualised approaches will continue in Key Stage 4 with a focus on supporting areas of difficulty, increasing resilience, and encouraging good mental health. Our multidisciplinary team, including a range of therapy professionals, will work together to support all areas of student need. Resilience characteristics such as confidence, positivity and respect will be taught and developed within all aspects of the whole school curriculum.
Life Skills
Focussing on areas such as: money and finance, self-care, road safety, shopping, cooking skills, functional ICT, basic first aid and learning about their individual needs (such as autism and anxiety). Life skills lessons will follow a clear progression framework and will develop with our students as they progress through the school. Older students will develop skills such as budgeting grocery shopping for a week, learning about different types of ‘offers’, and comparing the nutrition and quality of different types of product in order to make informed choices about what to buy.