INTENT

At Robert Napier the curriculum is carefully developed to match the needs of individual students so that each student develops confidence and a sense of achievement throughout their learning journey. It is reviewed regularly to ensure it continues to fulfil the needs of the students.

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• Academic achievement for all – Our curriculum is ambitious for all learners. Students access a broad and balanced curriculum that is coherently sequenced and planned to ensure students develop both the knowledge and skills required to deepen their understanding. At the heart of this is a focus on numeracy, literacy, and oracy to allow all learners to access the full depth of curriculum regardless of starting point upon entry or SEND.

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• Strong culture of learning and positive attitudes to learning – Staff are experts in their field providing well planned and coherently sequenced learning experiences for all students, designed to help students remember content long term and apply knowledge to larger ideas across curriculum areas. Our students are enthusiastic learners who are actively engaging in learning opportunities, are resilient, and strive to achieve their potential.

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• Developing cultural capital and respect for diversity- Our curriculum develops students’ cultural capital by engaging students with the world beyond their own experience. Our curriculum fulfils our wider aim of developing our young people into responsible citizens who can recognise and respect a wide range of viewpoints and use their talents and abilities to make a positive contribution to society for the benefit of others, as well as themselves.

OUR VALUES       

Through our curriculum we aim to develop our ‘Values’ in all students. These values are embedded through the four pillars of Robert Napier.  We expect all students to engage in their Community, Enrichment, Curriculum, and Wellbeing. Through these values and pillars we enable our students to develop into aspirational young adults who have the tools they need to be successful in the world beyond our doors. 

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IMPLEMENTATION

Students at Robert Napier follow a broad and balanced curriculum allowing them to access a full range of educational experiences. The curriculum is carefully planned and structured both to build on prior learning, and to provide high levels of challenge to prepare students for the next stage of learning, as well as prepare them for exam success.

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Subject Leads have carefully constructed a coherent curriculum where new knowledge and skills build upon what has been taught before, towards defined end points, and is accessible to all learners regardless of starting point.

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Teachers plan regular retrieval practice to allow students to consolidate prior learning, develop new knowledge and skills, and embed and recall knowledge through techniques such as interleaving of topics and deliberate practice.

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Character development is an integral part of student development at Robert Napier. Through a carefully constructed curriculum delivered through Form time, Personal Development & Wellbeing lessons, assemblies, external visitors and a supportive pastoral system, our students are given support and guidance to become the best versions of themselves.

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KS3

Students study a full range of academic, creative and physical subjects over a three-year Key Stage 3 (from Sept 2024). Students receive a rounded educational experience, and alongside quality careers, information, advice, and guidance, are fully ready to make informed option choices at the end of Year 9. In Year 9 students commence the process of selecting the GCSE option subjects they will study alongside the core curriculum. The options process allows students to fully explore the GCSE offer and to personalise their curriculum in Year 10.

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The curriculum delivered in each subject is reviewed annually by Subject Leads to ensure the sequence of delivery allows students to build on their knowledge, and that students are sufficiently stretched and challenged.

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KS4

The curriculum in Year 10 extends and deepens learning from Key Stage 3. Learners continue to study subjects they have known for the past three years in greater depth, as well as take on new studies through their options choices. The Key Stage 4 curriculum has a variety of academic and vocational subjects for students to choose from, to allow learners to pursue pathways that both interest them, and also prepare them for their journey into life beyond our school. All students study a core of Mathematics, English, Science, at least one humanities subject, core P.E. and Personal Development & Wellbeing, which are complemented by their option choices.

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KS5

In Key Stage 5, students can study either 3 or 4 subjects from a range of academic A' levels and vocational qualifications. From Sept 2023, we launched a number of Level 2 post 16 options to complement students’ Level 3 studies. A typical student day would consist of registration with our Personal Development & Wellbeing programme, three taught lessons and two supervised study periods. Those students who choose to stay with us into Key Stage 5 benefit from individual careers guidance to support them applying and transitioning to university, or higher-level apprenticeships and professions. 100% of our students who leave us at post 18 leave with successful destinations, whether that be applying for university or higher-level apprenticeships and/or professions.  Those unable to stay with us, or who already know the career they want, are supported in their applications to local colleges and apprenticeships.

IMPACT

Our curriculum ensures that our students are ambitious and ready for the next steps both in education and life. Nearly all of students (99%) complete Key Stage 4 and engage in further education, employment, or training. Very few are Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET), at the point of leaving us. Of those students who remain with us into KS5, 100% go on to further education, employment, or training.  In 2022-23 54% of Key Stage 5 students were successful in applications to university.

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Our Progress 8 score is one of the most improved nationally for 2022-23, with contextual Progress 8 showing our students achieve close to national expectations. Curriculum impact is also evident in the character development of our students over their time with us, engagement in extra-curricular opportunities, Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme, sports teams and various trips opportunities.