Curriculum

In Key Stages 2 and 3, students are taught in groups of up to 6 by class teachers and subject specialists. We deliver a broad and balanced curriculum which facilitates students’ holistic development, addresses gaps in learning and prepares students for the higher key stages.

Across all age groups, teaching makes use of our extensive facilities including outdoor learning areas, gym equipment, and music, art, and science facilities.  All students are provided with an individual laptop and are supported to make use of assistive technology.

In Key Stage 4, students access a hybrid model of curriculum delivery, benefiting from face-to-face small group sessions with our subject specialist teachers, alongside online learning delivered by carefully chosen partners.  The online learning is accessed by students on-site, enabling us to provide our usual high level of support in addressing barriers to learning.

The hybrid model enables us to offer a wider range of GCSE subjects than many mainstream schools, with an exceptional level of flexibility allowing students to study subjects which reflect their strengths and interests.  Where appropriate, this model also enables students to study outside their chronological age group, accommodating accelerated learning and providing options for students who have had gaps in their education journey.

King’s Interhigh  is a key supplier of online learning for our students, with a focus on the delivery of core curriculum content for desk-based GCSEs.  Lessons are delivered by subject specialists who have received SEN training and are aware of the profile of our students.  Lesson resources are available to students in advance and can be revisited throughout the course, with students also having the option of joining live lessons or watching recordings at their own pace.

Our own teaching staff complement the King’s Interhigh teaching by providing in-person pre-teaching, consolidation, assignment support and exam practice, with adaptations for our students’ individual needs.  A typical GCSE subject involves three to four online learning sessions per week and two in-person learning support sessions.

More practical subjects such as GCSE Art and Design, BTEC Home Cooking and BTEC Animal Care are delivered face-to-face by in-house staff, as are all GCSE science practical lessons.

We have extensive expertise within our cross-site teaching team, with subject specialists in areas including: Maths, English, Science, Humanities, Art, Drama, Music, Cookery, Computing, Psychology, Business Studies and Health and Social Care.

Across all age groups, Wider Ambition’s Preparation for Adulthood curriculum, which includes PSHCE, Relationships and Careers, supports the holistic development of students at Lokrum Fields. This curriculum is delivered through ‘Key Person’ sessions and is carefully designed to be delivered in a depersonalised way whenever this is likely to support students’ ability to access it. For example, students may discuss the character strengths of one of our guinea pigs or reflect on how a character in a favourite film may have qualified for the job they are doing, rather than the more emotionally challenging conversations around their own character traits or potential career paths. Our approach ensures students leave us with a range of skills for independent living and successful engagement  with the wider community. Examples of areas covered in these sessions include budgeting and shopping for food, communicating with employers, and managing social relationships.

More information about the subjects covered in our curriculum can be found in our Teaching, Learning, Curriculum and Assessment Policy.