Our Curriculum
As part of Paradigm Trust we follow the Paradigm Trust curriculum principles.
Our Vision
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Implementation
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Intent
Implementation
Impact
Key Stage 2/3 Curriculum
Our curriculum is tailored to individual pupil needs.
This means that not all pupils may necessarily be studying topics typically associated with their year group. Our pupils are from year 5 to year 11. On some occasions, pupils access material from below Year 5 in which case we use the relevant parts of the Paradigm primary curriculum.
2024/2025 (and 2026/2027)
Year 5/6
Autumn 1: Printing.
Autumn 2: Printing.
Spring 1: Portraits.
Spring 2: Portraits.
Summer 1: Collage / Arts Award.
Summer 2: Collage / Arts Award.
Year 7
Autumn 1: Natural Forms.
Autumn 2: Natural Forms.
Spring 1: Mark Making.
Spring 2: Mark Making.
Summer 1: Formal Elements and Key Skills.
Summer 2: Formal Elements and Key Skills.
Year 8
Autumn 1: Natural Forms.
Autumn 2: Natural Forms.
Spring 1: Mark Making.
Spring 2: Mark Making.
Summer 1: Formal Elements and Key Skills.
Summer 2: Formal Elements and Key Skills.
Year 9
Autumn 1: Word Art.
Autumn 2: Portrait / Grotesques.
Spring 1: Pop Art Food Packaging.
Spring 2: Pop Art Food Packaging.
Summer 1: Landscapes / Arts Award.
Summer 2: Landscapes / Arts Award.
Year 10 Photography
Autumn 1 – Spring 1: AQA Component 1: Key Skills.
Spring 2 – Summer 2: AQA Component 1: Sustained Project ‘Abstract, Weird and Wonderful’.
Year 11 Photography:
Autumn 1 & 2 – AQA Component 1: Sustained Project ‘Abstract, Weird and Wonderful’.
Spring 1-Summer 1 – Component 2: ESA (EXAM).
Summer 2: Finished GCSE.
The primary curriculum is taught on a two-year rotation.
Year 5/6 A
Autumn 1: Digital literacy.
Autumn 2: Book Creator.
Spring 1: Scratch car game.
Spring 2: Video editing.
Summer 1: Programming B.
Summer 2: Creating media – vector graphics.
Year 5/6 B
Autumn 1: Digital literacy.
Autumn 2: Animation.
Spring 1: Databases.
Spring 2: Cospaces (Lesson 3 onwards pro version).
Summer 1: Websites.
Summer 2: 3D modelling.
Year 7
Autumn 1: Digital literacy.
Autumn 2: Clear messaging in digital media.
Spring 1: Modelling data using spreadsheets.
Spring 2: Programming essentials in Scratch – part 1.
Summer 1: Using media – gaining support for a cause.
Summer 2: Animation.
Year 8
Autumn 1: Digital literacy.
Autumn 2: Book Creator revision guides.
Spring 1: Programming essentials in Scratch – part 2.
Spring 2: Media – vector graphics.
Summer 1: Animation.
Summer 2: Micro:bit eco project.
Year 9
Autumn 1: Digital literacy.
Autumn 2: Times table Rockstars for primary schools using Scratch.
Spring 1: Blender needs to be on a PC.
Spring 2: Book Creator text books for primary pupils.
Summer 1: Websites.
Summer 2: Data.
In Key Stage 2 we use our ‘Paradigm Literacy and Language program. The program allocates three weeks to ‘fiction writing’ such as: stories and poetry, one week to ‘journalistic writing’ such as biographies and non chronological reports and two weeks to a ‘non fiction writing’ program in which specialist teachers across the Trust have worked together to create and provide high quality texts in The Humanities and The Sciences.
Year 5/6
Autumn 1: Cirque du Freak.
Autumn 2: Holes.
Spring 1: Goodnight Mr Tom – Michelle Magorian.
Spring 2: Wonder.
Summer 1: Rooftoppers.
Summer 2: Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. Macbeth – Tony Ross version.
Key Stage 3 – English Literature and Composition
Our secondary programme develops our students’ understanding of literature alongside their ability to write creatively. At KS3 our students read a selection of key books alongside extracts and articles to allow them to analyse and compare the writing, themes and techniques of a diverse group of authors.
2024/2025
Year 7
Autumn
Primary: Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
Secondary: Verse and prose by Emma Osborne and Jeanette Winterson.
Spring
Primary: The Tempest.
Secondary: Verse and journalism by Holly McNish and Pam Grier.
Summer
Primary: The Girl Who Became a Tree.
Secondary: Verse and journalism by Simar Bajaj and Tennyson.
Year 8
Autumn
Primary: Animal Farm.
Secondary: Poetry and philosophy by Maya Angelou and Marx.
Spring
Primary: The Merchant of Venice.
Secondary: Poetry and journalism by Maya Angelou.
Summer
Primary: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.
Secondary: Poetry and Oration by Xandaria Philips and Lupita Nyong’o.
Year 9
Autumn
Primary: Blood Brothers.
Secondary: Prose by Lynn Reid Banks and Simone de Beauvoir.
Spring
Primary: Romeo and Juliet.
Secondary: Prose by Maggie O’Farrell and Margaret Atwood.
Summer
Primary: Long Way Down.
Secondary: Poetry and journalism by Kae Tempest and Emma Forde.
Key Stage 2
In KS2, the humanities are taught on a half termly rotation.
Autumn 1: History.
Autumn 2: RE.
Spring 1: Geography.
Spring 2: History.
Summer 1: RE.
Summer 2: Geography.
Primary Year 1 (2024/2025)
Autumn 1: Industrialisation.
Autumn 2: Christianity.
Spring 1: Dynamic Earth.
Spring 2: World War I.
Summer 1: Islam.
Summer 2: UK Geography.
Primary Year 2 (2025/2026)
Autumn 1: Industrialisation.
Autumn 2: Judaism.
Spring 1: Environment, Climate and Us.
Spring 2: World War I.
Summer 1: Hinduism.
Summer 2: Jobs and Wealth.
Key Stage 3
In KS3, pupils have one humanities lesson per week. This combines history and geography. RE is taught as a standalone lesson at KS3.
Rowan
Autumn 1: Anglo Saxons.
Autumn 2: Dynamic Earth.
Spring 1: Ancient Rome.
Spring 2: Environment, Climate and Us.
Summer 1: Ancient Egyptians.
Summer 2: Jobs and Wealth.
Year 7
Autumn 1: What is Chronology (2), Anglo-Saxon England (4) and Sutton Hoo trip (1).
Autumn 2: My Place in the World.
Spring 1: Thomas Becket (3), Magna Carta (4).
Spring 2: Europe (Italy and Norway).
Summer 1: Medieval Africa (4) Medieval England (3).
Summer 2: Food, Energy and Water.
Year 8
Autumn 1: Transatlantic Slave Trade (4), Abolishment of the Slave Trade (3).
Autumn 2: Rivers and Flooding.
Spring 1: The Fight for the Vote for Women (3), Power in India (4).
Spring 2: Population.
Summer 1: WW1.
Summer 2: Climate Change.
Year 9
Autumn 1: Russian Revolution.
Autumn 2: Development.
Spring 1: Holocaust (4) WW2 (3) (Trip to Museum?).
Spring 2: Weather and Climate.
Summer 1: Israel/Palestine conflict (4) and conflict in the Middle East (3).
Summer 2: Coasts (Trip to Felixstowe).
Geography Group
Autumn 1: Geography of Disease.
Autumn 2: Tectonics.
Spring 1: Brazil.
Spring 2: Recap – Population/Global Change/Crime – focus on reading graphs and charts.
Summer 1: Recap Climate Change.
Summer 2: Prepare and complete a local geography study.
We use Maths Mastery for KS2 and KS3.
Our curriculum is tailored to individual pupil needs, meaning that not all pupils may necessarily be studying topics typically associated with their year group.
Key Stage 2 (Y5/6)
Autumn: Reasoning with large whole integers | Integer addition and subtraction | Line graphs and timetables | Multiplication and division | Perimeter and area
Spring: Fractions and decimals | Angles | Fractions and percentages | Transformations
Summer: Converting units of measure | Calculating with whole numbers and decimals | 2D and 3D shapes | Volume | Problem solving
Key Stage 3
Y7
Autumn: Place value | Properties of arithmetic | Factors and multiples | Prime factoralisation | Order of operations| Positive and negative numbers.
Spring: Sequences, expressions and equations |Coordinates | Angles | 2D shapes | Area of 2D shapes
Summer: Conceptualising and comparing fractions | Manipulating and calculating fractions | Ratio and proportion | Transforming 2D shapes
Y8
Autumn: Sequences | Forming and solving equations | Forming and solving inequalities | Linear graphs | Accuracy and estimation.
Spring: Ratio review | Real life graphs | Direct and inverse proportion | Univariate data | Bivariate data.
Summer: Angles in polygons | Bearings | Circles | Volume and surface of prisms.
Y9
Autumn: Fractions, decimals and percentages | Probability | Sets, Venns and sample space diagrams | Solving algebraically | Solving graphically.
Spring: Angle review | Constructions, congruence and loci | Pythagoras’ Theorem | Ratio review | Similarity and enlargement | Trigonometry.
Summer: Algebra review | Quadratic expressions and equations | Surds | Indices | Standard form | Growth and decay.
Y5/6
Autumn 1 no computers: Keyboard skills.
Autumn 2: Computer games (keyboards).
Spring 1: Rock (ukulele).
Spring 2: Pop (ukulele, keyboard).
Summer 1: Electronic music (Bandlab).
Summer 2: Songwriting (keyboards, ukulele, Bandlab).
Y7
Autumn 1 no computers: Keyboard skills.
Autumn 2: Programme music (keyboards).
Spring 1: Blues (ukulele).
Spring 2: Pop (ukulele, keyboard).
Summer 1: Electronic music (Bandlab).
Summer 2: Songwriting (keyboards, ukulele, Bandlab).
Y8
Autumn 1 no computers: Keyboard skills.
Autumn 2: Film music (keyboards).
Spring 1: Rock (guitar).
Spring 2: Pop (guitar, keyboard).
Summer 1: EDM (Bandlab).
Summer 2: Songwriting (keyboards, ukulele, Bandlab).
Y9
Autumn 1 no computers: Keyboard skills.
Autumn 2: Programme music (keyboards).
Spring 1: Blues (guitar).
Spring 2: Pop (guitar, keyboard).
Summer 1: EDM Bandlab).
Summer 2: Songwriting (keyboards, ukulele, Bandlab).
ROWAN
Autumn 1 – no computers: Our favourite songs – Sharing songs, singing/ responding.
Autumn 2: Telling stories with music.
Spring 1: Programme music.
Spring 2: Exploring instruments – keyboards, guitars, drums.
Summer 1: Basic notation.
Summer 2: Chrome Music Lab.
Y5/6
Autumn 1: Invasion Games.
Autumn 2: Target Games.
Spring 1: Movement and Balance, swimming.
Spring 2: Striking and Fielding, swimming.
Summer: Fitness and Athletics, swimming.
Y7
Autumn 1: Target Games.
Autumn 2: Invasion Games.
Spring 1: Striking and Fielding.
Spring 2: Movement and Balance.
Summer: Fitness and Athletics.
Y8
Autumn 1: Invasion Games.
Autumn 2: Target Games.
Spring 1: Movement and Balance.
Spring 2: Striking and Fielding.
Summer: Fitness and Athletics.
Y9 PE
Autumn 1: Target Games.
Autumn 2: Invasion Games.
Spring 1: Striking and Fielding.
Spring 2: Movement and Balance.
Summer: Fitness and Athletics.
Y9 DofE
Autumn 1: Cedar Skill.
Autumn 2: Elm Skill.
Spring 1: Cedar Physical.
Spring 2: Elm Physical.
Summer: Cedar EXP Prep Volunteering.
Y10 PE
Autumn 1: Invasion Games, Sport Leader Award Level 2.
Autumn 2: Target Games, Sport Leader Award Level 2.
Spring 1: Movement and Balance, Sport Leader Award Level 2.
Spring 2: Striking and Fielding, Sport Leader Award Level 2.
Summer: Fitness and Athletics, Sport Leader Award Level 2.
Y10 DofE
Autumn 1: Intro and Volunteering.
Autumn 2: Skills.
Spring 1: Volunteering.
Spring 2: Skills.
Summer: Physical.
Y11
Autumn 1: Target Games, Sport Leader Award Level 1.
Autumn 2: Invasion Games, Sport Leader Award Level 1.
Spring 1: Striking and Fielding, Sport Leader Award Level 1.
Spring 2: Movement and Balance, Sport Leader Award Level 1.
Summer: Fitness and Athletics, Sport Leader Award Level 1.
KS2
RE is included in the humanities curriculum at KS2.
KS3 PRE
The purpose of Philosophy, Religion and Ethics (PRE) is to help students understand more about the world they live in by considering both religious and non-religious responses to big questions and ethical issues. Through the exploration of ideas and beliefs students will develop their critical thinking and analysis skills. Overall our aim is to Inspire curiosity and deepen our student’s understanding of the world as well as to encourage their Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) development.
PRE is included within the PSHE curriculum at KS4.
RE is provided for all pupils, and is inclusive and broad minded. Parents do have the right to withdraw pupils from RE: if you wish to discuss this, please contact the school office to make an appointment to see the Principal. The school does not support selective withdrawal from RE.
RSHE and PSHE
We follow the Jigsaw programme which we develop based on the needs of our pupils and in order to make explicit links to other areas of our discovery curriculum.
The same unit titles are used throughout for consistency with the topics developing in complexity and maturity.
KS2
Autumn 1: Being Me in My World
Autumn 2: Celebrating Difference.
Spring 1: Dreams and Goals.
Spring 2: Healthy Me.
Summer 1: Relationships.
Summer2 : Changing Me.
KS3
Autumn 1: Being Me in My World
Autumn 2: Celebrating Difference.
Spring 1: Dreams and Goals.
Spring 2: Healthy Me.
Summer 1: Relationships.
Summer2 : Changing Me.
KS4
Autumn 1: Being Me in My World
Autumn 2: Celebrating Difference.
Spring 1: Dreams and Goals.
Spring 2: Healthy Me.
Summer 1: Relationships.
Summer2 : Changing Me.
KS2
2024/2025
Autumn 1: Earth and Space.
Autumn 2: Living things and their habitats.
Spring 1: Rocks and evolution.
Spring 2: Forces and magnets.
Summer 1: Properties of materials.
Summer 2 : Light and sound.
KS3
Year 7
Autumn: Lab skills and safety | Earth and space | Forces.
Spring: Particle theory | States of matter | Energy: from food; transfers; fuels.
Summer: Human body: organs, tissues, cells | Elements, compounds, chemical reactions.
Year 8
Autumn: Lab skills and safety | Food, nutrition and digestion.
Spring: Elements | Metals | Periodic table | Breathing and respiration.
Summer: Energy transfers | Gas exchange.
Year 9
Autumn: Key concepts in biology | Cells and control | Genetics.
Spring: States of matter | Elements | Periodic table |Metals.
Summer: Key concepts of physics.
Our Key Stage 4 Offer
In KS4 our pupils work towards the following qualifications in core subjects:
– Pearson Maths GCSE
– Pearson English Language and Literature iGCSE
– AQA Science GCSE – single or double award
– Entry level qualifications are used as appropriate for maths and science
In addition our pupils have access to the following qualifications, pupils study a selection of these based on their individual needs and interests:
– Educas Hospitality and Catering level 1 / 2 vocational award
– AQA Photography GCSE
– AQA Art GCSE
We also work with Paradigm Trust’s mainstream secondary school, Ipswich Academy, to offer Music GCSE.
Our KS4 pupils also have the opportunity to complete the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and the Sports Leaders Award.