At Heathcote, we know that excellent curriculum design and delivery leads to an excellent education.’
Reviewing the curriculum vision is important for ensuring a clear guidance for the development of curriculum design and implementation. Below is our current curriculum statement, which is currently being reviewed.
Please contact Assistant Headteacher Sarah Columb, for further information: scolumb@heathcote.waltham.sch.uk
Vision:
At Heathcote we provide an excellent education for all our students; an education which brings out the best in all of them and prepares them for success in life.
Intent:
The knowledge rich curriculum at Heathcote School is founded on these key aims and values;
Encourage pupils to be inquisitive, curious and thoughtful.
Challenge pupils to be creative, independent and resilient.
Succeed in creating pupils who value their own ability to learn, cherish their education, find their voice and use it with confidence.
Succeed in promoting understanding in every member of the school community to recognise and respect the needs and opinions of others.
To enact this vision, teachers and pupils are expected to engage in the curriculum utilising a set of curriculum non negotiables taught through Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction, Oracy and Key Questions.
Key Stage 3 Curriculum
Heathcote School has a broad and balanced curriculum, which satisfies National Curriculum requirements and includes full access to all the creative subjects, such as Art, Music, Technology, Dance and Drama which are so important for the whole development of our pupils and very popular choices later on at GCSE and in the Sixth Form. We also ensure pupils have extensive opportunities to progress in the core subjects and the other subjects that make up the E Bacc qualification in Key Stage 4 (Humanities, Modern Foreign Languages and Computer Science). To ensure all subjects have a fair share over Key Stage 3 (Year 7-9), the number of lessons of each subject varies slightly in each year group. We will be reviewing this during the year and seeking feedback from stakeholders.
The weekly timetable is made up of 25 periods that are 60 minutes each; the timetable will also include some double lessons. The curriculum is supplemented by a number of exciting opportunities for enrichment activities and trips. The timetable is run over 2 weeks (Week A and Week B) and pupils need to be equipped for each week. This will be supported by visual displays and reminders in school.
| Lessons per fortnight (50 lessons) | |
| Subject | Year 7 |
| English | 8 |
| Maths | 9 |
| Science | 8 |
| Design & Technology | 4 |
| Modern Foreign Language | 3 |
| History | 3 |
| Geography | 3 |
| Art | 2 |
| Music | 1 |
| Drama | 2 |
| Dance – 1 hour | |
| Philosophy, Identity and Ethics (PIE) | 1 |
| PE | 4 |
| Computing | 1 |
| RE – 2 hours | |
| Lessons per fortnight (50 lessons) | |
| Subject | Year 8 |
| English | 8 |
| Maths | 8 |
| Science | 8 |
| Design & Technology | 3 |
| Modern Foreign Language | 3 |
| History | 3 |
| Geography | 3 |
| Art | 2 |
| Music | 1 |
| Drama | 2 |
| Dance – 1 hour | |
| Philosophy, Identity and Ethics (PIE) | 1 |
| RE | 2 |
| PE | 4 |
| Computing | 1 |
| Lessons per fortnight (50 lessons) | |
| Subject | Year 9 |
| English | 8 |
| Maths | 8 |
| Science | 8 |
| Design & Technology | 3 |
| Modern Foreign Language | 3 |
| History | 4 |
| Geography | 4 |
| Art | 1 |
| Music | 1 |
| Drama | 2 |
| Dance – 1 hour | |
| Philosophy, Identity and Ethics (PIE) | 1 |
| PE | 4 |
| Computing | 2 |
| RE – 2 hours | |
Most subjects are taught in mixed ability classes in Year 7, 8 and 9. Maths will place pupils into higher and foundation sets after assessment in the first term in year 7. Pupils are put in groups in MFL according to their language preference from Year 7 where this is possible, and smaller mixed ability groups are organised for D&T. In PE, pupils are placed in groups of either single or mixed gender groups. In all other lessons, pupils are taught in their tutor groups. Tutor groups are carefully constructed using primary school information ensuring equality of characteristics in each group is monitored.
Teachers ensure that work is set at the right level for all pupils in the class, and extra support is provided if necessary in the classroom.
Pupils have 20 minutes of Tutor time 4 times a week and one assembly. In Year 7 and 8, pupils follow the Accelerated Reader programme.
Key Stage 4 Curriculum
In addition to studying core subjects (MATHS, ENGLISH, SCIENCE, and CORE PE) our KS4 provision is:
- Triple Science
- Computer Science
- Geography GCSE
- History GCSE
- French
- Spanish
- Art GCSE
- Dance GCSE
- Drama GCSE
- Music GCSE
- GCSE PE
- Sociology
- DT – Food & Nutrition GCSE
- DT – Design and Technology GCSE
- DT – Product Design GCSE
- DT – Textiles GCSE
- Enterprise for Business BTEC
- BTEC Digital Information Technology
- BTEC Health and Social Care (from Sept 2023)
- NCFE (Sport), Health and Fitness (from September 2023)
- Citizenship
- RE (from September 2023)
- Prince’s Trust
The weekly timetable is as follows;
| Subjects | Lessons per fortnight (50 lessons) | |
| Yr 10 | Yr 11 | |
| English | 8 | 8 |
| Maths | 8 | 8 |
| Combined Science | 7 | 8 |
| Triple Science | 13 | 14 |
| Design & TechnologyDT – Food & NutritionDT – Design and Technology DT – Product Design DT – Textiles | 6 | 6 |
| Modern Foreign Language FrenchSpanish | 6 | 6 |
| History | 6 | 6 |
| Geography | 6 | 6 |
| Art | 6 | 6 |
| Music | 6 | 6 |
| Drama | 6 | 6 |
| Citizenship | 6 | 6 |
| Computer Science | 6 | 6 |
| PE | 6 | 6 |
| PE (core) | 4 | 4 |
| PE (CNAT) | 6 | 6 |
| Enterprise for Business BTEC | 6 | 6 |
| BTEC Digital Information Technology | 6 | 6 |
| Sociology | 6 | 6 |
| Prince’s Trust | 6 | 6 |
Key Stage 5 Curriculum
A LEVEL SUBJECTS
- A Level DT: Fashion Textiles
- A Level Music
- A Level Physical Education
- A Level Physics
- A Level Mathematics
- A Level Drama and Theatre
- A Level Psychology
- A Level Politics
- A Level History
- A Level Economics
- A Level Art: Fine Art
- A Level Sociology
- Extended Project Qualification
- A Level Spanish
- A Level Further Mathematics
- A Level English Language
- A Level Geography
- A Level French
- A Level Computer Science
- A Level DT: Product Design
- A Level Chemistry
- A Level Biology
- A Level Business Studies
- A Level English Literature
| Subjects | Lessons per fortnight (50 lessons) | |
| Yr 12 | Yr 13 | |
| English Language | 10 | 10 |
| English Literature | 10 | 10 |
| Further Mathematics | 6 | |
| Mathematics | 10 | 10 |
| Business Studies | 10 | 10 |
| Biology | 10 | 10 |
| Chemistry | 10 | 10 |
| Physics | 10 | 10 |
| DT: Fashion Textiles | 10 | 10 |
| Music | 10 | 10 |
| Geography | 10 | 10 |
| History | 10 | 10 |
| Fine Art | 10 | 10 |
| Music | 10 | 10 |
| Drama & Theatre Studies | 10 | |
| Physical Education | 10 | 10 |
| IT | 10 | 10 |
| Politics | 10 | 10 |
| French | 10 | 10 |
| Computer Science | 10 | 10 |
| DT: Product Design | 10 | 10 |
| Spanish | 8 | |
| Economics | 10 | 10 |
| Extended Project Qualification(meeting times) | 4 | 4 |
| Sociology | 10 | 10 |
| Psychology | 10 | 10 |
LEVEL 3 SUBJECTS
- BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma in Business
- BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport
- BTEC National Level 3 Diploma in Business + 1 A Level to select
- BTEC National Extended Diploma in Sport + 1 A
- Level 3 Extended Diploma – Applied Science
- Level 3 Health and Social Care
- Level 3 BTEC-IT
- Level 3 Professional Construction Practice
| Subjects | Lessons per fortnight (50 lessons) | |
| Yr 12 | Yr 13 | |
| BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma in Business | 30 | 24 |
| BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport | 30 | |
| BTEC National Level 3 Diploma in Business | 20 | 1 |
LEVEL 2 SUBJECTS
- Construction: Level 2 Diploma in Constructing the Build Environment
| Subjects | Lessons per fortnight (50 lessons) | |
| Yr 12 | Yr 13 | |
| Construction: Level 2 Diploma in Constructing the Build Environment | 16 | |
Marking and Feedback
Most marking and feedback will be operated on a whole class level and will include reflection lessons based on revisiting areas of misconceptions and gaps in knowledge. This means books may look different to those at primary school.
Challenge Week
There are 3 Challenge weeks a year in which pupils undertake assessments in exam conditions to check their learning in each of the 3 curriculum windows. This assessment provides the data for reports and also leads to further reflection lessons that revisit topics. These are marked individually and pupils gain individual feedback and areas for improvement.
Parents and carers are invited in for Parent Evening and Meet the Tutor Events.
Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)
Heathcote School recognises that many pupils at some point in their school career have special educational needs which may require support. We never consider this as an excuse for under-achievement, and high aspirations are key to all our school improvement work. Every teacher is a teacher of every child, including those with SEND and this is a central to the philosophy of our school and part of the diversity that we celebrate. The school also aims to encourage a culture of peer support and inclusion that encourages strong friendship groups for pupils with SEND.
Pupils with SEND will receive different levels of support depending on need. This may be support from a Teaching Assistant (TA), special exam arrangements, extra literacy and numeracy, speech and language therapy or monitoring by the team. You will receive further information about any support from the SEND Team and some of this may be after school. Please do not hesitate to contact our SENDCO, Ms Gardiner. The full SEND Policy is on the school’s website.
Enrichment and Intervention
There is a wide variety of enrichment and intervention for pupils outside of the main taught curriculum. Most of this takes place after school. Full details of the schedule for Enrichment activities will be published on the school website and we encourage pupils to attend as many activities as they can. Intervention is mostly targeted to individuals or groups of pupils.
Learning Resource Centre (LRC)
The LRC is a rich learning resource environment that is open before school, at break times, lunch times and after school. Various clubs operate at these times, and give access to some IT resources. We are looking at introducing a sign-up system in busy times. Pupils are able to complete their homework and use the facilities in the LRC to support independent study. Opening hours are from
Breakfast Club
Breakfast is served in the Dining Hall from 8:00am until 8:35am every morning. The Dining Hall is closed after 8:40am to ensure pupils have eaten and arrive on time to line-up for all pupils except Year 11-13.
There is a targeted breakfast club for SEND pupils and further details can be obtained from the SEND department.
Equipment, Uniform and Personal Belongings
Appropriate facilities and equipment are provided for on-site activities and the National Curriculum. We sometimes ask parent/carers to support their children by contributing to food technology ingredients, certain texts and revision books particularly in upper years. We may be able to support pupils facing financial difficulties if a request is made to the Finance Office.
It is essential that pupils come to school fully equipped for all lessons as per the equipment list.
Uniform and Physical Education kit are compulsory and we expect pupils to wear their uniform with pride (see the Uniform and Equipment area for details). We aim to ensure pupils are dressed professionally at all times and discussion about the wrong uniform disrupts learning time. We lend items to pupils who do not have them in school.
Pupils are responsible for all personal property. The school is not responsible for money or valuables as they should not be brought to school.