Personalising the Curriculum in a Changed Climate Ben Rule Deputy Head Ringwood School
Aims of this Session What are the challenges facing curriculum personalisation? How can a school curriculum be personalised in the current educational climate? How has Ringwood personalised its students curriculum? What ideas do other schools have for personalising theirs?
The Old Tools of Personalisation Rolling back the core; more time for choice eg 2 yr KS3, 3 yr KS4. Subject proliferation: wider range of different subjects that reach the students that traditional subjects didn t. Alternative assessment frameworks: courses dependent on coursework, practicals, performance and portfolios. Learning skills and processes. Moving from a know what culture to a know how culture. Course diversification. Applied learning and vocational learning. Stage not age. Completing courses when ready. Made possible by early entry exams backed up by the safety net of re sits.
These tools have now been blunted The government is discouraging subject proliferation. Ebacc A bacc new accountability measures Big limits to course diversification Wolf Report Diplomas End of flexible assessment regime linear not modular courses no re sits
How can we now personalise the curriculum in this climate? With linear courses, is the 3 year KS4 dead? How much time should the core & compulsory curriculum take up? What should be included in it? Where does this all leave school specialisms? How do we now cater for students who need applied and vocational courses? What do we now do with the skills based curriculum? Without early entry, how do we move our most able on? How can we square the circle of doing what s best for our students while not selling our school short in performance measures?
Ringwood School s Curriculum Positions Core & compulsory Diversity of options entitlement for all 2 Equality of Opportunity Differentiated position Subject knowledge Learning skills & processes 4 1 3 Consolidation of learning Extension of learning 5 Breadth (wide ranging curriculum) Depth (specialising) 6 Maximising league table performance Personalising learning
Influences School s moral purpose and core value: personalisation. Student and parental expectations. Local employment needs. Students strong starting points (high attainment at KS2 = sig+) Lead OfSted Inspector s feedback: a) Ebacc not for all. b) Demonstrate all learners needs are being met. c) Progress in core subjects and aver points score are the key performance indicators. New accountability framework.
Personalisation: the right students on the right courses for the right reasons
Years 7 & 8 Core Entitlement Year 7 & 8 4 English 2 History 2 Geog 3 MFL 4 Maths 1 ICT 1 LC 4 Science 3 PE 1 EP 1 Ar 1 Dr 1 Mu 2 Tech 8 Literacy Based Humanities Students joining on a 4c or below have the literacy based Humanities curriculum. The aim is to close the achievement gap early so students can be re integrated in year 9 and access more courses in years 10 11 because they have caught up. PSHE is called Life Choices and based on student lifestyle surveys to ensure it is needs led.
Retaining but Inverting a 3 year KS4 Our old model: Year 9: Early Start Begin some courses early Our new model: Year 9: Foundation Get skilled up in practice GCSE units Year 10: Early Finish finish some courses early (start other courses) Year 11: Extension Extension in subjects finished early or gain extra time for Eng & Ma Year 10: Normal Start Begin courses from stronger starting point Year 11: Normal Finish Complete courses
Year 9: Year of Transition Made up of 8 learning areas: English, Maths, Science, ICT, Languages, PE, Creativity and Humanities. All students study all 8 learning areas but can choose which subjects to do within 4 of them. Students can drop some of the subjects that they are certain they do not want to do a qualification in when they get to years 10 and 11 so that they can... Spend more time on the subjects they are thinking about doing qualifications in when they get to years 10 11... While Continuing to experience a broad range of subjects, which keep their options open about what they will continue to study in years 10 and 11.
Options in Y8 for Y9 Students asked to make provisional options for GCSE and BTEC courses in Y8. Don t start until Y10. Experience foundation GCSE units in these courses in year 9. Review and finalise options in year 9 for Y10 11 Students have a free choice of subjects unrestricted by pre set option blocks...
Art GCSE Art & Design BTEC Art Photography GCSE Art Textiles GCSE Business Studies GCSE Child Development GCSE Computing GCSE Dance BTEC Drama GCSE Environmental Studies GCSE Ethics & Philosophy GCSE Food & Nutrition GCSE French GCSE Geography GCSE Graphics GCSE Health & Social Care GCSE History MW GCSE History SHP GCSE ICT BTEC Leisure GCSE Media BTEC Music GCSE Music Tech BTEC PE GCSE PE (Sport) BTEC Performing Arts Prod BTEC Psychology GCSE Resistant Materials GCSE Sport & Fitness BTEC Statistics GCSE
Year 9: Year of Transition Humanities Creativity English (4) Maths (4) Science (5) ICT (2) MFL Hums Hums (3) A (2) B (2) Choose Choose either: either: French Gg & Hi Spanish Gg & Bus Ent German Hi & Bus Ent Gg & Psy Hi & Psy EP (1) Subject Subject A B (2) (2) PE (3) Do 1 Do 1 Choose for half for half either: year then year then 3 periods of PE swap swap or 2 to 2nd: to 2 nd periods of : PE plus 1 Art, Art,, period of Food, Drama, Dance Graphic Media, Music, RM, Textiles, Music Project Media
Project Qualification L2 An extended piece of coursework in a subject students are interested in. They choose the topic. Could be on a subject they want to do in Y10 11 that s not available in Y9. Or could be in a subject they are doing but want to speclialise in further. Must include secondary research, primary research, conclusion and evaluation. Must demonstrate PLTS (independent enquirers, creative thinkers, self managers, reflective learners, effective participators). Skills students up for KS4 study.
Years 10 11: Maths (4) Science (6) Vocational Learning Pathway (9) MFL (3) PE (2) English (4) Pre set option block (2) Free Option (3) Free Option (3) Free Option (3) Single Science (3) Work Skills lessons (2) Work experience (2) Vocational enrichment (2) in either: Construction Social Care Animal Care Basic Skills Certificates Choose from: English Literature GCSE ASDAN COPE Project Qualification Additional BTEC units Free choice of 30 options. Blocks created out of choices
Assessment data determines students curriculum. No sink groups. Every group socially engineered. If courses are right for students and do not count on league tables then we still offer them... As long as they are alongside a minimum of 5 that do. Students can combine vocational, applied and academic courses rather than be placed on a pathway of just 1 of these.
Share best practice... On the post it note write down 1 feature of your curriculum that works especially well. Maybe its a particular course that meets the needs of a group of students really well. Maybe its a curriculum decision you have made which has had a positive impact on students.