Birches Head High School - Birches Head High School

A well designed curriculum enables all young people to become...

• Successful learners who enjoy learning, make progress and achieve
• Confident individuals who are able to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives
• Responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society


At key stage 3, we wan to enhance the foundations of learning built in Primary schools by developing a skills based curriculum in year 7and 8 contextualised within the subjects.  The aim of the year 7 and 8 curriculum is to focus upon the practical development of the skills needed as an Succesful Learner, a Confident Individual and Responsible Citizen.  We believe that the 3 principles which will develop the aims of the new curriculum are Thinking, Language and Communication and Emotional and Social Development.  The curriculum will prioritise skills from these principles using the subject content as a vehicle to explore and apply these skills.

All students develop these skills whilst developing there subject skills in:

However it is important in the 21st century that our learners understand how knowledge and skills connect .  Therefore our subjects work in teams to deliver a  common creative enquiry theme but add their unique context and content to the delivery of the learning.

Year 9
In year 9 we are embracing the new flexibility offered by the secondary curriculum by developing personalised pathways in relation to aspiration, ability and need.  One pathway develops students GCSE abilities and allows for enhanced progress through Maths, English and Science qualifications.  A second pathway allows students to consolidate, whilst stilling achieving accreditation earlier than previously.  The third pathway focuses upon those students who need to greater time to develop functionality in English and Maths, but who will still come complete some level 1 qualifications.  The year is a foundation KS4 year from which greater personalisation will occur.