Non-Qualification Programme of Study

We intend :

• To ensure every young person’s journey into adulthood is a journey of faith: one that recognises that true justice, peace and human freedom require, first and foremost, respect for the dignity of human life.
• To ensure metacognition, debate and critical thinking are planned for and taught across the curriculum.

Time allocation: 1 hr per week

Contemporary studies is designed to develop students skills whilst examining the world from divergent perspectives.   Students will develop critical thinking skills; debating skills; learn to form an opinion and have the confidence to change their opinion; listening skills, tolerance an acceptance; equipping them with the necessary skills to become active members of a global community where their voice can be heard.

We intend:

• To ensure all learners are cared for in such a way that their physical, moral and intellectual talents may develop in a harmonious manner, so that they may attain a greater sense of responsibility and a right use of freedom, and be formed to take an active part in social life.
• To promote fundamental British Values and Citizenship: including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

Time allocation: 1 hr per week

By the end of key stage 5, many young people will leave home for the first time and live independently, possibly in distant locations. There is a balance throughout this PSHE Programme of Study between preparing students to manage their current lives and laying the foundations for managing future experiences. As students progress through the key stages, this balance shifts towards teaching related to young people’s current experiences. It is essential to provide a comprehensive PSHE education programme in key stage 5; this ensures students continue to learn about issues with real-life relevance to them, at a crucial transition point in their lives.

This key stage represents the last opportunity to ensure that students have the knowledge and understanding, skills, strategies and attributes they need for independent living and the next stage in their education or career.

The Year 12 PSHE Programme of Study focuses on the student’s needs moving into young adulthood and equipping them to deal confidently with situations that they may experience throughout their time in sixth form.  The Year 13 PSHE Programme of Study focuses on equipping the students for life after sixth form.

The majority of our sixth form students continue their education onto university, with a significant number moving away from the family and living an independent life, the programme of study is designed to equip them with knowledge on how to look after themselves and also the confidence and knowledge to seek new information when required throughout their lives.

The main themes of Health and Wellbeing, Relationships and Living in the Wider World have been sourced from PHSE Association and developed within the school by the sixth form team to suit our individual student’s needs.  The programme for the two years is below, further details can be found in the PSHE overview on the website.

We intend:

• To expose all learners to the richness of English language so that pupils can access the pleasure of reading, the excitement of writing and to explore new subjects and concepts, unlocking the potential to learn and grow as individuals.

Time allocation: 25 mins per day

Following tutorial every morning students will partake in reading as a group.  Research and common sense tells us that literacy, vocabulary in particular, is one of the most influential factors in student success. Developing a habit of reading for pleasure is crucial to this. It is also a way of providing ‘an escape from the everyday’, an important strategy for promoting positive mental wellbeing.