Curriculum & Options

Curriculum Aims

We believe our pupils are as good as anyone, anywhere.  Our intent is to recognise and celebrate difference; provide exciting opportunities; and meet the needs of all pupils. 

Curriculum Mission

Our values of Ambition, Respect and Courage underpin our vision for an excellent education where students leave the college with the skills and qualifications which give them the choices they need as well as the confidence to make the right decisions when they need to.

Our core values permeate all that we do.

Ambition

An inclusive, supportive, and vibrant environment where students are at the centre of everything we do. We seek to nurture aspiration and promote excellence in all our students, driven by the belief that “your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go, merely where you start”.

Respect

The Marvell College is a place where every person has the right to be themselves and to be included in a safe, happy, and productive environment. All members of the school community are equal and should be treated with respect.

Courage

In accepting that some things will be difficult, and that sometimes we will fail, we demonstrate the courage required to become successful learners and valued members of society.

Alongside our core values, our common aims across the curriculum are:

• To develop pupils’ numeracy, oracy, reading and disciplinary literacy skills.
• To adapt teaching to address misconceptions and meet the needs of all learners.
• To ensure knowledge retrieval and retention is at the forefront of curriculum design and assessment.
• To enable pupils to be able to apply skills and knowledge independently, including having the resilience to respond in unfamiliar contexts.

The Curriculum

Each subject area has their own page on our website.  These contain details of the curriculum intent and aims within their subject and how they fit within our common objectives.  Individual curriculum journey documents set out how the curriculum is sequenced from Years 7 to 11, and how essential skills, knowledge and understanding are developed over time.

The timetable is a 25-unit week, each lesson being 60 minutes in duration.  Pupils arrive on site by 08:40 and the day begins with a tutor period at the start of everyday running 08:45 - 09:05.  Pupils have a 15-minute break between periods 2 and 3, with 40 minutes for lunch after period 4.  Afternoon tutor time runs from 13:50 - 14:10 and the school day finishes at 15:10.

Key Stage 3

Pupils are taught within mixed ability groups in some subjects and set by ability in others.  We are flexible in our approach which takes account of the mix and needs of pupils in each year group.

In Years 7 and 8 pupils’ access and broad and rich curriculum based upon the national curriculum, but which is tailored to the needs of young pupil in our setting.  The curriculum comprises English, Mathematics, Science, RE, PE including Dance, PSHE which includes ICT, Geography, History, a Modern Foreign Language, Art, Design Technology including Textiles, Food and Drama.  Our extensive list of clubs and extra-curricular activities means pupils have the chances to try out new things or do more of the things they love.

Key Stage 4

At the end of Year 8 pupils have some choice over the guided pathway of study they feel is most suitable for them.  A high proportion of pupils will follow the EBacc pathway and study a foreign language.  A high percentage of our pupils will study Geography and/or History throughout Key Stage 4.  In addition to these subjects and the core offer of English, Mathematics, RE, PSHE, PE and Science, pupils are afforded the opportunity to choose from an extensive range of subjects including traditional GCSEs and vocational equivalents allowing them to explore areas of interest to them more deeply.  Decisions are made alongside their parents/carers, classroom teachers and the Year Team so that pupils maximise the enjoyment and enrichment they get from their choices. This promotes a strong transition to suitable post 16 pathways, whilst also maintaining a broad balance of subjects.

During Year 9 pupils continue Key Stage 3 study in English and Maths.  Key Stage 3 Science is studied until Christmas of Year 9.  In other subjects, the subject specific skills, knowledge and understanding required at Key Stage 4 are developed from the beginning of Year 9.  We believe our approach is the right one for the pupils in our school and setting, allowing them the time they need to become successful learners.

Some pupils may follow a more bespoke curriculum offer that is better suited to their needs and allows them to develop some of the softer, key transferrable skills they will need as they progress through school.  Such decisions have the needs of the child at heart and are taken in conjunction with the pupils and their parents or carers.

Reading, Literacy and Oracy

The development and love of reading sits at the heart of our curriculum, and pupils read widely and often.  We are committed to each pupil being fluent readers but recognise some still need to work on decoding words and building automaticity.  These pupils receive targeted interventions and support from trained staff in school for as long as they need it with any disruption to their regular curriculum kept to a minimum.  Follow up testing and support ensures the required skills are embedded. Each curriculum area has their own literacy focus so that pupils progress the in that area.  Oracy is one of the key foci for our school in 2023-2024.  The ability to articulate ideas, develop understanding and take part is reasoned discussion are all key skills in the modern world.  With this in mind, we are working towards becoming a “Voice 21” accredited school.

Our curriculum offer is reviewed on an annual basis.  The current curriculum model is detailed below for illustrative purposes.

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