Teaching and Learning Overview
A summary of the core principles that guide teaching and learning at Sir William Stanier.
Curriculum Design
An outline of how our curriculum promotes critical thinking, creativity, and lifelong learning while aligning with national standards and community values.
The ABCDE of Curriculum Design
- Ambitious: Challenging and aspirational for all students.
- Broad: Exposure to a variety of perspectives and content.
- Connected: Interleaved skills and knowledge across stages and ages.
- Diverse: Diverse themes and opinions from around the world.
- Empathetic: Promoting understanding and empathy for others.
Lesson Design
A guide to how we structure lessons for maximum student engagement and progress, including key lesson components such as:
- Do Now: Starting tasks to focus students.
- Retrieval and Interleaving: Supporting long-term knowledge retention.
- Explicit Instruction and Modelling: Clear, guided teaching processes.
- Assessment for Learning: Tools to track and support progress.
- Independent Practice: Scaffolding and skill application.
Inclusion and Support for All Students
How we cater to diverse student needs, with strategies and resources for SEND, PP, and EAL students, including:
- Inclusive classroom practices.
- The Education Endowment Foundation 'Five A Day' model.
- The use of WalkThrus to support instruction.
Learning Routines
Five consistent learning routines that establish high expectations and smooth classroom management:
- Respectful Entry
- Do Now
- 3-2-1 Attention Signals
- Class Readiness
- Respectful Dismissal
Literacy Development
A focus on improving reading, writing, and oracy across all subjects, including:
- Reading age adaptations.
- Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary teaching.
- Strategies for developing key literacy skills.
Quality Assurance
Our approach to ensuring high standards of teaching and learning through regular reviews, learning walks, and feedback processes.
Key Stage 3 Curriculum Model
Subject |
Year 7 |
Year 8 |
Year 9 |
English |
4 |
4 |
4 |
Maths |
4 |
4 |
4 |
Science |
3 |
3 |
3 |
RE |
1 |
1 |
1 |
PE |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Form/Registration |
2 hours 45 minutes per week |
||
Computing |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Drama |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Music |
1 |
1 |
1 |
History |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Geography |
2 |
2 |
2 |
French |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Art Food |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Personal Development The school has a comprehensive personal development programme throughout the year, along with additional drop-down days dedicated to personal development. |
Key Stage 4 Curriculum Model
Subject |
Year 10 |
Year 11 |
English |
5 |
5 |
Maths |
4 |
5 |
Science |
4 |
4 |
RE |
1 |
1 |
PE |
2 |
1 |
Form/Registration |
2 hours 45 minutes per week |
|
|
|
|
Options |
Students choose 3 of the following options |
|
Triple Science |
X 3 one-hour lessons per week |
X 3 one-hour lessons per week |
Computing |
||
Drama |
||
Music |
||
History |
||
Geography |
||
French |
||
Art |
||
Food |
||
Access - iGCSE English |
||
Business |
||
iMedia |
||
OCR Sport |
||
Health & Social Care |
||
Psychology |
||
Media Studies |
||
Child Development |
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Religious Education |
||
Photography |
||
`Personal Development The school has a comprehensive personal development programme throughout the year, along with additional drop-down days dedicated to personal development. |
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