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:

  1. Respectful Entry
  2. Do Now
  3. 3-2-1 Attention Signals
  4. Class Readiness
  5. 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

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.