Curriculum Intent

Preparation for Adulthood (PfA) is a golden thread that is at the heart of our school values, drivers and curriculum. We aspire that pupils leave Newman with the academic qualifications and wider skills, characteristics and experiences which will help them to lead successful and healthy adult lives.

The Curriculum at Newman School is driven by our vision to provide all learners with a personalised, positive and meaningful learning experience through a sequential approach. Preparation for adulthood starts at the earliest opportunity in the Early Years’ Foundation Stage and at every key stage builds on previous learning and development. We aim for the highest level of communication, independence and resilience which prepares and equips learners for the next phase in their lives until adulthood.

Curriculum Organisation

At Newman, you will see that our curriculum is underpinned by the National Curriculum whilst also being guided by our key drivers of Communication, Independence and Resilience. The curriculum is organised as yearlong cycles within Key Stages, rather than learning per age-related year group. This is to facilitate cross-year group teaching, within a Key Stage, whilst ensuring that key subject content is covered before students move onto their next stage in learning.  

Research has shown a good curriculum needs to empower children with knowledge, but also ensure that this knowledge is embedded in the long-term memory. Bransford, Brown and Cocking (2000) refer to knowledge building as connecting information and then building up a network of this connected information as a schema. It becomes easier to add new information and recognise its place within a discipline: new knowledge can ‘stick to old knowledge’. Therefore, when designing our curriculum at Newman, we carefully thought about what we teach, and how we can ensure learning is laid in practice and stored in long-term memories, ensuring that the knowledge that we want children to know is built on previous knowledge and progress, through units of work, so that children can create their own opinions based on factual knowledge and think deeply about how these concepts interrelate and how they may be relevant to everyday life. 

The Curriculum at Newman School is driven by our vision to provide all learners with a personalised, positive and meaningful learning experience through a sequential approach. Preparation for adulthood starts at the earliest opportunity in the Early Years’ Foundation Stage and at every key stage builds on previous learning and development. We aim for the highest level of communication, independence and resilience which prepares and equips learners for the next phase in their lives until adulthood.

Curriculum Drivers

EHCP (Education, Health Care Plan)

Our intent is to ensure that all pupils are given the best opportunity and support to reach their full potential through a person-centred and holistic approach to their development. As learners move through the school curriculum model, their curriculum will be based on their learning needs, which is reviewed yearly in line with the annual review of their Education, Health Care plan and end-of-year progress outcomes.

Cognition & Learning

• Increase knowledge
• Develop thinking skills

Social Emotional & Mental Health

• Emotional well-being
• Self-regulation

Sensory & Physical

• Emotional regulation
• Being active

Communication and Interaction

• Effective Communicators
• Socially active