The curriculum underpins our work as a school. Our staff have spent considerable time to plan and sequence learning within and across years to support our students in making strong gains in their learning. These plans are not set in stone but evolve as a result of regular review.
At Ponteland High School we believe that the purpose of the curriculum is to gradually build up students’ level of knowledge and understanding across all subject disciplines and then be able to apply this in a thoughtful and considered manner to suit the demands of any given task. The curriculum should excite, enthuse and develop within our students a love of learning that encourages them to pursue their studies away from school.
We have ensured that the curriculum is designed with student learning at the core. Subject leaders have thought carefully about what a young geographer, musician or scientist should know, understand and be able to do at various stages of their school life and used this to plan a curriculum that is progressive and challenging. We are committed to meaningful learning rather than superficial coverage of curriculum content recognising that retention of new material requires regular practice, reinforcement and review.
We focus on ensuring that our teachers have strong subject knowledge to underpin their teaching. We value and emphasise creating positive relationships in classrooms as we believe this enables great teaching to flourish. We are committed to offering a broad and balanced academic curriculum that is accessible to all students across all key stages; this includes a foreign language for the overwhelming majority of students at GCSE.
Our curriculum is designed to specifically develop student’s knowledge, understanding and skills in each subject discipline. We ensure teachers plan lessons and curriculum content with our Great Teaching model in mind so that engagement, challenge and progress are key components and outcomes of learning.
Our Religious Education curriculum is taught in an inclusive way, encouraging students to understand the role of religion and faith in the world while reflecting on their own answers to questions of faith, meaning, and purpose. However, parents have the legal right to withdraw their child from Religious Education lessons, either in full or in part, by providing written notice to the school.
Parents have the right to request their child’s withdrawal from the Sex Education components of Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) until three terms before the child turns 16. At that point, the child can choose to receive Sex Education if they wish. This right does not extend to content taught as part of the Relationships Education or Health Education curriculum, which is compulsory. Parents wishing to withdraw their child should submit a written request to the headteacher.
Ponteland High School is part of Pele Trust. Registered address: The Crescent, Callerton Lane, Ponteland, Newcastle upon Tyne NE20 9EG.
A charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number: 11395017).
