Education is offered to Key Stage 4 students who are receiving medical treatment and are unable to attend mainstream school. We offer students the opportunity to take Functional Skills and/or GCSEs exams in core subjects along with a BTEC Home Cooking and an Arts Award. PSCHE and careers is also an important part of the curriculum. In PSCHE some of the topics covered this year included citizenship, sex education, staying safe and knife crime. In careers we aim to prepare young people for transition to post 16 education helping with identification of courses and colleges, CVs and personnel statements. Where possible students also enjoy a week placement completing work experience.

At The Lodge we provide a caring, nurturing environment that enables our pupils access to a broad and balanced curriculum, that is personalised to meet the needs of individual students. We practice health, wellbeing and independence alongside achievement and academic success. The core subjects are fun, creative and flexible and designed with several qualifications that build towards GCSE skills and knowledge. The broader curriculum builds self-confidence, offers challenge and teaches life skills for their next steps.

Students work in a small, nurturing environment; they can enjoy an enriched curriculum and take part in PE (which includes ice skating, dance, boxing, yoga), gardening, photography, theatre trips and art workshops. All lessons are supported by a Learning Assistant whose role is to support both the teacher and student with academic and pastoral support.

Curriculum offered at The Lodge

English

Our intention behind The Lodge English Curriculum is to create a relevant, creative and challenging scheme of study, that builds vital skills as well as opportunities to achieve several qualifications. We understand that young people come to us with possible gaps in their learning, so we get to know their knowledge and skills when they arrive and then personalise learning to maximise progress and engage their interest. We offer both the English Literature and English Language GCSE qualifications; Functional Skills 1 and 2 and the ARTS award.

To access the English curriculum map, please click here.

GCSE English Literature

The foundation of our KS4 Curriculum is in an appreciation of literature and reading. We use the Edexcel GCSE English Literature syllabus as a springboard for learning about character, intention and theme. Key knowledge and context are inbuilt and revisited throughout the two years. Students will also develop their analysis of language and structure and learn to evaluate texts.

The set texts we study for possible examination at the end of Year 11 are:

· Conflict Poetry Anthology

· ‘An Inspector Calls’ by JB Priestly

· ‘The Tempest’ by William Shakespeare

· ‘Jane Eyre’ by Charlotte Bronte

GCSE Language

Alongside the GCSE Literature texts, students will be learning the reading and writing skills to be successful with the GCSE Language qualification. They will continue to develop their creative writing as well

as their non-fiction writing throughout KS4. Another cornerstone of our approach is using speaking and listening, and drama to aid comprehension, inference, and confidence. All students are examined on this GCSE at the end of Year 11.

Reading for Pleasure

Our stand-alone reading lessons focus on more contemporary, socially focused novels, where we practice reciprocal reading skills. We also encourage independent reading for homework.

Functional Skills Levels 1 & 2

We offer modular Functional Skills Exams throughout Year 10 and 11, as exam preparation for GCSEs. This offers young people the chance to build important literacy skills, as well as experience exam conditions in preparation for GCSE. Students can ‘bank’ modules and re-sit if they need to. These are in addition to, rather than instead of, GCSE exams.

ARTS Award

The ARTS Award aims to enable learners to understand how to develop their own arts practice and arts leadership skills, underpinned by knowledge of their own art form and its relationship to arts provision in the community. We work with the Art Department as well as outside providers, to visit the theatre, create and lead on an arts project and research and investigate an artist of their choice.

Enrichment and Homework

At the Lodge we have a ‘Flipped Classroom’ approach in English, where students will be given homework in preparation for lessons. Relevant and engaging homework will be set weekly. In addition,

extra-curricular activities strengthen students’ understanding and engagement with the texts we study. We also have strong links to PSHE, Citizenship and careers to enable a strong transition into their KS5 stage.

Mathematics

Mathematics is an important part of the curriculum at The Lodge. It is our intention to equip students with the necessary skills to be able to operate in the modern world. Not only does mathematics provide tools and skills to solve problems and communicate across subjects but it is a prerequisite for many courses or apprenticeships that our students will hope to follow once they have left New River College.

At The Lodge we hope to develop an enjoyment and engagement with a subject that plays such a key role in society today. Alongside learning and teaching for a recognised qualification students will investigate, problem solve and explore cultural and historical developments in mathematics.

Functional Skills Levels 1 & 2

Maths Functional Skills allows students to learn valuable life skills and develop their ability to solve mathematical problems, interpret data and solve problems. For example, they are taught to use money in everyday situations and read timetables. The EDEXCEL Functional Skills course will help lay down the foundations for GCSE and allow students the opportunity to attain a recognised qualification. Assessment is by one written paper lasting 1 ½ hours. Students have the opportunity to re-sit if necessary.

GCSE Mathematics

Students will follow the EDEXCEL GCSE mathematics course and this will require them to:

Develop confidence and competence with the mathematical contents of the course

Develop fluent knowledge, skills and understanding of mathematical methods
Acquire, select and apply mathematical techniques to solve problems
Reason mathematically, make deductions and inferences, and draw conclusions
Comprehend, interpret and communicate mathematical information
Recall, select and apply mathematical formulae

Knowledge, skills and understanding

The table below illustrates the topic areas covered in this qualification.

Tier	Topic Area	Weighting
Foundation	Number	22 – 28%
	Algebra	17 – 23%
	Ratio, Proportion and Rates of Change	22 – 28%
	Geometry and Measure	12 – 18%
	Statistics and Probability	12 – 18%
Higher	Number	12 – 18%
	Algebra	27 – 33%
	Ratio, Proportion and Rates of Change	17 – 23%
	Geometry and Measure	17 – 23%
	Statistics and Probability	12 – 18%

Enrichment and Homework

Mathematics plays an important part across the curriculum and students are encouraged to apply their knowledge and skills in real life contexts, whether this be using measure in Home Cooking to calculate ratios and quantities of amounts; interpreting graphs or using statistics or manipulating algebraic formulae in Science.

Students are expected to use their knowledge and skills learned in lessons to complete weekly homework tasks. These tasks range from problem solving activities and investigations to completing past papers.

Progression from GCSE

This qualification prepares students for progression to further study of mathematics at AS and A level. GCSE mathematics is a requirement for progression to a wide range of courses at Level 3. Students are expected to continue with their study of GCSE Mathematics after the age of 16 if they have not achieved the qualification at Key Stage 4.

Science

Our intention behind the Science Curriculum offered at The Lodge is to support our young people to access modules across all three disciplines; Biology, Chemistry and Physics. This is done through an engaging and relevant scheme of work that allows individuals to build on their prior knowledge and skills. We intend to spark curiosity about the natural world, insight into how science works and appreciation of its relevance in everyday life. We aim to provide qualification opportunities for all and increase confidence in both scientific enquiry and written response.

We offer both the Science Entry Level Certificate and AQA GCSE Combined Science.

Key Stage 4

About the Course

At KS4 students will study AQA GCSE Combined Science. This course is supplemented with the AQA Entry Level science course.

What will students learn?

This qualification is linear. Linear means that students will sit all their exams at the end of the course.

Biology Subject Content

1. Cell biology

2. Organisation

3. Infection and response

4. Bioenergetics

5. Homeostasis and response

6. Inheritance, variation and evolution

7. Ecology

8. Key ideas

Chemistry Subject Content

1. Atomic Structure and the periodic table

2. Bonding, structure and the properties of matter

3. Quantitative Chemistry

4. Chemical Changes

5. Energy Changes

6. The rate and extent of chemical change

7. Organic chemistry

8. Chemical analysis

9. Chemistry of the atmosphere

10. Using resources

11. Key ideas

Physics Subject Content

1. Energy

2. Electricity

3. Particle model of matter

4. Atomic structure

5. Forces

6. Waves

7. Magnetism and electromagnetism

8. Key ideas

How will students be assessed?

Students will complete 21 required practicals and sit six 1 hour 15 minute exams.

Additionally, students may complete three teacher designed practical assessments and three short written exams if they are studying for the Entry level Qualification.

· Multiple choice, structured, closed short answer and open response.

Food Skills – About the Course

Food skills is taught to key stage three students once a week. Students cook a range of quick and easy recipes that can help them to develop valuable life skills and to build their confidence to cook at home.

What will students learn?

How to cook a variety of meals, predominantly savoury, from different cultures and countries

Health and Safety in the kitchen

History of different dishes

Economising and batch cooking

Nutritional values and label reading

Healthy alternatives

Different diets, e.g. vegetarian

Students will develop fundamental cooking skills regularly such as chopping, slicing, bringing food to a simmer, to help reinforce their understanding and confidence in cooking at home.

Home Cooking Skills (BTEC Level 1/2)

HT1	HT2	HT3	HT4	HT5	HT6
Healthy Living	Exploring Nutritional Value	All About The Timing (multi-step meals)	Health and Hygiene	Cooking with Meat and Fish	Economical Cooking
Celebrating Black History Month		Celebrating Chinese New Year	Comic Relief Bake Sale	Celebrating Easter Easter Egg Crafts and Hot Cross Buns
	Student Assessment Day			Student Assessment Day	Assessment Folder Completion

PHSCE

Our intention behind the PSHE Curriculum offered at The Lodge is to help our young people to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to manage life’s challenges and make the most of life’s opportunities both now and in the future. This is done through a scheme of work centred around the core themes of health and wellbeing, relationships and living in the wider world. We are flexible to the needs of our students and invite external agencies to offer their expertise where appropriate. We aspire to impact on both academic and non-academic outcomes for our young people.

Personal Health, Social and Citizenship Education gives students the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to keep themselves healthy and safe and to prepare them for life and work in modern Britain.

Through our PHSCE programme we aim to promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of students at the school. By supporting our students to achieve their potential we develop their wellbeing and tackle issues that have impacted on their ability to learn.

The key themes covered in PHSE are:

Health and Wellbeing

Relationships

Living in the Wider World

How to manage transition

How to maintain physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing

How to make informed choices

How to assess and manage risks and to keep safe

How to access help, advice and support

How to develop and maintain healthy relationships

How to manage emotions

How to deal with negative relationships

Consent

Managing loss

Equality

How to access advice and support

Rights and responsibilities

Informed choices

Employability

Team work

Economic and business environment

Personal Finance

Physical Education

There are many benefits our students gain from receiving physical education lessons. Not only does it contribute to students becoming responsible adults who are aware of the importance of a healthy lifestyle but has immediate impact on helping raise energy levels which then helps to learn and retain knowledge. Making well informed decisions about their overall health will help students live a much more fulfilled life.

Physical Fitness – Helps students maintain fitness, develop muscular strength and improve cardiovascular health. A regular fitness activity improves the absorption of nutrients by the body and improves digestion.

Builds Self-Confidence – Helps to build self-esteem and develops communication skills and cooperation.

Relieves Stress – Many of our students experience high levels of stress and anxiety, involvement in physical activity offers a way to relieve some of this.

Students at The Lodge have the opportunity to experience many different physical activities. Often our students have come from an environment where they have not engaged with school and will have spent a considerable amount of time at home or in hospital being inactive. In order to develop the love of exercise and understand the benefits we do collaborate with students on the physical activities they would like to try and engage with, these have included boxing, dance, ice skating and yoga.

Princes Trust

The Princes Trust is a charity in the United Kingdom founded in 1976 by the Prince of Wales. The charity aims to help young people by running programmes that build young people’s confidence and motivation.

At The Lodge we offer students the opportunity to study for The Prince’s Trust Award in Personal Development and Employability Skills. Here we focus on recognising and developing personal skills, qualities and attitudes which will be needed in the work place and required by employers across a range of sectors.

The Personal Development and Employability Skills qualifications cover a range of skills. An overview of the units available at The Lodge is given below.

Career Planning

Community Project

Managing Money

Participating in Exercise

Planning for Personal Development

Preparing for a Healthy Lifestyle