Secondary Curriculum

Curriculum

The curriculum at Oakgrove School reflects our view that all students should have a broad and balanced education. We believe that the programme at Oakgrove School builds effectively upon progress at the primary stage and is suitably challenging for all students. Specialist teachers ensure that all national curriculum subjects are covered and that links between, and across, subjects are carefully explored. We believe that students come to school to learn and that the learning experience should be exciting and enjoyable with each student working to the full limit of their abilities.

An important part of our work are our cross curricular links with connections made across the different subjects to ensure that the curriculum is experienced as an organised whole rather than a series of separate subjects being taught independently. We incorporate the latest research into teaching and learning into all of our work.

All subjects identify opportunities for spiritual, moral, social and cultural awareness within their programmes of study and there is a strong focus on literacy and numeracy across the curriculum, not just in English and Mathematics.

Our Life Studies programme is a highly structured and comprehensive course covering much more than the traditional personal, social, and health education. It embraces personal awareness and resilience, environmental awareness, citizenship education, life in modern Britain and much more. The weekly themes of Life Studies lessons are reflected in the school’s assembly topics.


Targets for Learning (TfL)

Targets for learning has been an integral part of life at Oakgrove since the school opened in 2005.  In its current form, students across the school are supported in reviewing their academic and Attitude for Learning (AfL) data across all their subjects at regular intervals across the year.

Students, with the support of their tutor/mentor decide which areas of their academic life that they need to focus on in particular over the short term to boost their chances of success. Targets can be specific or more generic dependent on what targets the student chooses. These targets are then recorded and their class teachers will be able to see the chosen subjects to focus on and support the students further.

Targets for learning has always been a powerful way of discussing and setting targets for the student, by the student. The students can regularly review their progress towards their targets and when appropriate, they can set new targets to ensure further progress.


Whole School English and Maths

English and Maths expertise is essential to all students across the age and ability range, in order for them to effectively access the curriculum and make progress in all subjects.

English and Maths skills are embedded in lesson planning, delivery of content, exam preparation and feedback to students, ensuring that standards of literacy and numeracy are consistently high in all areas.

The Directors of English and Maths take an overview of the application of these skills in all subject areas, which are monitored through regular lessons visits and work scrutinies conducted by Subject Leaders. They liaise with a range of staff to establish good practice and provide training where necessary.


Tutor Reading Programme

The school has a weekly tutor reading programme for Years 7 to 10, with a focus on reading for pleasure. Each tutor group is read to and the students follow in a copy of the book. The programme introduces students to a range of texts across the year in a shared reading experience.

Year 7Year 8Year 9Year 10
A Kind of Spark, Ellie McNicollChinese Cinderella, Adeline Yen MahLooking for JJ, Anne CassidyHeroes, Robert Cormier
The Memory Cage, Ruth EasthamDare to be You, Matthew SyedIt's Trevor Noah: Born a Crime, Stories from a South African ChildhoodThey Both Die at the End, Adam Silvera
You are a Champion, Marcus RashfordStay Where You Are and Then Leave, John BoyneThis Book Kills, Ravena GuronThe Girls I've Been, Tess Sharpe
A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L'EngleNeedle, Patrice LawrenceWhere the World Turns Wild, Nicola PenfoldThe Giver, Lois Lowry
Girl, Missing, Sophie McKenzieThe Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Mark Haddon