Curriculum Provision at CCYD

This is an outline of the curriculum provision at CCYD in key stage 3,4 & 5.

The school timetable is made up of 50 one hour lessons over a fortnight. There are 5 x one hour lessons each day.

The times of the day are as follows:

Tutor time – 8.30 – 8.50

Lesson 1 – 8.50 – 9.50
Lesson 2 – 9.50 – 10.50

Break – 10.50 – 11.10

Lesson 3 – 11.10 – 12.10
Lesson 4 – 12.10 – 1.10

Lunch – 1.10 – 1.50

Lesson 5 – 1.50 – 2.50

Homework club – 2.50 – 4.00 (Monday to Thursday)

Key Stage 3

Key Stage 3 spans over the 3 years from year 7 to 9. Key Stage 4 is Year 10 to 11 and Key Stage 5 is Year 12 to 13.  We have a ‘Challenge’ themed curriculum for Year 7 which learners will study along with continual subjects. (Further information can be found in the Key stage 3 curriculum section).  Our year 7 learners complete a series of 4 challenge/skills over the year in 10 week blocks and are taught in sets with the MLD class being taught as a discreet group but fully inclusive in all of the challenges. Each challenge has a theme based on a ‘Real world issue/problem’ and there will be a ‘Real world outcome’. Subject specialists deliver their aspects of the theme and these are underpinned by literacy and numeracy based tasks. Subject based experiences are interwoven throughout each challenge; which will allow the learners to focus on the overarching theme and to achieve their end goal of a real world outcome which could be a presentation, exhibition or event.

The main focus of the challenges is to develop the learners’ personal qualities and their creativity. We want them to have a belief in themselves and their future and most importantly a passion for learning. Flexibility is being built into each challenge to allow more able learners to excel whilst giving time and support to those who require it.

Each group in year 7 will be linked to a Challenge Mentor who is also one of the team delivering the challenges. The group will spend 2 hours per fortnight with their Challenge Mentor maintaining continuity over the year. This quality time will allow for reflection on personal skills development, tracking of literacy and numeracy skills, consolidation of work from the subject areas and the planning of the outcome/event. The Mentors work closely with the learners to develop their growth mind set and confidence in learning. Learners are quickly taught that making a mistake does not mean failure it just means you can’t do it yet.

The challenges have been carefully planned so that subject skills are not compromised. All departments are directly involved in the planning and the subject specialisms of the staff are put to good use in the effective delivery of the challenges.

Our primary feeder schools have worked closely with us in the development of the challenges to ensure that there is a clear progression from year 6. The year 6 learners undertake a series of transition activities throughout the year and also work with our year 7 learners to develop the themes.

The subjects which require practice to learn and embed skills – English, Maths, Music, languages and PE are delivered as discrete subjects in year 7 outside of the challenges. Literacy and Numeracy are included as part of the English and Maths lessons. The ‘Accelerated Reader Program’ is delivered within the English lessons to develop reading skills. These classes are set by ability as this allows the more able to be stretched and learners who need support to be given this in smaller classes. By embedding these skills in year 7 the learners can progress through year 8 and 9 with confidence and ambition and we would aim to instil resilience in our learners to succeed at KS4.

During year 8 and 9 we want our learners to develop a sound knowledge and understanding of a wide range of subjects with a broad and balanced curriculum. The learners build up these subject based skills with a clear focus across all subjects on literacy and numeracy over the 2 years. The learners make an informed choice of which subjects they wish to study at Key Stage 4 at the end of year 9 (see information on the options process at CCYD and the options calendar).

Key Stage 4

The aim of the Key Stage 4 curriculum is to give the learners the best possible chance of attaining a wide range of GCSE passes by the end of year 11. In year 10 and 11 the learners will study the core subjects of English, Maths, Science, Welsh and PE. In addition to this all learners study the Welsh Baccalaureate which gives them valuable skills outside of the academic courses and will equip them with the necessary skills and confidence to succeed at interviews and in the world of work. The learners who require additional support and a ‘hands on’ approach to their learning will study the vocational skills program to develop a variety of skills. The learners will select 3 option subjects they wish to study at GCSE at the end of year 9 and to support in this selection we have a rigorous program of careers guidance, information assemblies and on line resources which offer guidance on subject choices and careers.

Whilst we want to give our Key Stage 4 learners the best possible chance to build up a wide range of qualifications to embark on their journey into work or further/higher education, our main goal is to allow the learners to continue to develop confidence and resilience and embrace every challenge they face.

Key Stage 5

Our Key stage 5 is year 12 and 13. We aim to provide our learners with a progression from Key stage 4 as well as equip them with the necessary qualifications and skills for them to move on to the next stage of their career path. We continue to work with collaboration schools and colleges in order to offer our learners a wide range of post 16 courses, which can be studied at CCYD or at other schools via school transport. Learners will study a maximum of 4 option choices and also Welsh Baccalaureate Level 3, which is compulsory.

We have a thriving 6th form at CCYD where our learners study a range of level 3 courses. We work closely with our partnership schools within Bridgend to offer a wide range of collaboration courses where our students can travel to other venues to study courses. We also collaborate with Bridgend College who offer a range of day time as well as twilight courses in the evening. We have a team of staff who support our 6^th form learners though year 12 and 13 from settling in to life in the 6^th form, to choosing the correct courses, careers advice and support in applying for universities. During the 6^th form we have a range of external visits and activities in house, ranging from careers fairs, apprenticeship events and university talks so that our learners can familiarise with life outside of education. This allows them to make informed decisions about their future.

Number of lessons per subject (In hours and over a fortnight period)