Curriculum at Phoenix Park Academy

Every child admitted to Phoenix House or Park House has been on a unique educational journey. We are committed to returning our students to mainstream school, moving them onto specialist provision, or positively transitioning them to post 16 education, employment or training. Students are therefore with us for varying amounts of time: some individuals will have a very short time on our roll, while others will remain with us until the end of their primary years or year 11.

Because of this, our curriculum offer needs to be flexible, personalised, and designed to allow students to progress to the next stage on their educational journey. It is developmental not chronological: it is based on where a child is in their development, not which year group they are in. For many of our students, their personal development and SEMH needs mean that work in this area has to be prioritised, as a vital first building block in their learning journey. Our curriculum model also recognises the importance of having a strong academic core: for us, this means focusing on literacy, including spoken language, reading and writing, as one of the primary tools through which all other learning is accessed.

We use the idea of building blocks to create our curriculum offer.

KS2 and KS3 Building Blocks

KS4 Building Blocks

Curriculum Intent

Aim:

Our overarching aim is to provide an inclusive curriculum that develops knowledge and understanding, nurtures key SEMH social skills and raises aspirations for our Students.

Our KS2 Curriculum is designed to:

Engage all pupils in learning
Enable all pupils to make progress from their individual starting points, and to have successes in learning
Focus on developing pupils’ social, emotional and mental health
Focus on depth before breadth: having a strong curriculum focus on the facilitating subjects of English, Reading and Mathematics as well as PSHE
Support all pupils to make healthy and safe choices
Support all pupils to move into, and be successful in their next phase of education
To deliver a broad and balanced programme of study to reflect the national curriculum content

Our KS3 Curriculum is designed to:

Engage all pupils in learning
Enable all pupils to make progress from their individual starting points, and to have successes in learning
Focus on developing pupil’s social, emotional and mental health
Focus on depth before breadth: having a strong curriculum focus on the facilitating subjects of English, Reading and Mathematics as well as PSHE
Support all pupils to make healthy and safe choices
Deliver a flexible, broad and balanced programme of study that reflects the national curriculum content
Support all pupils to move into, and be successful in, their next phase of education.

Our KS4 Curriculum is designed to:

Engage pupils in learning
Enable all pupils to make progress from their individual starting points, and to have successes in learning
Focus on developing pupils’ social, emotional and mental health
Focus on depth before breadth: having a strong curriculum focus on the facilitating subjects of English and Mathematics as well as PSHE
Support all pupils to make healthy and safe choices
Support pupils to make positive decisions about their future and next steps and support all pupils to move into, and be successful in, their next phase of education, employment or training
Ensure that all pupils leave with at least one qualification, no matter when they join us
Ensure that the majority of our pupils achieve a qualification in English and Mathematics

Our Nurture Principals:

At Phoenix House and Park House, we believe that working from nurture principles gives our students the best chance of making progress in their learning, both academically and in terms of their social, emotional and behavioural development. The nurture principles that underpin our pedagogy and all curriculum learning:

Children’s learning is understood developmentally
The classroom offers a safe base
The importance of nurture for the development of wellbeing
Language is a vital means of communication
All behaviour is communication
The importance of transition in children’s lives

Curriculum Overview

Key Stage 2
Key Subject Areas:	Reading Writing Numeracy & Maths PSHE
Personal development:	SMSC & FBV Enrichment Relationships
Ensuring a broad curriculum:	Elements – Geography, History, D+T and Art. Physical activity

Key Stage 3
Key Subject Areas:	Reading Writing Numeracy & Maths PSHE
Personal development:	SMSC & FBV Enrichment Relationships
Ensuring a broad curriculum:	Elements – Geography, History, D+T and Art. Physical activity

Key Stage 4
Key Subject Areas:	English Reading Numeracy & Maths PSHE
Personal development:	SMSC & FBV Enrichment, trips and visits CIEAG PSHE / Relationships and Sex Education
Vocational Subjects	Health and Nutrition Art Sport
Ensuring a broad curriculum:	Physical activity Cultural Capital opportunities

Curriculum Maps:

KS2:

KS3:

KS4:

PSHE Park House – KS4 JIGSAW Outline