John Flamsteed School Curriculum Statement

At John Flamsteed Community School, students thrive in the inclusive and aspirational curriculum we offer, where learning time is seen as precious and an entitlement for all. Teaching staff are heavily invested in their curriculum and they use their subject passion to create vibrant and engaging lessons. Our curriculum offer is broad, balanced and academically rigorous.

We strongly believe that our students have the right to access the best that has been said and thought. As such our students can expect to be exposed to authors from the traditional canon of English Literature, world renowned scientists and inspirational mathematicians from the outset in Year 7. The many cultures from all around the world are weaved into the lessons ensuring that students are knowledgeable about the world around them, enabling them to have all the tools they need to transform it in the future.

Our main aim is to enable every child to achieve or surpass their academic and social potential. We aim for a high quality of education for all students; underpinned by a strong programme of pastoral support, personal development and enrichment opportunities. We achieve this by working in partnership with the whole community and focusing relentlessly on our strategic priorities.

​The first of these strategic priorities is to “design a broad curriculum which gives all students access to the knowledge and skills that they need to take advantage of the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences in preparation for further study and later life”.

The intent and implementation of our curriculum are set out below and underpin the work of all leaders and teachers across the school in designing our curriculum.

If you would like to find out more about the schools’ curriculum then please contact Deputy Head Teacher, Tracey Stockley, through the main school reception.

Curriculum Intent

Through the design of our curriculum, we strive to create: ​

• Successful, independent and resilient learners who enjoy learning; make good progress and achieve or surpass their potential
• Confident individuals who are able to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives
• Responsible citizens who can make a positive contribution to society
• Globally aware young people who will be able to thrive in the 21^st century world

​​To have a curriculum which:

• Creates an aspirational high achievement culture

• Allows everyone to experience success by offering a wide choice of academically rigorous courses
• Interests and excites students, as well as prepare them for success in national examinations and in adult life
• Addresses disadvantage through closing the knowledge, vocabulary and cultural capital gap
• Ensures all learners are prepared for their next stage of education, training or employment

Curriculum Implementation

In delivering our curriculum, we strive to:

• Provide a high-quality education for students of all abilities to enable them to become independent and resilient learners
• Meet the needs and aspirations of all individuals
• Target appropriate additional and bespoke support to ensure that all students are on track to achieve or surpass their John Flamsteed Target in national examinations.
• Through the high quality Tutor Programme and dedicated lesson time provide a high-quality Personal Development curriculum including staying safe; mental health awareness; study and revision skills; British values including tolerance and respect, liberty, the law and democracy; drug awareness; sex and relationship education; economic well-being and financial education; careers education and guidance; an deeper understanding of religious practices around the world
• Ensure excellent transition from Year 6 taking careful consideration of individual students’ start points
• Retain a broad and balanced subject curriculum throughout Key Stage 3 in Years 7 – 9
• Offer a broad and aspirational open choice of subjects in KS4 whilst ensuring that all students who wish to can opt for the full suite of EBACC qualifications at KS4
• Provide a rich menu of opportunities for students to pursue non-academic talents including Music, Drama, Sport and the Duke of Edinburgh Award alongside developing a love of Creative Writing and Reading
• Ensure all students can develop confidence by contributing to school life through responsibilities such as student leadership (as School Prefects and Learning Ambassadors), school council representatives, mentors to other students, Anti-Bullying Ambassadors, Homework and Reading Buddies.
• Provide opportunities for educational visits beyond the classroom to broaden horizons
• Create opportunities to work with external expert providers to experience the world beyond school
• Provide an enrichment curriculum which
• Provide opportunities to experience Sixth Form to aid them with their post-16 choices; work experience to prepare students for adult life; and to support applications for further/higher education
• Ensure that all teaching and assessment is highly effective in enabling all students to embed and use knowledge fluently but also to retrieve knowledge and apply this confidently
• Provide quality CPD for staff to ensure teaching is of a high standard consistently

​ways.

Curriculum Overview:

​Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9)

The students first three years establish a strong and broad foundation for further study, designed to build upon and broaden their primary educational knowledge and understanding.

Students will study the following subjects:

• Mathematics
• English
• Science
• Geography
• History
• Modern Foreign Languages (French, German, Spanish)
• Design and Technology (Timber, Paper and Board, Food Preparation and Nutrition)
• Computing
• Art
• Music
• Drama
• Physical Education
• Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC)

Key Stage 4 (Years 10 – 11)

Our Key Stage 4 curriculum is designed to provide the most appropriate pathway for our students so to enable them to achieve the greatest success as they prepare for adult life and their future careers. There is a full consultation process with parents, carers and students throughout the Options Process which begins in earnest in Year 9. Students are given comprehensive guidance, through the pastoral programme, of the many different pathways and careers available to them through the study of the range of subjects on offer. Taster sessions are available in the vocational subjects they will not have studied before to ensure that students feel able to make an informed decision ready to commit fully to their studies from the outset in Year 10.

In addition to the core subjects (English, Mathematics and Science), students will choose from the following GCSE or BTEC courses:

• Art and Design
• Business Enterprise
• Computer Science
• Design and Technology
• Drama
• Food Preparation and Nutrition
• French
• Geography
• German
• Health and Social Care
• History
• Music
• Spanish (from September 2025)
• Sport

It is expected that nearly all students will choose a combination of subjects contributing to the achievement of the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) qualification, to ensure they achieve a broad and balanced range of qualifications to progress successfully onto further training and subsequent employment path