The New Curriculum at IHS
The ‘Education in Wales National - Our National Mission’ is the Welsh Government's strategic plan to improve the prospects and life chances of young people through education reform. One of the key drivers is the implementation of the New Curriculum where each school can develop their own curriculum through areas of learning which embody the four purposes which are to develop learners as:
- Ambition capable learners.
- Ethically, informed citizens.
- Healthy and confident individuals.
- Enterprising and creative contributors.
At Islwyn High School we work closely with our cluster of primary schools and external partners to ensure we have worked closely with all stakeholders to offer the best possible learning experience to allow learners to make progress towards their personal goals. Our curriculum will evolve through our own growth and current factors that reflect the ever-changing physical world and society.
Our vision for the new curriculum at IHS
At Islwyn High curriculum leaders have developed our curriculum through stakeholder workshops with learners and governors and then refined our approach and values through parent surveys and feedback mechanisms.
Our vision is to cultivate global citizens and widen the horizons of our students to allow them to value and understand peoples’ diversity, past and culture; including our own and across the globe. We want learners to understand the living environment and how they can make a positive and meaningful contribution to society through science and technology.
We endeavour to make all learners numerate to empower them to be able to use mathematics in order to flourish in their everyday life, and help them become highly effective communicators who read with confidence and write with purpose to engage audiences and be digitally intelligent in preparation for the future world.
We wish to enable learners to recognise and represent feelings and emotions, both their own and those of others that shape their sense of personal, social and cultural identity at Islwyn High where learners can creatively express themselves through a range of experiences.
Learners will build on their skills, knowledge and understanding to grow the ability to apply and transfer thinking to different situations, develop emotional resilience and academic rigour in order to secure the best outcomes for lifelong learning and the wider world of work.
How will the new curriculum be taught?
Whilst our key stage four (GCSE) curriculum offer is by subjects, our curriculum for learners in Year 7 and Year 8 from September 2023 (and Year 9 from September 2024) onwards will be taught through six areas of learning experience (AoLE):
Each AoLE has between three and six what matter statements which provide guidance on the content we need to address. At Islwyn High School our curriculum offers wide ranging experiences in each area which focus on learning through exploration, refining skills and understanding, considering local, national and current perspectives in preparation for next steps and lifelong learning.
For example in humanities the pupils will study and immerse themselves in the Newport Rising chartist movement. This has a strong link to the local community and neighboring schools.
How will students be assessed?
The most important factor regarding assessment is that learners understand what they may need to do in order to improve their work. We call this ‘assessment for learning’ and it is seen in learners' work.
Within each AoLE ‘what matter statements’, there are five ‘progression steps' that learners can achieve by the end of the key stage. Staff will record the progress a learner is making in each what matters statement in relation to their target along with their attitude to learning which is reported to the Senior Leadership Team and Governors. This information will be shared with parents through interim and full reports as published on the calendar.
In setting targets for our learners we use prior data from cluster schools, Cognitive Ability Tests (CATs) and National Test results in literacy and numeracy to set AoLE targets for learners in Year 7 to 9. The learner will then have a clear flight path to success which is bespoke to them.
The key to each score is as follows:
- 3D - Developing progression step 3.
- 3E - Embedding progression step 3.
- 3S - Securing progression step 3.
The progression steps are outlined in the curriculum for wales guidance. We have shortened this into each AOLE area for ease. This will help you understand what each progression step corresponds to in each AOLE area.
The expectation is for a child to move from one stage to the next each academic year however, this may look different for each child. Examples of paths along are shown below
Pupil A
Pupil B
Pupil C
This will be reported to parents/guardians each term along with an attitude to learning score. This will provide an up to date view on how well your child is progressing toward their target and whether they are engaging in the learning of each subject area.
Skills and Cross Cutting Themes
In creating our new curriculum at Islwyn High we have clearly mapped how we are developing our learners skills; in literacy, numeracy and digital communication frameworks*. Our Skill Leaders have identified skills that are explicitly developed through linked AoLE and those that are delivered through everyday learning experiences. In addition to developing skills across the curriculum we run whole school strategies such as accelerated reading along with dedicated literacy and numeracy teaching assistants to give small group intervention sessions.
The four purposes are also underpinned by skills which should be developed within a wide range of learning and teaching. Our curriculum includes opportunities for learners to experience and develop:
Integral Skills
- Creativity and innovation.
- Critical thinking and problem-solving.
- Personal effectiveness.
- Planning and organising.
Cross Cutting Themes
- Relationships and sexuality education (RSE).
- Human rights.
- Diversity.
- Careers and work-related experiences.
- Local, national and international contexts.
Mandatory elements of the new curriculum
The Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 puts mandatory duties on schools – things they are legally required to do. The following elements are mandatory parts of the curriculum:
- Relationships and sexuality education (which will be delivered through Health and Wellbeing lessons).
- Religion Values and Ethics (RVE).
- Welsh.
- The cross-curricular skills (literacy, numeracy and digital competence)
Curriculum design is iterative
We are fully aware at Islwyn High School that curriculum design is iterative. This means it is a constantly changing and evolving process, particularly as we are keen that our curriculum uses authentic learning experiences and focuses on what is happening in the world around us at certain points in time.
We will consistently evaluate and review the curriculum throughout each academic year and make suitable changes to ensure that our curriculum is always relevant, purposeful, engaging and that the needs of all of our students are met.
Our Summary will be amended and developed as our curriculum does, responding to feedback and reviews carried out by pupils, parents, staff, governors and other stakeholders.