Our Vision for the Curriculum
The curriculum at The Compass School is a seven-year journey.
Our pupils study a broad and balanced curriculum with the intention of preparing them for a world we cannot imagine and making sure they are ready for adult life and the next stages of their education, employment or training.
There are no limits placed on their achievements. Wider opportunities are provided through our enrichment programme and the STAR Pledge.
Our curriculum is based on an academically rigorous offer which will be delivered with the expertise of staff trained to understand how to meet the needs of our cohort with Social Emotional and Mental Health needs.
We will go the extra mile to engage pupils and scaffold learning so that everyone achieves their best.
We know that great teaching, every lesson, every day, transforms lives.
We have chosen curriculum plans which enable us to support learners who need to secure threshold concepts and key knowledge and skills by using the well-planned resources from earlier stages of the curriculum where necessary.
Success
All children undertake carefully sequenced programmes of study across the full range of traditional school disciplines – English, Mathematics, the Sciences, the Humanities, Religious Studies, Creative and Performing Arts, IT and Design Technology and Sport.
Reading lies at the heart of our academic curriculum and we are determined that our students will leave us with the reading, writing and communication skills they need to flourish. We believe:
“Reading is fundamental to education. Proficiency in reading, writing and spoken language is vital for pupils’ success. Through these, they develop communication skills for education and for working with others.”
The Reading Framework: Teaching the Foundations of Literacy’ (DFE July 2021)
They also have wider opportunities to learn about the world and to contribute to the community.
Every child matters and we strive to ensure that every child thrives in their lessons and takes full part in the wider curriculum on offer. We provide the therapeutic curriculum and necessary targeted interventions to support every pupil to access their learning.
Teamwork
We are a community which prepares young people to take their place in the world where they can hold formal and informal conversations with confidence, take part in dialogic learning and work together to solve problems, hold restorative conversations and reach resolutions.
Fundamental British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, and for those without faith, are explored and supported through our curriculum – including our PSHE programme, form time curriculum and assemblies – so our pupils are prepared to work with their communities to make a positive contribution in their adult lives.
Aspiration
We want our children to be happy and to feel positive about themselves, their time at school and their futures.
We have a carefully planned PSHE and RSE curriculum where children learn about how to look after themselves and each other.
Pupils learn that they can fully participate in the life of the school and the wider community through Student Council, voluntary work and extra-curricular activities. Our careers programme inspires them to aspire and to see the many opportunities available to them.
Resilience
All pupils are trained to study independently and to develop a ‘Growth Mindset’.
We know a lot about how young people learn and teach them about self-regulation; self-efficacy and meta-cognition. We plan learning so that pupils retain knowledge in their long-term memories.
Teachers provide pupils with an overview of the curriculum topics and content for each half term. Assessment criteria, success criteria and model answers are shared with students and feedback is provided to ensure that all pupils know what they need to do to improve their work or fill any gaps in their understanding and can learn to do this without adult support.