At Dean Trust Wigan learning is at the heart of all we do and we recognise the importance of providing a needs-led, personalised curriculum for all of our pupils. Everything within the organisation is based explicitly on learning and supporting all our young people to achieve their potential, through fostering high aspirations to succeed in education, work and life.
Learners flourish in an environment where they are encouraged to: be reflective; take risks; try out new strategies and approaches; learn together, supporting each other; and to challenge and be challenged.
The curriculum is designed to meet statutory requirements and support the intended outcomes of the Secondary National Curriculum. It is all the planned learning experiences for students, as well as ensuring they are literate, numerate and technologically adept, with the ability to apply these lifelong skills, attributes and values that will guide their future.
We work closely with our feeder primary schools and the aim is to develop a coherent curriculum that ensures progression, building on our learner’s experiences in the primary phase and supporting their holistic development to ensure they become well rounded young people.
The curriculum is intended to help young people to:
In addition we believe that the curriculum should:
Our curriculum complies fully with our duties in the Equality Act 2010 Equality Act 2010, and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014 Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014 , with reasonable adjustments made to ensure the curriculum is accessible for those with disabilities or special educational needs. We are an inclusive school and equality of opportunity underpins everything we aim to achieve as a school to ensure that all of our community can ‘Believe Achieve and Succeed’.
The Curriculum and pupils’ academic achievement is the responsibility of the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team. The curriculum is led by the Deputy Headteacher for Curriculum and Teaching & Learning.
The weekly school timetable is based on 30 x 50 minute periods of learning on a carefully planned and developed programme to ensure each pupil has a range of broad and balanced learning opportunities.
Pastoral care is managed by the ‘Pastoral Teams’ who take specific year group responsibility and this is underpinned by our Form Tutors who take on a holistic approach for the pupils in their tutor groups. The Tutors are supported in their work by our Pupil Support Managers and Student Services staff.
Curriculum plans and content for each year group and faculty are detailed in the Curriculum section of the school website. Here you will be able to see how each subject organises their curriculum activity and qualifications at each of the Key Stages.
Our Key Stage 3 curricular opportunities provide the skills and understanding in a wide range of subjects to help pupils identify where their best interests and achievements are which can inform their choices later on in school. In Year 9 learners are given ‘options’ advice to support their curriculum qualification choices at Key Stage 4. This is underpinned by specialist and highly effective Careers Information, Advice and Guidance to help pupils make the most suitable choices meeting their academic needs and future aspirations. The Key Stage 4 Pathways programme which defines the qualifications our learners will follow is complemented by a work-related learning programme that takes place at the end of Year 10.
Across all areas the curriculum is driven by subject areas however, these teams of staff work closely to provide a range of cross curriculum opportunities so that pupils are able to see close links between subjects taught and are able to apply learning across all subjects.
Curriculum, Teaching & Learning – Mrs S Webster
KS3 Assistant Headteacher – Mr A Loftus
KS4 Assistant Headteacher – Mr J Kenny