Curriculum

At Key Stage 3 (years 7-9) pupils are taught in a mixed age / ability group. They have a broad and balanced curriculum including English, Mathematics, Science, Computing, Drama, French, History, RE, PE, Art, Citizenship, PSHE and Talkabout.

This is supplemented with enrichment activities such as gardening, cooking and music.

For all the students the curriculum is delivered in small groups in a nurturing environment. Learning is supported by a strong pastoral element in the school.

Our curriculum maps provide details about the content of our curriculum.  Please use the links below:

Key Stage Three Curriculum Maps

Further information about Relationships and Sex Education can be found by clicking the link below as well as the RSE Policy on the Policies and Document page:

PSHE Information for Parents

Timetables

Early Intervention – Foxes and Tigers

Key Stage Three – Lions

DSP – Panthers

Assessment in Key Stage Three

Students are assessed against milestones which show the knowledge, understanding and skills acquired across each subject. Students will follow a pathway through their time with us – aiming to maintain or improve their pathway.  As students move from year to year, the demands of the knowledge, understanding and skills of the pathway will increase; so by maintaining their pathway students will be demonstrating progress.

The pathways are:

  • Mastering
  • Securing
  • Developing
  • Emerging
  • Beginning

For detailed information on the assessment milestones, please follow the links below for the appropriate year.

Year 7 Assessment Milestones

Year 8 Assessment Milestones

Year 9 Assessment Milestones

EXTERNAL QUALIFICATIONS

During their time at The Magpie Learning Centre, students work towards a variety of external qualifications.

ARTS AWARD DISCOVER

This qualification is overseen by Trinity College, London.  Students are required to learn about different art forms, research an artist of their choice and take part in an art activity.  They create a portfolio of work in what ever format they would like.  The next steps following this qualification would be to move on to the Explore or Bronze level of Arts Award.

Please visit the website HERE for more information

ARTS AWARD BRONZE

This qualification is overseen by Trinity College, London.  Students complete the same tasks as they do for the ‘Discover’ level, as well as being an audience member in an arts activity and leading an arts activity in order to share their art skills.  This qualification is externally assessed and is at a level aligned with other Key Stage 3 programmes of study.

Please visit the website HERE for more information.

ASDAN

Students in our Year 9 DSP (Panthers) group study for an ASDAN short course qualification during their time with us.  We will choose the exact qualification based on the students’ interests – our current cohort are studying the ‘Animal Care’ qualification.  Students have some autonomy over what they study, choosing three tasks for each of the modules.  Activities include visits from working animals such as police dogs, researching how to keep themselves safe around animals and spending time at a local farm to see how the animals are cared for.

Please visit the website HERE for more information.

AQA UNIT AWARDS

These awards are designed to be stand-alone qualifications and can be achieved in a huge variety of areas including crafting, volunteering, pet care, outdoor learning, skincare…the list is endless.  Students can complete these qualifications in a variety of ways – written, typed, PowerPoint, video, audio recording and they form their own portfolio of evidence and award certificates.  These are looked upon favourably by colleges and employers as evidence of independent study and a medium to showcase students’ interests and talents.

Please visit the website HERE for more information.