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I.I.I.

INTENT
IMPLEMENTATION &
IMPACT

INTENT
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At Fort Pitt, our values of nurturing successful, resilient, aspirational, respectful and inclusive young people, is at the heart of all that we do. They underpin our intention that all students should make outstanding progress and that there should be no barriers to learning. We firmly believe in a nurturing and caring environment, where students’ happiness is a key priority and allows them to flourish.

 

Our curriculum reinforces these values and is broad, deep and knowledge rich. It is both ambitious and inclusive, and aims to develop in students, a deep awareness of their learning and understanding. It is designed to stretch and challenge the students in our care, and builds upon the foundations that our partner primary schools have set. It reinforces and revisits prior learning following a sequential and interleaved approach.

We have exceptionally high expectations of every student at Fort Pitt and firmly believe there should be no ceiling to their aspirations. Students study a wide range of subjects in the classroom and have access to a wealth of opportunities to enhance their learning outside of the classroom. This facilitates the development of each student’s cultural capital and helps them to prepare for their future successes. These encompass experiences as varied as university visits, lectures from leading females in industry, theatre groups, artist visits, internships and international visits.

We want all our students to develop the character, resilience and cultural awareness to become successful and engaged global citizens. As such, SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural) education and FBV (Fundamental British Values) are embedded into the curriculum and delivered through all subjects. Career advice and guidance takes place across all years with students working through the Gatsby benchmarks.

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IMPLEMENTATION
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A robust and broad curriculum is integral to the successful learning and teaching at Fort Pitt. It is carefully planned and structured to both build upon prior learning, and to prepare students for the next step in their educational journey. The curriculum is complemented by our ‘Fort Pitt 6’ charter which demonstrates what exceptional learning and teaching should look like.

 

Our subject leaders and experts have carefully constructed their curricula to engage students and promote a deep understanding of a wide range of topics and concepts. Teachers plan and sequence learning that enables students to embed and recall knowledge, to engage in deliberate practice and to develop their subject schemata. Time is purposefully built into schemes of learning to provide frequent retrieval and revision opportunities and students are supported with frequent exam practice.

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KS3

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At KS3 the curriculum is deliberately designed to provide students with a broad and diverse base upon which to develop their knowledge and understanding of key concepts. Prior learning at partner schools is assessed and built upon and there is a real focus on developing a depth of knowledge and love for learning. Students are challenged and stretched and academic excellence is nurtured.

In Year 9 students commence the process of selecting the GCSE option subjects they will study alongside the core curriculum. The options process allows students to fully explore the GCSE offer and to personalise their curriculum in Year 10.

 

KS4

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The curriculum in Year 10 enables students to continue to experience a rich and deep programme of study. All students study a core selection of GCSE subjects, which affords them the opportunity to complete the English Baccalaureate qualification, and is complemented by their option choices. The wide range of subjects studied ensures that a vast number of progression routes are open to students. Students also follow a comprehensive ‘next steps’ scheme as part of their careers information and guidance, this is delivered via subject areas and discrete career focus days.

 

KS5

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The curriculum in Year 12 is broad and offers a wide range of subjects. All Year 12 students select either 3 or 4 A Levels to study across two years, and have the option to complete the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).  In addition to their A Level subject choice, students follow a programme of enrichment which aims to further develop their skills outside of academia, and build their cultural capital.

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IMPACT

 

At Fort Pitt our curriculum and values are entwined in ensuring that all our students are aspirational and ambitious and ready for the next steps in both their education and lives. This is evidenced in a variety of ways; through impressive outcomes in public examinations, through progress made each year, and through destination measures in Year 13. 

 

Impact however, is not only about quantitative evidence, our curriculum also helps develop and encourage students to be well rounded, happy, respectful and kind individuals. It instils a love of learning, a desire to think deeply and an ability to empathise yet also question.

 

Curricular impact is also evident in the proportion of students participating in a wealth of extra-curricular opportunities, the large numbers embracing sport, music & drama, and the popularity of the extensive range of trips and visits available.

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READING
IDENTITY

READING

Our whole-school reading strategy centres around fostering a life-long love of reading; nurturing a culture which facilitates and encourages reading for pleasure. At the core of this is understanding the reading identity of our students and the wider school community – this has enabled us to tackle resourcing and map trends in disengagement with reading.  Shaping a positive reading identity is understood to be imperative by all departments, as such all departments, as a minimum, widely promote reading within their subject area and for pleasure. The English department routinely share good practice in reading intervention strategies, such as Reciprocal Reading, for whole school benefit.  The school is proud of the way it celebrates World Book Day with a whole school participation, this is unprecedented for secondary schools in the area. The school ensures that students engage in the choosing and reading of books through our annual participation in Buzz Books for Years 7 and 8.

KS3 DAY
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KEYSTAGE 3
DAY

CURRICULUM FOR KEYSTAGE 3: YEARS 7, 8 & 9
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In the first three years of a student’s time at Fort Pitt, her lessons will cover the full range of National Curriculum subjects, together with Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHEE) and Careers Education and Guidance. To enrich this core academic curriculum, we have also invested in a number of peripatetic music staff, trained to give specialised, individual or group lessons.

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Each period is fifty minutes in length. The table below shows the current distribution of periods per subject across the 60-period, two-week timetable.

CORE SUBJECTS

English

Mathematics

Science**

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YEAR 7

8

8

12

YEAR 8

8

8

12

YEAR 9

8

8

12

**(4 lessons per discipline)

FOUNDATION SUBJECTS

Art and DT

Drama

Geography

History

Computer Science

MFL (2 x languages)

Music

PE

PSHEE

RS

YEAR 7

5

2

3

3

3

3

2

4

2

2

YEAR 8

5

2

3

3

3

3

2

4

2

2

YEAR 9

5

2

3

3

3

3

2

4

2

2

KS3 SUBJECTS

KEYSTAGE 3
SUBJECTS

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KS3 REVISION SUPPORT
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CURRICULUM FOR KEYSTAGE 4: YEARS 10 AND 11

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KS4

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The curriculum in Year 10 enables students to continue to experience a rich and deep programme of study. All students study a core selection of GCSE subjects, which affords them the opportunity to complete the English Baccalaureate qualification, and is complemented by their option choices. The wide range of subjects studied ensures that a vast number of progression routes are open to students. Students also follow a comprehensive ‘next steps’ scheme as part of their careers information and guidance, this is delivered via subject areas and discrete career focus days.

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CURRICULUM FOR KEYSTAGE 4: YEARS 10 AND 11

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Our aim is to ensure that by the age of 16 all students have a strong set of qualifications to equip them for their next steps.  In addition, all students continue to study RE, PE and PSHE and they receive information, advice and guidance relating to careers, higher education and future pathways.

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WHY SELECT THE EBACC SUBJECTS?

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The EBacc is a set of subjects at GCSE that keeps young people’s options open for further study and future careers.

The EBacc is:

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·       English language and literature

·       maths

·       the sciences

·       geography or history

·       a language

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The EBacc is made up of the subjects which are considered essential to many degrees and open up lots of doors. Research shows that a pupil’s socio-economic background impacts the subjects they choose at GCSE, and that this determines their opportunities beyond school.

Core Subjects

English *

Mathematics *

Science

(4 lessons per discipline) *

Year 10

8

7

12

Year 11

8

8

12

Option Subjects

Art

Business

Computer Science *

Drama

Geography *

Food Technology

History *

French *

German *

Graphics

Music

PE (GCSE)

PRE (GCSE)

Psychology

Sociology

Spanish *

Textiles

PE (Core)

PSHE

RS (Core)

Year 10

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Year 11

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4 x option subjects, each studied for 7 periods per fortnight 

2

1

1

2

1

1

*EBacc subjects, students will select between History, Geography, Computer Science, French, German and Spanish, providing them with a broad and balanced group of GCSE qualifications.

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KEYSTAGE 4
OPTIONS

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Year 9 Options Launch:     

Year 9 Options Evening:  

Year 9 Parents Evening:  

Year 9 Options Deadline:  

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Monday 11th March 2024     

Tuesday 12th March 2024

Thursday 21st March 2024

Monday 25th March 2024

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KEYSTAGE 4
SUBJECTS

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KS4 REVISION SUPPORT
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KS4 DAY
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KEYSTAGE 4
DAY

KS4 SUBJECTS
ks4options
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ASSESTMENT

STUDENT
ASSESSMENT

 

Fort Pitt has undertaken research into international approaches to homework and canvassed opinion from students, staff, parents and governors alike. Students are given opportunities through homework to prepare for, embed, extend, enrich, retrieve and enhance their learning experiences in order to improve their performance and raise attainment. In addition, homework will prepare students to become independent learners, a prerequisite for any university course or career they may choose to follow.

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Teachers will set meaningful, useful, stretching and challenging activities which are both sensitive to the time required and deadlines given. If it is considered inappropriate to set homework for any particular reason, it is expected that students will carry out revision for summative assessments.

HOMEWORK

HOMEWORK

Students will complete a variety of assessments through-out the course of the year, the number and length determined by the amount of curriculum time and the content covered.  Through the course of each year students will undertake formal ‘end of year’ examinations.  These will be conducted under exam conditions and students will be given ample time to prepare for them.  The data collated will inform teaching staff as to the progress that your child is making.  Data will be reported home to parents three times per year.  However, if staff feel that a student is struggling they will contact you to highlight their concern and determine a plan to support your child.

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