Sacred Heart Catholic College

Curriculum

If you would like more detailed information on the curriculum that the school offers our pupils, please contact us at admin@shca.pfcmat.org

Our mission statement ‘Our Mission, inspired by Jesus Christ, is that Sacred Heart Catholic Academy fosters a nurturing environment where Gospel values are lived out through every aspect of academic, social and spiritual growth,”  underpins all of our work at Sacred Heart Catholic Academy. As such, we believe that every child has the potential to achieve and excel; therefore, our curriculum is a reflection of this belief. We provide extensive opportunities for students to reach their full potential and prepare them for the world outside of school. Our curriculum is shaped to not only facilitate academic achievement but to enable our students to develop all aspects of their character. Our curriculum responds to the emerging needs of our students empowering them to develop into responsible members of our local, national and global communities. 
 
We aim to foster the intellectual, social, creative, physical, moral and spiritual development of all our students. Sacred Heart students will develop in to determined, resilient, courageous and humble individuals who will embody the Gospel values throughout their lives, with a deep appreciation of the beauty of God’s world around them.
  

Our Aims

In order to ensure that our young people develop and thrive, we believe it is important for them to explore their talents and enable them to experience success and fulfil their potential. Therefore, we offer a broad and balanced curriculum with a wide range subjects where learning is organised; this ensures a sincere, on-going engagement between faith, learning and culture.
 
Whilst we understand that examination success is important, we also recognise that there is more to school than the assessed outcomes achieved; therefore, we will continue to develop opportunities for all students to engage in a rich and varied enrichment programme. This is reflected in our vision statement inspired by Oscar Romero “Aspire not to have more, but to be more.”
 
Our personal development programme will provide all members of our community with an opportunity to explore interests and engage in broader perspectives, encouraging further development of passions either known or unknown. It promotes self-esteem which will enable students to improve their self-confidence and provides opportunities to expand a student’s social network working alongside others. We understand that young people have a diverse range of interests and we will look to seek their opinions and facilitate opportunities for them to develop in these areas promoting fun and happiness to complement academic study.
 
We recognise that young people have differing needs, gifts and talents and we aim to meet these through a variety of curriculum support and intervention strategies across all year groups.
 
In order to help our young people develop, we believe it is important for our pupils to explore all their talents and experience a wide range of opportunities.
 
Students are enabled to face the challenges of living and working in an increasingly complex and changing world, while being equipped with the skills to do so. They are taught to respect the values of others and to take responsibility for themselves and those around them, both within the school and in the wider community. By encountering the living God through Jesus Christ, they experience His transforming love and truth. In addition, they are guided to adopt sound moral and ethical values, enabling them to contribute positively to society. Students also develop the ability to manage relationships and situations effectively, aspire to reach their full potential, and achieve success in all areas of school life—whether spiritual, academic, creative, physical, or emotional. Through this, they grow in self-esteem and resilience, while fostering a sense of social and environmental responsibility, through our values of love, respect, service and Ambition.

Key Stage 3

We believe that Key Stage 3 provides important building blocks to ensure success in later life. Students will build upon Key Stage 2 mastery and acquire skills and knowledge which will support their achievements at Key Stage 4 and beyond irrespective of the academic pathways they choose.

Students develop the main key skills of literacy, numeracy, communication and team work as an integral part of the curriculum together with independence in order to encourage a high degree of resilience. These skills and others are evident across the curriculum in addition to a variety of opportunities to develop each young person’s cultural capital.

All students follow a core curriculum in Years 7,8 and 9 which is delivered through a variety of mixed ability and ability grouped teaching with additional support for those who need it. Every student has access to an ambitious curriculum with powerful knowledge at the heart of each subject. All students study a full range of academic and creative disciplines, which can be furthered at GCSE. Students are able to select options for further study outside of the core curriculum during Year 9.

 

Our Offer

Our Key Stage 3 is years 7, 8 and 9 where the full national curriculum and beyond is covered. All students have lessons in the following subjects:

  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • RE
  • PE
  • History
  • Geography
  • French or Spanish
  • Design and Technology (Product Design or Food and Nutrition)
  • Art
  • Music
  • Drama
  • Computing
  • Personal, Social, Health and Careers education (PSHCE)

Key Stage 4

We offer a wide choice of subjects at Key Stage 4 so that students can choose from a range of accredited qualifications to suit all ability, interests and learning styles. Our Key Stage 4 is two years in duration over Years 10 and 11 as we believe this gives students the best opportunity to reach their full potential and build on the firm foundations from Key Stage 3.

Each young person will be guided into selecting the most appropriate pathway for them with all routes available to all students. Each route is intended to meet the needs and aspirations of all students and provide progression to post-16 education or training and beyond.

We have a large range of subjects at KS4:

  • The core subjects are: English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, RE, Science and PE.
  • In addition, pupils can opt to study other subjects from the following selection: Fine Art, Product Design, Food and Nutrition, Drama, French or Spanish, Geography, History, Computing, iMedia, Music, Triple Science- (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) and Sports Science, Applied Business, Health & Social Care, IT and Art (Textiles).

Subjects studied at Key Stage 4 all lead to accredited qualifications and support progression post-16.

At key points, independent caregiver’s advice helps to ensure that students are guided to towards the options and pathway which best suits their plans and aspirations. Students in Key Stage 4 are set according to academic ability in core subjects. Options subjects are largely mixed ability.

 

Sixth Form Courses