In This Section
The curriculum at Oakgrove ensures that all students have a broad and balanced education. The school believes that its programme of study builds effectively upon progress at the primary stage and is suitably challenging for all students. Specialist teachers ensure that all national curriculum subjects are covered and that links between, and across, subjects are carefully explored. Oakgrove’s students come to school to learn and the learning experience should be exciting and enjoyable, with each student working to the full limit of their abilities.
An important part of the work at Oakgrove is the school’s Shuffle Days. Students are given the opportunity to explore topics in more depth and choose areas which interest them. Connections are made across the different subjects to ensure that the curriculum is experienced as an organised whole, rather than a series of separate subjects being taught independently. The school incorporates the latest research into methods and styles of learning and this is a particular focus in tutorials and Life Studies lessons.
All subjects identify opportunities for spiritual, moral, social and cultural awareness within their programmes of study and there is a strong focus on literacy and numeracy across the curriculum, not just in English and Mathematics.
The Life Studies programme is a highly structured and comprehensive course covering much more than the traditional personal, social, and health education. It embraces environmental awareness, theories on learning, citizenship education and much more. The weekly themes of Life Studies lessons are reflected in the school’s assembly topics.
Targets for Learning (TfL)
Targets for learning has been an integral part of life at Oakgrove since the school opened in 2005. In its current form, both Key Stage 4 and Post Sixteen students have the opportunity to attend a targets for learning meeting twice a year.
Students and their parents/guardians discuss with a member of staff the current progress of the student. The students supported by their parents/guardians decide which areas of their academic life that they need to focus on in particular over the short term to boost their chances of success. Targets can be specific or more generic dependent on what targets the student chooses. These targets are then recorded and their class teachers will be able to see the chosen subjects to focus on and support the students further.
Targets for learning has always been a powerful way of discussing and setting targets for the student, by the student. At the second meeting of the year the progress towards those targets is reviewed and whilst some targets may continue, new targets are set for reflection at the next meeting in the following school year in a cyclical fashion.
Whole School English and Maths
English and Maths expertise is essential to all students across the age and ability range, in order for them to effectively access the curriculum and make progress in all subjects.
English and Maths skills are embedded in lesson planning, delivery of content, exam preparation and feedback to students, ensuring that standards of literacy and numeracy are consistently high in all areas.
The Directors of English and Maths take an overview of the application of these skills in all subject areas, which are monitored through regular lessons visits and work scrutinies conducted by Subject Leaders. They liaise with a range of staff to establish good practice and provide training where necessary.