Curriculum Pathways

What are the curriculum pathways?

Explore

During Key stage 2 pupils follow the Explore Pathway. This pathway gives a flexible weighting of curriculum strands to support younger pupils to explore learning in all areas. This allows pupils to begin to recognise where their strengths are and also identifies areas they may need support as they progress through the school. Pupils on the Explore Pathway receive two formal sessions of Needs Led curriculum time. This is split between Speech and Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy. These sessions are invaluable for helping our pupils to build on learning skills, functional independence and social communication.

From Year 7 pupils are grouped in one of our three curriculum pathways.

Discovery

The Discover Pathway places a greater emphasis on the Needs Led Curriculum (NLC) to support independence outcomes for pupils alongside the National Curriculum, supporting them to achieve greater skills for communication, learning, self-development and enrichment. The Discover Pathway offers greater flexibility and can offer a more challenging academic route or a more Needs Led Curriculum approach, depending on the individual’s needs. These classes are smaller and have a higher adult to pupil ratio.

Pupils in the Discovery Pathway remain in their registration group for most of the working day and will learn English, Maths, Science and Humanities with a core team of teaching staff who use their knowledge of the pupils to make the learning bespoke to their needs. Pupils will transition around different classrooms for some of their specialist subjects to ensure stretch and challenge. This also allows pupils to become more resilient with interactions with more staff.

Innovate

This pathway offers a balanced curriculum which focuses on academic challenge and building vocational skills and interests. Pupils in the Lower School innovate pathway may receive additional intervention to help support some areas of learning. These classes have a maximum of 8 pupils.

The Endeavour Pathway

The Endeavour Pathway offers a more academic challenge. This pathway places a greater emphasis on the National Curriculum to support academic outcomes in preparation for exams and further study once pupils transition to Upper School. These classes can have up to 10 pupils and have a lower staff to pupil ratio.

What lessons are offered?

Subject	Explore Pathway	Endeavour Pathway	Discover Pathway
English	4	4	4
Maths	4	4	4
Science	2	2 in Year 6, 3 from Year 7	2
Humanities	3	3 in Year 6, 2 from Year 7	1
PSHCE	1	1	1
Needs Led Curriculum	2	2	4
Art	1
Expressive Arts	1	1	1
DT/Cooking	1	1	1
PE	2	2	2
Computing	1	2	2
Forest School	1	1	1

If you would like to know more about our Lower School curriculum please contact Amme Pryor, Head of Lower School (ahayter@stdominicsschool.org.uk).

Please be aware that parents and carers have the right to withdraw their child from all or part of the RE curriculum.

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