As a school our Curriculum Intent is: 

At Sackville we aim to provide an engaging knowledge-rich curriculum that allows all students to achieve their potential regardless of their ability or talents; ensuring as a school that we fight for every child. Our curriculum will provide clear progression routes which prepare students for the world of work and to live fulfilling adult lives as global citizens; leaving students with a lifelong love for learning.

Key Beliefs on Curriculum: 

1. Curriculum is about what students learn, know, and can do, not just what is taught: Leaders understand that a curriculum isn't merely a list of topics or activities. It's about the intended learning outcomes – the deep knowledge, critical skills, and conceptual understanding students acquire and retain over time. This means constantly considering progression, sequencing, and how learning builds year-on-year, rather than just focusing on lesson-by-lesson content delivery. 

2. Curriculum must be ambitious and equitable for all students: This belief underscores the importance of a curriculum that challenges and provides access to rich knowledge for every student, regardless of their starting points, background, or needs. Leaders believe in setting high expectations and designing a curriculum that aims to close attainment gaps, offers cultural capital, and prepares all students for future success and participation in society. 

3. Curriculum needs to be coherent, logically sequenced, and revisited: Leaders understand that learning is most robust when it's well-structured. They believe in designing a curriculum where concepts are logically ordered, connections between topics are explicit, and prior learning is frequently revisited and built upon. 

4. Curriculum is a dynamic, research-informed, and collaborative piece of work: Leaders recognise that a curriculum is not static; it should evolve based on the latest educational research (e.g., cognitive science regarding memory and learning), feedback from students and teachers, and changes in the wider world. 

"The ultimate validation of a curriculum lies in its results; that is, did it help students achieve the desired outcomes?" 

Ralph W. Tyler 

How we implement our curriculum 

A secondary school implements a broad and balanced curriculum by offering a wide range of subjects across different disciplines, ensuring students receive a well-rounded education. This goes beyond the core subjects like English, mathematics, and science, and includes a variety of humanities (history, geography, religious studies), modern foreign languages, arts (drama, music, art and design), and practical subjects (design and technology, food technology). The curriculum is designed to not only meet national requirements but also to provide students with diverse learning experiences that cater to their individual interests and talents. This approach helps students develop a wide range of skills, including critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving, preparing them for a variety of future pathways, whether academic or vocational. 

We also have the highest expectations of every lesson and have a clear framework for how we expect a lesson at Sackville to look. This is monitored closely by leaders across the school and there is a significant program to support professional development for all members of the team. 

If you have any questions regarding our curriculum please contact Mr Peter Cowlin (Deputy Headteacher) via pcowlin@sackvilleschool.org.uk.