Forward Step

In Forward Step the need for fixed term or permanent exclusions is eliminated through the delivery of an outstanding educational provision delivering support and a broad and balanced curriculum which meets the needs of each individual student, linking the academic and therapeutic through a wholly holistic approach. Learning is rich and rewarding across a range of opportunities which enable all students to fulfil their individual potential and inspire future aspirations.
A large proportion of students who are referred to Forward Step begin their learning with significant gaps in their knowledge thereby making their needs extremely diverse. The curriculum is therefore highly personalised and is intended to give as interesting, broad and appropriate education as possible. The curriculum is continuously reviewed to ensure students’ needs are met both academically and socially.
The curriculum has been designed in collaboration with core heads of faculty from the main school to ensure that it develops and build on skills which are essential for each subject thereby bridging the gap and maintaining links which will encourage successful reintegration.

Core Curriculum

English:

English is the centre of the curriculum, providing the gateway to all other learning. Knowing how to read and write allows access to the lives which we live. Knowing how to communicate effectively through speaking and listening allows us to better understand ourselves and others. Knowing and understanding our Literature brings a richness to our lives and allows us to better understand our world.
Reading is at the heart. We teach students a range of different strategies in which to access texts that can be used through their lives. Students need to be able to read in different ways and understand a range of reading techniques. We teach students to understand and analyse the ways in which language and structure are important in texts. We encourage analysis and evaluation so that students can understand how texts are working on them and have opinions on what they read. Studying a range of Literature gives students a cultural and spiritual framework to engage with their own and others’ ideas.
Students are taught different types of writing in English. Writing for real world purposes – to argue and persuade for instance - allows students to practise the types of writing they will do throughout their lives. Creative writing further hones these skills and is an important element of self-expression. Through writing students learn to structure ideas for effect and create impact on their audiences.
Students need to know how to express their ideas aloud, to communicate with each other and assimilate their own thinking. Knowing how to present ideas to other people is something that is required throughout our lives at work and beyond. The ability to listen to others, reflect on different voices, and learn from each other, is the basis for any community.
Through all of these disciplines, students will be taught a wider range of vocabulary. Knowing the words to express thoughts and feelings gives students access to their world and themselves. It is the gateway to all other learning.

Maths:

Our curriculum aims to empower students to develop and apply problem solving skills focusing on overarching and spiralling mathematical components: Algebra, Number, Ratio, Geometry, Statistics and Probability
Our aim is to encourage students to develop mathematical behaviour and as such our curriculum encourages students to develop deeper understanding to make links across curriculum areas.

Science:

Our students study Science so they can better understand the physical, material and biological world around them. Understanding Science is about knowing...

1.  How all living things work, including our own bodies. How all living things on this planet work in the same basic way and how all life on Earth depends on other living things. Why you must finish a course of antibiotics, how we can stay healthy and why, if the Sun goes out, life will continue to exist for millions of years, deep in the oceans.
2. How the materials around us are like they are. How humans have changed the world for the better and discover how science can solve the problems faced by humanity.
3. How the physical world works, from things that can’t be seen like the tiniest atoms to the entire Universe itself. Everything from cars and planes to computers and mobile phones started from understanding how the world can be made to work for us.
4. How by knowing how to take measurements from meters and experiments we can find out about the world around us.
5. How understanding and balancing risk and benefit means that students are prepared for any job, and can take their place as 21st century citizens of the United Kingdom.

PE:

Physical education (PE) provides a way of encouraging all students to participate, succeed and excel, in competitive sport and other physically demanding activities. PE contributes to the overall knowledge by helping students lead a full and valuable life through engaging in purposeful and high-quality activity. PE promotes active and healthy lifestyles, physical skills, physical development and knowledge of the body in action. Powerful knowledge in PE enables students to learn:

1. Analytical skills enabling them to critique training methods and practices in relation to different sports and physical activities.
2. Provides students with powerful ways of analysing, explaining and understanding trends and patterns in data and using this to improve performance.
3. Enables students to follow and participate in debates in current sporting issues taking place nationally and globally.
4. Allows students to assess and evaluate their own and others work and develop plans to enhance performance and review progress.
5. Students will gain a social awareness of the importance of working with students with a variety of different ability levels and enhance their leadership abilities through activities taught.
6. Students will gain confidence, perseverance, team spirit, positive competitiveness and organisational skills.
7. Students understand the importance of leading a healthy and active lifestyle which must improve their strength and encourage a lifelong participation in a sport of their choice.

PE is an integral part of school practices allowing all students in the school to gain a sense of achievement and develop positive attitudes towards themselves and others. Opportunities to compete in sport and other activities build character and help to embed values such as fairness and respect.

The Prince’s Trust – Achieve Award:

The Achieve Award curriculum offers a wide range of practical and relevant subjects to pick and choose from, so the programme can be tailored to our students' needs and interests. Students are empowered to take ownership of their work and be accountable for their own successes. The programme is customisable and youth-led; providing a supportive environment for them to fulfil their potential.