Dear Parent

As you know, this year we have carried out a comprehensive Curriculum Review. I would like to thank parents, students, governors and staff for their contribution to this process and pass on the main development points for the coming year and beyond.

The School Day
On a large school site, moving around between lessons takes time. This can mean that students lose valuable learning time. This year we made the move to integrate afternoon registration into lessons to regain some of that time. However, feedback showed that moving to much longer blocks of time for all subjects at Key Stage 3 and 4, as some schools have done, was unpopular. Fewer transitions directly between lessons do provide more learning time. Therefore we plan to:

• Change from 6 x 50 minute lessons to 5 x 60 minute lessons per day.

We also reviewed the timing of the school day. There were varied views on our start and finish time but there was a strong view that the wide range of extra-curricular activities requires a full hour at lunchtime to guarantee opportunities for the many students who travel by school bus each day. We also enquired about changing the start and finish time of the day with the school bus companies. However, the current contract runs for another four years which at this stage would be too expensive to change.

• No change to the beginning and end of the school day (to be reviewed in three years time)

Timetable /school day 
8:55 - 9:15            Registration
9:15 - 10:15          Lesson 1
10:15 - 11:15        Lesson 2
11:15 - 11:35        Break
11:35 – 12:35       Lesson 3
12:35– 1:35          Lunch
1:35 - 2:35            Lesson 4
2:35 - 3:35            Lesson 5

This will be part of a two-week timetable (Week 1 and Week 2) for students. This is operated successfully in many schools and allows the flexibility required to offer our core curriculum, with single lessons in Key Stage 3; a combination of single and double lessons in Key Stage 4 and longer blocks in Key Stage 5 as students specialise in a smaller number of subjects. This will be indicated clearly in the student planner.

We have also taken the decision to change the floating tutor period (which rotates through the week on a fixed calendar) to a fixed period once every two weeks. The Personal Development Programme is an important part of our curriculum and is delivered through the daily tutor time, assemblies, tutor period and other activities in lessons as well as on Challenge Days. A rolling review of the programme ensures that it continues to develop in response to students’ needs.

Challenge Days
This year we have introduced three days of collapsed timetable across the year. These have been used for visits, the Personal Development programme and extended curriculum time for core subjects/option subjects etc. The major benefits of conducting visits and special events on these days keeps costs to a minimum as well as removing any disruption to lessons for other year groups. They also provide the opportunity for innovation and a platform for student-led activities.  We have gathered student and staff feedback from this year and propose four Challenge Days for next year: two in the autumn term, incorporating Dedication Day and other events which previously took place during normal school days. The plan for all four days will be available to parents in the autumn term.

Key Stage 3 (Year 7 – Year 9)
In the transition from Primary School to Secondary School, students engage successfully with the move to discrete subjects delivered through a regular timetable. However, there is a need for students to develop transferable skills across subjects. The focus of the Curriculum Review extends to the second year through teaching and learning. We will engage in a programme of skills development both through subject areas and across the curriculum. We will explore ways of students tracking their skills across subjects through an Individual Learning Profile on the Learning Platform.
We also plan to:

• Introduce a cross-curricular lesson each week in Year 7 which will focus on information literacy through the Library Resources Centre and will provide opportunities for extended reading as well as a range of skills-based challenges. Students will be required to apply these skills across a range of subject areas.
• Continue to operate a flexible Key Stage 3 for core subjects (Maths, English & Science) to enable students to move on to Key Stage 4 when they are ready
• Review the banding and setting arrangements set at whole school level. You will receive a separate letter explaining the details; this will essentially mean that in most subjects there is a T-shaped structure (two equal top sets for each half of the year group, following the profile of current cohort)
• Add discrete ICT lessons in Year 9. Students currently have an ICT module in Year 7 and a number of cross-curricular modules through other subjects across the Key Stage. With an ever-increasing demand for ICT skills, both in and beyond the curriculum, this additional provision will ensure students are better placed to meet these demands.
• Two hours of PE per week is compulsory nationally from 2010. Moving to 1 hour lessons will ensure that students have their statutory entitlement.

Key Stage 4 (Year 10 – Year 11)
The statutory subjects that all pupils must study are citizenship, English, ICT, mathematics, physical education, religious education and science. The teaching of careers education, sex education, drugs education, work-related learning, economic wellbeing and financial capability is also statutory.  (current National Curriculum).

The curriculum offer at Key Stage 4 also presents a wide range of choices and challenges for students. With a full range of Higher Diploma courses, vocational courses, GCSEs, BTECs, OCR National Awards, NVQs, FCSEs etc., we aim to offer a personalised pathway for students. (Full details of all option subjects are available on the website).

Students have previously chosen four options plus a short course subject from a blocked programme. The Complementary Studies programme, which has been delivered on a rotation basis, has also been revised. Following student feedback and the introduction of new courses, the current year 9 will start on a programme which includes:

• 2 hours of PE for all students in line with the new programme of study
• ICT through a weekly lesson leading to recognised qualification (not on a rotation basis)
• RE delivered through a weekly lesson leading to a short-course GCSE (not on a rotation basis)
• Health Education delivered through a fortnightly lesson
• Increased time for English available as most students do 2 GCSEs (Language & Literature)
• The equivalent of four open options (to include at least one of a range of language options

We will continue to offer the full range of subjects taught at Key Stage 3 as well as new courses, with both Double and Triple Science pathways and a variety of language pathways in line with our Specialism.

The construction of the new Lichfield & Burntwood Vocational Centre is now underway and once this is complete it will be at the heart of Key Stage 4 vocational provision. In 2010/11 it will be the venue for Level 1 & 2 Hair & Beauty courses, Level 2 Multi-Occupational courses (Carpentry, Painting & Decorating, Plumbing), Level 2 Higher Diplomas in Construction & the Built Environment, in Creative & Media Studies, Engineering. The facility will be jointly operated by all Lichfield and Burntwood Secondary schools.

Key Stage 5 (Year 12 – Year 13)
We have a strong and thriving Sixth Form. In 2009 our value-added results put us among the top three schools in the county. This is a result of a diverse curriculum offer which has to keep pace with students demand.

Our current Year 7 students will need to stay in some form of education until they reach eighteen; we are working closely with other schools and providers to ensure we can meet this demand. To expand and sustain our curriculum offer we will need to work in partnership with other schools.

• Subjects will be delivered through 2 x half-day blocks per subject in each week. Students will have 9 hours of teaching time across the two-week timetable per subject. This is often (but not always) divided between two or more teachers. This balance of teaching time responds to feedback showing that our current programme which offers less teaching time in Year 12 than in Year 13 is somewhat restrictive.
The length of sessions progresses from single lessons at Key Stage 3, to a combination of singles and doubles at Key Stage 4, with longer sessions (often divided between teachers) Post-16.

• Students will now be able to access one or more courses at other local schools. This will enable students to pick up a wider range of courses or resolve clashes. We would like all students who wish to stay on at King Edward VI School to be able to do so. This will help to remove some of the barriers.

• Improved Foundation Tier, Level 1, 2 & 3 offer
Some students are not ready to start a full AS Level programme in Year 12. Working with local schools and other providers we will be able to offer a wider joint programme of courses

• Develop Complementary Studies provision
Students will still have access to core provision in RE and Health Education as well as either Complementary Studies subjects or their own Personal Development programme. Blocking other subjects in half-days will release time for work experience, volunteering or other experiences which will help students develop beyond the classroom.

We seek to ensure that Lichfield & Burntwood has a sustainable, cost-effective approach which maximises student choice. This will put the whole district in a strong position to meet student needs.

We have addressed many of the structural changes to the curriculum this year but the key focus remains on Teaching and Learning. There are further developments to come in the area of target-setting and progress review. You will receive a letter shortly about plans for next year.

This letter only highlights the key changes in the curriculum. If you require further information about Key Stage 4 or the Sixth Form then both of the Options’ booklets can be found on the school website: http://www.keslichfield.org.uk/ There will also be additional curriculum information about Key Stage 3 added to the website before September. You will also be able to access the principles which were drawn up from feedback by staff and students at the start of this process. These will be returned to as part of the annual review cycle for the curriculum.

All year groups have had an assembly which outlined the main changes which will have an impact for their year group. If they have further questions then please encourage them to ask questions in school.

Yours sincerely,

J. Rutherford (Ms)
Deputy Headteacher