Curriculum Structure
The curriculum at Archbishop Beck has changed greatly over the past few years in order to prepare our pupils for the demands of the Modern World and to ensure that all pupils can achieve their potential. Our main philosophy is that students are able to access a curriculum that allows them to achieve through a largely 'personalised curriculum'. Literacy and numeracy skills have a high profile throughout the key stages.
Through our curriculum we aim to create successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens.
Key Stage 3 Curriculum
Pupils in Year 7 take part in the Creative Literacy curriculum in which they follow a base learning programme. Students follow the literacy and competency skills based curriculum. The ‘Creative Literacy’ programme has proved to be very successful and has led to students accessing a more creative curriculum. Increased opportunities have arisen to access ICT, take part in drama, undertake local educational visits, listen to visiting speakers, take part in celebration assemblies and engage in more creative learning opportunities. Parent and student questionnaires indicate that they are pleased with their experiences commenting on such things as increased confidence, fun and enjoyable learning experiences and lots of group work.
In addition to the Creative Literacy curriculum pupils continue to study specialist subject areas such as Maths, Science, Art, MFL, RE, Music, Design Technology and PE.
In Year 8 pupils continue to develop their skills and to acquire knowledge through the ‘Logical Thinking’ curriculum. This is again a skills and knowledge based curriculum which develops pupils’ personal, learning and thinking skills in a really innovative way. This curriculum is based around Science, DT, ICT, PSHCE and Geography topics. The year 8 curriculum reflects year 7 in that there is a similar base learning approach with identified themes influencing the curriculum involved.
As in Year 7, pupils in Year 8 continue to study more traditional subjects such as English, Maths, PE, RE, Art, Music, DT, MFL and History.
In Year 9 new opportunities have arisen due to the wide range of courses accessible to students (such as BTEC courses), the end of external SAT’s tests and the new base learning curriculum studied in Years 7 and 8.
At present students follow a traditional curriculum based in departments, as with year 8. Some subjects have started to introduce students to externally assessed level 2 courses. A more personalised curriculum for 2009-2010 has been prepared and will be extended in future years as new courses become available, for example, the new Diplomas.
Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11)
In Years 10 and 11 students study the Core Curriculum and a set of Option subjects.
At the end of year 9 students undertake a full options process. Students are placed in pathways that are influenced by their potential in specific courses, for example, GCSE science or OCR National science, and their own personal preferences, for example, undertaking a Diploma (a minimum 2 days curriculum time).
Students are allowed to either continue their BTEC courses (started in year 9) to BTEC National Diploma or opt for new courses.
Pathways for Year 10 students
Pathway One |
Pathway Two |
Pathway Three |
| Academic route due to English Literature and single sciences.
Three subject option choices |
Second academic route still allowing access to English Literature, but not individual science - OCR National instead. Four subject option choices |
Students still complete the core subjects but also complete a College or work-based course. Two days college placement |
Core Curriculum
Pathway One |
Pathway Two |
Pathway Three |
| English Language | English Language | English Language |
| English Literature | Maths | Maths |
| Maths | Science OCR | Science |
| Science Double GCSE | RE | RE |
| RE | PE | PE |
| PE |
Post-16 Curriculum
Our post-16 curriculum has been developed as part of the Alt Valley Collaborative (with St. John Bosco, De La Salle, Croxteth and Fazakerley) and North Liverpool Partnership (Alt Valley schools as well as Alsop, Notre Dame and North Liverpool Academy). A comprehensive programme of courses is available to students and this will continue, although new courses, such as the new Diplomas will be introduced further over time.
Courses at Level 3 are in four option blocks and include A Levels, Applied A Levels, BTEC’s and diplomas. Courses currently taught as part of the collaborative include:
Option 1 |
Option 2 |
Option 3 |
Option 4 |
Biology
IT Diploma |
Psychology Business and Finance Diploma |
ICT IT Diploma |
ICT |
At Level 1 and 2 most courses are accessed through the Alt Valley Skills Centre based in Croxteth. This will continue in the future. However, sports related courses are run at Archbishop Beck and will be extended further. At present the NVQ Football Coaching course is based on site as well as a wide range of leadership courses accessible to students.
Diplomas
In future Archbishop Beck will have up to six Diplomas located on our site. We will lead on the Sport and Active Leisure for the North Liverpool Partnership and lead on the Business, Administration and Finance for the Alt Valley Collaborative. Staff are currently involved in teaching the ICT Diploma. Other Diplomas which are seriously being considered and link with our sports specialism are Science and Society, Health and Development. Other diplomas considered include - Humanities, Travel & Tourism, Hair & Beauty, Hospitality & Catering and Languages. Decisions about which Diplomas to be based at Archbishop Beck will involve discussions with other schools in the collaborative and partnership.
Homework Timetables
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Cedar Road, Liverpool, L9 9AF•Telephone: 0151 525 6326•Fax: 0151 524 2465•Email: info@beck.uk.com