Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School open evening

Curriculum

We see each child as a unique person with a God-given individual identity. We are unashamedly aspirational and ambitious for all. We pledge to work tirelessly to achieve our aim of quality and excellence in all that we do. We have high aspirations for every student and we are very aware that each child has one opportunity to achieve their potential. We take our role in providing the best environment for them to discover who they are and their mission in life very seriously.

Our curriculum is central to ensuring the success of our founding principles of Nurture, Believe and Succeed. Through our curriculum we place emphasis on nurturing the individual to empower our young people with the confidence to believe in themselves and to succeed.

The curriculum at Nicholas Breakspear fully supports the mission of the school. The broad range of subjects offered across all key stages ensures that each child’s unique talents and gifts are encouraged and celebrated. Through high quality teaching we aim to foster the intellectual, social, creative, physical, moral and spiritual development of all our pupils.

Through our curriculum we aim for all children to have the knowledge to:

  • Be successful learners who aspire for excellence, enjoy learning and make exceptional progress.
  • Master the key knowledge and skills essential for success in each subject.
  • Understand the importance of their role within the local community and the wider world in order for them to become more aware of who there are and the positive impact that they can make.
  • Develop their sense of morality and faith, enabling them to find God in all things.
  • Be confident and ambitious in their future aims to enable them to achieve their potential.
  • Build perseverance, resilience and self-belief to become confident in their abilities.

The curriculum at Nicholas Breakspear is a coherent, subject based one. There is a clear expectation in terms of the knowledge students are expected to have gained within each subject at key points in their education. Within each subject area content is arranged in association with age-related progression.

Ofsted Report – November 2023 “The school’s curriculum is ambitious across all subjects. The delivery of this curriculum is consistently precise across the school and staff are aspirational for all pupils. As a results, the quality of work the pupils produce is of a high quality. The thorough way in which teachers check pupils’ knowledge enables pupils to really understand where they could improve their work. Pupils act upon this feedback immediately, so misconceptions are addressed.”

If you would like further details about our Curriculum, please contact Mrs Atkinson, Deputy Headteacher at Atkinsona@nbs.herts.sch.uk

Key Stage 3 (Year 7, 8 & 9)

On entering the school, pupils are placed in mixed ability tutor groups which will form the basis of much of the teaching that takes place in Year 7 and 8.

The subjects taught at Key Stage 3 are: English, Mathematics, Modern Languages (French or Spanish), Science, Art, Drama, Geography, History, ICT, Music, PE, Religious Education, Technology, and PSHE.

Key Stage 4 (Year 10 & 11)

At Key Stage 4, there is a greater degree of flexibility in the programmes pupils may follow. In addition to a compulsory core of English, Mathematics, Religious Education, Science, a Humanity (Geography or History), a Modern Foreign Language and PE, there are different option blocks from which pupils can choose subjects which match their interests and ability.

The option subjects available include Art, Business, Child Development, Computer Science, Drama, Geography, History, Hospitality and Catering, ICT, Music, Physical Education, Physical Education, 3D Design, Sport and Triple Science.

Key Stage 5

For details of the curriculum and choice of Vocational Courses and A Level Subjects at Key Stage 5, please visit the Sixth Form section.

/ 12