Curriculum at Dovedale Centre

Our curriculum is broad and balanced meeting the requirements of the National Curriculum and the needs of our pupils to allow them to reach their full potential. We take a personalised approach to teaching and learning, matched to the individual needs of pupils, whilst taking account of particular health and medical needs. 

British Values, Unicef Rights of the Child, Safeguarding, literacy and numeracy are placed at the heart of the curriculum and are woven through all subject areas. All pupils at Dovedale have two hours per week dedicated to Enrichment activities ensuring they receive a choice of a range of activities to support their personal development.

Key Stage 2

The purpose of the Primary Curriculum is to engage all pupils to develop curiosity and inspire a life-long love of learning. They are encouraged to persevere and reflect upon their own learning through a cross curricular approach. Their growing knowledge enables them to develop empathy for a diverse society whilst considering and responding positively to their own attitudes and beliefs as well as those held by other people.

Our pupils receive a core curriculum of Maths, English, Science, Computing PSHCE and Religious Education, in addition to other National Curriculum subjects of: Art; Design Technology; Geography; History; Spanish and P.E including swimming. Year 6 pupils will be entered for their SATs examinations if they are able to access them.   

Key Stage 3

Dovedale pupils receive a core curriculum of Maths, English, Science, PSHE, RE and PE. In addition they will be taught Art, Design Technology, Geography, History, Spanish; Catering, Computing and Music.

Citizenship and SRE are both taught within the Personal Social Health Citizenship Economic (PSHCE) curriculum, alongside Work Related Learning. Work Related learning is delivered in line with the Gatsby Benchmarks.

Year 9 pupils at Dovedale will have the opportunity to pick options for one year in order to give them a greater insight into courses and give them the ability to make an informed decision when choosing KS4 options. For a number of the 1 year courses the pupils will achieve an accreditation e.g. Bronze Arts Award, Level 1 Cooking Skills. To ensure that the curriculum is bespoke to Dovedale pupils the Year 9 group will be taught a 1 year course that focuses on improving numeracy, literacy and life skills allowing them to make a better transition into KS4 and preparing them for adulthood with the inclusion of units focusing on managing money and careers.

The curriculum will be further enhanced by continuing to work with a number of partners. We have committed to a further year of working with the Birmingham Open Reparatory theatre who will work with our pupils once a week on a suitable project that is bespoke to the Dovedale pupils. The Dovedale pupils will also be involved with STEAM project work with Birmingham Open Media whom which we have an established partnership.

There are 4 days per year commitment to cross curricular project based teaching. These days will allow our pupils to experience learning through project based teaching e.g. STEM Day; Options Taster day. There is also an Enrichment program which enables pupil’s to enjoy and experience a variety of extra curriculum activities, this is delivered in Key Stage 3 and Key stage 4.

Key Stage 4

Dovedale pupils study Maths, English, Science, ICT, PSHE and PE. The curriculum is personalised by pupils choosing to study from one or more options: Fine Art; Photography; Catering; Geography; History; Creative iMedia; Spanish; Resistant Materials and Music. All subjects will have a range of accreditations dependent on the ability of the pupils and this can range from GCSEs, BTECs and Entry levels.

Citizenship and SRE are both taught within the Personal Social Health Citizenship Economic (PSHCE) curriculum, alongside Work Related Learning. Our Year 10 pupils have an opportunity to participate in Work Experience. Work Related learning is delivered in line with the Gatsby Benchmarks.

Elements of Religious Education are delivered through Cross Curricular Learning days of which there are 4 throughout the academic year.