Curriculum overview

• To equip our students with a responsive and ambitious, knowledge-rich curriculum that empowers young people to have the currency of choice for their futures. We want students to face challenges within school and in their wider life with courage, aspiration, respect, an appreciation of equality and self-control. 

• Our curriculum acknowledges the importance of building students’ cultural capital and curiosity, building an awareness of the world beyond their frame of reference. Our bespoke provision develops necessary attributes to become community leaders of the future. 

• Key aims for improving our curriculum offer and experience include ensuring that all students have equity of experience and opportunity to access the aspirational curriculum. 

Our Curriculum works in relationship with Teaching & Learning, and Assessment.

Curriculum Policy

Our Curriculum Implementation outlines the structure of the school day, the structure of Harrogate High School’s Curriculum, the Base Learning Curriculum Entitlement, the Academic Knowledge-rich Subject Discipline Outline, and the Enhanced Curriculum Provision.

We ensure we are growing the effectiveness of our curriculum through the following mechanisms: 

• Training to ensure that all teachers know the progress models of their subjects
• Developing and empowering Middle Leaders to drive continued evolution of the curriculum.
• The sequencing of subject curricula will be scrutinised in order to implement practice that promotes a knowledge-rich learning culture, where retention, depth of understanding and self-regulation is central to student development.
• Systematic quality assurance and consequential action planning will enable dialogue and monitoring of equity of experience within and across our subjects and groups.
• Curriculum continues to be a development priority within newly remodelled Subject Development Plans.

Harrogate High School’s Curriculum focuses on four facets of learning and development. 

For our pupils to seize the potential that lies inside each of them, we know that we must educate with powerful knowledge which transforms and enlightens. This powerful knowledge, when coupled with developing expertise of domain-centric skills and the mastery of learning dispositions through explicit, excellent teaching, will help to propel our pupils forward in their learning journey.

Our integration of CARES values into all of our curriculum will ensure that our pupils receive an excellent education that is broad enough to include development of their character. 

The curriculum also seeks to promote and encourage holistic health, so that our pupils are knowledgeable, skilled, and values-driven, but also happy, content, and healthy. 

Key Stage Three 

Pupils study a curriculum that is both broad and balanced, with depth in KS3 for 3 years, and one that is taught by subject specialists from day one. Content is mapped backwards from Key Stage 5 and is, therefore, ambitious, challenging and inspiring. The curriculum is designed to unlock the inherent potential inside all students. Pupils are explicitly taught a ‘character’ programme through the CARES curriculum, in order to develop their understanding and appreciation of Harrogate High School’s values, and to learn about Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education. 

Key Stage Four

Key stage 4 National Curriculum requirements are set out in section 85 of the Education Act (2002). Students study a mix of compulsory subjects (core & foundation) and, if they so elect, study in four subject areas via options. In relation to science, students have a statutory entitlement to have access to a course of study leading to at least two science GCSEs.

Pupils are split across four pathways at the end of Year 9.