Curriculum Overview

DISS HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM INTENT

Our Vision:

Governors and Staff of Diss High School are committed to providing a curriculum that allows the children of Diss, in a small rural community, to find their place as 21^st century global citizens and to be able to live and work successfully in any diverse community in the future. In its broadest sense, the curriculum is everything the school intends. It includes, therefore, all the myriad activities beyond classroom work, at lunchtimes and after school, at weekends and in the holidays.

School Context:

Diss High is a friendly and popular school set on an attractive site at the north-eastern edge of the town. It serves a diverse catchment area attracting a mix of students from suburban and rural communities with varied levels of affluence.  We are currently a standalone academy, (though an Associate Member of Enrich Learning MAT), with an excellent record of both academic and sporting achievement. Our examination results are consistently above the county and national average and each year the majority of Sixth Form students take up places at university. 

The Curriculum:

We consider the school as ‘knowledge-engaged’, where each subject area imparts the knowledge and skills needed for our students to become 21^st century global citizens.  Art, Music and Drama are safeguarded within the curriculum, alongside vocational subjects and there are many opportunities for international visits and new cultural experiences.  We believe in providing a broad and balanced curriculum in Key Stage 3, with an increasing degree of choice as students mature.  Our aim is to provide high quality teaching of established and recognised subjects which have both educational merit and credibility in the world beyond school.

Within the limits of the resources we are given, we make extra provision for students with Special Educational Needs, seeking in particular to improve literacy skills in Key Stage 3.  RSHEE is taught through both dedicated lessons and across the curriculum and this includes Sex Education and Religious Studies.

At Diss High we value our PSHEE program and not only give students opportunities to study this within the structured timetable but also through a serious of Careers events & talks including speakers from different religious backgrounds. To strengthen our program we use morning tutorial time and Assemblies to give students the opportunity to address misconceptions and discuss challenging topics.

Through our curriculum we will ensure that all students:

• Acquire the knowledge and skills needed to become a 21^st century global citizen
• Read widely and develop a love of reading.
• Develop their vocabulary using subject specific terminology correctly.
• Through wider reading and teaching study the context of learning and the value each subject has in the modern world.
• Are given the opportunity to complete Ebacc subjects at GCSE creating a strong foundation to facilitate progression in future studies.
• Are offered a breadth of opportunities at Key stage 5 that is inclusive enabling them to develop intellectual curiosity around their possible careers and further study.
• Have an understanding of what it means to be a citizen of Britain and an appreciation for diversity, equality and tolerance.
• Understand the actions they can take to ensure they have a healthy mind and body, knowing where to get help if needed.

Curriculum Map:

Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 & 9)

All students follow a common curriculum:  English, Mathematics, Science, Spanish, French, Design Technology, Food Technology, History, Geography, PE, Art, Music, Drama, Computing and PSHEE (incorporating RE).  Outlined below is a curriculum map for the Key Stage.  In Year 8 students will also have the opportunity to pick up a second language of French. 

More information about each subjects’ ‘Intent’ at Key stage 3 can be found on our subject specific pages. 

Years 7 & 8

*             Where a student studies both Spanish and French they will have 1.5h of each subject a week.

**           Design & Technology and Food technology are taught on a rotation across the year.

***        As we have a ‘two week’ timetable students will receive a one hour dedicated RHSEE lesson per fortnight.

Year 9

In Year 9 students will broaden their curriculum further and have the opportunity to study some elements of Media Studies, Computer Science and Business to aid them in future choices for their GCSEs.  Some students with higher needs are also given the opportunity to work on developing specific skills through our ASDAN course.

*             As we have a ‘two week’ timetable students will receive an hour of dedicated RHSEE/IT lesson per fortnight

Towards the end of the Spring term of Year 9 students will be guided through the options process to select their subjects to study at Key stage 4.  There will be a serious of Assemblies and a guide available giving subject specific information to aid in this decision process culminating in an ‘Options & Parents’ Evening’.  For more information on this process please see our Options Information page.

In Key Stage 4 (Years 10 &11)

There is a broad selection of subjects on offer at GCSE level, including both core, practical and those of a more vocationally nature, leading to GCSE examinations. Further curriculum details concerning KS4 may be found in the KS4 Options Booklet on out Options Information page.

More information about each subjects’ ‘Intent’ at Key stage 4 can be found on our subject specific pages.

Post 16 Provision

After completing their GCSEs it is important that students have a pathway of progression available to them.  Here at Diss High we offer a variety of subjects to study at A-Level as well as other more vocational Level 3 courses.  All students are given the opportunity to have a taster in each of these subjects at our Yr12 Transition day in the Summer term.

Students tend to study three or four subjects over the course of Key Stage 5, however this is very individualised and some students may pick up a fifth option. 

More information about the options process life in the 6^th Form can be found in the ‘6^th Form’ area on the website.

Outlined below is our curriculum map for Key Stage 5: