Subject Vision Statements

English and English Literature

English is the study of all aspects of English language and literature over time but at Mount Grace School the subject incorporates key authorial contributions and the development of communicative skills. We believe that all children are entitled to be exposed to a range of cultural influences. The study of English challenges students to develop strong moral values and broaden their intellectual and emotional depth. Through English lessons, students at Mount Grace School learn how to analyse texts, write for a range of purposes effectively and communicate confidently with a range of audiences.

Mathematics

We offer an ambitious mathematics curriculum, rich in skills and knowledge, which equips students for everyday life and future employment. Our aim is for students to grow in confidence, becoming more resilient and independent learners by developing. We aim to develop confident mathematicians who are able to recall and apply knowledge efficiently, can approach problem solving with resilience and determination and have the reasoning skills to develop a line of argument and rationale that they can apply to their learning and beyond.

Science

At Mount Grace School the Science curriculum is ambitious, rich in skills and knowledge, taught through learning experiences that are interesting and relevant, and which equip students for everyday life and future employment. Our aim is for students to grow in confidence, becoming more resilient and independent learners by developing the scientific knowledge and skills that will enable them to understand the scientific aspects of the world around them, and make informed decisions about the applications of science.

History

The History Curriculum is designed to provide students with the historical knowledge and understanding that enables them to confidently formulate their own views and critically evaluate the world around them. Students will develop an understanding of events in their proper context, looking at the causes and consequences as well as the longer-term legacy. They will understand that no person or event exists in a vacuum and be able to explore the connections between people, ideas, locations and time. Students will understand that History is an interpretation of the past and be able to view the past from different perspectives with an open and enquiring mind.

Geography

Students at Mount Grace follow a varied Geography curriculum, covering a range of physical and human topics throughout the years. Students cover interesting content at a range of scales from local, for example in Map Skills, national, for example when looking at our coastline and global includes looking at migration and the tropical rainforest.

Our curriculum provides opportunities for learning skills transferable to other subjects and to develop pupils’ curiosity and fascination about the world and its people, which will remain with them throughout their lives.

Citizenship and Religious Education

Students at Mount Grace School follow a CRS programme from year 7-11, which incorporates; Citizenship, Religious Education and PSHE, which is tailored to meet the needs of all students and to ensure they have sufficient understanding of the world around them and themselves. All three subjects are rooted in British Values, enhanced by a wealth of exposure to different cultures and enriching experiences which provide exceptional opportunities for personal development. As a result students progress to become knowledgeable citizens who can thrive as individuals and engage with all communities.

 

Art

Fine art practice is defined as the need to explore an idea, convey an experience, or respond to a theme or issue of personal significance. At Mount Grace School, students are required to develop knowledge, understanding and ‘skills’ relevant to their project theme.

Our students research, explore and investigate a range of artists and art movements at all key stages. We ensure that students broaden their knowledge by exploring a diverse range of cultural and ethical artwork, art movements and ‘artists in focus’. We aim to develop their skills in a range of media and techniques associated with selected artists, whilst also aiming to enrich their practical skills.

We explore many mediums and materials, including combinations of media, and our students learn through practical experience. At KS4 and KS5, our students have more scope for independent research into artists and art movements of their choosing. This freedom allows our students to fully engage with their chosen area of focus and respond to the brief in a personalised way, expressing styles and responses to themes independently.

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” Edgar Degas

Design and Technology

Design and Technology is the study of design and manufacturing principles, at Mount Grace School the subject incorporates the manipulation of materials to produce well considered design solutions whilst exploring a range of design styles from influential movements during the last one hundred years. We believe that all children are entitled to gain a greater understanding of the world of design and manufacture so that they can make informed decisions as a consumer. This will help reduce their impact on finite resources and global environmental implications.

Design and Technology challenges students problem solving capability and acknowledges social, moral and cultural implications throughout the design process. and technology provides a multi-faceted platform that supports all learning styles allowing students to stretch their cognitive capability through focussed design and practical tasks. Through design and technology lessons, students at Mount Grace School learn how to analyse existing products to identify areas of further development, handle data to construct detail design briefs and specifications leading to meaningful practical outcomes. This develops their knowledge acquisition and retention, non-verbal thinking, special awareness, 3D comprehension and imagination.

Food, Nutrition and Preparation

Being able to prepare and enjoy food from around the world is an entitlement that we believe our children have. Therefore we expose them to a variety of practical culinary skills and support them to gain knowledge about ingredients, equipment, nutrition and the wider issues linked to food production and consumption around the world.

Computing

Computing at Mount Grace School aims to enable students to develop skills and knowledge in Computer Science and Digital Technologies to prepare them for a future in a world where the use of this technology is fully embodied. We wish to enthuse students to have an understanding far deeper than the interface that they currently operate. We aim to enable students to develop a love of learning for the subject and an understanding that there are no limits to their own development in programming and IT. Students will develop transferable IT skills that can be used across different curriculums to support their academic studies and build their resilience and independence.

Modern Foreign Languages

Modern Foreign Languages is the study of language learning. At Mount Grace School students study French, German and Latin. The subject incorporates learning vocabulary (the words we use) and grammar (the rules that make language work) and cultural appreciation.

We believe that all children are entitled to access different languages and broaden their awareness of different countries, particularly in the ever-changing global society that we live in. MFL challenges students to develop their understanding of how languages work and make connections between their own language and French/German/Latin. Through MFL lessons, students at Mount Grace School learn how to strengthen their memory, critical thinking, problem-solving, group work and communication.

Physical Education

PE is a vital part of school life and ultimately children’s future physical and emotional well-being. It is therefore our intent to provide an inclusive, broad and balanced PE curriculum that ensures ALL children will benefit, whether through enhancing existing skills, learning new skills or being introduced to new sports, clubs, teams and organisations.

The curriculum at Mount Grace School is broad and diverse to ensure that ALL students feel success and develop a love of sport and exercise for which we know if developed in their formative years will help them make positive, lifelong lifestyle choices. The PE curriculum offers our pupils the opportunity to experiment, investigate, observe and to discover for themselves, various principles and methods of training and exercise. This understanding will prepare them for when they have to make health and fitness related decisions in their future.

As well as developing fitness, core skills and tactical awareness through various sporting activities and exercise, the PE curriculum is a vehicle for building strong character. Students are required to develop determination, resilience and courage when tackling new physical challenges as well developing empathy, compassion and critical thinking when taking on leadership and coaching roles. These character virtues are explicitly taught throughout the PE curriculum. We intend to develop a variety of character virtues by exposing students to challenges outside of their comfort zone.

‘Exercise is the key not only to physical health but to peace of mind’

Nelson Mandela

 

Drama

Students at Mount Grace School have access to a broad and ambitious Drama curriculum. Students learn about a range of dramatic techniques, their application and their creative impact. The curriculum encourages students to become confident and independent thinkers, drawing on the range of information to inform creative expression. Students are exposed to a wide range of stimuli including scripts, images, music and extracts to inspire their imagination. The study of drama theory comes with academic study of key practitioners and playwrights with an analysis of the historical and social, political contexts in which they worked.

Music

The study of music contributes in important ways to the quality of every student’s life. Every musical work is a product of its time and place, although some works transcend their original settings and continue to appeal to us through their timeless and universal attraction. Through singing, playing instruments, composing and active listening, students can express themselves creatively, while a knowledge of notation and performance traditions enables them to learn new music independently throughout their lives. Because music is an integral part of human history, the ability to listen with understanding is essential if students are to gain a broad cultural and historical perspective.

Every student should have the opportunity to participate in a range of both curricular and extended curricular study in order to pursue excellence in their music experiences and to understand and enrich their environment. The adult life of every student is enriched by the skills, knowledge, and habits acquired in the study of music after all, where would we be without music?

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.”. ? Plato.

Business and Enterprise

It is the vision and aims for the Business Studies Department at Mount Grace to provide opportunities through a rigorous curriculum to develop commercial minded and enterprising individuals. The Business Studies curriculum at Mount Grace is highly ambitious and designed to give all pupils the necessary knowledge and skills they need to live in the business orientated world in which we live. It has also been designed to prepare pupils who wish to pursue both academic and vocational Level 3 courses in business and related areas for those who wish to begin an apprenticeship in the field of business.

Pupils have opportunities to develop their financial awareness and to master the skills needed to analyse and interpret financial documents. The department has a clear plan for what pupils should know and be able to do in Business by the end of KS5. Pupils are expected to be able to talk and write knowledgeably about business, enterprise and the economy, using subject specific language accurately and confidently. They should be able to utilise Business specific skills such as making links between different units of work; analysing and interpreting business case studies and understanding financial information and language.

Health and Social Care

Health and Social care provides opportunities through a rigorous curriculum to develop knowledge and understanding of the subject through key authorial contributions and the development of communicative skills. Through health and social care lessons, students at Mount Grace School learn how to analyse texts, and case studies to be able write for a range of purposes effectively and communicate confidently with their individual findings. The subject challenges students to develop strong moral values and broaden their physical, intellectual, emotional and social depths.

There is also opportunity to interact with adults from the health and social care sector and deepen knowledge therefore challenging and enriching students’ vocational opportunities

Psychology

At Mount Grace students in the sixth form have the opportunity to study A Level Psychology. They develop a knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, psychological concepts and theories and learn how to apply them to unfamiliar situations as well as theoretical/practical contexts. Students develop strong skills of analysis, interpretation and evaluation as they engage with scientific information and psychological evidence which help them to navigate the people and world around them.

Media Studies

Media is the study of society and the ability to analyse how the media influence us as an audience but at Mount Grace School the subject incorporates key critical thinkers and the ability to independently think about the social issues happening in our community and beyond. We believe that students are entitled to challenge societal norms and discuss why these societal norms are socially accepted. The study of media challenges students’ way of thinking. By being exposed to a variety of social issues, students will develop a strong sense of moral justice and have the confidence to challenge these. Through media lessons, students at Mount Grace School learn how to decode a text, understand the creator’s purpose and to communicate confidently and effectively.

Learning Support

The learning support area supports students across the school with a strong focus on literacy and numeracy as well as enabling those with diagnosed conditions to fully access the learning and experiences. We believe that all children have the ability to reach their potential and strive to guide them through the key stages providing intervention where necessary to ensure they feel successful and proud of their achievements.

We aim to work with pupils to help them develop emotionally with a positive identity, form friendships and the confidence to work both independently and as part of the wider Mount Grace community. Lessons focus on areas covering both academic and social and emotional content, working with faculties across the school and external agencies where needed to support our pupils in their educational and personal development. We align with the individual subject curriculums where required to accelerate progress through pre-teaching and over-learning.