CURRICULUM, ASSESSMENT AND OUTCOMES

OUR CURRICULUM AT BISHOPSWOOD SCHOOL

CURRICULUM VISION

“Empowered and Engaged Learners”: A curriculum for lifelong success

At Bishopswood School, we believe that learning is a lifelong journey, not just for our pupils but for our entire school community. Our curriculum reflects this belief by empowering every child to become an engaged, confident learner who can apply their knowledge and skills beyond the classroom, into the wider world, and throughout their lives.

Our Curriculum Intent: learning for life

Our curriculum is carefully structured to ensure that all pupils:

✔ Develop as confident communicators and express their needs, thoughts, and choices effectively.

✔ Build independence and resilience, taking safe risks to access new experiences.

✔ Develop strategies for self-regulation, understanding their emotions and managing their responses.

✔ Engage in an aspirational, progressive, and functional curriculum that prepares them for adulthood.

✔ Have opportunities to consolidate and transfer learning, ensuring skills are deeply embedded and meaningful.

✔ Are fully prepared to access their community and take their place in society with confidence.

At the heart of our curriculum is our motto, "Empowered and Engaged Learners", which applies not just to our pupils but to our staff, parents, and wider community. Together, we foster a culture of lifelong learning, pupil voice, advocacy, and independence.

Our Pathways: personalised learning for every child

Our curriculum is carefully tailored to meet the individual needs of our pupils. We provide three distinct learning pathways, ensuring every child accesses the curriculum in a way that best supports their learning journey.

🌿 Sensory Pathway

Designed for pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD), this pathway prioritises:

· Sensory-based, experiential learning

· Engagement through touch, sound, movement, and interaction

· Emotional regulation strategies to develop responses to the world around them

🗣️ Communication Pathway

For pupils with severe learning difficulties (SLD), this pathway focuses on:

· Developing expressive and receptive communication

· Structured learning experiences to foster independence and confidence

· Encouraging social interaction and self-advocacy

📚 Core Pathway

For pupils with moderate learning difficulties (MLD), this pathway aligns with elements of the National Curriculum while prioritising:

· Critical thinking and problem-solving

· Vocational and life skills to prepare for adulthood

· Community engagement and independence

Each pathway follows a "Plan, Do, Review" approach, ensuring progress is continuous, purposeful, and tailored to individual needs.

Curriculum Breadth: A meaningful and adaptive approach

At Bishopswood, we are aspirational for our pupils and we teach a broad range of National Curriculum subjects across all pathways. However, we recognise that our pupils need learning to be adapted in ways that make sense to them, ensuring that they can access knowledge and skills in a way that is functional, meaningful, and tailored to their individual needs.

Our curriculum is carefully designed to ensure that pupils develop core skills in literacy, numeracy, science, and the wider curriculum, but with practical, experiential, and structured support to enable understanding, engagement, and progress. Where appropriate, National Curriculum content is modified to ensure relevance and accessibility, so that pupils not only learn but can apply their knowledge in real-world situations.

Learning beyond the classroom

At Bishopswood, learning extends far beyond the classroom. We provide:

✔ Community-based learning experiences, ensuring pupils confidently engage with the world around them.

✔ Work-related learning, vocational training, and employability skills to prepare for post-16 transitions. ✔ Technology-rich learning experiences, ensuring our pupils are prepared for the digital age and the evolving workforce.

✔ Outdoor learning and environmental awareness, using nature and the local community as learning spaces.

✔ Social and life-skills development, with structured experiences in travel training, money management, shopping, and public interactions.

Our curriculum is dynamic and evolving, ensuring it reflects current cultural and societal shifts (e.g., digital literacy, equality movements, and environmental sustainability).

Preparation for Adulthood & the 21st Century

Our pupils leave Bishopswood School as inquisitive, confident risk-takers, giving them the trust and belief in themselves to:

✔ Manage relationships effectively and interact with the wider community

✔ Apply real-world functional skills (e.g., money management, independent travel, workplace skills)

✔ Adapt to the challenges of 21st-century living, including technology, communication, and global citizenship

We embed the Six Cs of 21st-Century Learning, ensuring our pupils develop:

· Critical Thinking – Solving problems and making decisions

· Communication – Expressing thoughts, needs, and emotions

· Collaboration – Working with others and being part of a team

· Character – Developing resilience, confidence, and integrity

· Creativity – Finding innovative solutions and adapting to change

· Citizenship – Engaging with the community and understanding their role in society

The Impact: Confident, Independent, and Empowered Learners

The impact of our curriculum is seen in the confidence, independence, and advocacy skills our pupils develop. By the time they leave Bishopswood, our pupils:

✔ Have a strong sense of self, knowing their voice matters and how to advocate for themselves.

✔ Feel prepared to transition into adulthood, whether that’s further education, employment, or community engagement.

✔ Have developed lifelong skills in communication, social interaction, and independent living.

At Bishopswood School, we believe that every learner is empowered, every journey is valued, and every success is celebrated.

Want to learn more about our curriculum? Contact us to arrange a visit and see our learning in action!