Curriculum

What is our intent?

Our goal at Melrose is to empower and equip all pupils to become successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens.  We will provide a supportive and nurturing environment for pupils, following a bespoke curriculum which will take account of individual learning needs. This will be supported by close work with a range of professionals including speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, CAMHS, mentors and educational psychologists.

How we implement this

The curriculum at Melrose Secondary is driven by the needs of our pupils and a flexible and bespoke approach to curriculum design. The curriculum design empowers teachers to individualise learning while providing them with the structure to build well planned and resourced lessons. Pupils study a broad and ambitious curriculum covering the key areas of the National Curriculum adapted to meet pupils’ individual needs.

In years 7 and 8 pupils follow a Nurture approach and have the majority of their lessons in their base classroom. This creates a safe space for them where they can build their confidence, learning routines and social interaction skills within a small group environment. Subjects requiring specialist equipment such as art and food technology are taught in the appropriately resourced rooms. The nurture teachers use a range of learning strategies to engage the pupils with learning and to support their previous learning journeys. The nurture approach embeds a range of research-led SEMH strategies including trauma informed practice, zones of regulation and visual strategies.

In upper school pupils follow an ambitious qualification package which builds their skills and confidence. Most pupils take entry level qualifications and some vocational qualifications in year 9. These build pupils’ knowledge, resilience and academic self-concept ready for them to begin GCSE qualifications in year 10. The upper school curriculum package is well-rounded and includes PSHE and personal development and employability skills. Pupils who require an alternative pathway are offered an off-site vocational package which supplements the academic pathways that they follow in school.

Please click the following links to learn more about our extended curriculum offer:-

Social Development Opportunities (SDO's)

Therapeutic Interventions

Year 7 Curriculum Overview

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Year 8/9 Curriculum Overview

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Year 9 Curriculum Overview

Year 10 Curriculum Overview

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Year 11 Curriculum Overview

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