Curriculum Overview

At the Beacon of Light School, we aim to provide a rich, meaningful and varied learning experience that allows all our young people to develop their skills and abilities to achieve their full potential 

Through our teaching we aim to: 

• Enable students to become confident, resourceful, enquiring, and independent learners who are able to learn more, do more and be more.  

• Promote an ethos of honesty kindness and respect 

• Develop high expectations for everyone 

• Develop a variety of skills and knowledge across a broad and balanced curriculum 

• Employ assessment for learning and assessment of learning 

• Continually develop and expand the range of teaching strategies routinely found in our classrooms. 

• Develop personalised teaching and learning which is responsive to the individual needs of young people during their time at school 

Our overall aim is to develop young people who recognise the value of learning and leave prepared for education and life beyond the Beacon of Light School. 

The key focus of our curriculum is to enhance essential academic skills to allow students to make academic achievements whilst providing students with a range of opportunities and experiences focused on personal development and wellbeing. 

Our curriculum provides all students with the opportunity to study GCSE English Language, English Literature, Maths, Science, and BTEC ICT. It also offers access to a choice of vocational qualifications up to BTEC/NCFE Level 2. CEIAG and PSHRE (including the new 2020 Relationship & Sex Education curriculum requirements) are also part of students’ weekly provision. Additional GCSE qualifications in Citizenship are also available to some KS4 students. Within our nurture pathway additional lessons in preparation for adulthood, SEMH, Thrive and Achieve are also covered. This is alongside additional reading and numeracy intervention sessions 

Students in Key Stage 4 also have the opportunity to undertake weekly full or half-day work placements with local employers where appropriate. 

All students also have access to our Discovery Days. The aim of these days is to give students the chance to develop key character skills whilst experiencing new and extraordinary opportunities they might not otherwise experience. We aim to develop young people who are healthy, confident and productive citizens.  

There are many benefits of these Discovery Days for students, including: 

• Opportunity to apply knowledge and problem solve.  Allows students to immediately apply things they are learning to real-world experiences and to use this knowledge to solve problems. 

• Promotion of teamwork and leadership. These activities often involve working in a team, so learning within a non-classroom setting allows students to physically demonstrate teamwork. 

• Improved communication. Students will develop their speaking and listening skills in different situations during Discovery Days.  

• Improved motivation. Students are more motivated and excited about learning in new settings, this helps them learn how to stay positive.  

• Opportunity for reflection. Students spend time reflecting about what they are experiencing and learning. This is valuable as they can better retain information when they can think about what is happening to them. 

• Chance to be creative. Activities on discovery days allow students to develop their creative skills.  

• Real world practice. Students can benefit from learning that helps them prepare for the real world. Discovery days focus on using real-life situations to help students learn, so they are better prepared for their future beyond school and they are more likely to aim high. 

Curriculum Pathways