Alternative Curriculum Provision

As part of our Alternative Curriculum, we offer a number of courses to some of our students, providing learning environments that allow them to engage in their learning through ‘doing’.  Students gain a sense of achievement and develop self-confidence by participating in one of our practical Alternative Curriculum courses.  Groups are made up of students in mixed year groups, allowing for the opportunity for peer mentoring to take place.

• Gardening Project – ASDAN Short Course in gardening

Students are responsible for developing a garden plot on school site.  Students are involved in the process of how they want to garden to be developed.  This includes focussing on the aesthetics of the garden, where students build their own wind chimes and dream catchers for example. Another focus is to create containers for growing fruit and vegetables through up cycled items, such as sinks, old wheelbarrows and old dustbins etc.  Students are then able to create their own Enterprise Project by growing and selling their produce to the school staff and the local community.  Students will also work with our neighbouring Dementia Friends by preparing afternoon teas for them using their home grown produce.

• BTEC Home Cooking Skills

Students develop a range of cooking skills through cooking a range of starters, main course meals and deserts.  They learn how about food hygiene, how to cook within a budget and where to source their food.  Students will then demonstrate their cooking skills by cooking two, two course meals.  One meal will be cooked for our Dementia Friends neighbours and one for an invited guest to show them how to cook a particular meal, passing on their knowledge.

• The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

Students complete a highly valued DofE bronze award, which is made up of four sections (skill, volunteering, physical and expedition).  The section that students focus on in school time is the expedition section.  Students are assessed on a two day and one night expedition.  On expedition students work in a team of between 4 – 7 students and navigate their way along a pre-planned route using OS maps.  Students are journeying for 6 hours per day and are completely self-sufficient.  Students develop a range of skills such as teamwork, leadership, problem solving and also develop resilience.  Students are supported with the other three sections of the award.