Science is a subject which excites, inspires and engages students at Cornfield School. As a subject it can open the door to more confident and informed interaction with the world, especially in this era of fast paced technological change, environmental issues and media packed with scientific claims and headlines. The Science curriculum at Cornfield School enables students to become critical thinkers and develop ideas creatively through hands-on investigation, analysis and questioning; building the skills and knowledge required for students to be scientifically literate both at school and in their adult lives thereafter.

Lessons are taught in a fully equipped, purpose built laboratory. Teaching focuses on the four key areas: ‘Working Scientifically’, ‘Biology’, ‘Chemistry’ and ‘Physics’ and is delivered through a mixture of relevant practical investigations, discussion based activities, individual and group work. Alongside this, students are able to develop their literacy and numeracy skills as both are integral to planning, investigating and communicating scientific ideas effectively.

At Cornfield School students fully access the National Curriculum at KS3 and GCSE accreditation routes are matched to student needs at KS4.

Within the Lower school department, every day begins with a relaxed breakfast during which the students are encouraged to develop both their independence and their social and emotional skills. They are responsible for making breakfast, eating appropriately and clearing away afterwards. Throughout breakfast, conversation is encouraged with an emphasis on reflection and target setting. The students discuss the

previous day in a positive way, highlighting any areas that were not as good as they could have been and making suggestions as to how, as a group, they can improve on these. This discussion enables the group to decide upon a tally target for the coming day.

A phonics scheme is followed by those students that are not confident with reading and writing. This will provide these students with the skills to recognise letter sounds, blend sounds and build words when reading and spelling.

The entire curriculum is taught in an environment that both inspires and enthuses students with good examples of work being celebrated within displays. Staff ensure that students are constantly supported and motivated whilst presenting them with an element of challenge to further develop skills. A large focus is put on students beginning to take responsibility for their own learning and encouraging them to ‘want’ to learn. As they enter KS3 it is important that the students realise the importance of their education and implications that a lack of effort will have on this.

Within the lower school department, we ensure that students have access to a wide and varied curriculum which enables them all to identify their own specific skills and talents, whilst striving to develop the areas that they find more challenging.

Our aim is to

• Develop the social and emotional skills to function effectively in a classroom environment that encompasses the school expectations.
• Analyse and develop basic reading and writing skills to ensure an accelerated rate of progress to enable them to access the curriculum.
• Analyse and develop numeracy skills to create an individual learning program that advances the students understanding and application of mathematical ideas.
• Encourage a love of learning across the curriculum and an appreciation of the wider world in which they live.

The curriculum is currently based on the National Curriculum for years two and three with an understanding that there may be many areas that need revisiting from earlier years. Topic areas will be focused on science as the students need more exposure to this area.

Maintain the emphasis on reading and extended writing through individualised interventions in the classroom. Encourage independent learning within the classroom.

Impact will be measured using summative assessment approximately every six weeks, this enables the department to focus on formative assessment from lesson to lesson. Our formative assessments are designed to support students in achieving fluency in each subject area whilst we provide individual support with an aim to independence. The lessons will be designed to provide opportunities to challenge their reading and writing.

The aims of the Design and Technology Department at Cornfield School are to design and manufacture original, well made, quality products, promote Health and Safety, and to use technology, tools and equipment safely and confidently. Reduce, re-use, recycle is a strong theme throughout, where pre-used materials are sourced, gathered and re-made into a range of products across the curriculum and incorporated into most activities.

Students research commercial products to stimulate design ideas then use imagination and creativity to personalise designs. Recycled materials are used alongside modern electronics to promote carpentry skills and contemporary technology. Low energy electronics products are very much the focus with the thought to the environment. Students are strongly encouraged to solve design and production issues independently. All students are trained to use workshop equipment, power tools and hand tools. This is a great confidence builder as this can be quite challenging. Materials and processes are learnt about and then this knowledge is used to underpin design and manufacture processes. All students who use the workshop should leave Cornfield School with the confidence to solve problems and use appropriate machinery and tools and practical skills in life after school.

If students follow a Design Technology curriculum in Key stage 4 they will use prior learning to design and manufacture products which gain them a range of AQA Unit Awards focussing on Health and Safety, workshop practices and designing, making and evaluating products.

Ethics is a vibrant subject at Cornfield School and covers all six major religions of the world with a particular focus on Christianity, in line with the West Sussex Agreed Syllabus, as well as looking at secular and Humanist viewpoints.  The new curriculum at KS3 sets aspirational AWL targets to enable students to build on their skills and knowledge with a view to studying external exams at KS4.  The curriculum has British Values at its core and seeks to develop students’ Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural understanding; questioning and reflecting on their own viewpoints; the viewpoints of others and how this impacts on wider society.

The lessons are designed to engage and support all students in their learning to cater for students’ diversity of preferred learning styles and learning needs.  We strongly believe that Ethics should allow students to explore cultural and religious diversity, understanding the ideas of meaning and purpose and how these beliefs seek to answer ultimate questions whilst developing values of respect, tolerance and understanding of others’ beliefs.

Ethics will be offered as a GCSE option at KS4.  The course offers students the opportunity to study one religion in depth which is then complimented with a moral issues and ethics paper.  Ethics is 100% written work exam with no coursework, key literacy skills are embedded into the learning and more time can be allocated to teaching the course content and developing the skills needed for success.

At Cornfield we give the students an opportunity to undertake Outdoor Pursuits each week as part of their curriculum. Outdoor Pursuits can promote active learning through direct personal experience and offer excitement, fun and adventure within a framework of safety.
Use of the outdoors makes a major contribution to physical and environmental education and enhances many other curriculum areas. It contributes to personal growth and social awareness and develops skills for life and the world of work. Qualities such as a sense of responsibility and a purpose in life are nurtured. There is also a great deal of intrinsic enjoyment and satisfaction to be experienced from participation in outdoor activities.

Building self-confidence and self-esteem is fundamental to any young person’s development.

Outdoor activities provide valuable alternative, often non-competitive, avenues for achievement, as well as opportunities to develop independence and self-reliance. Through successfully facing up to the challenges which outdoor activities provide, overcoming fears and apprehensions along the way, young people make major strides in confidence, with implications for all aspects of their development.
A positive attitude to learning is essential if young people are to make the most of their education.

Participation in exciting and enjoyable outdoor activities with Cornfield teachers and students reinforces a positive attitude to education and contributes significantly to the general ethos of the school. Direct experience out of doors stimulates and reinforces learning across many areas of the curriculum, and the use of the outdoors encourages young people to take greater responsibility for their own learning.

Cornfield students can expect to be challenged in a safe and controlled manner undertaking a variety of Outdoor Pursuits such as rock climbing, abseiling, canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking, bushcraft skills, archery and air rifle shooting. The students will be working towards a variety of external accredited awards such as AQA’s, National Indoor Climbing Award Scheme, John Muir Award, Paddle Power Scheme and in 2019 we will be introducing the Duke of Edinburgh scheme to the Key Stage 4 students.

In order to function in society safely and responsibly, young people must be given opportunities to discuss their beliefs and experiences in an environment which is safe and nurturing, and where they can be challenged on the views in a way that supports their personal development. For some young people, knowing how to look after themselves, how to behave in social situations with others, and being aware of the expectations within an adult world does not come easily. This subject explicitly teaches our young people how to manage themselves, and others, in a range of lifelong scenarios.

Personal Development (PD) is a progressive subject that focuses on 5 main topics which are taught each year. As students progress through their academic years, the content of each topic changes to suit their age. The Drug and Alcohol Use schemes of work consists of learning sessions ranging from what is a drug to the effects of drug and alcohol on the individual user, families and the greater community. The E-Safety schemes of work range from knowing who their online friends are, to dealing with cyberbullying and online grooming. Citizenship is taught throughout the years and starts with learning about basic politics and ends with understanding Third World issues and social injustices. Each of these topics are taught on a half termly basis, whereas Sex and Relationships Education units of work are taught over a whole term. The content of this topic ranges from how the body changes during puberty and personal hygiene practices, to learning about consent and positive sexual encounters. In addition to the topics, KS3 learn about healthy living and recognising their personal qualities and how they affect the relationships. KS4 participate in lessons based around personal safety, choices and consequences, as well as lessons which support their preparation for adult life post Cornfield School.

To support each learning style of individual students, and to develop confidence across a range of communications methods, PD lessons are delivered in discussion form and role-playing; whilst also using visual aids and written tasks. Students are expected to complete tasks independently, in pairs or small groups, or as a whole class. Discussion groupings are decided upon social communication skills, whereas reading and writing tasks are differentiated according to individual and group ability. Verbal feedback is provided regularly throughout the lesson, whilst written feedback is provided each week and students respond to that feedback at the start of each lesson.

The knowledge and skills developed in PD allows for our young people to be well-functioning, safe and respectful members of society. The honest nature of this subjects allows for students to express their concerns openly and without fear.

 At Cornfield we have three Focus Weeks for KS3 students each year.  They are carefully designed to extend and expand the curriculum in different and exciting ways so that the students learn vital life skills and develop their social skills.

Focus weeks are based on three main themes; community, business and enterprise and lifestyles. Throughout these weeks students are developing literacy and numeracy  skills outside of the standard class setting and also using and enhancing their social skills through hands on learning.

In addition to these core elements the community week explores our   school community and also wider communities on a local and global   scale, exploring different cultures and improving their empathy for others.

In business and enterprise week students are learning about how businesses work by creating and running their own companies. This allows students to prepare for the world of work by developing vital communication skills and practising social interaction with members of the public during our business fair.

The final week of the year is based on life-styles. This focuses on introducing students to alternative activities that they may not have access to. These may include sports or various other outside activities. In addition to this students also experience a range of  cooking and arts. Past activities include kite surfing, disability sports and mountain biking.