Curriculum Intent Statement
At Ridgewood Community High School, we believe that curriculum and teaching cannot be separated. The curriculum is not simply what we teach, and teaching is not simply how we teach. Together, they create a coherent learning journey that is ambitious, inclusive and responsive to the individual strengths, needs and aspirations of every learner.
As a secondary specialist school, we recognise that pupils learn in different ways and at different rates. Our curriculum is built around a stage, not age philosophy. Curriculum Leads develop carefully sequenced curriculum plans that identify clear progression in knowledge, skills and understanding, while teachers adapt learning to each pupil’s developmental stage, learning profile, communication needs and individual starting point.
All learners are entitled to an ambitious and meaningful curriculum, but the route through that curriculum will look different for different pupils. Through our Pre-formal, Semi-formal and Formal approaches, learning is carefully matched to pupils’ needs while remaining progressive and purposeful.
Teaching is adapted, not diluted. High expectations remain constant, while teaching approaches, resources, communication strategies and levels of support are carefully adapted to remove barriers to learning and enable every pupil to participate, achieve and make meaningful progress.
We believe that consistency comes from shared principles and high expectations rather than identical lessons. Teachers use their professional judgement to personalise learning, build upon pupils’ strengths and respond to individual barriers to learning.
Communication, independence and wellbeing are central to our curriculum. Pupils are given meaningful opportunities to communicate, make choices, solve problems, develop relationships, apply their learning and become increasingly active participants in their own lives. Skills are revisited and applied across different contexts so that pupils are supported to retain, transfer and generalise what they have learned.
Preparation for Adulthood is woven throughout the curriculum. From the earliest stages, we support pupils to develop the knowledge, skills, confidence and independence they need for their next stage of education and for life beyond school, including community participation, relationships, healthy living, independent living and, where appropriate, employment.
