Curriculum Documents (Part 1): Written Plans
8 observations about examples from successful departments
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8 observations about examples of written curriculum plans from successful departments
This post was written by our awesome Subject Success Researcher, Louise Ferrier.
We have a shiny new curriculum! Weāve worked tirelessly to ensure that itās evidence-informed, rigorous and ambitious, knowledge-rich and frankly, marvellous! Nowā¦ how to communicate thisā¦Ā
Whilst the DfEĀ specifies that āthe content of the curriculum in each academic year for every subjectā must be published, the level of detail we choose to include leads to a vast array of variation from one institution to another.Ā
At the risk of sounding English-teachery, the basic principles of āpurpose, audience and formā apply to departmental curriculum documents.Ā
This seems simple but the many purposes, audiences and formats lead to a plethora of decisions to be made. Ā
Questions must be considered such as: Who am I writing this for? What will it be used for? Will it be used to judge us? Do I need different versions for different audiences?Ā
In this Part 1 of 2 articles on curriculum documentation, we focus on documentation presented in written prose rather than visual and bullet-pointed presentation (which weāll focus on in part 2). Obviously, the difference between these two presentation styles is not always clear-cut but Iāve separated out observations on the two approaches for you to digest across the two articles. Let me know what you think in the comments.
A prose format can provide a detailed and cohesive ānarrativeā of the curriculum, making it particularly accessible and engaging for parents and/or students by highlighting the progression of learning and the overarching goals of the subject but also going into enough depth to be transparent and accountable for what we choose to prioritise.
In the absence of finding metaphors or narrative structures to share with you, instead Iāve pulled together observations from the Subject Success Directories of over 400 successful departmentsā documents, collated together for you by the Subject Success Research Team. To explore the directories for yourself you can access them here:Ā
Read on to find:Ā
8 observations of features of written curriculum documents;Ā
an example from each subject to exemplify the range of written documents seen in the directory
Written Curriculum Document Observations:
1. Consistency
Most (but not all) schools with multiple departments in the research had a clear format adhered to by all departments. This consistent approach for the way in which departments presented their curriculum suggested a strategy for the level of detail or intended audience.
2. Written Documents Abound
A written curriculum narrative was found in well over 300 of the 429 departments featured and were sometimes accompanied by a visual map or journey, the two complementing one another and perhaps meeting the needs of different audiences.Ā
When there was just one curriculum document it was most often in written format. Stand-alone visual documents were not common.Ā
3. Academic Audiences Ā
Whilst it is impossible to determine consistently who the intended audience is, the level of academic language and pedagogical language sometimes indicates an audience of educators (internal staff? External teams? Quality Assurance? Inspectors?).Ā
Personally, I have found these in particular truly fascinating to read - some of the levels of thinking published are very engaging and interesting for an educator. One particular structure, well worth a read, is found at Dixons Kings AcademyĀ which produces a āCurriculum Principlesā document to accompany the curriculum overviews in each subject. It includes the following headings that each subject has considered:
By the end of their all-through education, a student of (subject) at Dixons Kings will:
In order to truly appreciate the subject and create deep schema, topics within (subject) have been intelligently sequenced with the following rationale:
The (subject) curriculum at Kings has been influenced by: [followed by list of research and sources of subject expertise]Ā
Our (subject) curriculum ensures that social disadvantage is addressed through:
We fully believe (subject) can contribute to the personal development of students at Dixons Kings through:
Our belief is that homework is used for deliberate practice of what has been taught in lessons. We also use retrieval practice and spaced revision to support all students with committing knowledge to long term memory:
Opportunities to build an understanding of social, moral and ethical issues are developed alongside links to the wider world, including careers:
Remote working in our subject supports students to access the full curriculum in the following ways:
4. Parental Audiences
Providing detailed information about the curriculum, parents can be more actively involved in their children's education.
When parents are addressed directly through curriculum documents it is a clear demonstration of the home-school partnership and the added value that brings to a childās education. Some documents such as this extract from Bolton Muslim Girlsā Schoolās science department, gives four pages of guidance for parents supporting their child with science:
Written documents aimed at parents were more likely to be organised by year group than by subject, such as at theĀ London Academy. In this instance a booklet containing the curriculum narrative of all subjects in one place is ready for parents to navigate:Ā
5. Student Audiences
Curriculum documents aimed at students were often structured using questions such as that of Eden Girlsā SchoolĀ in Sloughās Maths department:
Additionally, when a document addressed students directly, details on how the subject relates to careers or their next steps were more frequently found such as at Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School:Ā
6. Structure
The structure of written format documents varied greatly. The following were observed but not necessarily all in one document!:Ā
The simplest structure found was a table organised by Yr group/half term with written paragraphs describing content/knowledge and skills
Paragraphs under headings or in tables labelled as:
Knowledge/content
Skills
Assessment
Prior/future knowledge links
Vocabulary
Cultural capital
Spaced Content/Knowledge revisited
Feedback routine
Wider Reading Opportunities
Cross Curricular Links
Sequencing/Why are we doing this now?
7. Content/knowledge
There were varying levels of detail given on what is taught. Some departments provide exhaustive narration of specific content and knowledge. Some departments even listed lesson order such as theĀ RE department of Penryn College
Intent, Implementation and Impact or variations thereof also structured some curriculum narration such as this example from the Art department of Manor Croft Academy:Ā
Some departments offer broad overviews or key themes and give more emphasis to learning, sequencing and outcomes
8. Video/Audio Curriculum Communication
Itās difficult to know where to place the AV contingent but Iāve opted for this article because of the detail and narration. Using AV to communicate with parents is surely going to become a more frequent and possibly welcomed addition in the future.Ā
Of note was the dynamic inclusion of an audio curriculum narrative from the art department ofĀ Broadway Academy in addition to a written description by year group
Eden Girls' School, Waltham Forest, includes video content to outline the KS4 curriculum enhancing understanding through visuals and detailed explanation
Is this useful? Donāt keep it to yourselfā¦
Subject-Specific Curriculum Document Examples:
Art
Art curriculum documents were broadly evenly distributed between prose and visual documents. Wath Academyās curriculum documentation is published as a written intent statement accompanied by a table of prose outlining everything from knowledge and skills to vocabulary and cross curricular links:Ā
Business
Prose documents accounted for approximately half of the choices made by the featured successful departments. The Business Department at Rutlish School has published a detailed document detailing its rationale and intent along with a table of prose detailing everything from how they build on knowledge and skills to quality first teaching.Ā
DT
DT curriculum documents were equally distributed between written and visual. This example from Mullion School was published as a web page rather than a document and outlines their approach to the why and the what of DT and their scheme of assessment:Ā
English
Successful English departments overwhelmingly present curriculum information through written documents - no surprise there. Ark Victoria,Ā an all through school map written tables of progression for multiple strands grammar, fiction, non fiction, transcription, reading, spoken language plus a simple table overview of content by year and term. Far too much to include here but well worth a look. Information was organised either in a prose document such as the example below from Loxford School or in tables comprising of paragraphed cells.Ā
Geography
The successful Geography departments in the research mostly presented their curriculum information in written documents, however, even though they were mostly written in prose, it was most often organised into tables providing clarity and ease of finding information. This example from Wembley High Technology College demonstrates the combination of a prose introduction and then a written table format:Ā
History
History departments presented their curriculum in prose, or in tables of prose, two thirds of the time. Even when using more visual means of communication there was most frequently a prose document accompanying. The example below from Harris Academy Sutton includes detailed information on sequencing decisions in addition to core learning:
RE
Less than half of the RE curriculum documents were in prose format but there were often written accompanying paragraphs to visual tables. The example below from The Becket School includes information on the intended outcomes in addition to curriculum content:
Languages
TheĀ Languages departments had the fewest curriculum documents only presented in prose - accompanying visuals were more common than in other subjects. Prose tended to be shorter an often presented in tables such as this example from Bolder Academy:Ā
Maths
Half of the Maths curriculum documents were presented in prose but there were also often written documents to support visual tables and learning journeys. The written format was often presented in tables such as this example from Hurlington Academy:
PE
PE departments communicated the curriculum two thirds of the time through prose documents. The examples of the Yr7 and 10 curriculum below come from Ashington AcademyāsĀ expression of physical and personal growth, resilience, and teamwork.
Science
Science departments largely favoured prose documents or tables containing prose. 21 of the featured departments had a narrative of the curriculum with 5 of those also including a supplementary visual document. Whitmore High School presents its curriculum information as a document aimed at parents supporting their childās learning. All subjects are presented in one document per year group and science curriculum information takes up two pages. Notable is the inclusion of how students learn, are assessed, how they complete homework and how parents can support - see below:
š Compare written curriculum plans in your subject
To help you learn how these departments do what they do, our team have been busy gathering everything they can including:
performance data
intent statements
exams boards
time allocation
Year 7-11 sequencing
subject specific curriculum features
planning and delivery resources
team structure
extracurricular activities andā¦
ā¦more.
Hereās an example of theĀ subject specific directoriesĀ theyāve been buildingš
Subject Success Directories are produced exclusively for members of our paid Curriculum Thinkers Community.
Not a member yet? Get free access here.
Already a member and can't access directories? Activate your membership plan link or DM FionaĀ Flint and ask for your membership plan link.Ā
š What aspects of curriculum practice are we unpacking through our subject success research?
To help you get as much as possible out of our Subject Success Research, over the coming weeks weāll bring you different slices of what weāve found:
Subject-specific curriculum models used by successful departments
Making links between subjects: cross curricular observations
Written curriculum plans: examples from successful departments.
Sequencing decisions by subject, year group and key stage
Resources like options booklets, curriculum maps, knowledge organisers, revision materials andā¦
ā¦more
If you donāt want to miss out on all theseā¦
Sent with ā¤ļø Curriculum Thinkers Team at We Are In Beta.