Options booklets: subject specific examples (Curriculum Documents - part 7)
Hello Curriculum Thinkers,
Last week, the brilliant Louise Ferrier revealed 5 cross curricular features she noticed about successful departments’ options booklets.
This week she shares subject specific examples in this, the final, instalment of her series on curriculum documents.
Missed parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6?
Read:
Written curriculum plans - 8 observations about examples from successful departments.
Visual maps and journeys - 8 observations from successful departments
Before Louise takes it away, an invitation for you…
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Subject specific examples of options booklets
So how do successful departments attract students to their optional subjects? And how are the core subjects communicating what is to come for all?
Check out some examples of subject specific options documents from successful departments below. From each one I pull out the feature(s) that caught my eye and may help you sell and grow your subject in your school even better.
Art
The document that this example is taken from is directed at the parents of Wingfield Academy students initially but shifts to addressing the students in the subject pages. Particularly notable is the featuring of some visual work on the page. Whilst this example details the specification, its use of data in the ‘Why should I study Fine Art?’ section, is compelling.
Compare all options booklets in Art here.
Business
At Arden, the Business submission into the options booklet includes both persuasive language and inspiring role models. The booklet overall is a very visually engaging document and thought has clearly gone into how to reach the target audience:
Compare all options booklets in Business here.
Computer Science and IT
The use of coloured heading fonts in this example from Heron Hall Academy, keeps the text volume broken into manageable chunks while providing significant detail on what the course could lead on to.
Design Technology
The Heathland School DT department combines images of student work and action shots of the classroom to break up the text and provides detailed information on what is studied and when.
Compare all options booklets in D&T here.
English
The watermarked submissions in the King Edward VI Lordswood School for Girls’ document have a standardised approach in a Q & A format which is individualised with images.
Compare all options booklets in English here.
Geography
Images of a school field trip at St Richards Catholic College are used by the Geography department to separate out the content from the assessment details.
Compare all options booklets in Geography here.
History
The Palmer Catholic Academy’s History department divides the page into clear sections with a standardised skills box used for all subjects with the appropriate skills illuminated.
Compare all options booklets in History here.
RE
Penryn College’s document contains two submissions for the RE department to separate out core delivery and the GCSE:
Compare all options booklets in RE here.
Languages
The languages department at Gumley House School includes QR codes in its submission to link back to the curriculum pages on the school website for more details.
Compare all options booklets in Languages here.
Maths
The Maths department of St Thomas The Apostle School presents a timeline of what is studied in addition to links to support learning on external platforms.
Compare all options booklets in Maths here.
PE
Moseley Park’s PE department promotes its course via video on the school website:
The example below from De Warenne Academy’s PE department uses a column layout to make a lot of information more accessible.
Compare all options booklets in PE here.
Performing Arts
Managing to get all of the information on one page whilst retaining clarity is not an easy feat. In this example, inspiring images of real student performance support the documentation from Uffculme School:
Science
Whilst managing to include a lot of information on one page, the use of listing and coloured boxes stops the information being overwhelming in this example from the Science department of Dormer Wells High School.
Compare all options booklets in Science here.
Social Sciences
The Psychology course information from Chiltern Academy contains a lot of detail but spread out over two pages and with the careful use of format and graphics, it doesn’t feel overwhelming.
To explore further examples in the subject directories you can gain access to them here.
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🔎 Compare options booklets in your subject across hundreds of departments
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 and…
…more.
Here’s an example of the subject specific directories they’ve been building👇
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