The wider curriculum - defunct
Welcome to the wider curriculum of West Exe School, where we passionately develop the well-rounded child through innovative programs like the West Exe Baccalaureate; empowering students in Years 9-11 with diverse choices that align with their aspirations; and fostering individual interests through our electives program. We take pride in nurturing holistic development, including a dedicated focus on sports health and nutrition, as an integral part of our commitment to instilling the essential student attributes that shape resilient, inquisitive, and socially conscious individuals.
We believe that our students have the unalienable right to a five-year learning journey which is not just about an end-point of GCSEs but a time of discovery, a time of awakening a passion for subjects, and a time for acquiring knowledge and skills which will support their futures studies and their working lives.
With this in mind, we provide a curriculum which is rich and varied and which follows the national curriculum in years 7 and 8. As we move into year nine, we allow students to specialise in their foundation subjects, fostering that passion early, whilst providing additional curriculum time for humanities, subjects pivotal to learning about our place in the world around us.
Humanities
We place a strong emphasis on instilling a sense of global citizenship in our students. As part of this commitment, they explore both history and geography until the reach Year 10, where they have the opportunity to specialise and hone their skills as either a Historian or a Geographer.
Geography
Studying Geography fosters curiosity and empathy about the world around us providing students with the means to (and knowledge to) question and debate, such that they have the skills to be active participants in the local and global community.
Students at West Exe develop skills to ‘think like a Geographer’. We foster lifelong skills and attributes prepare our students for the world around them. The curriculum aims to build on large scale global issues that will help our students to consider their place in the world. It helps them to develop ‘themes’ of understanding including sustainability, inequality, development and climate change, as well as large scale physical geographic systems and the impact these have on places and people. We revisit these themes throughout the curriculum to support students' understanding of these concepts and to ensure they are embedded into the long-term memory. This style of learning is an intrinsic part of our Geography curriculum.
History
The subject is based upon the principle of using the past to understand today and to shape a brighter future.
West Exe students who study History will develop life-long critical thinking skills and the ability to form reasoned opinions and arguments based upon evidence. By learning about the past, they will garner a deeper appreciation of the present (why the world today is as it is) and prepare to play their own roles in forging a positive future. In short, we want History lessons to be the ‘go to’ answer to the classic question, “Did you learn anything interesting in school today?”
The curriculum encompasses almost 3,000 years of World History, ranging from the founding of Ancient Rome to modern medical breakthroughs such as the COVID-19 vaccination.
Further Maths and Statistics
Strengthen and deepen understanding to strive for excellence.
Our curriculum provides opportunities for those interested in excelling at Mathematics to learn more about and enrich their understanding of the various strands of the subject: Statistics and Probability, Geometry, Number and Algebra.
GCSE Statistics gives students a thorough understanding of the rationale and reasoning behind statistical data collection, processing and analysis. Students develop their understanding of statistical content both within and beyond the GSCE Mathematics course.
As well as complementing their GCSE Mathematics course, Further Maths introduces students to other topics that would otherwise only be seen at A level. Matrices and binomial expansion are both accessible and engaging parts of the course for all students.
Sports Health and Nutrition
The SHN Curriculum at West Exe School develops students holistically through learning about the importance of healthy and active lifestyles and the impact on mental, and physical health and wellbeing. Our curriculum is ambitious and inspiring, and offers students the opportunity to build new skills and develop themselves personally through trying new things. It is our belief that within SHN there is something for everyone – through positive engagement and enjoyment, everyone can experience and show success!
Sport Studies
Sport Studies is the exploration of diverse sporting and physical activities coupled with a deep dive into the organisational intricacies of the sports sector. There are a myriad of exciting roles within the sporting world and this course will delve into contemporary issues such as the Olympics and Paralympics, the impact of drugs in sports, the integration of technology, and the barriers to participation. This course isn't just about sports; it's a journey that nurtures a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic landscape of sports, shaping well-rounded individuals ready to make a mark in this thriving industry.
Physical Education
Students explore how parts of the human body function during physical activity and the physiological adaptions that can occur due to diet and training. They will also develop skills in data analysis, an understanding of the principles of training, why we train in different ways and how training plans can be made to optimise results. Students develop their knowledge of the social-cultural and psychological influences on levels of participation in sport, and also how sport impacts society more broadly.
Food Preparation and Nutrition
Food preparation and nutrition is a course designed to elevate culinary prowess and cultivate a profound understanding of the principles of food science, nutrition, and healthy eating. Dive into a hands-on experience that not only nurtures cooking skills but empowers students to make informed choices about food and nutrition. This course is a passport to acquiring the knowledge and expertise needed to create affordable, nutritious meals, ensuring that we are not only feeding ourselves but also others whilst unleashing culinary creativity.
Health and Social Care
Health and social care is a course meticulously crafted to ignite a profound understanding of the intricacies within the realm of Health and social care, unfolding its significance in our daily lives. This empowering course provides students with a gateway to explore diverse areas, from the fascinating landscape of human development to the profound exploration of care values, fostering a holistic comprehension that resonates far beyond the classroom.
Creative Technology
Our technology offer has been developed to nurture creative thinkers, problem solvers and makers. Fostering innovation and developing communication skills through exposure to a wide range of real life contexts, situations and scenarios. To enrich the students' experience by preparing them to meet the needs of a rapidly changing, technology-driven world.
Design Technology and Engineering
The technology curriculum at West Exe School provides students with a comprehensive technological knowledge base, which they will apply in a wide range of practical contexts situations and scenarios. Students will design and make products that solve real and relevant problems, within a variety of contexts, while considering their own and other’s needs, external influences, and the application of a deep theoretical understanding of processes and techniques.
iMedia
The media industry is huge. The advent of the internet has meant that the traditional media sector has evolved and new media sectors have come into existence providing work for individual freelance creatives as well as large teams in design houses and multinational companies. In Creative iMedia we study the different Media types and learn to understand and use the different mechanisms and tools by which media is used to influence and impact audiences. In particular we focus on graphical images and animation.
Business, Computing and Further Maths
Business
Students will learn about the purpose of business activity and the role of business enterprise and entrepreneurship, alongside the dynamic nature of business. Students will know how to calculate and predict success using the industry-standard proven methods of break even, design and marketing mix.
Computing
The aim of computer science at West Exe School is to develop students who are critical thinkers with sharp attention to detail. They will be able to problem solve using the concrete knowledge they have acquired via direct instruction and project work. Students will learn practical programming skills alongside theoretical knowledge in parallel throughout their learning.
The world around us
We take pride in providing a diverse range of subjects that encourage students to explore their self-awareness and role in the world. Courses such as Citizenship, Religious Studies, Economics, Sociology, and the West Exe Baccalaureate are designed to stimulate critical thinking and foster philosophical debates, empowering students to develop a deeper understanding of their surroundings.
Citizenship
Citizenship is the ideal subject for students who are interested in the world around them and has many real-life applications. The vision of citizenship is to develop students who are concerned about social justice, empowering them to be active citizens and providing them with the skills set required to succeed in many aspects of life.
Religious Studies
The religious studies course at West Exe helps students to explore a variety of beliefs and promotes an understanding of mutual respect, tolerance and understanding across different cultures and communities.
Religious Studies at GCSE involves a lot more than purely studying religions, although that is self-evidentially a significant part of the course. A more accurate name would be ‘Religion and Ethics’ as the second part of this course centres around ethical issues ranging from human and animal rights, through abortion and euthanasia to the death penalty and nuclear weapons. Religious Studies is a subject that examines real-life issues and challenges different perspectives on these.
Sociology
Sociology studies how society works and how this influences important areas of our lives. It helps students understand how individuals fit into a wider social network, and encourages them to question beliefs about society which they may have previously taken for granted.
Students will develop their analytical, assimilation and communication skills by comparing and contrasting perspectives on a variety of social issues, constructing reasoned arguments, making substantiated judgements and drawing reasoned conclusions.
The West Exe Baccalaureate
Over 5 years of study the WEB curriculum prepares students for a “life in modern Britain by equipping them to be responsible, respectful, active citizens who contribute positively to society; developing their understanding and appreciation of diversity”.
The Arts
Arts blurb
Art and Photography
Students who study Art and Design at West Exe develop curious minds that have a passion for creativity.
Students are encouraged to take risks, be ambitious and reflect the world around them through an Art lens. The Art curriculum is led by all students learning through making and finding personal and meaningful ways to express their ideas.
The photography department’s goal is for all students to become creative individuals, to feel comfortable taking risks, and work collaboratively to support each other.
The photography curriculum is built around a combination of knowledge, skills and understanding which progressively lead to greater levels of independence, decision making and individuality throughout the course. Students are encouraged to think and speak like a photographer as they explore and respond to a given starting point
Performing Arts
Drama and dance inspires and develops creative, well rounded individuals who have a love for the arts in all their forms.
Students will leave West Exe School understanding the importance of the Performing Arts and their contribution to a civilised society. By sharing our passion for performing, it is hoped that students will be instilled with that same passion, and will carry it forward for the rest of their life.
Music
The Music curriculum at West Exe School enables students to develop a broad musical knowledge, which they will be able to apply to a number of different musical contexts – both practical and theoretical.
During their five years at West Exe School students will develop their understanding of music performance, composition and music technology. They will also study different genres and styles of music from a wide range of scenarios giving them a broad overview of music of the past, the present and how this might look different in the future.
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