Curriculum Overview
The Olive High Curriculum Model 2022-24:
At Olive High School for Girls our curriculum aims to ‘Develop influential British Muslim women of the 21st Century’.
All pupils have access to a broad and balanced curriculum that caters to their individual needs. It takes into account the current National Curriculum and gives all pupils ‘experience in linguistic, mathematical, scientific, technological, human and social, physical and aesthetic and creative education’, as required by The Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2014. Our bespoke curriculum is taught the ‘OLIVE’ way.
Outstanding learning experiences that enable learners to grow in cultural capital
Leadership opportunities that expand learner’s skill sets in preparation for life beyond Olive High.
Integrity driven learning that focuses on character building through self-inquiry and self-reflection.
Visionary teaching that provides spaces for learners to think critically about the world they live in.
Empowerment through a strong sense of social justice in education delivered through a curriculum that reflects learners lived experiences.
This model features 28 lessons per week, with 6 lessons each day on Monday to Thursday and 4 lessons on Friday. Each lesson is 55 minutes in length. This model encourages pace and challenge in lessons, as well as providing the framework for a diverse and balanced curriculum offer for all our pupils. We have 5 tutorial sessions of 10 minutes which take place on Monday to Friday, led by the form tutor, which provides a structured approach to PSHE, spirituality and other pastoral commitments. For KS4 there is an opportunity to engage in school enrichment/booster lessons which usually last for 45 minutes. Additionally, extra learning classes are offered to provide additional support for GCSE pupils.
The key principles of literacy, numeracy and developing spiritual, moral, social and cultural awareness and developing cultural capital are a planned part of our curriculum from Y7 – 11. All students are encouraged to read and we continue to build our reading curriculum, with a dedicated lesson for reading. Furthermore, we deliver a ‘Life-Skills’ curriculum to support all our students in their development.
Key Stage 3 (Years 7,8 & 9):
At Olive High we focus on developing literacy skills early to ensure students can access the wider curriculum and achieve success as they progress through school. Our enquiry based curriculum in key Stage 3 has a major focus on literacy, oracy and skills for learning. To complement this we continue to develop a culture of reading across the school. Our curriculum meets all statutory requirements and includes English, Maths, Science, PE and IT. In order to allow for a greater breadth of study we have introduced a three-year KS3 and a two-year KS4.
Below is the weekly allocation of periods for each subject. All pupils follow this curriculum in Years 7, 8 and 9 with some pupils having additional English and Maths delivered as part of a nurture group.
| Subject | Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Maths | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Science | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| History | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Geography | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Information Technology | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Religious Studies | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Physical Education | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Art | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Urdu | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| PSHCE | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Reading | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Life - Skills | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Quran & Tarbiyah (Nurture) | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 28 | 28 | 28 |
Key Stage 4 (Years 10 & 11):
It is our intention almost all pupils will follow a curriculum that will include all Ebacc subjects and that they have all the subjects needed for the Progress 8 measure. Therefore, the subjects are structured around ensuring a language and a humanities are delivered, before a wider subject is delivered to pupils. All pupils will study a core curriculum:
Core Subjects studied by all pupils:
- English (Language and Literature)
- Mathematics
- Science (Combined Double Award)
Pathways
We are operating a dual pathway approach where the majority of pupils are guided towards a pathway which is most suited to their academic ability and which provides a breadth of study and equips them well for applying for post-16 study. This gives pupils access to the suite of GCSE and Btec subjects that make up the English Baccalaureate measure; English, Maths, two Sciences, a Modern Foreign Language and Humanities subject. We recognise the importance of this combination of subjects and its influence with post-16 providers and the foundation it provides for further and higher education.
A very small number of pupils for whom Pathway A is inappropriate will have a bespoke curriculum that may involve a reduced number of subjects studied and qualifications achieved, possibly including some non-GCSE choices for core subjects and options choices.
| Subjects | Yr10 | Yr11 |
|---|---|---|
| GCSE English Language and English Literature | 4 | 4 |
| GCSE Mathematics | 5 | 5 |
| GCSE Science (Combined Double Award) | 5 | 5 |
| GCSE History | 2 | 2 |
| BTEC Digital Information Technology | 3 | 3 |
| PE Core | 1 | 1 |
| GCSE Religious Studies | 2 | 2 |
| GCSE Urdu | 3 | 3 |
| GCSE Citizenship | 2 | 2 |
| Quran & Tarbiyah (Nurture) Core | 1 | 1 |
| Introducing from September 2022 | ||
| GCSE Food Preparation & Nutrition | 2 | 2 |
| GCSE Business | 2 | 2 |
| GCSE ART & Design | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 28 | 28 |