Curriculum

Manchester Secondary PRU  

Statement of Curriculum Intent 

Our curriculum aims to provide our students with educational success and to prepare them for the next stage in their lives. It has been designed with the following: 

1. Curriculum Principles- We will provide a curriculum which: 

• Is high quality and ambitious for all, giving students access to a broad range of academic and vocational subjects as well as fostering creativity 
• Is based on the National Curriculum but is adapted at a whole-school and subject level to ensure we can meet the needs of our learners 
• Has a strong focus on personal and social development 
• Is inclusive, setting high expectations of all learners  

• Provides all students with the opportunity to develop the essential skills for life 
• Ensures progression is an integral part of the curriculum design 

2. Definition of Learning -Learning is a persistent change in knowledge. At MSPRU we understand learning as both a process and a product:

We refer to learning as something we do, as well as something we end up with. We define the process of learning as thinking and the product of learning as knowledge.  

3. Intent- The curriculum we provide will allow our students to know more, remember more and do more. They will learn: 

• a broad range of powerful knowledge in key national curriculum subjects 
• how to read, write and communicate confidently 
• about the principles of fluency in mathematics 

• how to be critical thinkers  
• to respect and celebrate individuality and diversity  
• how to be resilient in the face of adversity and challenge 
• how to understand and manage their emotions 
• how to recognise risks and identify benefit and harm 

• • • about different career pathways and the skills and knowledge required to be successful 
    • about the culturally rich communities in which they live 

Curriculum Rationale

At Manchester Secondary PRU we place the curriculum at the heart of our school. Growing out from our shared vision and values, under-pinned by the 6 Principles of Nurture and with the Manchester Skills for Life framework running through all aspects, our curriculum forms a cohesive whole. It has been constructed with a strong focus on a core set of National Curriculum subjects alongside structured support for our students’ Personal Development.

• We aim to develop a clear understanding of our learners’ needs at the point of referral and throughout their time with us. Many are referred to us with undiagnosed SEND needs (Cognition and Learning /SEMH/Communication and interaction/Physical and Sensory Needs), some have had their education disrupted due to adverse childhood experiences and others may be referred for a serious one-off incident. As a result, our curriculum needs to be:
• Highly ambitious for all learners
• Delivered through high quality teaching
• Adapted to meet the needs of our learners

Our curriculum has been designed to give all students access to the same, high quality curriculum content. For learners who have difficulty, our approach is not to alter the curriculum content but, rather, adapt our approach to teaching and pupil-support to ensure the learners can access the curriculum at an appropriate level. To achieve this our curriculum is structured into specific targeted pathways which allow us to provide a highly personalised programme for our students.

Please find our full curriculum booklet attached.