The curriculum at Cowes Enterprise College extends from years 7 to 13 and includes both the formal timetabled curriculum and all the informal learning and development that occurs outside the timetable:
Core Aims
In all OAT schools, the purpose of the curriculum is based on our purpose as a Trust:
Our aims for the curriculum also support the OAT values, which are:
The curriculum at Cowes Enterprise College is stretching, broad and inclusive. The curriculum is designed so that any pupil can excel, so that no one is disadvantaged. For the very small number of pupils who receive a bespoke and adapted curriculum, the curriculum still meets the expectations of the overall curriculum and seeks to develop excellence and engagement.
All pupils should develop in music and the arts, in technical and technological skills, in sport and physical activity and socially and emotionally, to the extent of their potential.
Opportunities to do so are available to every pupil and where pupils do not pursue these in the formal curriculum they are actively encouraged to do so in the informal curriculum.
Cowes Charter
Our Cowes Charter delivers a universal offer for all pupils in years 7 to 13 which encourages exceptional personal development and which includes high quality careers and wellbeing support for every year group. Enrichment at Cowes is not a bolt-on but the informal element of our wider curriculum.
Key Stage 3
Pupils at Cowes Enterprise College follow the full intent of the National Curriculum:
English Maths Science Humanities including history and geography French or Spanish | Design and technology, with computing and ICT Art and design Music Physical education Religious education Everyone Matters (PSHE, citizenship and relationships and sex education) |
In addition to the subjects set out in the national curriculum, pupils at Cowes also study drama.
Additional Information:
Maritime Futures
During key stage 3, we embrace our rich local heritage and place demanding academic concepts and techniques into ‘real life’ settings using our close ties with the maritime industry. Pupils develop interconnected, rigorous knowledge across a range of subject areas and have the opportunity to, for instance, see the coastal features in real life through maritime field trips in geography, work on their sailing dinghy prototypes in design technology and visit the Mary Rose in history. The theme of maritime and marine is not a discreet subject, but is woven through various subject areas as part of the broader curriculum. Up to 10% of lessons in years 7 and 8 are currently linked to this theme.
Everyone Matters
We have a pioneering approach to our PSHE (personal, social and health education). Our Everyone Matters (E1M) curriculum launched in September 2019, taking in strands of thinking from across the safeguarding and more traditional PSHCE curricula. The curriculum also includes citizenship, character education, relationships and sex education, and careers and enterprise.
Key Stage 4
In key stage 4, all pupils study English language, English literature, mathematics, and science (combined or triple).
All pupils have the right to study the EBacc in key stage 4, regardless of prior attainment. We recommend the EBacc for pupils with middle and high prior attainment, as a good foundation for further study. To enable them to study the EBacc pupils:
All pupils also study: PE, Everyone matters (including PSHE, citizenship, and sex and relationships education). Religious education is currently delivered through a combination of weekly lessons, tutor time and timetabled curriculum days.
In addition pupils are able to opt to study further subjects including:
Art Business Childcare Computing Design technology Drama Film or media | Food preparation and nutrition Health and social care ICT Music Physical education Religious studies Sports studies |
Key Stage 5
At key stage 5, we offer a wide range of A level and vocational courses. Our curriculum ensures pupils are able to hone skills such as oracy, teamwork, communication and project management. Pupils can opt to study from subjects including:
Art and Design Product Design Drama and theatre English language English literature Film studies Geography History Music Music technology Applied law Business Computer science ICT French | Spanish Biology Chemistry Physics Mathematics Further mathematics Childcare Economics Food science and nutrition Health and social care Philosophy and ethics Psychology Sociology Physical education Sports studies |
Chelsea Football Club Foundation (CFCF) – Cowes Enterprise College Football Academy
The football programme is timetabled around academic commitments, with the aim being to develop all players technically and tactically, both in a practical and theory-based setting. This is complemented by appropriate fixtures and matches which are continually monitored throughout the programme.
Pupils on the football programme also study a full timetable of A level or vocational subjects.
Curriculum Model
Each week is made up of 25 lessons of 1 hour. The number of lessons allocated to each subject is:
Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9* | Year 10 | Year 11 | Year 12 | Year 13 | |
English | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | ||
Mathematics | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | ||
Science | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | ||
Humanities: geography and history | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
MFL: French or Spanish* | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | ||
Design and technology including computing and ICT | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||
Art and design | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
Drama | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
Music | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
Physical education | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
Religious education | 1 | 1 | |||||
Everyone matters | 1 | 1 | |||||
Religious education / Everyone matters | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
Option 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | |||
Option 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | |||
Option 3 | 7 | 7 | |||||
Enrichment | 4 | 4 |
*In key stage 4, some pupils receive additional literacy support instead of continuing to study a modern foreign language. Moving forwards, all pupils will continue to study a language.