The vocational curriculums are organised within the remit of the relevant GCSE specification or the recognised industry standard qualification specifications and considers all aspects of these suitable to our individual learners. As part of this, we offer the following; Hair, Beauty and Barbering City and Guilds entry level3/level 1, Sport Science level 1/2 Award/Certificate OCR Cambridge Nationals, NCFE Cache level 1/2 Technical Award in Health and Social Care, NCFE level 2 certificate in Hospitality and Catering Principles (Food Production and Cooking) and NCFE entry level 3 certificate for design craft. Additionally Outdoor Education will offer a wide range of industry recognised awards for the sports and activities offered, for example The Prince’s Trust Achieve Award or National Indoor Climbing Award.
This allows the option of progression routes into Level 3 study, work or apprenticeships to suit the learner.
Vocational Subject Intent
Each vocational subject at The Heights, Burnley is personalised, structured and organised to ensure that all students make sustained and rapid progress, whilst embedding key theoretical and practical skills and knowledge to support further on-going study. We use varied approaches to lesson delivery and the starting points of students are considered key here as we strive to ensure every student leaves The Heights, Burnley with a qualification in the chosen vocational area relevant to their ability.
All vocational subject curriculum intents are one of both inclusion and challenge, with assessment being rooted within each theoretical lesson and practical topic area. The vocational subject curriculums will develop students’ practical skills and the underpinning theoretical knowledge that goes alongside it.
Students will develop fluency in the fundamentals of each subject, through a mixture of theoretical teaching alongside varied and frequent practice of the practical skills required to achieve the highest possible outcomes for the individual. This will allow pupils to develop their theoretical understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately in a range of scenarios. Thus, developing individuals’ confidence in these areas in order to increase employability and equip students with the skills they need to be successful in post-16 education and beyond.
The variety and breadth of topics covered in the vocational subjects will be used to promote healthy discussions, which will contribute to improving the social, emotional and mental health of our students and enable them to foster good personal and professional relationships in future.
Curriculum Content
The topics and themes are taught at The Heights, Burnley to support the effective implementation of each individual vocational subjects’ intent statement and to support our delivery of the relevant GCSE or professional awarding body specification.
All students deserve a broad and ambitious curriculum in their chosen vocational field, rich in skills and knowledge, which engages and prepares students well for future learning or employment. Our schemes of work look to build upon prior skills and knowledge, but recognise the unique skills being taught and how, in many instances, are completely new to the learners.
Implementation
To achieve this all students, access task relevant support through lessons and targeted interventions as appropriate from identified needs. Skills are built through the independent demonstration of practical skills previously taught which allows learning and identifies gaps and progress is tracked to specification outcomes. Numeracy and reading are delivered across all the subject areas where appropriate. Pupils will take a mixture of practical and paper-based examinations alongside independent and taught theory sessions evidenced though a variety of mediums. With the intention to build resilience and confidence allowing most if not all to access a level 2 qualification.
