Curriculum Overview - Intent, Implementation, and Impact

Curriculum Overview

At Harris Aspire, we understand that for some young people, school hasn’t always felt safe, successful or positive. Many students arrive with gaps in learning, disrupted education, or low confidence. Our KS4 Alternative Provision is designed to help students and families make a fresh start—rebuilding routines, restoring self-belief and re‑engaging with learning.

The curriculum and support offer are shaped by Alternative Provision specialists and reflect national best practice—so students receive the right balance of care, structure and challenge.

We are proud to be judged Outstanding by Ofsted for Alternative Provision.

We know consistency helps students settle and succeed. Depending on their starting point, students follow a clear KS4 pathway, with the opportunity to progress to Harris Professional Skills Sixth Form.

From there, students can continue onto pathways in Science, Business, Art, Health or Media—moving on to college, training, university or employment. For many families, this creates a stable three‑ or four‑year journey with us, giving students time to build trusted relationships, feel they belong and take pride in being part of the Academy.

Students tell us they feel welcomed, listened to and that they belong at Harris Aspire.

Families can be confident their child will join an Academy that understands individual needs and is designed to provide the appropriate support. We offer a calm, safe and nurturing environment where students can feel secure, rebuild confidence and return to learning.

Through patient encouragement, high expectations and consistent support, students are helped to achieve meaningful qualifications and develop the confidence to take their next steps.

Following referral, an initial meeting and the admissions process, we work with each student to agree the right KS4 route—either an academic or vocational pathway. This means their curriculum is purposeful, personalised and matched to their goals for the future.

The core aims of our curriculum are:

• To provide a broad and balanced curriculum which is accessible, provides appropriate challenge and contains a wide range of learning experiences.

• To develop our students into confident learners that are able to secure meaningful and relevant qualifications.

• To provide our students with the necessary skills for work and life which will allow them to build successful and independent lives.

• To enjoy learning again

The key elements of our curriculum are as follows:

Literacy and Numeracy

Students receive 4 periods per week of direct instruction in English and Mathematics, as well as some students receiving additional support in these areas based on their need. Our curriculum reflects the importance of developing knowledge and skills in these areas as an essential factor in future success.

A rich academic and vocational offer

Students have access to a range of subjects, ensuring sustained academic progress and access to Level 2 qualifications. Students also have the opportunity to access subjects directly linked to future employment opportunities which often do not exist in mainstream settings, such as Health and Social Care, Business and Media Studies. 

Level 2 Pathway

Students may engage on a curriculum for one year taking English Maths and Science with option subjects. Year 10 students engage in courses that mirror their opportunities in Year 11 if they are re-commissioned for a second year. Students in year 11 who are successful in their studies may then apply to a level 3 course on offer the next year at Harris Professional Skills 6th Form or apply to an external college or sixth form. 

Students who cannot access level 2 subjects in the initial entry will be encouraged to take level 1 qualifications to secure confidence in their ability and to progress onto a level 2 course by the end of the academic year.

Curriculum Plans

At Harris Aspire, we work with students and families to rebuild confidence, re-establish routines, and make progress towards qualifications and next steps.

Year 10: core subjects (weekly timetable)

All Year 10 students study the subjects below. The number in brackets shows how many periods they have each week.

• English Language/Lit GCSE (4 periods)

• Mathematics GCSE (4 periods)

• Citizenship GCSE (1 period)

• Combined Science GCSE (4 periods)

• Art (1 period)

• PE/Duke of Edinburgh (3 periods)

• D&T (1 period)

• Digital Skills Level 2 (1 period)

This curriculum is designed so students can move confidently into Year 11. It also keeps future options open, including progression into Harris Professional Skills and pathways in Science, Business, Art, Health, or Media—supporting routes to further study, university, training, or employment in Year 12 and beyond.

We talk openly with students about their pathway because having a clear plan helps them to see what success can look like. Our approach is practical, step-by-step, and focused on helping students re-engage with education in a way that feels achievable.

Re-engagement support (built into the week)
 Alongside GCSE study, students take part in sessions that help them remove barriers to learning and feel ready to succeed:

• Tutorial/PSHEE (1 period)

• Duke of Edinburgh

• Learning Support/Reflection sessions (4 periods)

Working in small classes with highly skilled staff helps students rebuild trust, feel a sense of belonging, and develop the habits and confidence needed to learn well. This support is central to success in our Year 10 programme.

At a glance

• What students study in Year 10 
• What students study in Year 11 
• How we support re-engagement through small-group learning, tutorials and reflection.

Learning and curriculum

All Year 10 students take:

• English Language/Lit GCSE (4 periods)
• Mathematics GCSE (4 periods)
• Citizenship GCSE (1 period)
• Combined Science GCSE (4 periods)
• Art (1 period)
• PE/Duke of Edinburgh (3 periods)
• D&T (1 period)
• Digital Skills Level 2 (1 period)
• Tutorial/PSHEE (1 period)
• Learning Support/Reflection sessions (4 periods)
• Literacy

Year 11

In Year 11, students follow one of the packages below. Your child’s package will be agreed with the commissioning school, based on need, interests, and the best route to progress.

Package 1: one-year Level 2

All students take:

• English Language GCSE (4 periods)
• Mathematics GCSE (4 periods)
• Citizenship GCSE (4 periods)
• Combined Science GCSE (6 periods)
• PE/Dof E (3 periods)
• Literacy intervention

Package 2: one-year Level 2

All students take:

• English Language GCSE (4 periods)
• Mathematics GCSE (4 periods)
• Combined Science GCSE (6 periods)
• Enrichment (2 periods)
• One option in Media Studies (CNat), Art (CNat), Business Studies (CNat), Health and Social Care (CNat), or Construction (level1 Certificate). 6 periods assigned to these subjects
• Literacy intervention

Package 3: one-year Level 2

All students take:

• English Language GCSE (4 periods)
• Mathematics GCSE (4 periods)
• Construction Level 1 Diploma (City and Guilds) 14 periods

Package 4: personalised programme

Students may take a combination of subjects from Packages 1–3, or additional subjects arranged through the commissioning schools, depending on need or circumstance. In this package, completing the core subjects remains an expectation.

• English Language GCSE (4 periods)
• Mathematics GCSE (4 periods)
• Citizenship GCSE (4 periods)
• Combined Science GCSE (6 periods)

Equality 

Our curriculum is underpinned by a commitment to our duties under the Equality Act 2010 and Special Educational Needs Regulations 2014. We strive to ensure that all students are able to succeed no matter what their entry point is. The most vulnerable often already face the greatest barriers, we seek to remove or mitigate these to create success for all. This means that we have a sharp focus on reading, writing, speaking and numeracy. Some will require specialist teaching to help develop the basics that were not formed appropriately in Key Stage 1 and 2. For others this will be the development of subject specific language and knowledge through specialist teachers. All teachers know their classes and cater for the individuals in them, with our SEND students supported through learning passports and high quality teaching.