Our curriculum approach

The curriculum at Newfield School is built on a foundation of education for all. Our broad and balanced curriculum empowers pupils to leave school with academic qualifications that will set them up for life, because we know that achievement leads to opportunity and choice.

We aim to foster pupils who are curious about the world, who are considerate and kind to others, and who are committed to achieving their very best, in school and beyond.

We know that, in order to build a powerful curriculum, we need to do it from the moment our pupils arrive in Year 7. As those pupils walk through the doors in September, they need to feel that they have a great opportunity whilst in this school: an opportunity to prove what they are capable of, to fulfil their as yet untapped potential.

We believe that knowledge is powerful and a great lever in social mobility; that a broad vocabulary broadens horizons and futures; that reading is a powerhouse that underpins educational destiny. Each day they are with us, we encourage our pupils to make informed choices, to think critically, to articulate themselves with confidence and with respect. We want to encourage a thirst for knowledge that begins in the September of Year 7 and stays with them for life.

At Newfield School, our curriculum is designed to help every child thrive by being considerate, committed, and curious.

Knowledge-rich

We give pupils access to powerful knowledge they wouldn’t encounter in everyday life, helping them understand the world and their place in it.

Academically ambitious

We go beyond exam requirements, encouraging curiosity and a love of learning through rich vocabulary and deep subject understanding.

Well sequenced and memory-focused

Learning builds step by step, with regular practice to make sure knowledge sticks for the long term.

By combining high expectations with our values, we prepare pupils not just for exams, but for life.

Curriculum implementation

We implement the curriculum through direct instruction: learning that is led by the teacher, using booklets and a high level of structure. We believe this is the best way to impart knowledge and achieve the best outcomes for our pupils.

In Key Stage 3, pupils are taught in mixed ability classes predominantly, with some streaming in subjects such as maths and science. Pupils with reading ages significantly below their chronological age receive reading intervention during Character Development time, and also have additional reading intervention during Spanish lesson time. Computing, drama, music and technology are taught in a carousel, with pupils studying two subjects in the first half of the year and then rotating to the other two subjects for the second half of the year.

In Key Stage 4, pupils study the core curriculum of English, maths and science, as well as taking part in core PE lessons. They take four GCSE options. In Year 11, pupils participate in period six lessons on Monday to Thursday, allowing for focused revision and consolidation practice to take place.

Impact and assessment

At Newfield School, we believe that effective assessment is central to excellent teaching and learning. The most important assessment information we gather comes from formative assessment, which is woven into our daily practice.

Every day, teachers use specific, repetitive, minute-by-minute formative assessment strategies and other leading indicators to understand exactly where pupils are in their learning, where they are heading, and what steps they need to take to get there. This ongoing process enables us to adapt teaching swiftly and purposefully.

While formative assessment drives learning in real time, summative assessment also plays an important role in our approach. Summative assessments take place three times during the academic year and are designed to capture what pupils have learned over a defined period, such as a term or the full year.

Crucially, our assessment system is not just about pupil accountability, but about ensuring that we have accurate, meaningful information that supports strong decision-making and high-quality teaching.

By combining frequent formative assessment with thoughtful analysis of summative outcomes, we ensure that our pupils’ learning journeys are clearly understood and effectively supported.

The aims and objectives of assessment at Newfield School

  • Enable pupils to demonstrate what they know, understand, and can do in their learning.
  • Help pupils understand their next steps and how to improve.
  • Allow teachers to plan learning that accurately reflects the needs of pupils.
  • Provide regular, clear information for parents and carers to support their child’s progress.
  • Give school leaders and governors the insight they need to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching and the curriculum.

Find out more

If you’d like to find out more about our school’s curriculum, please contact the school office and ask to be directed to Kathryn Knowles.