Curriculum
To discuss the Church Lawton Curriculum, please contact:
- Mrs Karen Woodall - office@churchlawtonschool.org.uk
To discuss the Church Lawton Schools exams and/or qualifications offer, please contact:
- Mr Ian Smith - office@churchlawtonschool.org.uk
An ambitious, rounded education for every child
We are a high-performing school, providing an exceptional education to all our children. We are here to provide academic excellence and an environment where all our pupils learn well.
We aim for our pupils to achieve in appropriate and different public examinations ranging from Unit Award Schemes to GCSEs and BTEC qualifications and working with our off-site partners to provide access to local Colleges and 6th Forms, to study a broad set of subjects and qualifications e.g. Level 3 BTEC’s, AS and A levels. We give equal attention to the things that students achieve and the things they struggle with.
We deliver the full National Curriculum throughout the school, starting with the Early Years Foundation Stage for our youngest children.
Your child will study at the level they are ready for, regardless of their age and we will draw on expertise from within the school and beyond to ensure that your child is always challenged to their full ability.
A complete education for life
Every student at Church Lawton School has a truly personalised curriculum and timetable. Pupils learn at their own pace and according to their own needs and interests. We always find a way to deliver the learning your child needs.
Students learn traditional academic subjects alongside the life skills they’ll need to become confident young adults. The student’s timetable includes support from our education psychologists, speech and language therapists and occupational therapist.
We teach all the academic subjects of the National Curriculum. Our long experience of teaching children with autism lets us deliver each subject in a practical and structured way that plays to the student’s strengths. Our students have a range of abilities and our high staffing levels means we can provide small group teaching as well as individual support.
Personal, Social, Health Education (PSHE), and British values is an important part of our curriculum at every stage. Through it we introduce our students to life skills, when they enter Key Stage 3 they will learn about careers and work experience.
Many of our older students take qualifications such as AQA Unit Awards, ASDAN, ELC, GCSEs, BTECs and AS and A levels.
Our school day
Some students start with a physical activity followed by relaxation, which helps pupils to be ready to learn, especially if they have had a long journey to school.
In our Early Years, Primary Years and Middle Years departments children spend most of their time with their own teacher and support staff. They are also taught by specialists in PE, music and Adventure Learning.
In our Secondary department pupils either move up from our Middle department or join as a new pupil. Pupils have a full timetable which includes core as well as foundation subjects. Pupils move around the area to the appropriate classroom and subject teacher according to their timetable. The National Curriculum including religious education is offered and is adapted to the pace and learning style of each group. We teach independence and social skills as well as academic lessons throughout the department.
Our curriculum aims to develop young people who:
- achieve highly
- are resilient, confident and responsible citizens
- feel supported and included
- develop independence skills
- secure positive destinations beyond school
The curriculum of Church Lawton School comprises a broad and innovative range of learning experiences planned for each student. A personalised curriculum offer, in conjunction with outstanding teaching that impacts positively on learning and progress that will enable all our students to respond positively to the opportunities and challenges of a rapidly changing world.
Post-16 Learning
Our 6th Form is where our young people prepare actively for adult life amongst students of their own age, focusing on problem-solving and decision-making, and on independent living skills.
A really important feature of life in the 6th form is the opportunity is to gain valuable experience of life outside school, mixing with other young people, gaining confidence, and seeing that everything they have learned is good preparation for adult life. Our strong links to local colleges mean our young people can choose from an enormous range of subjects, follow their interests and skills, and try new subjects and activities. They can also learn while working with local employers.
Phonics & Reading Schemes
At EYFS and Key Stage 1 we use Read, Write Inc, to teach phonics. Phonics teaches pupils to read accurately and fluently with good comprehension. They learn to form each letter and spell correctly; pupils’ phonetical ability is regularly assessed, and pupils are taught appropriately to their stage of understanding and application.
Unless a child can read, they cannot learn to the full. All teachers promote a love of reading; the choice of books helps pupils to develop a broad range of vocabulary. All teachers have a responsibility to ensure that literacy is developed and supported across the curriculum and understand the importance of disciplinary literacy so that all students are able to read, write and communicate effectively in their subjects.
Training is provided to ensure that specific approaches to literacy are prioritised. Teachers in every subject provide explicit vocabulary instruction to help students access and use academic language. A range of reading strategies are employed to improve students’ comprehension. By actively engaging with what they are reading, students can comprehend complex texts.
Targeted support is provided for students who struggle with writing fluently; teachers us e a variety of approaches to motivate students to write. Reading and writing activities are combined to improve students’ skills in both. Reading helps students to gain knowledge and writing can deepen this understanding.
Opportunities are provided for high quality talk. Teachers support students by modelling high quality talk. All students take part in organised debating to deepen communication skills and awareness and understanding of different perspectives on important issues. A coordinated, specialist programme of support and intervention is in place for students with the weakest levels of literacy.
Music
At Church Lawton School, we recognise the transformative power of music in the lives of our students, especially those with autism. Music is a universal language that can bridge communication gaps, stimulate cognitive functions, and provide emotional expression. Our commitment to integrating music into our educational approach is rooted in its profound impact on enhancing social skills, boosting self-esteem, and fostering a sense of community amongst students.
Our music program is designed to be inclusive and adaptive, catering to the unique needs and abilities of each student. Our students engage in various musical activities, including playing instruments, singing, and movement to music, which not only develops their musical skills but also promotes sensory integration and fine motor skills.
To further enhance the role of music in our school, we have produced our Music Development Plan. This plan outlines our strategic vision for expanding and enriching our music program. Key initiatives include professional development for staff, and the creation of collaborative music projects with local musicians and community organisations. Our goal is to ensure that students at Church Lawton School can experience the joy and benefits of music, ultimately leading to improved educational outcomes and personal growth.
Learning Beyond Church Lawton School
Our education is designed to help your child gain knowledge and skills that will take them on to further study and adult life. We therefore give all our pupils plenty of opportunities to extend their learning beyond our classrooms.
We make regular visits to places of interest such as local farms, parks and National Trust properties, linking our trips to the topics we are studying in class. We encourage your child to interact with as many people as possible, building their confidence and skills, for example by choosing and buying their own snacks in a local shop.
See the Department for Education's performance tables for schools