Teaching and Learning
thE Curriculum
Wapping High School provides a broad and balanced curriculum that meets the needs of students in a rapidly-changing world. The curriculum is designed to follow a personalised learning approach, providing flexibility to meet the needs of all students across the ability range. Students are expected to take significant responsibility for their own learning with project-based learning time included in their programmes.
The curriculum blends high quality, imaginative learning opportunities supported by a rich digital environment. There is also a rigorous focus on ensuring that all students develop the highest quality skills in reading, writing, numeracy and communication.
As well as the range of subjects that you would expect, students also learn how best to learn, to communicate, to think critically and strategically and to understand themselves, each other and the wider world, both real and virtual.
At Key Stage 4 both academic and vocational subjects are equally highly valued and opportunities are available for pupils to study for both GCSE and BTEC qualifications depending on their skillsets and indivdual career choices.
Specialism
Wapping High School strives to ensure that our learners are enterprising and innovative. Key curriculum subjects such as English, Science, Maths, Humanities, Languages and Technology use real-world context and understanding to encourage this innovation and the spirit of enterprise. Through Workshop Wednesday sessions in Years 7 and 8, pupils develop skills such as problem solving, oracy, teamwork and leadership.
All pupils are encouraged to develop their self-confidence and practice the skills required to self-motivate, experiment and to develop new products and services and bring them to market. Friends of the school from outside businesses, industries and public life participate in projects and activities throughout the school.
Key Stage 3
At KS3 all students follow the National Curriculum with a full range of subjects including English, Maths, Science, Technology, History, Geography, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese Art, Music, Drama, ICT and PE. Students also enjoy opportunities to work with other school learners both primary and international. Workshop Wednesday brings together a range of subjects as well as skills such as oracy, teamwork and problem solving to create a, meaningful and exciting learning experience . Students also enjoy a high quality enrichment program designed to extend learning beyond the curriculum.
Key Stage 4
PE & Sports
A rich range of PE and sports are provided at Wapping High School, including ball sports, dance and fitness. All students participate in PE lessons every week.In addition, many sports-based enrichment activities
are also offered especially during Wednesday non-curriculum time. This means that students have the opportunity to take up a healthy amount of PE or sports each week.
Sixth Form
The Trust constantly explores the possibility of opening a Sixth Form here which will deliver Vocational and Academic curriculum options. All pupils have the opportunity to meet with providers from local post 16 establishments alongside companies that offer apprenticeships.
Wapping High hosts a post 16 information event for all Year 11 pupils each year alongside pupils visiting the Skills London event at Excel. Each pupil is supported in applications for post 16 education to ensure the best possible destination.
All Stages
At all stages, building student’s Digital Technology skill as an important element of their personal development will be interwoven into the curriculum underpinning and empowering learning experience.
At all stages, students will also study PSHE, Ethics and Cultural Studies to develop their wider educational needs.
Enrichment
On Thursday afternoons (13:40-15:40) all pupils take part in enrichment. Pupils are free to choose their activity from the range of options and groups are made up of a mix of age groups.
Activities include dance, drama, music, languages, journalism, cricket, basketball, football, Duke of York Award, art, textiles and many more.
Course outline downloads
PSHE - Personal, Social, Health & Economic Education
Introduction
Wapping High School aims to provide its students with an excellent PSHE (Personal, Social, Health, Economic) education, which equips our young people with vital tools and skills needed to a lead happier and healthier life in 21st Century Britain. Focused PSHE lessons are delivered once a half term through extended tutor time and and during ASPIRE days.
| Aspire 1 | Aspire 2 | Aspire 3 | Aspire 4 | Aspire 5 | Extended Tutor Time | |
| Year 7 | Celebrating Diversity & Equality | Health & Wellbeing | Relationship and Sex Education | Rights, Responsibilities & British Values | Life Beyond School | Staying Safe Online & Offline |
| Year 8 | Celebrating Diversity & Equality | Health & Wellbeing | Rights, Responsibilities & British Values | Life Beyond School | Staying Safe Online & Offline | Relationship and Sex Education |
| Year 9 | Relationship and Sex Education | Health & Wellbeing | Rights, Responsibilities & British Values | Life Beyond School | Staying Safe Online & Offline | Relationship and Sex Education |
| Year 10 | Celebrating Diversity & Equality | Health & Wellbeing | Rights, Responsibilities & British Values | Life Beyond School | Staying Safe Online & Offline | Relationship and Sex Education |
| Year 11 | Health & Wellbeing | Life Beyond School | Staying Safe Online & Offline | Life Beyond School | Staying Safe Online & Offline | Relationship and Sex Education |
PSHE is taught as part of a wider Spiritual Moral Social & Cultural (SMSC) programme at Wapping which includes Character education and Careers. PSHE offers prominent themes which include Relationships and Sex education, physical and mental health, safety, financial literacy and economic wellbeing and is currently taught during form times and on Aspire Days.
‘PSHE education helps pupils to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society. From making responsible decisions about alcohol to succeeding in their first job, PSHE education helps pupils to manage many of the most critical opportunities, challenges and responsibilities they will face growing up.’ (PSHE Association)
PSHE Curriculum Map
Please click on this link to view the Wapping High School PSHE/RSE Health Education Curriculum Overview – this document gives a detailed overview of the subject content students cover in PSHE at Wapping.
Relationships and Sex Education at Wapping
Since 2020 secondary schools in Britain have a statutory obligation to deliver a Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) curriculum. ‘The purpose of RSE is to help children and young people to be safe, healthy and happy as they grow up and in their future lives.’ (Sex Education Forum) At Wapping High School RSE is taught within our extensive PSHE curriculum and is based on the Sex Education Forum’s 12 principles of good RSE education, which can be viewed here. The school’s RSE policy can be accessed here. Additionally the letter and parent presentation regarding the changes can be found below.
If parents or carers have any questions regarding the content taught in these sessions they should contact PSHE Lead; using the email below, in the first instance.
Parent Support and Information
Wapping aims to develop strong relationships with parents and carers and offer support to families in supporting their child’s PSHE education. A comprehensive list of support agencies can be found below:
Useful links:
PSHE Association – How PSHE can help your children
Care for the Family – Organisation supporting families and parents
Contact – an agency supporting parents with disabled children
Young Minds – Supporting my child with anxiety
For further information contact:
Careers Education
This policy is underpinned by our belief that our pupils will become international citizens able to access opportunities across the globe. Our vision of “Raising Aspirations, Broadening Horizons” relies on an excellent careers education program from Year 7 to 11. At Wapping High School we provide the support, education and guidance to ensure all pupils make the best possible decisions when leaving us in Year 11. We prepare pupils for the world of work and further education by providing the local contextual knowledge and essential skills that employers and educational institutes require.
At Wapping High School we are committed to fulfilling our statutory duties in relation to careers education and guidance. This includes enabling students to understand the full range of options that are available to them including but not limited to A levels, Apprenticeships, BTECs and T levels.
We recognise the importance of putting in place effective arrangements for the management and delivery of our Careers Education program. At Wapping High School we use the Gatsby Benchmarks to plan, review and improve our Careers Education provision. Responsibility for delivery of the program is that of the teaching staff. Management of the program is the responsibility of Tom Dean. Teachers will receive prior notice and specific training for delivering aspects of the program. This will be delivered through the school’s CPD sessions. Subject leaders are responsible for Gatsby Benchmark 4 (linking learning to the careers curriculum).
At Wapping High School we work closely with Tower Hamlets Workpath and have access to their independent support and guidance counsellors (Gatsby Benchmark 8). All pupils will meet with a counsellor during Year 11 (those with EHCP plans will also meet them as part of their annual review).
We recognise the important role that parents have in their child’s career development and aim to involve parents as much as possible in the careers education program. We will host either online or in person information meetings at appropriate times throughout the program.
At Wapping High School we work closely with educational institutes, employers and local businesses to deliver a careers program that is relevant to and reflective of the local community. These include but are not limited to sixth form colleges, universities and employment providers.
Year | Term 1 | Gatsby Benchmark | Term 2 | Gatsby Benchmark | Term 3 | Gatsby Benchmark |
7 | World of Work Assembly World of Work Tutor Session | 1, 2 1, 3 | Employer Presentation | 5, 6 | Employer Visit | 5, 6 |
8 | Skills for the future Assembly Skills for the future Tutor Session | 1, 2 1, 3 | Employer Visit | 5, 6 | Employer Presentation | 5, 6 |
9 | Your Choices Assembly Your Choices Tutor Session | 1, 2 1, 3 | Employer Presentation | 5, 6 | Employer Visit | 5, 6 |
10 | Exploring Careers Assembly Exploring Careers Tutor Session | 1, 2 1, 3 | Employer Presentation | 5, 6 | Work Experience College Visit | 5, 6 7 |
11 | Moving On Assembly Moving On Tutor Session Post 16 Application Writing Support Independent Careers Interviews Post 16 provider assemblies | 1, 2 1, 3 | Independent Careers Interviews | 8 | Support with post 16 applications and progression. |
Gatsby Benchmark 4 is Linking curriculum to careers and will be reflected/evidenced in the curriculum plans of individual departments.
“Disadvantaged pupils achieve well. Last year, their achievement was very similar to that of non-disadvantaged pupils nationally. In mathematics, their achievement at GCSE was in the top 4% of schools nationally. “
– Ofsted Report, 2018
discover our school
where next?
G.C.S.E Success
Assessment
