Curriculum Intent

At Mayflower High School all students are provided with a rich diet of knowledge, skills and experiences to achieve Success, Happiness and Opportunity, whatever their background or starting point. This lies at the heart of our curriculum, our pastoral programme and every aspect of day to day life.

We provide a curriculum that is ambitious and inclusive. It is demanding and coherent, where subject leads reflect on what is being taught, to ensure that students develop a mastery of the key concepts of each subject so they can make connections in their learning. We aim for all our students to be challenged, because we know that a happy student is one who enjoys difficult, demanding work with the right scaffolding to support them so that they are successful.

We want to empower our students to effectively contribute to society while they are a student and when they leave Mayflower High School. We achieve this aim through a range of strategies, embedded across all subject areas, with the aim of inspiring our students to be life-long learners. Our curriculum from KS3-5 is modelled with the aim of maximising individual academic and social growth, and allowing our students to contribute to the local, national and global community.

Our taught curriculum is broad and balanced. Throughout Years 7 - 9 they study the full range of National Curriculum subjects to ensure that they have developed the foundations to be successful at key stage 4 and 5 as well as in their subsequent careers. The Curriculum is designed to be a journey building on existing knowledge and skills to become successful in their chosen fields of study.

We also provide opportunities beyond the taught curriculum so that our young people develop in all aspects, academically, socially and personally. A wide range of curricular activities is provided before and after school as well as at lunchtime. There are also opportunities to participate in a variety of trips and visits.

Subjects
Click below to explore the subjects we offer at Key Stage 3 and 4

Art and Design

Head of Subject : Mrs S Brown

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.”
― Edgar Degas

Our intent is to engage, inspire and challenge students, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and confidently create their own works of art, craft and design. We encourage students to make personal, expressive responses to set themes and individual research topics. At KS3 students have 1 lesson of Art per week.

Business

Head of Subject: Mr P Bailey

Business is a course only offered as an option starting at KS4.

“Many young people will seek work in industry and commerce. If they are to add value effectively, they need to understand the origins of wealth -creation and be familiar with the concepts and application of business and economics. Business literacy and numeracy are growing in importance and young people are increasingly becoming involved in the management of enterprise.”

Computer Science

Head of Subject: Mr D Holmes

Mayflower High School's Computer Science department consists of four specialist Computer Science teachers. We are a small, enthusiastic team, achieving good results at all levels, offering personalised learning pathways for students.

Design and Technology

Head of Subject : Mr S Fowler

The Design and Technology department at Mayflower prides itself on the commitment students’ show towards the subject. Staff teach in specialist rooms and there is an emphasis on continually raising the standard of Design and Technology provision for our students.

English

Head of Subject: Mr P Ellis

Mayflower English Faculty is a vibrant and active one. Our focus is on the individual and providing an interesting and stimulating environment for all our students. We encourage a love of reading and across our curriculum, selecting texts from different times, places and people. Our students explore different genres and forms of writing and we encourage confident speakers and listeners who participate in debate, discussion and presentations.

Film Studies

Head of Subject: Miss C Kavanagh

Film Studies is an extremely enjoyable and worthwhile subject to study, but expect to be constantly challenged and excited by the course. Not only will it change the way you watch film, but more importantly it will challenge you to think in new ways and question or change your perspective on a whole host of issues, for example, representation of race or gender. Studying film allows you to understand important issues and developments within history, society and culture, using film as the medium with which to gain a greater insight into these areas.

French

Head of Subject: Ms C Ford

In an international or multicultural business environment, knowledge of foreign languages is a major advantage, as is an understanding of cross-cultural communication. Mayflower's French department aims to help students develop these valuable skills before they enter the global professional world.

We believe in using a communicative approach to teaching and learning by using the target language as much as possible. Grammar is taught progressively in order to lay a sound foundation for further language study. We aim to help every student achieve their full potential.

Geography

Head of Subject: Mrs S Keyworth

The Geography Department has a number of specialist and experienced staff. Teaching takes place in three dedicated teaching rooms; all with interactive whiteboards and visualisers. Additional accommodation includes classrooms shared with other departments. The Geography Department is well resourced with numerous text books and digital resources.

Geography is taught in mixed ability groups across the full age range. In Years 7 to 9, students are taught in form groups, having three periods of Geography per fortnight.

History

Head of Subject: Miss N Gunnell

The History Department, collectively, have a vast amount of experience and knowledge which we have used to develop and enhance our Key Stage 3 curriculum. The department prides itself on developing key skills alongside delivering a content rich curriculum.

Lifeskills

Head of Subject : Mrs D Nicol

Mathematics

Head of Subject: Mr T Hayes

The Mathematics Faculty at Mayflower School comprises of eleven well-qualified, experienced full-time teachers who teach in a suite of dedicated Mathematics classrooms which are equipped with interactive white boards. There is a faculty office where records and resources are stored, and where staff can meet and work.

Music

Head of Subject: Mr J Tuck

We believe that music should be available to everyone as it is an omnipresent feature of our lives that carries an enormous amount of power; in the world of multimedia such as ringtones all the way through to highly emotive film scores; popular music that can be everything from lighthearted to highly politically charged, relaxing to energetic, melancholic to cheerful; the joy that can be obtained by playing an instrument, either as a soloist or as part of a group.

Physical Education

Head of Subject: Mr M Sergeant

Physical Education at Mayflower is designed to develop pupils’ confidence and competence to take part in a range of physical activities that become a central part of their lives both in and out of school. Pupils have a total of 4 hours and 10 minutes a fortnight. Pupils will develop a wide range of skills and the ability to use tactics, strategies and compositional ideas to perform successfully.

Religious Studies

Head of Subject: Mr M Wallen

The Religious Studies Department has a number of specialist RS teachers, with the majority of RS lessons taking place across 4 classrooms. The Department is well resourced with text books, revision guides, artefacts and digital resources.

Science

Head of Subject : Mr T Griffiths

As a specialist subject, Science is helping to raise the overall standards across the school. All students undertake science from Year 7 to Year 11, during this time innovative teachers work hard to encourage and develop a culture of enquiry and understanding through shared learning.

Spanish

Head of Subject: Mrs J Whyman

In an international or multicultural business environment, knowledge of foreign languages is a major advantage, as is an understanding of cross-cultural communication. Mayflower's Spanish department aims to help students develop these valuable skills before they enter the global professional world.