Curriculum training for schools

What’s taught, and how well

Most teachers end up teaching something they weren’t trained for. A geography specialist picks up RSHE, a biologist gets Year 10 physics, a teaching assistant is asked to run phonics groups. These courses are for those moments: phonics, spelling, writing at greater depth, relationships, sex and health education, and practical science for biology, chemistry and physics.

Reading and phonics

The phonics courses run in order, from Getting Started with Phonics through Continuing with Phonics to Consolidating Phonics Practice, so a new teaching assistant can work through them over a half term. For primary teachers there’s Essential Spelling, on the subject knowledge behind the spelling rules, and a course on getting more children writing at greater depth at Key Stage 2. Others cover building an inclusive reading classroom and reading for learners with complex needs.

RSHE

Relationships, sex and health education is statutory, and plenty of staff feel unprepared to teach it. There are courses on delivering it with confidence at secondary, on health education and on teaching difficult topics safely.

Planning the curriculum

Subject and curriculum leaders can take courses on planning an ambitious curriculum, on intent, implementation and impact, and on running a subject well.