TRADES
CURRICULUM DESIGN
At Cranbury College, the Trades curriculum has been carefully designed to provide every student with opportunities to explore and develop practical skills in different trades. Our curriculum follows a learner-centred approach, with a flexible structure. Many of our students have been referred to us because mainstream education does not always meet their needs. Our focus is to offer them a chance to succeed in an environment that recognises their challenges. Our goal is to support every student to gain the knowledge and essential skills required to enable them to progress, whether that is further education, an apprenticeship or employment. Even if students choose not to pursue a trade as a career, they will develop valuable transferable skills that will serve them well in any chosen path.
CURRICULUM IMPLEMENTATION
KEY STAGE 3
All KS3 students are given the opportunity to explore various trades. Students can study trades in our purpose-built trades room. They will learn about: Health and Safety requirements in industry, identifying woodworking tools, developing woodworking skills, identifying plastering tools, developing plastering skills, developing basic bricklaying skills, developing basic wallpaper hanging skills and how to create a mood board showing the desired look for a chosen room in a house. Practical skills will be underpinned by knowledge-based theory, helping students understand industry standards and why these skills are important in real-world scenarios.
Students will undertake AQA Unit Awards at entry level; all students can gain AQA Unit Awards and progress to a higher level. AQA Unit Awards can be tailored to our students’ needs and abilities, particularly for those students who are with us for a small amount of time.
Assessment in KS3 consists of practical observations to determine the competency of the allocated task and written work.
KEY STAGE 4
At KS4, students have the option to develop more advanced skills. Building on previous experience, they will work in a simulated trade environment. At this stage, students are exposed to more advanced projects. They will undertake AQA Unit Awards at Level 1. This will include Health and Safety in a construction environment, woodworking skills, plastering, bricklaying, plumbing, hanging wallpaper and planning the furnishing and decoration of a flat. This allows students to deepen their understanding of different trades, while still providing flexibility for those at different stages of learning.
Assessment
In KS4 assessment is based on practical observations of tasks in more advanced settings, as well as written work to evaluate their understanding of the different aspects of each trade.
Progression
The Trades curriculum at Cranbury College equips students with the knowledge and skills needed for further study, apprenticeships, entry into employment or for the development of DIY skills that will serve them well in the future. Students may choose to continue their education in a specific trade, such as enroling on a college course or an apprenticeship for plumbing, electrical work, carpentry, or construction.
HOSPITAL
Lessons are provided for both short term and long-term patients and personalised learning journeys are created based on the needs of the students/patients. All curriculum plans are bespoke and are designed, considering the students physical health, mental health and academic ability.