Our curriculum is designed to support the whole child, helping every learner flourish both in school and in life. Rooted in the principles of the Curriculum for Wales, it promotes inclusivity and ensures that all students can thrive, regardless of their background or ability.

Key Principles

• Provide highly effective teaching to cater to the diverse needs of all learners.
• Build and sustain positive, respectful relationships across the school community.
• Foster resilience, respect, effort, and well-being to empower all members of our community, promoting success and a strong sense of belonging.
• Support all community members in accessing education and learning.
• Provide inclusive and responsive pastoral care.
• Support the ongoing development of staff to ensure the best learning experiences for our students.

Curriculum Overview

At Eastern High, we use the Curriculum for Wales guidance to shape a curriculum that reflects the needs of our learners and community. Our curriculum is built around the four purposes, which are the foundation of everything we do. These purposes guide our planning and teaching, ensuring that every learner is supported to become:

• Ambitious, Capable Learners: Lifelong readiness for learning.
• Enterprising, Creative Contributors: Engaged in life and work.
• Ethical, Informed Citizens: Awareness of Wales and the world.
• Healthy, Confident Individuals: Leading fulfilling lives.

In working towards the Four Purposes, we aim to develop the following key skills across all areas of learning:

• Literacy, numeracy and digital competence – enabling pupils to communicate effectively, think critically, and use technology confidently in a changing world.
• Creativity and innovation – encouraging learners to think independently, solve problems, and express themselves in new and imaginative ways.
• Critical thinking and problem solving – helping pupils to analyse information, make informed decisions, and adapt to new situations.
• Personal effectiveness – building resilience, self-awareness, and a positive attitude to learning and life.
• Planning and organisation – teaching learners how to set goals, manage time effectively, and work independently or in teams.
• Citizenship and ethical understanding – supporting learners to understand their rights and responsibilities and to contribute positively to their communities.

These skills are embedded throughout our curriculum and support learners in becoming well-rounded individuals ready to succeed in further education, employment, and life beyond school.

Curriculum Structure

At Eastern High, learning is organised into six Areas of Learning and Experience (AoLEs), which bring together related subjects and disciplines. These areas provide a broad and balanced framework to help learners make connections across their learning and develop deeper understanding.

• Languages, literacy and communication, including compulsory English and Welsh language and literature, and international languages.
• Maths and numeracy, which involves developing an understanding of problem-solving through both independent and group learning.
• Science and technology, which includes biology, physics, chemistry, computer science, design and technology. Its purpose is to create informed citizens who have a deeper understanding of the world around them.
• Humanities, which includes history, geography and religion, values and ethics.
• Health and well-being, which includes physical education, food and nutrition, psychological, emotional and social aspects. This area of learning will help children make informed decisions about their health and well-being, and how to develop socially.
• Expressive arts, which includes art, dance, drama, music. This will encourage creative learning and critical thinking when working.

Cross-Curricular Skills 

Essential skills like literacy, numeracy, and digital competence are interwoven throughout our curriculum, providing a solid foundation for students to access diverse learning opportunities.

Learning essential skills like reading, maths, and digital competence is crucial. These skills help students access a school's full range of subjects and opportunities, providing them with lifelong abilities to fulfil educational purposes. 

These skills are also valuable in the workplace, helping learners adapt and succeed in the modern world. At Eastern High our curriculum let students develop and use these skills in various subjects. 

Teachers ensure students get chances to improve their reading, maths, speaking, and writing abilities, as well as use technology confidently in real-life situations in a variety of lessons. 

Principles of progression 

A good curriculum, backed by effective teaching and learning, helps students make meaningful progress. Progression involves developing skills and knowledge over time, aligning with the four purposes of the curriculum and preparing students for various pathways beyond school. At Eastern High each lesson will be planned to ensure we are helping students to:

• Become better at learning in social and work contexts, seeking support, asking sophisticated questions, and self-regulating.
• Acquire both broad and deep knowledge, understanding relationships between concepts and applying knowledge effectively.
• Engage holistically with ideas and disciplines, grasping coherent groupings, and understanding disciplinary learning in the context of the four purposes.
• Develop a range of skills, including physical, communication, cognitive, and area-specific skills. Progress involves refining existing skills and acquiring new, more sophisticated ones.
• Connect ideas within and between areas, applying knowledge in different contexts, and justifying their understanding. 

For a more comprehensive overview of how progress is measured, please refer to the Assessment section of our website.

What will students learn and when?

Our teaching staff work collaboratively with our cluster primaries in Areas of Learning Experiences (AOLEs) to plan our curriculum and meet the principles of the Curriculum for Wales (CFW). 

The Curriculum for Wales learning concepts are meticulously mapped, empowering teachers to create impactful lessons. This mapping ensures thorough coverage of students' knowledge and skills, fostering meaningful learning experiences. It integrates principles of progression, cross-curricular and integral skills, while emphasising alignment with the four purposes to create our bespoke and progressive curriculum that enables students to develop at a pace that suits their needs.

Below you will find an overview of our curriculum, outlining the units that will be covered throughout the year in each Area of Learning and Experience (AOLE) and subject area. 

Years 10–11

At Eastern High, our Key Stage 4 curriculum for Years 10 and 11 is designed to meet the needs of all learners—providing appropriate challenge, support, and opportunity. As we prepare for the rollout of the new Qualifications for Wales, our curriculum continues to evolve to reflect the ambitions of the Curriculum for Wales and ensure every learner is equipped with the knowledge, skills, and experiences they need to thrive.

Core Curriculum

All pupils follow a core programme of study that includes:

• English Language and English Literature
• Mathematics (covering numeracy and reasoning)
• Science
• Welsh or Welsh Agored
• Physical Education
• Health and Wellbeing, Equality and Diversity (NCFE) qualifications 

Optional Subjects and Tailored Pathways

In addition to the core curriculum, all students select three additional subjects through the options process. These include a wide range of academic and vocational qualifications that allow learners to shape their education around their strengths and interests.

We recognise that learners have different starting points, abilities, and aspirations. That’s why we offer differentiated pathways, ensuring each student follows a route best suited to their learning needs.

Pupils who benefit from a more supported or skills-based approach may access different qualifications such as:

• Agored Cymru (Welsh Agored) units
• SWEET programme (focusing on personal development and employability skills)
• Foundation English, Maths and Science qualifications

Our More Able and Talented (MAT) pupils will have access to a more academically rigorous pathway, which includes the opportunity to complete the full Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification, incorporating:

• The Skills Challenge Certificate

These tailored pathways are designed to ensure every pupil can achieve success, regardless of their background or learning profile. We are committed to providing high-quality teaching, personalised support, and a curriculum that prepares all learners for further education, employment, and life beyond school.

New Qualifications for Wales (from 2025)

From September 2025, our Year 10 pupils will begin working towards the newly reformed qualifications introduced by Qualifications Wales. These qualifications are being rolled out in phases and will better reflect the four purposes of the Curriculum for Wales, focusing on deeper learning, critical thinking, and real-world skills.

• 2025: Reformed GCSEs in subjects: English, Mathematics and Numeracy, Art and Design, Computer Science, Drama, Music and French.

• 2026: Reform of History, Digital Technology, Design and Technology, Physical Education and Integrated Science (Single Award)

• 2027: Launch of Vocational qualifications such as VSCE Public Services, VCSE Hospitality and Catering, Foundation travel and Tourism and the Skills Suite (Skills for Life, Skills for Work and The Personal Project). More details on these types of qualifications will be published shortly. If you wish to find out more, you can read about the new qualifications on the Qualifications Wales Website. 

We are committed to keeping parents informed of these changes and ensuring that all staff and pupils are fully supported during the transition.