Our Curriculum
Five connected strands, and an individual route through them for every student.
Ages 11–18 (Key Stage 3, 4 & 5)A Practical, Skills-Based Approach
Changing Lives Independent School aims to provide a hands-on, engaging curriculum for students with SEND, combining practical skills, academic foundations and real-world experience.
Our curriculum is the vehicle which allows our students to thrive, developing knowledge, understanding and skills alongside confidence, independence and resilience.
Our curriculum is carefully structured to provide students with the skills, knowledge and understanding to be active citizens so that they can take advantage of opportunities for employment and independence as they move into adulthood.
Our five curriculum strands provide students with the skills, knowledge, understanding and experiences to become independent, active citizens ready for life in the modern world. Each strand prioritises developing students’ knowledge of themselves and the world around them, with oracy, reading and writing at the heart of our curriculum. Across each curriculum strand, we explicitly embed our school values of kindness, respect and resilience, growing our students’ sense of self-belief.
We believe every student deserves the opportunity to thrive. Our mission is to celebrate individual strengths and nurture independence and as such our curriculum is designed with personalisation in mind, careful timetabling and individual route-mapping ensures that our curriculum strands work together to meet the needs of each individual student we serve.
Our Five Curriculum Strands
Our curriculum is designed to engage, inspire and prepare students for life beyond school.
Vocational Curriculum
Opportunities to earn nationally recognised units and awards through AQA, City & Guilds, Open Awards and ASDAN.
Personal Development
Social skills, resilience and emotional intelligence — essential skills for life beyond school.
Academic Curriculum
Tailored English, maths, science, humanities and ICT help every student master essentials at their own pace.
Outdoor Learning and Life Skills
Gardening, farm work and environmental projects foster independence and teamwork.
Animal Care and Equine Studies
Hands-on learning with horses, dogs and small animals — building empathy, responsibility and confidence through animal-assisted education.
Across each strand, we place emphasis on students developing the oracy, reading, writing and numeracy required for success in adult life, which supports our students to become active citizens who flourish in Modern Britain.
A Typical Week
How lesson time is allocated at each key stage. Every lesson is 50 minutes.
Key Stage 3
| Lesson | Lessons a week |
|---|---|
| English | 3 |
| Maths | 3 |
| Science | 3 |
| Literacy | 1 |
| Changing Lives | 1 |
| PE | 1 |
| King’s Trust | 3 |
| Unit Award Scheme | 2 |
| Equine Facilitated Learning | 1 |
| British Horse Society Challenge | 1 |
| Riding | 2 |
| ASDAN Life Skills | 1 |
| Forest School | 1 |
Key Stage 4
| Lesson | Lessons a week |
|---|---|
| English | 3 |
| Maths | 3 |
| Science | 3 |
| Literacy | 1 |
| Changing Lives | 1 |
| PE | 1 |
| Employability Skills | 3 |
| Unit Award Scheme | 2 |
| Equine Facilitated Learning | 1 |
| British Horse Society Challenge | 1 |
| Riding | 2 |
| Extended Project Qualification | 1 |
| Forest School | 1 |
Key Stage 5
Year 12 and Year 13
| Lesson | Lessons a week |
|---|---|
| Chosen Level 2 or Level 3 qualification | 5 |
| English | 3 |
| Maths | 3 |
| Extended Project Qualification (Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3) | 2 |
| Unit Award Scheme | 2 |
| Changing Lives | 1 |
| Work Experience | 2 |
| Riding | 2 |
| Careers Tutorial | 1 |
| Equine Facilitated Learning | 1 |
| PE | 1 |
Building Blocks for Success
Students re-visit essential learning as they move through the school to build, develop and refine their skills.
Our curriculum has a number of key ‘building blocks’ which take a systematic and strategic approach to developing and embedding essential skills, knowledge and understanding over time, allowing our school leavers to thrive in modern Britain and the wider world, including being able to meet the complexities of the workplace with confidence and competence, alongside being prepared to thrive as individuals in their community.
Personalised Learning Paths
Individual routes tailored to each student's strengths, needs and aspirations.
Reinforcement & Progression
Core skills are revisited, refined and strengthened at each stage of learning.
Executive Function Skills
Teamwork, listening, creative thinking, problem solving, communication and resilience woven through daily learning.
Career Readiness & Application
Practical experiences prepare students for further education, employment or independent living.
Accredited Learning at Changing Lives
We recognise the importance of ensuring that we offer our students the opportunity to work towards accredited learning opportunities that are nationally recognised.
As part of our Key Stage 3, 4 and 5 offer, each student works towards appropriate, meaningful and relevant qualifications.
- Entry Level through to GCSE qualifications
- Nationally recognised, Ofqual regulated qualifications
- Differentiated to meet individual needs
- Portfolio-based evidence of achievement
What Students Work Towards
Students build portfolios from Entry Level through to GCSE in a range of subjects, with each achievement reflecting their level of ability in line with national frameworks.
English
Entry Level – GCSE
Mathematics
Entry Level – GCSE
Science
Entry Level – GCSE
Personal Development
Prepared for life in modern Britain
Independent Living
Life Skills
Vocational Qualifications
Work Readiness
Our aim is for all students to leave the school with a range of qualifications which showcase their knowledge and transferable functional skills, demonstrating they are exceptionally well prepared for their next steps.
Accredited Learning & Policy
Students have the opportunity to earn nationally recognised units and awards through AQA, City & Guilds, Open Awards and ASDAN. Learn how qualifications fit within our curriculum.