CURRICULUM
The Winstedt School delivers an internationally-recognised British curriculum through multi-sensory, arts-infused lessons and personalised instruction. Our students access internationally accredited curriculum through the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) and the International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC). The Senior School core subjects are all taught in line with EdExcel KS3 and KS4 curriculum. Read our A Guide to Understanding The Winstedt School Diploma.
We also provide a school readiness program, SEED, for students who are not yet ready for our mainstream curriculum.
Leveraging our small class sizes and emphasis on integrated arts and therapy, Winstedt teachers customise instruction to support the learning or special needs of each student while keeping them actively engaged.
Subtitle
SEED stands for “Social, Emotional, and Educational Development.”
The SEED Programme is specifically designed for students who are not yet ready for our mainstream curriculum at Winstedt and need more intensive support and resources.
SEED specialists have demonstrated track record of success at Winstedt and were selected specifically for SEED.
The goal of the SEED Programme is to improve the school-based experience of those students who require an innovative and specialized approach to classroom instruction.
The Programme’s model utilizes a child-centered approach to ensure the appropriate levels of support and interventions, not found in typical classrooms, are readily available. For details, please visit our SEED programme page.
Students “learn how to learn” through active, multi-sensory lessons that make learning fun while reinforcing foundational concepts across academic disciplines.
The hands-on projects and small-group collaboration are designed to tap their intellectual curiosity. Differentiated instruction allows students to access the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) while also providing tailored adaptations within the classroom, assessments, and instructional materials.
Literacy & Language
The Winstedt School utilises a literacy and language programme called Read, Write, Inc., developed by Ruth Miskin. This programme was selected because it provides a complete, systematic and structured approach to literacy, which results in rapid learning of sounds and blending. The focus is on developing fluent readers, confident speakers and willing writers.
This programme is used by more than 5,000 international schools around the world, including more than a quarter of UK primary schools, as it meets the higher expectation of the UK curriculum. And it is marked ‘Outstanding’ by the UK Department of Education (Ofsted). Read their report here.
Winstedt integrates comprehension, writing, grammar, spelling, vocabulary and handwriting into the programme so that children develop their writing and language structure alongside their reading, giving your child the best chances of early success in reading and writing. The storybooks used in our programme align with the sound or literacy concepts learnt in class – helping to create confident readers.
The teaching approach is multi-sensory –visual; auditory; kinaesthetic and inclusive. Teachers conduct initial and on-going assessments to track every child’s progress.
Mathematics
Abacus is a unique Mathematics toolkit for inspiring a love of Maths and ensuring progression and understanding of mathematical concepts. It is carefully crafted to provide tools needed to develop in-depth understanding and enjoyment to help children reason mathematically.
Abacus is powered by ActiveLearn Primary, a powerful teaching and learning platform, that together with Abacus, gives students what they need to practise mathematical concepts at home and at school.
Abacus focuses on the mastery of Maths. Mastery means a deep, long-term, secure and adaptable understanding of the subject which can be established through a number of elements that emphasise on mathematical fluency (rapid and accurate recall and application of facts and concepts) ability to reason mathematically with confidence and to apply Maths to solve problems.
Abacus is a unique Mathematics toolkit for inspiring a love of Maths and ensuring progression and understanding of mathematical concepts. It is carefully crafted to provide tools needed to develop in-depth understanding and enjoyment to help children reason mathematically.
Abacus is powered by ActiveLearn Primary, a powerful teaching and learning platform, that together with Abacus, gives students what they need to practise mathematical concepts at home and at school.
All Abacus resources have been linked to Abacus objectives so that lessons and activities are designed and delivered to match every aim in the UK curriculum.
International Primary Curriculum – Milepost 1
The International Primary Curriculum (IPC) is comprehensive, thematic, creative curriculum, with a clear process of learning and specific learning goals for every subject. It also develops international mindedness and encourages personal development.
It follows UK objectives for all subjects, offering a simple but structured curriculum focused around subject, personal, and international learning goals.
IPC believes in multiple intelligences and each IPC task reflects rigorous and deep understanding that is represented by and supports different learning styles categorised under Knowledge, Skills and Understanding (K-S-U). Differentiated instruction allows students to access the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) while also providing tailored adaptations within the classroom, assessments and instructional materials.
IPC utilises thematic units to connect concepts across Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Technology, History, Geography, Music, Physical Education, Art and Society. This integrated approach reinforces concepts in a cross-disciplinary manner.
The EdExcel International Primary Curriculum and Lower Secondary curriculum provide a structured approach to learning Literacy, Maths, and Science. Students in Years 3-6 are grouped by their ability levels for the core subjects of Literacy, Phonology, and Maths. Each student is learning at the level, and in the style, that best suits their needs be it visual, auditory, tactile, or kinaesthetic. The Phonology program offers both reading enrichment and for those who need it, the Orton Gillingham approach which is a multi-sensory phonics technique. Through the Second Step® curriculum, Junior School students receive weekly social-emotional learning instruction in the classroom designed to help them develop the skills they need to connect and thrive, including personal projects empowering students to develop their leadership skills and to become independent learners.
International Primary Curriculum (IPC) provides a comprehensive, thematic, creative curriculum, with a clear process of learning and specific Learning Goals for every subject. IPC utilises thematic units to connect concepts across Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Technology, History, Geography, Music, Physical Education, Art, and Society (all these subjects are covered in IPC). This integrated approach reinforces concepts in a cross-disciplinary manner and is taught through hands-on learning using multiple resources and activities. IPC develops international mindedness and encourages personal learning through the use of its Personal Goals ensuring that our students are ready to become global citizens.
Our Junior School educators and therapists, along with the pastoral care department work closely with our Middle School educators to ensure that our Year 6 students transition smoothly into Middle School. Our Y6 students are given the opportunities to engage with the Y7 students through combined projects so that the students are familiar with the Middle School educators and support teams. A buddy system is in place for those who may need a helping hand. All the curriculum is closely vetted in order for our students to build on their prior knowledge from Junior School and then succeed in achieving their learning goals in Middle School.
Winstedt draws on multiple sources to develop a unique blend of curriculum options for students in Middle School. Our blend includes UK Curriculum (Key Stage 2 and 3) courses, International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC), Second Step® curriculum for social-emotional learning, Winstedt-designed courses, and highly individualized electives. Our uniquely designed programs include academic extension and Future Readiness modules to meet our students’ individual needs aligned with our schoolwide learner outcomes and developed in collaboration with our therapists: occupational, speech, and school psychologists and counselors.
IMYC is designed to help students to become confident, independent, and engaged learners. It also provides them with the necessary academic rigour and transferable skills to prepare them for GCSE or IGCSE, A levels and the Winstedt School Diploma. IMYC is designed around the needs of the maturing adolescent brain. The curriculum inspires students during a time when many, overwhelmed by the combination of the transition from primary to secondary education and the changes in their bodies and brains, can become disengaged in their learning.
IMYC is based on the UK National Curriculum with references to the UK Key Stages 2 and 3 but adapted for international schools with an inquiry-based approach to learning. International mindedness is a key part of the underlying philosophy of IMYC. At Winstedt we regard international mindedness as an essential element in the development of global citizenship in our students.
| Subjects | Curriculum and Affiliations |
| Core Academics: Math, English | UK Curriculum (EdExcel) IMYC |
| Humanities, Science, Arts, Music, ICT, STEAM, Drama, Languages | IMYC Electives following UK Curriculum & The Winstedt School Learner Outcomes |
| Character Development | IMYC Personal Goals IMYC International Mindedness The Winstedt School Holistic Education The Winstedt School Learner Outcomes |
Our Senior School core subjects are all taught in line with EdExcel KS3 and KS4 Curriculum.
We draw on multiple resources to develop a unique blend of curriculum options for students. Our blend combines UK Curriculum courses and highly individualised electives with adaptive and individualised learning opportunities. Additionally, we are constantly expanding partnerships with tertiary education institutions to provide immersive post-secondary educational experiences.
The Senior School follows the EdExcel UK Curriculum through Key Stages 3 and 4 in core subjects (English, Maths, Science, Humanities, Design and Technology, Physical Education and Health and Language Other Than English). Across Electives, students have a wide range of choices which include: Arts, Music, STEAM, Theatre Studies, Visual Design, Fashion Design, Interior Design, Culinary Arts, Nursing and Sports Science, Photography, Early Childhood Education and Digital Marketing.
Winstedt’s Senior School offers a unique blend of academically challenging and inquiry-based learning opportunities. Students engage in electives backed by International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards, and have access to individually paced online courses, and exploratory courses with an applied STEAM focus.
Our students graduate in Year 13 with an internationally accredited Winstedt School Diploma. Students in Senior School work towards a Winstedt School Diploma over four Years earning a minimum of 22 credits.
View the Senior School (AY2022-2023) Curriculum Course Guide
Students at The Winstedt School are assessed throughout the year using a combination of formative and summative assessments. Formative assessments occur frequently and provide both students and teachers with feedback regarding next steps for each individual.
Summative assessments take the form of “Knowledge Checks” which assess each student’s knowledge and application of the skills and concepts learnt during the unit or term. Accommodations for specific learning needs will be provided, as needed, for all assessments.