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Our Curriculum
Introduction
Our curriculum is designed to challenge students to achieve, what for them is individual excellence and to be the vehicle for delivering deep social justice. We are fiercely ambitious and our curriculum reflects this passion and to embed the school ethos of respect, responsibility and resilience in the character of our students.
At John Spendluffe Technology College, we believe that the curriculum our students study should enable them to become successful young people who are ready to learn, make progress and achieve, whatever their starting point. We want to develop students who are respectful and responsible citizens who make positive contributions to society by better understanding the world in which they live and prepared for the challenges they will face.
We aim to nurture our young people so that they can demonstrate resilience as well as being confident and able to live safe, healthy, and fulfilling lives supported by a love of life-long learning. We aspire for those that we teach to be successful and we hope that they are committed to their studies beyond JSTC through the range of post-16 formal education and apprenticeship routes. We wish to maximise the cognitive development, to inspire, to develop the person and talents of the individual so that JSTC students become active and economically self-sufficient citizens.
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We provide our students with a 5-year curriculum that specialises after year 8, with students making well informed choices about the subject they will continue to study for Level 2 qualifications / GCSEs. In Years 7 and 8, all students will study: English, Maths, Science, Music, Art, Performing Arts, History, Geography, Spanish, Technology (Food, Resistant Materials, Graphics and Textiles), Physical Education, Religious Studies, ICT/Business and PSHCEE including careers education.
In Years 9, 10 & 11, all students will continue to study English Language and Literature, Maths and the Sciences, Physical Education, PSHCEE and Religious Studies together with either Geography or History. Students will then choose the 3 subjects that they wish to continue to study up to Level 2 / GCSE qualification level.
The curriculum offer is rooted within four key principles:
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Entitlement – we believe that all students have the right to learn what is in the JSTC curriculum; we have a duty to ensure that all students are taught the whole of it.
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Mastery – we want all students to achieve a full understanding of the knowledge specific in the curriculum for each year - differentiated as appropriate, and teaching should not be moved on until this is achieved.
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Stability – we will not amend the curriculum unnecessarily; however, we will make occasional adjustments considering feedback, best practice and experience, to ensure that our curriculum remains broad and balanced and meets the needs of our students.
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Concepts not context – our curriculum specifies the knowledge that should be taught and provides resources to assist with this and exemplifies successful learning. It leaves the job of bringing the knowledge to life, of providing context and of creating memorable moments to the professional in the classroom, the teacher.
Curriculum Intent
Our intent is that the curriculum offered to our students:
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Provides a broad and balanced curriculum that is truly comprehensive an accessible to all students.
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Delivers opportunities for students to learn to be successful, to gain transferrable skills whilst also acquiring relevant knowledge.
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Enables high standards of academic achievement where outcomes empower students to progress to the next stage of their education.
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Affords opportunities for all students to develop the high level of literacy and numeracy required for success in the wider curriculum and in adult life.
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Expands students’ perspectives through a range of spiritual, moral, social and cultural opportunities to promote their sense of moral and social responsibility.
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Ensures that students are safe and that they understand how to be safe.
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Fosters a strength of character, and resilience that will help students to cope with choices and overcome the challenges they are likely to encounter in life.
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Provides an appropriate range of opportunities and experiences to inspire students to success in the next stage in their education, training, or employment.
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Enables students to take responsibility for their own learning and development.
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Develops a sense of respect for themselves and others within the wider community.
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Please use the drop down menu to access the subject details.
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If you would like further details of the curriculum offered by any of the department please contact the relevant Head of Department.
Extra Curricular
Adding that little extra...
At JSTC we firmly believe that enriching the experience of our students with a range of extra-curricular experiences enables resilience, character, confidence and self- efficacy to develop.
A range of opportunities are offered during the year including trips and visits both in the UK and abroad.
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Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
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At John Spendluffe Technology College we offer the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award (D of E) to students in Year 10. The D of E is a great chance for your child to broaden their horizons, discover new interests and talents, have fun with friends, develop essential skills for their future and achieve an internationally renowned Award.
About the D of E
The D of E is non-competitive and open to all young people – it is about setting personal challenges and pushing personal boundaries. Through their D of E, students will make friends and memories and build traits like confidence, resilience and self-esteem, which can benefit mental health. They will gain skills and attributes for work and life, like problem-solving, team-work, and self-motivation – and they will achieve an Award that is recognized by top employers and can help them stand out when applying for university or jobs.
To achieve their Bronze Award, participants must complete four sections: Skills, Volunteering, Physical and their Expedition. Activities for each section take a minimum of one hour a week over a set period of time, so they can fit the D of E Award around studying, hobbies and social lives. Each section must be signed off by an adult who is not a relative of the student. Two of these challenges must be followed for three months and one for six months.
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IMPORTANT DATES – You MUST be available for the following dates:
Map Skills Training: Your child MUST attend one of these sessions: Saturday 25 April 2026 10AM to 3PM at Hagworthingham OR Sunday 26 April 2026 10AM to 3PM at Alford.
Campcraft Training: Your child MUST attend this session on Sunday 17 May 2026 from 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. at John Spendluffe Technology College.
Practise Expedition: Your child must attend the following session on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June 2026 – Meeting at Spilsby.
Assessed Expedition: Your child must attend the following session on
Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 June 2026 – Meeting at South Ormsby.
Currently the charges for accessing the Bronze D of E Award are £45 per participant, or £20 for students who receive Free School Meals. This covers your child’s participation place, welcome pack and additional fees to cover the cost of fuel and kit maintenance.
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Currently the charges for accessing the Bronze D of E Award are £45 per participant, or £20 for students who receive Free School Meals. This covers your child’s participation place, welcome pack and additional fees to cover the cost of fuel and kit maintenance.
JSTC timeline for the D of E Award…
Date What happens?
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November/December Launched to current Year 10 students
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January Students log in to their account and start working towards their physical, volunteering and skills section.
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February - March Check in with students to ensure they are working towards their sections.
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April Day hikes – training to teach maps skills and build confidence whilst walking
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May Training Day – this includes how to route plan, cooking on a Trangia, first aid, how to pitch a tent and to stay safe whilst on their expedition.
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June Practice expedition –2 days walking and an overnight stay.
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June Assessed expedition – 2 days walking and an overnight stay, with our Bronze assessor who will meet the students at various points along the route.
For more information visit: Sections - The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
For ideas on what activities to undertake for each section please click on the links below:
- Physical Section ideas
- Volunteering Section ideas
- Skills section ideas
Here is the JSTC suggested kit list:
For more information on how to pack your bag:
Here is the Bronze Welcome Pack that is sent to your home address: (DOFE Assessors report PDF)
Student Council
JSTC student council members were recently presented with their official badges of service to recognise the important role they play within our school community.
There are a total of 51 Student Council members spread over all five year groups and shows our commitment to ensuring that our student voice is heard and respected as a school community.
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Student Council members are expected to be ambassadors for the schools three key expectations and must demonstrate and promote being respectful to each other and staff members and of the school site and equipment, responsible for their own learning and the actions they take and develop resilience to overcome the challenges that they will face during their school years.
Students are asked for their involvement in key school events such as Mental Health Awareness week,
Anti-bullying week and when fundraising for local and national charities.
They give their time and energy for the role freely as they are committed to being role models and upholding JSTC’s excellent reputation within school and in the wider community.​​