We want all our pupils to acquire the knowledge they need not only for academic success but also to be able to live rich and productive lives.  

We believe that all our pupils are entitled to:

• a rigorous and knowledge-rich academic curriculum for all national-curriculum subjects; and
• a wide-ranging extended curriculum, enhancing pupils’ personal development and helping them towards a successful future.
  

We know, however, that context is everything, and that our principals and teachers are the experts when it comes to their own pupils. So each school is free to supplement our curriculum in response to its pupils’ particular needs.

Every curriculum decision we make is underpinned by our four core principles:

• Ambition: We want the very best for all our pupils.
• Breadth: Every child is entitled to a varied academic and extended curriculum.
• Why this? Why now?: We select and sequence curriculum content precisely and thoughtfully.
• Teaching: Talented teachers help pupils access the curriculum and achieve their full potential.

What is the Lift base curriculum?
‍At school level, our core entitlements are set out in our Lift base curriculum. This establishes clear minimum standards for the whole-school curriculum.  

We review the base curriculum annually, in consultation with our school leaders. Similarly, we ask individual schools to review their curriculum once a year. This allows us to support schools in making considered curriculum choices and to identify future opportunities for collaboration across our trust. 


What are the Lift specifications?
‍At subject level, our Lift specifications set out the minimum knowledge that every pupil should acquire in every subject. Divided by age group, these are precise lists of content each child in our schools should be learning.

Because all our schools teach to the same specifications, it is easy to share teaching resources, classroom approaches and professional learning across the trust.

Our schools are free to determine their own curriculum sequencing and teaching approach. And you can supplement the Lift specifications with additional content that caters to the needs of your own particular cohort.  


Who develops and monitors the curriculum?
‍With schools across the country, we have an impressive array of talented teachers to draw on for subject expertise. 

We choose a subject leader with a proven record of excellence and innovative thinking to lead each of our subject networks. They are joined by subject representatives from each of our schools. 

There are more than 20 of these groups, meeting every half term to develop and monitor curriculum and curriculum strategy, working alongside the trust’s curriculum groups. 

They also deliver subject-specific professional development throughout the trust. And they examine what’s working – and what isn’t – across the country. The aim is to be able to incorporate innovative, clearly proven practice into our own schools. 

Our central education team, with sector-leading experts in curriculum and subject teaching, is also on hand to support all our teachers and leaders.

Our pledge to provide an excellent education to every child in every classroom does not come with qualifiers. We have the same ambitions for pupils with SEND as for any other pupils.

Every pupil, regardless of individual need, must have access to a wide-ranging curriculum that stretches them academically and prepares them for life beyond the school gates. 

It’s our responsibility to make sure that all children have their needs met, so that they are able to flourish and thrive in our schools.

‍How do we support pupils with SEND?
We aim to identify pupils with SEND at the earliest possible opportunity. That way, we’re able to provide them with the support they need, at the precise moment they need it. We anticipate barriers to learning and offer support tailored to pupils’ needs. 
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Our teachers are agile and adaptive,  they use proven techniques to foster independence, encourage academic achievement and promote personal and social development. We also encourage collaboration between our mainstream schools and the five special schools in our trust, ensuring that the most effective methods are used in all settings. 
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We encourage our team to listen and learn from families and external professionals. And we work collaboratively with families, professionals and the wider community, so that our teachers have a full understanding of the factors that could affect a pupil’s progress at any given time. 
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The better we understand each individual pupil, the better we will be able to provide the resources, opportunities and experiences they need to realise their full potential.