Teaching Structure at Carisbrooke:
At Carisbrooke, we provide a structured and balanced approach to learning, with five periods each day—three in the morning and two in the afternoon. Each lesson lasts for 60 minutes, ensuring that students stay engaged and actively involved in the learning process. This timetable allows for a balanced learning environment where students can absorb material thoroughly, maintain focus, and participate in diverse activities.

Curriculum Overview:

• KS3 (Year 7, Year 8, Year 9):                                          The curriculum includes English, Maths, Science, Design Technology, ICT, Modern Foreign Languages, History, Geography, Art, Music, Dance, Drama, PE, and Religious Studies. ICT and Citizenship are also integrated throughout various subject areas to ensure a holistic  learning experience.
• KS4 (Year 10 and Year 11):                                                                                                                      In Years 10 and 11, students study core subjects including English, Maths, and Science.    Additionally, they participate in Physical Education and Personal, Social, and Health Education, which encompasses Religious Studies and Citizenship.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Students can choose four optional courses from subjects such as Modern Foreign Languages, Humanities, Technologies, and the Arts.

We are committed to offering a curriculum that is both broad and balanced, providing students with a range of opportunities while allowing them the freedom to make informed choices about their academic paths.

Learning Strategies:
At Carisbrooke, we place our students at the heart of everything we do and we are committed to fostering an environment where continuous improvement is a key part of our collective journey. 

Based on recent cognitive science research, we understand that while individuals may have preferences for certain learning styles, effective strategies can benefit all learners. Our focus is on the following research-backed techniques:

• Retrieval Practice
• Spaced Practice
• Interleaving
• Dual Coding
• Elaboration
• Concrete Examples

These strategies form the foundation of our approach to teaching and revision, which we model for students and train them to use effectively. We support our learners by regularly embedding these methods into our lessons.

As part of our continuous journey of improvement, we focus on helping students retrieve knowledge from long-term memory. By engaging in regular retrieval exercises, students form strong connections between different topics, deepening their understanding over time. This approach helps them build a coherent structure for their learning, making it easier to retain and recall information as they progress.

In practice, this includes techniques such as:

• Review Questions: Starting lessons with questions that prompt students to recall key information from previous lessons, weeks, or months.
• Brain Dumps: Encouraging students to write everything they can remember about a topic before reviewing their notes, reinforcing their learning.
• Spaced Retrieval: Spacing out retrieval practice, which might initially seem counter-intuitive, but is proven to enhance long-term retention by allowing students to forget and then re-remember material at intervals.

At Carisbrooke, we believe that "our cup is never full," meaning that we are all, teachers and students included, on a journey of continuous improvement. By focusing on memory, structured presentation of knowledge, and clear modelling and scaffolding, we help students present their learning in a clear and organised way. This structure enables them to revisit and expand upon their knowledge, ultimately advancing their learning journey and opening doors to their future possibilities.