Whole School Curriculum Intent

At Old Buckenham High School, our curriculum is designed to unlock every student’s potential, both in the classroom and beyond. We want all of our pupils to enjoy their learning, to grow in character and confidence, and to leave us well-prepared for a successful and fulfilling future.

Our curriculum is:

• Broad and balanced, so that students can experience a wide range of subjects and discover their passions.
• Ambitious and knowledge-rich, meaning we teach core knowledge and set high expectations for all pupils, regardless of their starting points.
• Carefully sequenced, with knowledge and skills building year on year to prepare students for their next steps.
• Inclusive, ensuring that every student is seen, supported and challenged to succeed.

We are proud to embed our school values into everything we do:

Community

We teach students to be active, responsible citizens who care about the world around them — from our local school community to Norfolk and to the wider world. Our lessons help students to understand different cultures, perspectives and people. We offer a range of clubs, trips, and leadership opportunities that help build relationships, empathy, and a sense of belonging.

Ambition

We believe that every child can achieve excellence. Through challenging lessons, inspiring teaching and clear routines, we help students aim high and work towards their goals. Ambition means having the confidence to push yourself, the resilience to keep going, and the curiosity to keep learning — and we encourage this every day.

Respect

Respect underpins everything we do at Old Buckenham. We encourage students to respect each other, respect staff, respect themselves, and respect their learning. We promote kindness, fairness and understanding — and we explore important issues such as equality, inclusion, and digital safety through our curriculum and wider school life.

How We Teach

Our teachers are experts in their subjects and are passionate about helping students succeed. We focus on high-quality explanations, regular review and retrieval of learning, and giving helpful feedback to help students progress. We also work hard to develop literacy in every subject, as strong reading and writing skills open doors to the wider world.

Beyond the Classroom

We offer a rich variety of extra-curricular activities, trips, clubs and leadership opportunities — giving students the chance to explore their interests and develop life skills such as teamwork, creativity and independence. Our wider curriculum (including PSHE, Careers, and RSE) ensures that students are prepared not just for exams, but for life.

At Old Buckenham High School, we want every pupil to leave with the knowledge, skills and values they need to thrive — as successful learners, thoughtful members of their community and confident young adults.

If you'd like to know more about your child's curriculum, please explore the subject pages on our website or contact the school directly.