Curriculum Overview
At Callington Community College, our curriculum is the foundation through which we live our core values: Courageous, Ambitious, Respectful, and Encouraging.
We believe that education should do more than prepare students for exams—it should empower them with the knowledge, confidence and character to take bold steps into the future.
Our aim is for every student to lead a happy, healthy, and successful life and to make a meaningful, positive contribution to their community.
Our ambitious and inclusive curriculum is designed to remove barriers to learning and ensure that all students:
- Experience a knowledge-rich curriculum
- Become confident and capable in literacy and numeracy
- Develop high expectations for their own learning and achievement
- Build secure foundations for future progression
- Build character and a sense of self
More detailed information can be found in our College Curriculum Policy (download a copy below)
THE ACADEMIC CURRICULUM
“A knowledge-rich curriculum is not a list of stuff. It’s an intricate narrative, structured for memory, meaning and progression.” Christine Counsell
Our academic curriculum is ambitious and knowledge-rich, carefully sequenced to stretch every learner and introduce them to powerful ideas that expand their thinking and aspirations. Drawing on the work of leading educational thinkers, we understand the curriculum not as a static list of content, but as a structured narrative that shapes how students think, not just what they know. It gives our students access to the kind of disciplinary knowledge that helps them understand and question the world beyond their immediate experience. In doing so, it promotes social equity, offering all learners, regardless of background, the opportunity to succeed. Our academic curriculum fosters courage by challenging students to explore new perspectives, ask big questions and persevere when learning is difficult. Our academic curriculum is respectful of every student’s potential, promoting inclusion, diversity and access to knowledge that every child deserves. It is also encouraging, supporting academic progress by allowing students to master the foundations of each subject so that they can move on to more challenging material with confidence.
THE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT CURRICULUM
“Education should develop in young people an inner compass – a moral sense – that helps them to navigate the world.” Mary Myatt
We believe that a high-quality education supports the development of the whole child. Our personal development curriculum is designed to help students grow into confident, respectful, and responsible individuals. Through nurturing their cultural, social, moral, mental and physical development, we aim to ensure students are ready to contribute positively to their communities and thrive in the wider world.
Central to this is our commitment to cultural enrichment through a carefully selected reading canon that challenges and inspires students to think critically and empathetically. Complementing this, The Great Debate programme encourages students to form, express, and defend their opinions confidently, nurturing communication skills and intellectual courage. Alongside a broad programme - including PSHE, RE, careers education, and a wide range of enrichment opportunities - we support students’ emotional wellbeing, develop their character, and equip them with essential life skills. We place great emphasis on our core values, which form the acronym CARE: being Courageous, Ambitious, Respectful, and Encouraging. These values guide everything we do and help every student build strong relationships, make thoughtful choices, and develop a clear sense of purpose. At Callington, personal development is integrated with academic learning and is vital in preparing young people for happy, healthy, and successful futures.
THE CAREERS CURRICULUM
“Effective careers guidance can transform lives by opening doors to opportunities that young people might not otherwise see or believe are possible.” Sir John Holman
We are committed to supporting students from all backgrounds to achieve their full potential by living our values every day. We encourage students to be courageous in embracing challenges and new opportunities, helping them to build confidence and resilience. Our ambitious approach ensures that all learners are stretched and supported to aim high, particularly through programmes such as The Brilliant Club and Exeter Scholars. These initiatives provide mentoring, enrichment, and academic challenges that develop critical thinking and independent learning skills, breaking down barriers to higher education.
We show respect for every student’s background and potential by tailoring support and creating an inclusive environment where all voices are valued. Through our careers education, we weave meaningful experiences such as work placements, employer talks, and industry visits into the curriculum, encouraging students to explore diverse pathways and build real-world skills. This approach reflects our commitment to being encouraging, fostering a supportive atmosphere where students feel empowered to make informed choices about their futures. Together, these values guide us in preparing young people to pursue ambitious academic and career goals with confidence, purpose, and integrity.
YEAR 7 CURRICULUM OVERVIEW - click here
YEAR 8 CURRICULUM OVERVIEW - click here
YEAR 9 CURRICULUM OVERVIEW - click here