The SHAPE Curriculum


St Martins is a secondary special school co-located with Noel Baker Academy on the Derwent Campus in Alvaston, Derby. Within this exciting environment we have developed a creative and ambitious curriculum which is underpinned by the five key elements of the SHAPE concept. The five elements are at the core of all learning experiences in classrooms, displays, assemblies, visits and residentials, themes, accreditation pathways, extended schools options, partnership and community work.

Our “SHAPE” curriculum is designed around the following five areas:

  • Safety
  • Health & Happiness
  • Aspiration & Achievement
  • Positive Contribution
  • Enterprise

Have a look at our SHAPE BOOKLET :

SHAPE booklet

Updated: 21/09/2022 5.90 MB

“The school’s creative curriculum is outstanding.”

– Ofsted 2017

Students begin their personal learning journey at St Martins in a safe and secure environment, with a focus on developing skills, attitudes and knowledge and understanding. Students follow the National Curriculum at a level appropriate to their individual starting points. Students also learn through our innovative SHAPE curriculum which transcends all areas of the school. There is also a focus on Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural learning.

At St Martins we value learning both in and out of the classroom. This ethos is supported by an extensive educational visits, outdoor education and residentials programme to develop confidence and experience alternative learning environments. There is a focus on respect for others and taking personal responsibility for learning, choices and actions.

Key Stage 3 at St Martins is a vibrant, supportive learning environment which enables students to grow in confidence as they become part of the St Martins family.

For an overview of curriculum coverage in all subjects please view the curriculum overviews below.

Key Stage 3 Curriculum Overview

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Feel free to contact the Key Stage Leader, Amy Cameron, for additional information.

KS4 is proud to present an exciting, broad and balanced curriculum which consolidates the skills and attitudes developed in KS3 through work related learning, global education and experiences in the local community. Students are encouraged to take on additional leadership and mentoring responsibilities within school to build their confidence and prepare them for the transition to Post-16 education.

Students continue to work on improving their skills in Maths and English. They also focus on their accreditation pathways which are individualised, through our diverse options curriculum, to enable each student to maximise their achievements and qualifications. We hold high aspirations for all of our students here at St Martins and take great pride in celebrating the achievements of all. Students follow a wide range of accreditation pathways appropriate to their personal level of attainment from Personal Progress to GCSE qualifications.

For an overview of the curriculum coverage in KS4, please view the curriculum map:



Options
St Martins have a wide range of Options for students to study in Years 10 and 11.  Please view the booklet to see what students have the opportunity to study this year:

Feel free to contact Rachel Cooper, Key Stage 4 Lead and Deputy Headteacher, for additional information.

What we do

  • English
  • Maths
  • Employability
  • Enterprise and Project learning
  • Skillsbuilder-8 essential Transferable Skills
  • Placements/vocational experience
  • Confidence and Independence


At St Martins we use our Safeguarding Curriculum, shown below, to dynamically address safeguarding concerns through the curriculum.  When concerns are identified, teachers may adapt or modify relevant lessons to address specific areas of concern. 

Information gathered is also used to target staff training, and Parent Carer workshops. 

For example, if reports showed that there were concerns with students accessing the internet safely at home, our Safeguarding Team would inform staff of this new trend, and following that, teaching staff would then modify lessons to address E-Safety to educate students on using the internet safely.  Where relevant, training may be delivered to the staff team around E-Safety and the focus of Parent Carer workshops may be adapted to help us inform Parent Carers on how to support their child/young person with navigating the online world.

If you have any questions about our Safeguarding Curriculum, please get in touch with our Designated Safeguarding Lead – Jessica Longhurst.

Please click on the images below to view our Safeguarding Curriculum, alternatively it is available for download.