In St Christopher’s Formal pathway classes, we teach academic subjects, maths, English, reading and STEM but we also teach students how to apply knowledge to life relevant situations, developing their confidence, resilience and independence. This is achieved through our Skills Builders curriculum – see the Formal Pathway Curriculum handbook. The Skills Builders curriculum provides opportunities to allow a breadth of themes for the students to progress and practice their skills.  

Typically, students within the formal pathway will be in a class of 14 students with a Teacher and TA. 

• Pupils will develop their language skills but at a slower rate than those of a similar age.   
• Pupil’s ability to understand and process receptive language is present but is developing at a slower rate.
• Organisation of information received is delayed.   
• There is a delay in their ability to put thoughts into words and sentences and their use of facial expressions, body language, gesture and intonation.
• Vocabulary and use of grammar is delayed.
• Pupils may have delayed development of co-operative skills with peers.
• Written communication shows delay in correct use of grammar, inconsistency with spelling and smaller vocabulary than that expected from children and young people of the same age. 
• Pupil may have difficulty with memory and impaired organisational skills. 
• The speed of processing information received is slower.

Each class/student within the Formal pathway may have a different reward/consequence based on what is right for the child to be motivated, engaged and to learn from mistakes. 

Our curriculum intentions in the Formal pathway are: 

• Develop functional English and Maths skills and the application of these skills into other subject areas. 
• Develop problem solving skills. 
• Develop life skills to develop independence into adulthood. 
• Develop self-management skills, resilience and emotional literacy.   
• Develop good learning habits and independent skills including organisation and time keeping skills.   
• Develop social skills and the ability to work in pairs, small groups and teams. 
• Develop employability skills and an understanding of the world of work. 
• Develop skills in keeping themselves safe personally and socially. 
• Develop their confidence to interact within a diverse and multicultural society.  

This is achieved through the following lessons: 

• English
• Maths
• STEM (Science, technology, engineering, maths)
• Healthy body and mind
• Preparing for adulthood
• Keeping safe (RSE & PSHCE)
• E-SMSC (Enterprise, social, moral, spiritual and cultural)
• Creativity
• Employability