Abingdon House School / Marylebone Senior School / Curriculum Marylebone

Curriculum Marylebone

At Abingdon House Senior School, we are proud to offer a rich, broad, and balanced curriculum that is tailored to the unique needs of our students. As an independent special school, we are dedicated to providing an integrated and holistic approach to education, therapy, and personal development.

A holistic approach to learning

Our curriculum is designed to stretch and challenge our students, ensuring they acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to make meaningful next steps in their lives. Underpinning our academic programme is a strong focus on integrating therapeutic learning, including the development of independent life and social skills.

Pathways to Success

Lower Senior School (Years 7-9)

In the Lower Senior School, we offer a broad and balanced curriculum, allowing us to assess each student’s individual needs and determine the most appropriate qualification pathway.

Upper Senior School (Years 9-12)

Theta pathway: For students working towards Entry Level or Level 1 qualifications, this pathway prepares learners for college courses up to Level 2.

Sigma pathway: For students working towards Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications, this pathway prepares learners for college courses up to Level 3.

Sixth Form

For those students who require more time in a therapeutic setting to achieve their qualifications, we offer a sixth form provision as an extension of the Theta pathway, further supporting their transition to post-school education and employment.

Qualifications and experiences

Across both pathways, we offer a range of core and vocational subjects, with qualifications spanning from ASDAN and functional skills to BTEC and GCSEs. This diversity ensures that each student can access the learning experiences and qualifications that best suit their individual needs and aspirations.

Please see our curriculum design below for more detailed information.

Lower Senior School

Ages	Y7 – Y9
Ability	National Curriculum Year 1 – Year 9
Lessons	English, Maths, Science, IT, Humanities, PE, Games, Social Skills, Life Skills, Food Tech, Art, Drama, Music, PHSE, Enrichment

Upper Senior School

	Theta Curriculum Pathway	Sigma Curriculum Pathway
Ages (3 year cycle)	Y9 – Y12	Y9 – Y12
Lessons/Qualifications	Qualifications	Qualifications
	English Entry Level 1 – Level 2 (Functional Skills)	English Entry Level 1 – Level 2 (Functional Skills or GCSE)
	Maths Entry Level 1 – Level 2 (Functional Skills)	Maths Entry Level 1 – Level 2 (Functional Skills or GCSE)
	Science AQA Unit Award or Pearson Entry Level Cert	Applied Science – BTEC Level 1 / 2
	Humanities AQA Unit Award or WJEC Entry Level Cert	Humanities – AQA Level 1 / Level 2 Project
	IT Pearson Entry Level Cert	IT NCFE Level 1 and Level 2 – IT User Skills
	ASDAN CoPE Level 1	ASDAN CoPE Level 1 or 2
	Princes Trust Level 1 in Personal Development and Employability Skills	Princes Trust Level 1 or 2 in Personal Development and Employability Skills
	Home Cooking Skills – Level 1	Home Cooking Skills – Level 1 and/or Level 2
	Options (students choose two)	Options (students choose two)
	PE NCFE Certificate in Sport	PE NCFE Certificate in Sport
	BTEC Art & Design	BTEC Art & Design
	BTEC Creative Media Production	BTEC Creative Media Production
	BTEC Performing Arts	BTEC Performing Arts
	BTEC Hospitality & Tourism	City & Guilds Horticulture
	City & Guilds Horticulture	NCFE Travel & Tourism
	NCFE Travel & Tourism	NCFE Sport
	(all up to Level 1)	(all up to Level 2)
	Duke of Edinburgh Bronze or Silver	Duke of Edinburgh Bronze or Silver
	Non-Qualification Lessons	Non-Qualification Lessons
	PHSE, PE, Games, Life Skills, Social Skills, Creative Arts (Art, Music and Drama in rotation) & Employability	PHSE, PE, Life Skills, Social Skills, Creative Arts (Art, Music and Drama in rotation) & Employability

Abingdon House Sixth Form

Ages	16 – 19
Lessons/Qualifications	Core Lessons
	English Entry Level 1 – Entry Level 3 (Functional Skills)
	Maths Entry Level 1 – Entry Level 3 (Functional Skills)
	The following lessons are based on the ‘Wheel of Independence’ framework:
	Humanities
	PE
	PHSE/So Safe
	Life Skills
	Social Skills
	Creative Arts
	BTEC Home Cooking Skills
	Employability
	Options
	BTEC Art & Design
	BTEC Creative Media Production
	BTEC Performing Arts
	BTEC Hospitality
	BTEC Travel & Tourism
	Duke of Edinburgh Bronze or Silver

Curriculum overview: 2025/26

Lower senior school: Delphinus class

	Autumn 1	Autumn 2	Spring 1	Spring 2	Summer 1	Summer 2
English E1	Letter formation, name writing, simple sentence recognition	Can use basic punctuation Can write about own experience with support	Understands structure of instructions Can describe using 2-3 adjectives	Can write a simple story using a traditional tale as model	Can create short text with purpose Uses descriptive language in writing and speech	Progress in writing, speaking confidence, reading fluency, independence
English E2	Writing fluency, sentence structure, decoding skills, comprehension	Writes with some cohesion Begins using speech in writing	Can extract information from text Writes structured factual text with support	Shows empathy in reading Writes creatively with more independence	Uses figurative language Speaks clearly with expressive voice	Writing stamina, expressive reading, spoken confidence, independent choices
English E3	Upper Level Writing fluency, sentence structure, decoding skills, comprehension	Upper Level Writes with some cohesion Begins using speech in writing	Upper Level Can extract information from text Writes structured factual text with support	Upper Level Shows empathy in reading Writes creatively with more independence	Upper Level Uses figurative language Speaks clearly with expressive voice	Upper Level Writing stamina, expressive reading, spoken confidence, independent choices
English E4	Independence in writing, reading fluency, grammar recall	Writes short narrative with structure Begins using paragraphs consistently	Writes for a clear purpose Uses appropriate grammar and layout	Uses empathy and inference Can write creatively from a different POV	Uses descriptive language effectively Can reflect and revise their work	Independence in writing Reading comprehension Verbal confidence and fluency
Maths M1	Place value Counting in 2/5/10s	Number: Addition and subtraction	Geometry: 2d and 3d shapes	Number: partitioning and aggregation	Measure: time	Measure: length and weight
Maths M2	Place value	Number: Addition and subtraction	Multiplication and division Measure: length and weight	Fractions Measure: mass and capacity	Measure: time	Money
Maths M3	Place value	Multiplication and division	Fractions	Analysing data Measure: length and area	Measure: time	Measure: mass and capacity
Maths M4	Place value Algebra	Fractions, decimals and percentages	Measure: perimeter and area of 2d shapes	Properties of number Add and subtract fractions	Measure: speed. Distance and time	Angles and Polygons
Science	Working scientifically	Living things and their habitats	Evolution and inheritance	States of matter	Sound	Electricity
Humanities	History: Egyptians	Geography: Canada country study	RE: Humanism	History: The Black Death	Geography: rivers and oceans	RE: faith through arts
Art	Introduction to key art elements: line, tone and colour	My identity project: Michael Craig Martin	Patterns and stories: Indian art and festivals. Explore Rangoli, storytelling in Indian culture, exploring Tholu Bommalata (Indian Shadow Puppetry)	From the earth: Indian Terracotta and Diya Lamps	The world around me: exploring Pop Art with artists: Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg	Pop and protest: art as a message with artists: Keith Haring, Sister Corita Kent, Shepard Fairey.
Drama	Key drama skills and terminology Project focus: Pantomime	Ensemble-based devising Project focus: Dickens’ A Christmas Carol	Freeze frame and tableaux Project focus: WW2 and evacuation	Set design and staging Project focus: WW2 and evacuation	Exploring script and stage direction End of term performance	Rehearsals and prop making
Music	A history of music	Classical music exploration London Symphony Orchestra	Notation, an introduction to keyboards	Reading and playing sheet music	Vocal skills: Harmony, pitch and pace	End of year performance
PSHE	Introductions to careers	Exploring the world of work
PE	Football and individual games	Handball	Health and fitness	Tchoukball	Cricket	Rounders and athletics
Food Tech	Kitchen and hygiene safety	Food groups	World foods	Seasonal and local Ingredients	Nutrition and importance of meals of the day	Planning and creating a dish (mini MasterChef!)
Independence	Zones curriculum	Laundry skills Wheel of Independence	Self care skills Wheel of Independence	Leisure skills Wheel of Independence	Housekeeping skills Wheel of Independence	Food shopping skills Wheel of Independence
Communication	Self-awareness, self-esteem and emotions LS2 Awareness of others	Social thinking vocabulary LS2 Online Communication	Emotions programme Module 5 (intensities of emotions) LS2	Size of the problem	Body language	The way we talk and conversation skills

Lower Senior School: Draco class

	Autumn 1	Autumn 2	Spring 1	Spring 2	Summer 1	Summer 2
English E1	Letter formation, name writing, simple sentence recognition	Can use basic punctuation Can write about own experience with support	Understands structure of instructions Can describe using 2-3 adjectives	Can write a simple story using a traditional tale as model	Can create short text with purpose Uses descriptive language in writing and speech	Progress in writing, speaking confidence, reading fluency, independence
English E2	Writing fluency, sentence structure, decoding skills, comprehension	Writes with some cohesion Begins using speech in writing	Can extract information from text Writes structured factual text with support	Shows empathy in reading Writes creatively with more independence	Uses figurative language Speaks clearly with expressive voice	Writing stamina, expressive reading, spoken confidence, independent choices
English E3	Writing fluency, sentence structure, decoding skills, comprehension	Writes with some cohesion Begins using speech in writing	Can extract information from text Writes structured factual text with support	Shows empathy in reading Writes creatively with more independence	Uses figurative language Speaks clearly with expressive voice	Writing stamina, expressive reading, spoken confidence, independent choices
English E4	Independence in writing, reading fluency, grammar recall	Writes short narrative with structure Begins using paragraphs consistently	Writes for a clear purpose Uses appropriate grammar and layout	Uses empathy and inference Can write creatively from a different POV	Uses descriptive language effectively Can reflect and revise their work	Independence in writing Reading comprehension Verbal confidence and fluency
Maths M1	Place value Counting in 2/5/10s	Number: addition and subtraction	Geometry: 2d and 3d shapes	Number: partitioning and aggregation	Measure: time	Measure: length and weight
Maths M2	Place value	Number: addition and subtraction	Multiplication and division Measure: length and weight	Fractions Measure: mass and capacity	Measure: time	Money
Maths M3	Place Value	Multiplication and division	Fractions	Analysing data Measure: length and area	Measure: time	Measure: mass and capacity
Maths M4	Place value Algebra	Fractions, decimals and percentages	Measure: perimeter and area of 2d shapes	Properties of number Add and subtract fractions	Measure: speed. Distance and time	Angles and Polygons
Science	Working scientifically	Living things and their habitats	Evolution and Inheritance	States of matter	Sound	Electricity
Humanities	History: WW1	Geography: rivers and oceans	RE: Jainism	History: Greeks	Geography: European countries	RE: Special foods (focus on Passover and Judaism)
Art	Key art elements: line, tone and colour	My identity project: Michael Craig Martin	Japan: a world of colour, pattern and imagination with Hokusai, Yayoi Kusama, Pokémon and Anime	From earth to art: Japanese pottery and pattern. Jōmon pottery	Surrealism: dreams and symbolism With artists: Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, Frida Kahlo.	Inside the mind artists: Leonora Carrington, Dorothea Tanning, Joan Miró.
Drama	Key drama skills and terminology Project focus: Pantomime and stock characters	Devising Project focus: Dickens’ A Christmas Carol	Exploring, presenting, and critically appraising performance work Project focus: WW2 and evacuation	Vocal skills Script exploration: Julius Caesar Roman Geezer	Script exploration End of term performance	Rehearsals and prop making
Music	Notation An introduction to keyboards	Keyboard performance Dickens’ A Christmas Carol	Music for advertisement The use of jingles within advertisement, Bandlab	Music events and experiences: Reviewing	Musical theatre	End of year performance
PSHE	Careers and job skills	Relationships and social connections	Health and wellbeing	The world around us	Online safety	Managing ourselves
PE	Football and individual games	Handball	Health and fitness	Tchoukball	Cricket	Rounders and athletics
Food Tech	Kitchen and hygiene safety	Food groups	World foods	Seasonal and local ingredients	Nutritional and importance of meals of the day	Planning and creating a dish (mini MasterChef!)
Independence	Zones curriculum	Laundry skills Wheel of Independence	Self care skills Wheel of Independence	Leisure skills Wheel of Independence	Housekeeping skills Wheel of Independence	Food shopping skills Wheel of Independence
Communication	Self-awareness, Self-esteem and emotions Module 7 (feelings and behaviours have consequences) LS3 Awareness of others	Social thinking vocabulary LS3 Online communication	Friendships	Assertiveness	Problem solving and resolving Conflict	Practical problem solving and resolving conflict

Lower senior school: Orion class

	Autumn 1	Autumn 2	Spring 1	Spring 2	Summer 1	Summer 2
English E1	Letter formation, name writing, simple sentence recognition	Can use basic punctuation Can write about own experience with support	Understands structure of instructions Can describe using 2-3 adjectives	Can write a simple story using a traditional tale as model	Can create short text with purpose Uses descriptive language in writing and speech	Progress in writing, speaking confidence, reading fluency, independence
English E2	Writing fluency, sentence structure, decoding skills, comprehension	Writes with some cohesion Begins using speech in writing	Can extract information from text Writes structured factual text with support	Shows empathy in reading Writes creatively with more independence	Uses figurative language Speaks clearly with expressive voice	Writing stamina, expressive reading, spoken confidence, independent choices
English E3	Upper Level Writing fluency, sentence structure, decoding skills, comprehension	Upper Level Writes with some cohesion Begins using speech in writing	Upper Level Can extract information from text Writes structured factual text with support	Upper Level Shows empathy in reading Writes creatively with more independence	Upper Level Uses figurative language Speaks clearly with expressive voice	Upper Level Writing stamina, expressive reading, spoken confidence, independent choices
English E4	Independence in writing, reading fluency, grammar recall	Writes short narrative with structure Begins using paragraphs consistently	Writes for a clear purpose Uses appropriate grammar and layout	Uses empathy and inference Can write creatively from a different POV	Uses descriptive language effectively Can reflect and revise their work	Independence in writing Reading comprehension Verbal confidence and fluency
Maths M1	Place value Counting in 2/5/10s	Number: addition and subtraction	Geometry: 2d and 3d shapes	Number: partitioning and aggregation	Measure: time	Measure: length and weight
Maths M2	Place value	Number: addition and subtraction	Multiplication and division measure: length and weight	Fractions measure: mass and capacity	Measure: time	Money
Maths M3	Place value	Multiplication and division	Fractions	Analysing data Measure: length and area	Measure: time	Measure: mass and capacity
Maths M4	Place value Algebra	Fractions, decimals and percentages	Measure: perimeter and area of 2d shapes	Properties of number Add and subtract fractions	Measure: speed, distance and time	Angles and polygons
Science	Working scientifically	Living things and their habitats	Evolution and inheritance	States of matter	Sound	Electricity
Humanities	Egyptians	Geograph: Canada country study	RE: humanism	History: The Black Death	Geography: Rivers and oceans	RE: Faith through arts
Art	Introduction to key art elements: Line, tone and colour	My identity project: Michael Craig Martin	Art in France: Paris and pop – Art for everyone Henri Matisse: collage Claude Monet: impressionism	Craft and design: French ceramics and architecture Focus: gargoyle clay sculptures.	Freedom to express: exploring abstraction Jackson Pollock, Helen Frankenthaler, Mark Rothko.	Abstract meaning: From expression to purpose Kandinsky (emotion and sound), Alma Thomas (pattern and rhythm)
Drama	An introduction to Pantomime and Stock characters	Dickens’ A Christmas Carol I can use body language to create tension, mystery, or fear when performing a ghost story.	Freeze frame and tableaux Project focus: WW2 and evacuation	Set design and staging Project focus: WW2 and evacuation	Exploring script and stage direction End of term performance	Rehearsals and prop making
Music	Sheet music Identifying notes	Recorders A Christmas Carol Prizegiving	Composition	World Music African Drumming	Storytelling through music Into the woods Storytelling: in relation to EOYP	Musical theatre / EOY performance
PSHE	Introductions to careers	Exploring the world of work
PE	Football and individual games	Handball	Health and fitness	Tchoukball	Cricket	Rounders and athletics
Food Tech	Kitchen and hygiene safety	Food groups	World foods	Seasonal and local Ingredients	Nutritional and importance of meals of the day	Planning and creating a dish (mini MasterChef!)
Independence	Zones curriculum	Laundry skills Wheel of Independence	Self care skills Wheel of Independence	Leisure skills Wheel of Independence	Housekeeping skills Wheel of Independence	Food shopping skills Wheel of Independence
Communication	Self-awareness, Self-esteem and Emotions LS1	Social thinking vocabulary LS1 Online communication	Emotions programme Module 5 (intensities of emotions) LS1	Size of the problem	Body language	The way we talk and conversation skills

Curriculum Marylebone

A holistic approach to learning

Pathways to Success

Qualifications and experiences

Lower Senior School

Upper Senior School

Abingdon House Sixth Form

Curriculum overview: 2025/26

Lower senior school: Delphinus class

Autumn 1

Autumn 2

Spring 1

Spring 2

Summer 1

Summer 2

English E1

English E2

English E3

English E4

Maths M1

Maths M2

Maths M3

Maths M4

Science

Humanities

Art

Drama

Music

PSHE

PE

Food Tech

Independence

Communication

Lower Senior School: Draco class

Autumn 1

Autumn 2

Spring 1

Spring 2

Summer 1

Summer 2

English E1

English E2

English E3

English E4

Maths M1

Maths M2

Maths M3

Maths M4

Science

Humanities

Art

Drama

Music

PSHE

PE

Food Tech

Independence

Communication

Lower senior school: Orion class

Autumn 1

Autumn 2

Spring 1

Spring 2

Summer 1

Summer 2

English E1

English E2

English E3

English E4

Maths M1

Maths M2

Maths M3

Maths M4

Science

Humanities

Art

Drama

Music

PSHE

PE