Trust Curriculum Principles

At MARK Education Trust, our overarching purpose is to cultivate well-rounded individuals who excel academically and socially. Our curriculum is fully inclusive so that students with SEND have the same broad, balanced experience. Expert teaching supports all our students, including our most disadvantaged, and our ambitious curriculum strategically builds the most important knowledge.

Teaching and Learning

Our commitment to academic excellence is underpinned by established evidence to ensure our teaching and learning is impactful and efficient. Through skillful responsive teaching, thorough assessment and genuine opportunities for personal development, students become MARK scholars: Motivated, Articulate, Resilient and Knowledgeable.

Assessment, conducted in the moment, periodically, and summarily, is relevant and rigorous, and ensures a thorough understanding of the knowledge our students have acquired. We use this to adapt our teaching to meet the needs of all students.

Reading has a foundational role in our curriculum. Through it, our students access knowledge in every discipline and develop a rich vocabulary. Targeted expert support is provided to ensure all students are competent readers. Alongside reading, students develop spoken language skills, so they articulate themselves with confidence.

Homework is designed to reinforce the curriculum and prepare students to become independent learners.

Teachers at every stage of their career are supported to achieve excellence through bespoke professional development. While there are rich opportunities for collaboration across the trust, there is autonomy for leaders and practitioners.

Personal Development

Our schools are vibrant communities that create a strong sense of belonging and are fully inclusive.

Spiritual, moral, social, and cultural education is interwoven throughout our curriculum so that our education is a holistic educational experience. Students grow into thoughtful, reflective young people and values of equity, diversity and inclusion are taught across the schools. We consistently reinforce our MARK Education Trust values of Manners, Acceptance, Respect and Kindness through embedded routines and high expectations. Teachers model the language and interactions that embody these values, develop supportive, positive relationships. Social routines reiterate our values. They create environments where students thrive academically and socially enabling them to develop into well-rounded individuals who have every opportunity to be happy and successful in their lives in school and beyond. Successes are celebrated.

To enrich our curriculum, we incorporate trips and welcome visitors into our schools. These enhance our students' education and ensure they learn from a diverse range of voices and experiences. This, coupled with comprehensive careers guidance empowers our students to make informed choices at each transitional point in their education, leading to aspirational destinations.

Through a MARK Education Trust curriculum, students gain a rich, cumulative understanding of the world so that they can make their MARK locally, nationally and globally.