Bourne Scholar Programme
The Bourne Scholar Programme is Mossbourne Fobbing Academy’s wider personal development curriculum, delivered as a timetabled lesson for all students once each week. Designed to ensure that every student develops not only academically, but also as a confident, thoughtful, articulate and socially responsible young person, the programme provides a structured and ambitious curriculum that sits alongside students’ academic studies.
Through a rich programme of scholarship, oracy, citizenship, wellbeing and cultural enrichment, students are encouraged to think critically, communicate effectively and engage meaningfully with the world around them. Bourne Scholar extends learning beyond the traditional classroom, giving students opportunities to explore important ideas, develop leadership and character, and build the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to thrive in modern society.
From philosophy and public speaking to democracy, digital literacy, social action and wellbeing, the programme equips students with the understanding, experiences and cultural capital needed for success both during their time at Mossbourne and in life beyond school.
Core Bourne Scholar Curriculum Principles
| Curriculum Pillar | Overall Curriculum Objective | Place in the Curriculum | Key Consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Culture | To broaden students’ horizons through exposure to a diverse range of cultures, perspectives, traditions and ideas, including opportunities to explore and celebrate their own identities and heritage. | Explicitly taught through timetabled Bourne Scholar curriculum strands. | Ensuring cultural exploration is meaningful, ambitious and reflective of the diverse world students live in. |
| Community | To empower students to become informed, engaged and active citizens who understand their role and responsibilities within local, national and global communities. | Explicitly taught through timetabled Bourne Scholar curriculum strands. | Ensuring students develop genuine agency, responsibility and civic engagement through meaningful discussion and participation. |
| Character | To develop resilient, ambitious, articulate and confident young people who demonstrate integrity, leadership and self-belief. | Embedded across all Bourne Scholar schemes of work and wider school experiences. | Ensuring character development is explicitly taught, modelled and consistently reinforced over time. |
| Scholarship | To foster intellectual curiosity, critical thinking and independent learning, encouraging students to engage deeply with ideas beyond the traditional academic curriculum. | Embedded across all Bourne Scholar schemes of work and curriculum design. | Maintaining academic rigour and ensuring scholarship remains central to the programme’s intent. |
Year 7
|
Strand Title |
Core Focus |
Key Knowledge & Skills |
|
Celebrating Diversity in Our Community |
Identity, migration & belonging |
Understanding migration, diversity and community activism through local history |
|
Global Myths & Storytelling |
Cultural literacy & oracy |
Exploring storytelling traditions across cultures and developing spoken storytelling skills |
|
Designing a Computer Game |
Creativity & digital literacy |
Understanding gaming, storytelling and digital systems |
|
First Aid & Wellbeing |
Safety & resilience |
CPR, emergency response, mindfulness and wellbeing strategies |
|
Ancient Worlds: Latin & Classics |
Scholarship & historical understanding |
Ancient Greece, Rome and classical civilisation |
|
Charities & Social Responsibility |
Citizenship & community action |
Understanding charities, volunteering and social action |
|
Critical Thinking & Philosophy |
Ethical thinking & decision-making |
Exploring ethical theories and philosophical reasoning |
|
Climate Crisis & Sustainability |
Global citizenship |
Climate change, environmental responsibility and activism |
Year 8
|
Strand Title |
Core Focus |
Key Knowledge & Skills |
|
Advocacy & Public Speaking |
Student voice & leadership |
Debate, advocacy, campaigning and communication skills |
|
Relationships & Society |
Relationships & wellbeing |
Family structures, healthy relationships and support systems |
|
Digital Identity & Online Safety |
Digital wellbeing |
Curated lifestyles, misinformation, privacy and online identity |
|
Ancient Civilisations |
Historical understanding |
Archaeology, migration and cultural interaction |
|
Politics & Democracy |
Citizenship & democracy |
Political systems, voting, free press and human rights |
|
Philosophy & Free Will |
Critical thinking |
Exploring freedom, choice and human behaviour |
|
Climate Change & Activism |
Global responsibility |
Environmental activism and global communities |
|
History Through Artefacts |
Scholarship & interpretation |
Understanding history through objects and artefacts |
Year 9 / KS4
|
Strand Title |
Core Focus |
Key Knowledge & Skills |
|
Social Justice Campaigns |
Equality & activism |
Understanding inequality and creating campaigns for change |
|
Gender & Sexuality |
Identity & equality |
Gender identity, stereotypes, feminism and equality |
|
Traditions of Storytelling |
Creativity & writing |
Narrative structure, worldbuilding and storytelling traditions |
|
Political Philosophy |
Society & governance |
Liberalism, Marxism, anarchism and freedom |
|
Dance / HIIT / Yoga |
Physical & mental wellbeing |
Fitness, resilience and healthy lifestyles |
|
Journalism & Media |
Creativity & communication |
Magazine writing, collaboration and digital publishing |
|
Cooking & Catering |
Creativity & enterprise |
Restaurant planning, budgeting and food preparation |
|
Developing Your Mossbournian Voice |
Oracy & leadership |
Debate, speeches and interview preparation |
|
Digital Wellbeing |
Online safety & critical thinking |
Algorithms, misinformation and conspiracy theories |
|
Becoming an Informed Citizen |
Citizenship & democracy |
Political systems, voting and ideology |
|
Marginalised Groups & Charity |
Social responsibility |
Charity planning, fundraising and community awareness |
