Head of School Blog - 11/9/26
It has been another busy week at LS-TEN as our students continue to settle back into school life and get into the routines of the new academic year. It has been great to see students becoming more familiar with the changes around school, meeting new staff and getting stuck into their learning.
This week, our KS4 students visited Roundhay Park to complete the Geology Trail, linking their learning directly to our KS4 Geography curriculum. It was a great opportunity for students to take their learning outside of the classroom and explore some of the geographical features around them.
Subject Spotlight - Aspire
This week, some of our students have been getting stuck into a STEM project as part of our new Aspire Programme – Surviving a Zombie Apocalypse!
The Aspire Programme is a new subject that we have introduced to our curriculum this academic year. It is a bespoke, project-based learning pathway designed for SEND students and students with low prior attainment across KS3 and KS4.
The programme provides an engaging, practical and highly supportive curriculum that develops independence, confidence, communication and preparation for adulthood through meaningful, real-world learning experiences.
Rather than learning through separate and sometimes fragmented subjects, Aspire brings learning together through connected projects. This allows students to learn through practical application, creativity, teamwork and exploration, while the curriculum is carefully adapted to meet individual learning needs and maintain high aspirations for every learner.
At KS3, Aspire focuses on engagement, curiosity, communication and developing foundational learning skills. At KS4, the programme moves towards accredited ASDAN pathways, employability preparation and developing the independence and skills students will need for adulthood.
The Zombie Apocalypse project is a great example of this approach, bringing together STEM, problem-solving, teamwork, communication and practical skills in a project that students can really get involved in!
Looking Ahead
Next week, our KS3 students will be heading to Temple Newsam Gardens as part of Projects, where they will be taking part in a photography challenge. We are looking forward to seeing what they can capture and how they use their creativity to complete the challenge.
It has been another positive week at LS-TEN, and it is fantastic to see our students continuing to settle into the new academic year. We have lots planned over the coming weeks and I look forward to sharing more of what we have been getting up to in next week's blog.
Mr Hunsdale