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Senior Leaders

Making changes that make a difference

Lead strategic thinking, professional development and whole-school or trust-wide improvement. This pathway opens up dialogue and offers practical ways to look beyond structures, data and timetables and get closer to what pupils in years 7 to 9 are learning.

STEP 01

Watch intro videos

Discover the core thinking and research behind The Ambitious Years and how to implement it. These videos are a good catalyst for conversations about curriculum ambition, expectations and entitlement across years 7–9.

Introduction to The Ambitious Years

Outlining the core thinking behind why years 7 to 9 should be reframed as a foundation, not a bridge. A useful prompt for your own professional conversations with colleagues about creating an ambitious KS3 in your school.

Reframing demanding work

Exploring common misconceptions about what pupils can manage, and what they’re actually able to achieve when the conditions are right. Find out how a high challenge low threat environment can build confidence in approaching demanding texts and expand ideas, vocabulary and subject knowledge.

Implementing The Ambitious Years

How The Ambitious Years resources work in practice. Mary and Steve explain how the teacher and pupil booklets and units are structured, and how they can be used flexibly by departments and curriculum teams to fit in with existing plans.

STEP 02

Complete toolkit

The structured prompts in this toolkit promote reflection and discussion on how to optimise KS3 for pupils. Use it with other senior leaders, curriculum teams, governors and trust partners to identify strengths and surface assumptions and agree practical next steps.

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STEP 03

Explore 
Curriculum Conversations

This subject-focused resource pack will deepen your understanding of the subject landscape and enrich dialogue between you and KS3 subject leaders.

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Curriculum Conversations pack

STEP 03

Take Five Steps

The Five Steps support abetter transition in the humanities from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3. They help primary and secondary colleagues work together to avoid unnecessary repetition in lessons and make sure learning deepens.

Explore Five Steps

STEP 04

Use teacher and pupil booklets

Explore these ready-to-use teaching materials and pupil booklets to see where your school's curriculum can go.

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