At The Tower School, we believe that every young person is an individual and has something unique to offer the world. Upon joining our school, our pupils will have access to a broad and balanced curriculum to suit their needs. Pupils will work both in and outside of the classroom and subject teachers will identify the most appropriate academic pathway for each young person.
The Tower School is dedicated to ensuring that our school environment supports learning and the well-being of pupils and staff through a strong sense of community cohesion. ‘Ready, Respectful, Safe’ are the foundations of our community and we work hard to provide a safe school where pupils have a strong voice. Positive behaviour and self-regulation have strong links to effective learning and are vital tools for pupils to carry with them both during and after their school years.
Curriculum Pathways and Progression
The Tower School curriculum offer for this academic year can be found here:
Curriculum Offer and Progression AY 2025-26
Subjects include but are not limited to:
- English
- Maths
- Science
- PSHE
- Life Skills (KS3) / Independent Living (KS4) / Preparation for adulthood (KS5)
- Outdoor Learning
- Physical Education
- Careers
- Explore
- Art
- Computing
- Topic
- Music
- Food Technology
At KS4/KS5 pupils have the opportunity to choose option subjects, providing pupils access to a wide range of subjects and qualification opportunities. Option subjects include but are not limited to:
- Home Cooking Skills BTEC Level 1 and Level 2
- Music BTEC Award
- Art and Design BTEC- Award and Certificate
- Sports BTEC Award
- Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award
- Computing GCSE/Functional Skills
- English Language GCSE
- Combined Science GCSE
We support our pupils to develop an independent style of learning which helps them as they take their exams and beyond into the world of work. We want our pupils to have high ambitions and we support them every step of the way to achieve these goals.
We work directly with our parents and young people to ensure that each child is studying a meaningful and personalised curriculum. On leaving The Tower School, some pupils will want to follow a further education pathway, whilst other pupils may want to head into the world of work through an apprenticeship programme.
Many of our students progress to further education, with recent leavers pursuing a wide range of courses at colleges. In recent years, they have gone on to study subjects such as:
- Level 1 Art & Design at New City College
- Public Services Level 2 Course at Barking and Dagenham College
- Foundation Media Studies at Barking and Dagenham College
- Acting and Stage Production at South Essex College
- IT Software Development and Programming at Chelmsford College
- Multi-Skills Course at TCHC College
- T-Level Media at South Essex College
- Animals Skills at Capel Manor College
At the heart of our curriculum lies a clear and consistent focus: preparing our pupils for adulthood. This commitment runs as a golden thread through every key stage, ensuring that each student develops the skills, confidence, and experiences required to thrive beyond school. As part of this holistic approach, we place strong emphasis on learning beyond the classroom through a wide range of enrichment opportunities, including educational visits and external activities such as horse riding.
Our structured programme begins with Life Skills in Key Stage 3, where students start building essential daily living skills. This progresses to Independent Living in Key Stage 4, and culminates in our Key Stage 5 “Preparing for Adulthood” curriculum, which further develops independence, confidence, and real-world understanding. Lessons are delivered both on-site and off-site, offering practical, hands-on learning experiences.
We believe that learning doesn’t stop at the school gate. Our pupils regularly engage with the local community and take part in travel training, including navigating public transport in and around London. These experiences are vital in helping students feel confident and capable in real-life situations.
In 2025, we proudly completed our first overseas residential trip to Disneyland Paris with our Year 12 and 13 students—an incredible milestone that offered rich opportunities for independence and social development. Looking ahead to 2026, we are excited to expand our residential offer across all key stages. Key Stage 3 pupils will enjoy a one-night stay at a local activity centre, Key Stage 4 will experience a night in Brighton, and our Key Stage 5 students will return to Disneyland Paris for a two-night adventure.
