Our Curriculum

At The Vine Christian School we make use of the Accelerated Christian Education (A.C.E) Programme as our framework to offer an enriched and integrated education to all our students.

From its beginning, A.C.E has maintained high biblical and academic standards and remained committed to setting children on a path for success. The goal is the same today: to prepare children for the world today and give them the academic and spiritual tools necessary to achieve their God-given potential.

The A.C.E curriculum is described as Progress Motivated Individualised Programmed Learning. It integrates biblical principles, character values, and concepts into all aspects of its complete programme, developing a strong knowledge basis and critical thinking skills in the student.

Distinctive Features of A.C.E.

  • Biblical values
  • Academic excellence
  • Diagnostic testing
  • Individualised instruction
  • Mastery-based learning, which avoids learning gaps
  • Reasoning skills

The DfE’s White Paper, Educational Excellence Everywhere (2016) notes the merits of such an approach, ‘…the use of mastery teaching methods, for example, can lead to an additional five months’ progress over the course of a school year compared to mainstream approaches.’

The six core subjects provide for each student’s essential learning needs. These core subjects are:

  • Maths
  • English
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Word Building
  • Biblical Studies

Further academic options, stand-alone educational software, and learning-to-read programmes are included to provide a complete curriculum from Pre-School to Y13.

These include:

  • Handwriting, spelling and grammar
  • History
  • Geography
  • Literature
  • Creative Writing
  • Drama
  • Physical Education and Dance
  • Art
  • Design Technology
  • Computer Science
  • Music
  • Foreign Languages
  • Practical Science
  • Practical Maths
  • Religious Education
  • Citizenship and Personal, Social, Health & Economic Education (PSHE)
  • Academic electives, stand-alone educational software, and learning-to-read programmes are added for enhanced learning opportunities.

The curriculum is mostly delivered in the form of self-study workbooks called PACEs (Packets of Accelerated Christian Education). The workbooks vary according to subject, but aim to provide a context – historical, biblical, and applied – to the matter to be studied. Each workbook states the learning objectives and provides explanations of the specific vocabulary. Together they create a whole and interlinked curriculum.

ACE Pedagogy

The curriculum is delivered through nursery to Year 13 in five main stages:

  • Nursery / Reading Readiness
  • ABC’s (Reception)
  • Junior Learning Centre
  • Intermediate Learning Centre
  • Senior Learning Centre