Curriculum

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"We will develop a curriculum that meets the needs, sparks the imagination and brings the best out of each individual student according to his/her ambition, aspirations, ability, interest and learning styles"

"Young people will respond to challenge as long as that challenge is relevant to their individual needs and aspirations"

To achieve our desired aims the curriculum in the Academy will change markedly over the next few years.

Every student will have a structured programme of personalised learning and will have access to mentoring and coaching where needed. Mentors will monitor every student closely, ensuring their courses match their needs and that they are progressing as well as they should.

All students will be offered the full National Curriculum although we will take full advantage of the new national flexibility in order to provide students with a personalised learning experience.

The Academy will promote the expectation that all students will remain in full-time education or training until at least 19 and will extend the range of vocational and work-related courses that are available.

We will ensure that all young people have the English and Mathematics skills they need to succeed in life. To do this the Academy will use specialists in literacy and numeracy. We will assess the individual needs of all their students and will support vulnerable students by providing intensive literacy and numeracy teaching.

Both the KS3 and KS4 curriculum plans are modelled on a 50 period fortnight, with lessons of 60 minutes duration. An aspect of the transformation planned will see the introduction of longer blocks of teaching time that will facilitate a wider range of learning activities and more easily make learning experiences beyond the Academy available to students.

Across both Key Stages, teaching groups will be rigorously set by ability to ensure that students receive the appropriate level of challenge and support required to ensure progress. Prior attainment data and CAT scores will be used to create these groupings on entry in Year 7, and by closely monitoring student progress we will ensure that students are appropriately placed on their learning journey through the Academy.

The key features of the curriculum in 2009 - 10 are:

Year 7

We will provide common curriculum for all Year 7 students. This will deliver the full National Curriculum, with 40% of the time available given over to the core subjects, and also include a programme in "Learning2Learn" thus building on existing good practice. It will focus on developing higher-level thinking skills and the ability to articulate arguments and will promote emotional intelligence. A transition group will be established for weaker learners and intensive literacy catch up will be provided. This group will be maintained, according to need throughout Key Stage 3.

Years 8 and 9

The strong focus on English, maths and science will be retained with 40% of curriculum time again being allocated for the delivery of the core subjects. Three learning pathways will then be available, each delivering the National Curriculum, albeit with differences in emphasis and balance. Able linguists will study Spanish in addition to French whilst others will continue to benefit from the Learning2Learn programme and from booster classes in English and maths.

Years 10 and 11

Four learning pathways will be available. Each will deliver a core experience in English, Mathematics, Science, PE, RE and ICT, although the balance will vary according to student's aptitude and interest. ASDAN, Study+ and Study Support will also be available as part of one Pathway. Students will have chosen up to four optional subjects generally leading to GCSE qualifications with a small number of these being Applied GCSE's. A limited number of students will be able to pursue vocational opportunities through Telford and Wrekin's Travel2Learn programme.

The KS4 curriculum will more distinctly reflect the Academy's specialisms in Performing Arts and Business and Enterprise. It will have an enhanced academic/vocational balance through the introduction of a more diversified range of courses and qualifications and in so doing will better meet the needs and interests of students, better engage them in their learning and ultimately result in improved outcomes.

Post 16

The Academy has opened post 16 education from September 2009 with up to 100 places available per cohort. The Federation with Adams' will be key to the Sixth Form becoming established, not least in providing some access to and /or shared teaching of courses.