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 Curriculum

 
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Phase One (Curriculum)
 
The Academy’s curriculum in Phase One (Early Years Foundation Stage – Year 4) provides all pupils with the opportunity to build on the early foundations of learning, particularly in relation to literacy, numeracy and personal and social skills, in order to be ready to access the wider curriculum.    The Phase One curriculum is designed to ensure that pupils are able to access learning at the appropriate level as it is recognised that during these early years pupils make different levels of progress.  From Year One upwards pupils have access to specialist teachers and resources in Creative Arts, Food, Performing Arts, PE and Languages and this supports pupils in developing skills in these areas from a very young age.
 
Creative curriculum opportunities and the use of ‘thematic learning opportunities’ are promoted within Phase One in order to develop pupils’ confidence and creativity and to support pupils in making ‘connections’ between different aspects of learning.
 
Phase Two (Curriculum)
 
The Academy’s curriculum in Phase Two (Years 5 – 8) provides all pupils with the opportunity to study a wide range of core and foundation learning subjects, including subjects related to the English Baccalaureate.  These learning opportunities build on the learning of Phase One, enabling pupils to move from Key Stage Two to Key Stage Three learning when pupils have acquired the relevant levels and skills.  Throughout Phase Two there continues to be a focus on the development of the basic literacy and numeracy skills required in order to ensure pupils are ready to move into GCSE.
 
From Years 5 to 7 (and some Year 8) all pupils are assigned a class based teacher who will oversee their learning.As pupils move into Year 8 some pupils will be given the opportunity to begin to access some aspects of GCSE work in preparation for Phase Three.
 
Creative curriculum opportunities and the use of ‘thematic learning opportunities’ are promoted within Phase Two in order to develop pupils’ confidence and creativity and to support pupils in making ‘connections’ between different aspects of learning.
 
Phase Three (Curriculum)
 
The Academy’s curriculum in Phase Three (Years 9 – 11) provides both vocational and academic learning opportunities, to suit the wide ranging needs of our pupils.  Pupils have the opportunity to make some initial choices about their future learning pathways from Year 9 while continuing to study the Academies Core Curriculum of English, Maths, Science, RE, PE and Enterprise.   In Year 10 pupils are given the opportunity to make further choices about their own learning across a wider range of vocational and academic pathways.  These pathways include access to the English Baccalaureate, access to vocational learning at College as well as taking extension courses in the Core Subjects including English Literature, Media Studies, Statistics and Triple Science, and in some cases early access to AS level courses.
 
Across Phase Three pupils begin to study for GCSEs (or equivalent qualifications) when they are at the required level rather than at a particular age.  This means that some pupils begin some of their GCSEs at the beginning or during Year 9 (in some Gifted and Talented groups this may begin towards the end of Phase Two) and this supports pupils in managing their learning programme across the three years of Phase Three rather than taking all GCSEs at the end of Year 11.
 

 Homework/Extended Learning

 
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Homework/ Extended Learning is part of the overall learning experience for pupils at the Academy.  The aim is to establish habits that promote learning beyond the normal school day and to provide extension and reinforcement to what has been learnt during class.  Within the Academy we recognise that some pupils may choose to benefit from the Academy being open beyond the formal school day and therefore may choose to complete their extended learning at school.  In response to this the Learning Resource Centre, Study and Classroom Areas are open beyond the formal school day in order to help provide facilities for further research and study.
 
At the beginning of each term pupils will be given information in relation to their expected Homework/ Extended Learning for the term.  If any parent has a question about homework or would like to know about what has been set by individual teachers then please do not hesitate to contact the relevant Phase Team.
 

 Pupil Support

 
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Within the Academy we recognise that pupils who feel happy, safe and are valued and given opportunities to contribute to school life not only make more progress academically but also develop into more rounded and confident adults, ready to access a successful adult life. In order to achieve this the Academy has a full range of support mechanisms to ensure that all pupils can receive support and guidance in line with their individual needs, not only in terms of pastoral support but also in terms of their learning needs and aspirations.
 
In response to this in Phase One and most of Phase Two pupils are assigned to a class teacher and relevant support staff who oversee their care, welfare, personal and social development and learning on a daily basis. In other Phase Two groups and Phase Three pupils have a Personal Tutor who meets with them on a daily basis.
 
In addition to this each Phase has a team of staff including Phase Leaders (Assistant Principal), Assistant Phase Leader and other Phase Staff to oversee the pupils across the Phase. The team also includes a trained and assigned person responsible for dealing with any bullying issues.
 
Across the whole school there is an SEN Team and Inclusion Team in order to support whole school SEN and behavior needs, and an Extended Services Team to support the wider needs of families and safeguarding / child protection needs.
 
Pupils are also provided with support for their learning and for advice and guidance regarding their future courses/ career pathways.
 

 Special Education Needs and Inclusion

 
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The Academy works in line with the SEN Code of Practice and Disability Discrimination Act. The SEN Team within the Academy work across the three Phases in order to ensure that the support provided is continued throughout their whole school life. The SEN Team work closely with other agencies in order to ensure that additional support, assessment and intervention is provided appropriate to individual need. The inclusion team is responsible for whole school behavior and for dealing with incidences of bullying.
 
 
 
 
 

 The Academy Day

 
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The Academy operates a continuous school day and therefore the times are different between the Phases and the different Year Groups.  The Core School day is the same for all Phases except for Phase One who end the school day 15 mins earlier than the other two Phases.
 
8.00am – Breakfast Club (pupils under 8 need to be supervised by an adult)
 
8.35am  - Classrooms for Phase One pupils and Phase Two pupils open for activities/ breakfast club continues for the older pupils
 
8.55am – Start of the formal school day for all Phases
 
3.00pm – Phase One end of the formal School Day (pupils accessing Extended Learning can remain until 3.15pm)
 
3.15pm  - Phase Two and Three end of the formal School
 
3.15pm – Extended Learning Opportunities/ Clubs – Session One
 
4.15pm – Extended Learning Opportunities/ Clubs – Session Two
 
5.15pm – onwards Community Learning Opportunities  / Clubs
 
Pupils in EYFS 2 follow the above times but the sessions for pupils in EYFS 1 are:
 
Morning Session   
8.30am – 11.30am
 
Afternoon Session
12.10pm – 3.10pm
 
All pupils are expected to remain on site for lunch.  The restaurant serves a range of healthy food  or alternatively pupils can bring their own packed lunch.  In addition to lunch the Academy provides toast and the opportunity to purchase other breakfast food as part of the breakfast club each day. For the younger children this is provided as part of their classroom session.  At break time fresh fruit is available and for younger children milk is also provided.
 

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