Curriculum Overview

Intent

We are driven by a desire to break the national cycle of deprivation and low performance of the most marginalised. We believe that all young people, regardless of their background or personal circumstances can and will be successful. Our Academy motto is Together: We Can and we work hard to nurture the belief that if we work together and foster positive and supportive relationships, we can ensure success.

Our curriculum is designed to equip our students with the knowledge and experience that they need, to take control of their lives and to have choices about what they do in the future. We recognise that what they learn outside the classroom is as important as what they learn inside. To that end, we ensure that the students benefit from a curriculum that is designed to ensure breadth and cultural and social opportunity.

Given our locality and proximity to London, we recognise that students need to be exposed to a great mix of cultures, as well as have the opportunity to learn about and debate some of the many challenges that they may face. We work hard to develop young people who are tolerant, accepting of difference and willing to try new experiences.

Implementation

Our excellent results are achieved by combining high quality teaching with a carefully designed curriculum. Whether a student is struggling, needs to be stretched or is somewhere in the middle, we will always work to meet his or her individual needs.

We encourage students to explore as many subjects as possible at Key Stage 3 before specialising at Key Stages 4 and 5. We believe that it is important for students to study a language and humanities subjects such as Art, Drama, Photography or Criminology alongside other subjects. 

Students are guided and supported to make sure that the subjects they choose at GCSE and A-level are the right ones for them, whether they want to go to a Russell Group university, another university, or into employment or training. We review the curriculum every year to make sure we have the right courses to inspire and challenge students, and create opportunities for success.

Alongside the main curriculum, there is an extensive Enrichment Programme.

Students are taught about British values in various ways including through our assembly and tutor programme (which explore current events in the world), enrichment activities, charity events and external speakers.

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Key Stage 3 Curriculum

The Key Stage 3 curriculum is followed by Years 7 and 8 and is currently being reviewed to ensure that Key Stage 3 is for three years and GCSE courses do not start until Year 10. Updated schemes of work will be in place from 1 September 2019. Our curriculum is designed to provide depth and breadth of study whilst ensuring that appropriate time can be devoted to Mathematics, English and Science. Our intention to give students a taste of as many subjects as possible, whilst preparing them for and informing them about their GCSE options. Literacy and numeracy skills are developed in every subject and across the curriculum.

All students in Year 7, 8 and 9 study a language which they continue to study until GCSE. Where appropriate, students may pick up a second, additional language in Year 10. All students study Physical Education for two periods a week and competition between faculties and with other schools is encouraged.

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Key Stage 4 Curriculum

The Key Stage 4 curriculum is followed by years 9-11. All students will study Mathematics, English, Science, PE and Religious Education and the vast majority study a humanities subject and a modern foreign language. The list of optional subjects is extensive and gives students a real opportunity to experience a subject that they may then want to study at university.

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Key Stage 5 Curriculum

At Key Stage 5 we offer a number of subjects that students from other Harris Academies come here to study with us. For an extensive list of what is on offer in the Sixth Form, please see our Sixth Form section.

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For more information about our curriculum, please contact Mr G Lewis, Vice Principal on info@harrisorpington.org.uk