Curriculum
Students are central to everything we do at Wellacre.
The curriculum at Wellacre is ambitious for all students in its breadth and depth. Each subject has carefully considered the 'powerful knowledge' within their discipline to thoughtfully plan and sequence a curriculum so that knowledge builds cumulatively over time.
Subject pedagogy is well developed so that the curriculum is adapted to meet the needs of all students. Reading is at the heart of our community and the curriculum is enriched with wide ranging fiction and non-fiction disciplinary texts.
We provoke interesting conversations, through the study of challenging and complex materials, which promote students' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
Our curriculum is a model of progression; students are making progress if they are learning the curriculum. Essentially, the curriculum is designed so that students know more, can do more and are remembering more. Whilst all students follow the same curriculum, teachers and support staff provide the scaffolding to ensure that all students achieve well.
In addition to supporting the aims and values of our school, our curriculum is mindful of the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum for all maintained schools and the key aims for all young people which are:
- To provide all students with an introduction to the essential knowledge they need to be educated citizens;
- To introduce students to the best that has been thought and said, and helps engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement.
The curriculum is at least as ambitious as the national curriculum in every subject.
KS3 (Years 7-9)
A broad range of subjects are included in the KS3 curriculum including, Maths, English, Science, RESPECT, Physical Education, French, Computing, History, Geography, Religion and World Views Education, Food, Technology, Art and Music.
Midway through Year 9 students have the opportunity to select the subjects they would like to take further into Year 10 and 11. At KS4 we offer a wide range of courses allowing students to follow the route most appropriate to their needs, interests and future career path.
The curriculum in Years 10 and 11 gives students more choice but within a framework that ensures that students receive a broad and balanced education. All students follow a common core of subjects, supplemented with four option choices. A structured guidance programme ensures that option choices meet the needs of individual students and choices are made in full consultation with parents/carers.
KS4 (Years 10 and 11)
These are the subjects all students MUST study at Wellacre Academy:
- Maths
- English Language and English Literature
- Combined Science or the three single Sciences
- PE
- RESPECT
All students have a Work Experience which is completed at the end of Year 10
EBacc
The EBacc refers to a combination of subjects that the government believes is important
for young people to study at GCSE. There is strong evidence that those who study for this
suite of subjects go on to further and higher education in more significant numbers.
The EBacc includes:
• English Language and Literature;
• Maths;
• Science;
• Geography or History;
• Language: French.
At Wellacre we believe it is important that students have the opportunity to select a varied rich curriculum, which includes the EBacc suite of subjects.
Option subjects include the following (these are subject to change each year and are dependent on the needs and wants of the students and the subject expertise of teaching staff); GCSE History, GCSE Geography, GCSE Computer Science, GCSE Religious Studies, GCSE French, GCSE Drama, GCSE Art and Design (Graphic Communication), GCSE Business Studies, GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry, GCSE Physics, GCSE Design and Technology, Cambridge National I-Media, Cambridge National Sport Studies, Eduqas Constructing the Built Environment and Eduqas Hospitality and Catering.
All subjects at KS4 are taken at Level 2: GCSE or Applied equivalent.
Please contact Mr J Shiner, Assistant Principal, via admin(at)wellacre.org if you would like to find out more about the curriculum at Wellacre.
The accessibility plan which sets out how we will widen participation for disabled pupils in the school's curriculum can be found in the policies section of the website.
Parents and carers can withdraw their children from any or all RE lessons. They can withdraw their child from part or all of sex education, unless there are 'exceptional circumstances', up until 3 terms before the child turns 16. After that, it's the child's decision. Please contact us at admin(at)wellacre.org if this is something you wish to discuss.
