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Curriculum: Overview

Our curriculum is aspirational and builds on prior learning experiences. Individual targets supports the expectation that all students make maximum progress, with the acquisition of knowledge and cultural capital necessary for success in life clearly mapped and prioritised. Our curriculum is coherently planned and sequenced to ensure students’ learning is both secure and sufficient for the next steps in future learning, and ultimately employment.

The guiding principles of our curriculum are that:

it is both broad and balanced
enables students to be successful, both in exams and more widely
it is relevant to the needs of our students and appropriate to the context in which they are being prepared to succeed
it develops the whole child, going beyond academic outcomes to encapsulate both ‘soft’ skills and desirable personal attributes, especially a growth mindset
it encourages and lays the foundations for a life-long love of learning
it has clear progression pathways from Key Stage 3 through Key Stage 4 and on to Post 16

Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9) Curriculum Overview

In KS3 the curriculum will be broad and balanced, remaining true to our principles of giving students a wide range of experiences that are theoretical, technical, practical, experiential and aesthetic. The curriculum is organised around subject areas and students will study:

English
Maths
Science
History
Geography
French
Computer Science
RE
Art
Drama
Music
Design & Technology
PE
PSHE
Cooking

Key Stage 3 Curriculum Allocation per fortnight 2024-2025

Subject	Number of Periods
Art	2
Cooking	2
Computer Science	2
PSHE	1
Drama	2
English	8
French	3
Geography	3
History	3
Maths	8
Music	2
Physical Education	2
Religious Education	3
Science	7
Technology	2

Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11) Curriculum Overview

In KS4 we run a differentiated curriculum tailored to individual needs. The compulsory core curriculum will ensure that all students have the knowledge necessary for future progression in education and beyond. Beyond the core students will also have the opportunity to take 3 ‘option’ subjects of their choice.

The KS4 core curriculum consists of:

English (both Language and Literature)
Maths
Science (double)
PE
Religious Education

Students can also choose:

Facilitating subject options (from French, History, Geography, Computer Science, Triple Science, Community Language)
Up to two further option choices (from Art, Drama, Music, Product Design, Physical Education, Digital Technology, Statistics)

A small number of students may study a differentiated curriculum tailored on their individual needs.

Key Stage 4 Curriculum Allocation per fortnight 2020-2021

Subject	Number of Periods	Education Beyond the School Day (ESBD)
English Language and Literature	10
French (Optional)		4
Maths	10
Physical Education (Not examined)	2
Religious Education	5
Combined Science	12
Option A	6
Option B	5

Key Stage 4 Options 2022-2023

We have arranged our options process to ensure all students are enabled to have access to work towards achieving the EBACC and study a broad-range of subjects through KS4 leaving a wide range of options open to our students when they leave secondary education.

Every Year 9 student receives guidance around their options choices through a meeting with an Academy Leader and a parent/guardian. The role of the Academy Leader is to guide students and support them in making the choices right for them. Alongside this, our in-school Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance package support students with looking to their futures and tracking back to the GCSE options process.

SSA Key Stage 4 Options Prospectus 2022-2023

SEND Curriculum Overview

At Stratford School Academy, our Wave 3 curriculum is personalised to an individual’s SEND needs. We ensure that all pupils have an appropriately personalised and challenging curriculum.

SEND Curriculum Overview - 2022-2023

Education Beyond the Classroom Overview

At SSA it is our mission to give students access to the knowledge, qualifications, and wider experiences they need to develop to their potential and to participate in and make a positive contribution to society.

Extra-curricular activities are an integral part of the ethos of the school. They provide students with opportunities to enhance their learning, develop wider knowledge in real world contexts, their personal development, and their wellbeing.

Extra-curricular activities are planned as an opportunity to extend the students wider experience outside of the formal curriculum. These opportunities are available to all students in all subjects and beyond.

Aims

Encourage students’ participation in a wide range of extra-curricular activities.
Develop and encourage experience and expertise in areas not provided for within the formal curriculum.
Provide opportunities for students to develop their performance skills through oratory, dramatic and musical performances.
Provide opportunities for students to represent SSA at school, region and national level in a wide range of activities and sports.
Encourage the positive use of leisure time by recognising and celebrating students’ achievements outside of school.
Offer valuable opportunities for visits and residential experiences in a variety of extra-curricular areas.
Encourage students’ social development by making a positive contribution to their community and wider society.
Enhance the ethos and image of the Academy in the community.