Our core purpose is to prepare students for the next steps in their lives and equip them with the skills, qualifications and knowledge to become high achieving well-rounded individuals, thus enabling them to reach their potential and achieve their aspirations and goals.

Our curriculum, both within and beyond the classroom is designed to provide a high level of challenge in order to motivate students to find their unique strengths.  Students have a range of rich and engaging educational experiences which positively impact on their aspirations and future pathways.  The term ‘educational’ is used in the broadest sense and is about developing confident young people ready to take on the world!

Curriculum Philosophy:

• is broad, balanced, inspiring and inclusive and gives students access to a range of pathways both vocational and academic,
• promotes student wellbeing post-Covid, 
• builds confidence, resilience and independent working skills, 
• encourages students to develop the skills, knowledge and understanding required to succeed academically, 
• encourages students to participate in a wide variety of activities through a blended approach of remote and face to face learning, 
• places creativity and imagination at the heart of learning to develop enquiring minds, 
• enables students to understand the connections and links between different subjects, 
• raises students’ aspirations through promoting academic excellence, 
• develops students' social and cultural knowledge, skills and understanding, 
• develops students’ respect for spiritual and moral values, and tolerance towards other races, religions and ways of life. 
• gives students the opportunities to put theoretical skills into practice and expand their knowledge beyond the exam specification, 
• prepares students for the world of work in a rapidly changing world, 
• gives students opportunities to extend their learning beyond the classroom through a wide range of extra-curricular activities, 

The impact of our curriculum is measured in broadest sense - mental health, physical health, attendance, first-generation university students etc

Curriculum Organisation

The curriculum outlines the key knowledge which students need to learn over their time at the Academy in order to be successful; this will then drive what and how we teach students as well as how we assess their learning.  A knowledge rich, challenging curriculum will require students to think deeply about subject and lesson content.  In other words, the level of challenge in the curriculum sets the bar for the level of challenge in our classrooms.

This is a period of great change in education, we review our curriculum annually to ensure that it best meets the needs of learners. 

Personal, Social, Health, and Citizenship Education 

PSHCE is delivered twice weekly to all students in Years 7 to 13 by their Form Tutor. A comprehensive programme of study promotes students' personal development, and enhances their spiritual, moral, social and cultural knowledge and understanding. We prepare students for life in modern Britain and ensure that they are aware of the fundamental British values of democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, and tolerance of different faiths. They learn about diversity, equality and respect across all elements of society, including different religions. Students also receive age-appropriate teaching on relationships, sex and health education; they learn about healthy lifestyles and the importance of maintaining physical and mental wellbeing. Students are also taught about careers and the world of work, preparing them for future success in education, employment or training. We support and encourage all our students to be confident, responsible and respectful individuals.

Enrichment - New for 2021-22

Our extensive enrichment curriculum enables students to broaden their cultural understanding of the world, learn new skills and take on personal challenges. Alongside our PSHCE lessons which are delivered twice weekly in form time, and 4Rs lessons in Years 7, 8 and 9, students also have access to a wide range of clubs and activities at lunch and after-school for example: 

• The Fandom Zone  
• Art Club  
• NFL Fantasy League  
• Lunchtime Homework Club  
• School Production  
• Young Voices 
• Dance Club  
• Keyboard Skills
• Climbing Wall
• Netball
• LGBTQ Society 

In addition, the school runs an enrichment afternoon each week where students can select from an amazing range of more than 40 activities including: 

• Arts and Crafts 
• Boxing 
• Cadets 
• Chess 
• Debating 
• Drumming 
• Fieldwork
• Latin
• Old English
• Stock Market

Our aim is to develop young people who are responsible, resilient, thoughtful and aware of the world around them. The enrichment curriculum is designed to prepare them for life in modern Britain and equip them with the spiritual, moral, social and cultural skills to be respectful, tolerant, caring citizens. 

4R's - New for 2021-22

Students in Years 7, 8 and 9 are following a bespoke programme of study to support and embed our school ethos of being Respectful, Resilient, Responsible and Reconnecting.  We are encouraging our students to have a growth mindset, mindfulness and being aware of their own wellbeing as well as the wellbeing of people around them, this links into our work of being a Brilliant School and understanding our health and wellbeing. Students will address and develop these skills through a range of activities called Brilliant Me, Brilliant We. The students will also experience a range of different activities involving First Aid skills and learning through being in the outdoors. 

Key Stage 3

Students in Years 7 and 8 follow a broad curriculum, which seeks to build upon and extend the knowledge and skills developed at primary school.

Our experience of teaching the Mastery Pathway in Years 7 and 8 has allowed us to take the best elements of mastery (identifying learning gaps, and ensuring that students consolidate knowledge, skills and understanding before moving on to a new topic) and adapt them to suit our own needs.

All students study the core subjects of maths, English and science, with 10 periods being dedicated to these important subject areas each week.

P.E, Expressive arts, Computing and technology also play an important part in our curriculum with students experiencing each subject within these faculties during KS3 before they decide on the chosen KS4 options.

We operate a two-week timetable with the subject allocations for students being broken down as follows:

Expressive arts is taught as discrete subjects in year 7 and then on a rotation in year 8 to allow for an intensive block of time on each discipline.

Key Stage 4

The core curriculum of English, Maths, Science, PE and PSHCE continues throughout Key Stage 4.  Alongside this, students study four options leading to GCSE and BTEC qualifications at the end of Year 11.  There is an element of added personalisation for students for whom a full package of GCSE subjects is inappropriate.

We seek to personalise the curriculum as early as possible for all students to enable them to pursue their interests whilst maintaining breadth through a wide options choice.  After an introduction to all subjects when students start the school, the options process begins in March of Year 8.  Students receive extensive support for their choices, which includes a one-to-one interview with a member of the Senior Team for all students and their parents and carers.  Students start their options subjects at the start of Year 9.

Key stage 4 is also operated as a two-week timetable with the subject allocations for students being broken down as follows

Key Stage 5

Many students stay with us beyond GCSE and join our on-site sixth form.

Initially our programmes of study were predominantly A Levels although more recently we have been able to offer an increasing selection of vocational courses. New for 2023 is the T Level in Digital Design and Production which we have been successful in applying for.  We will be offering this qualification on-site in a new purpose-built facility with state of the art, industry standard equipment.

The courses we offer have been carefully selected to reflect students' prior attainment and strengths as well as their personal education and career aspirations.  Combined with bespoke careers advice, personal development sessions, work experience opportunities and guidance, we focus heavily on ensuring all students have some form of progression into the next stage in their lives.

Students who do not achieve GCSE Grade 4+ in English and/or Maths have resit lessons built into their study programme.

Additional information on our sixth form provision is available via the Sixth From tab above.

Curriculum Maps - info for parents

Detailed information on specific subjects KS3-5 Curriculum is available via the below links. Additional curriculum information including careers, homework and options choices can be found under the students tab above.

If you would like any additional information on the curriculum please email Mrs Ward, Assistant Principal (Curriculum) via wardk@elizabethan.notts.sch.uk