Curriculum Overview

Our Curriculum at Saltley 

Curriculum Intent

Our ambitious curriculum at Saltley Academy is built to inspire and challenge students, giving them opportunities to develop and become outstanding learners.  It aligns with the WHMAT strategic vision for teaching and learning as it is both broad and rich, underpinned by our principle of respecting the rights of all in our community, and meets individual needs, allowing all students to secure outstanding achievements. 

We aim to provide our students with a breadth of knowledge, skills and experiences that enable them to reach their full potential academically, culturally, socially, morally and spiritually.  As a Rights Respecting School, Articles 29 (the goals of education) and 31 (the right to leisure, play and culture) are central to the aims of our curriculum. 

At Saltley Academy students will: 

• Experience a broad, rich and inspiring curriculum 
• Be literate and numerate 
• Learn to become active citizens 
• Learn and develop the Saltley Outstanding Learner Qualities needed for success in life, including becoming confident, articulate orators
• Prepare for and secure the foundations for future progression

Outstanding Learner 

The ten Outstanding Learner Qualities (OLQs) that students learn about and are expected to develop are embedded in each aspect of the school and feature in the form time and assembly curriculum.  We see these qualities as integral to success and becoming life-long learners. 

• Respect – Show it to earn it 
• Independence – Show your skills 
• Resilience – Show commitment  
• Communication – Be understood 
• Innovation – Be creative 
• Leadership – Take responsibility 
• Reflection – Take time to evaluate 
• Knowledge – Apply it 
• Collaboration – Be a team 

Broad and rich curriculum 

At KS3, the curriculum is broad, and students experience the full National Curriculum through each subject’s learning journey, giving them opportunities to explore each subject and become junior experts e.g. junior historians whilst learning the key knowledge and principles required.  Each learning journey has been carefully planned for all to make progress towards goals, sequenced to make sense and build on prior learning.  Subjects make links with each other which allows students to make further meaningful links with knowledge information and skills and gives them further opportunities to recall and practise this knowledge and skills. Our curriculum at KS3 inspires students to develop the skills of enquiry and curiosity in order that they become lifelong learners.

Our curriculum is ambitious for all and academic rigour is integral to every curriculum pathway at KS4.  Students are carefully matched to their pathway to ensure they are able to reach their potential, achieve academic success and continue their learning at Post 16 on the course of their choice.  The English Baccalaureate suite of subjects is the most ambitious pathway, giving a breadth and depth of curriculum that will enable any chosen path in further education.  The majority of students will take the Ebacc, while students who demonstrate the commitment, resilience and aptitude required, will also study separate Sciences instead of Combined Science.  The majority of students will achieve 9 GCSEs at the end of Year 11, with selected students working towards 8 GCSEs, with an addition focus on the core subjects English and Maths.

Our curriculum maintains the flexibility needed for some of our students with high level SEND, either in mainstream or in the Bridge (our Resource Base for pupils with Autism).  We are able to offer Asdan for preparation for life skills, and allow students to work towards Entry Level in the core subjects before taking the GCSEs in these subjects.

All students will study the following subjects at KS4:

• English Language GCSE
• English Literature GCSE
• Maths GCSE
• Combined Science GCSE

And take part in Core PE

For additional subjects at KS4 we offer two main pathways: Ebacc and Non Ebacc.  Using attitude, attainment and progress data, students will be allocated either the Ebacc or Non Ebacc pathway.  This will ensure that each student’s pathway is correctly personalised and will allow them to be the most successful in their achievements and reach their own potential.

Ebacc

As part of this pathway, students will study two subjects from Option B: either History or Geography, AND either Spanish or Urdu.  Students will also select either Religious Education or Citizenship GCSE.  Selected students will be offered a chance to take separate Sciences (Chemistry, Biology, Physics) instead of RE or Citizenship.  Assessment information as well as attitude to learning both at home and in class over years 7-9 will determine whether a student will be offered the triple science route. In addition, all students will have one free choice option subject, from Option C.  All students will take 9 GCSEs.

Curriculum time within  the Ebacc Pathway during yr 10 & 11

Non Ebacc

As part of the non Ebacc route, the option pathways offers students a choice between humanities and a language, a choice between GCSE Religious Education and GCSE Citizenship as well as a free choice (option C).  In addition, non Ebacc pathway students will begin an IT style course in year 9, which is GCSE or equivalent and which they will complete in yr 11, therefore over 3 years.  Students will enhance their IT literacy skills whilst developing their knowledge and skills in their chosen area (Creative iMedia/Photography/Graphics/Music Technology).  Should a student wish to choose Photography in Option D but have an interest in Creative iMedia, they are still able to choose this subject in Option C.

Students will be informed during Summer of year 8 if they are suitable for the non Ebacc pathway in order to begin their Option D subject in year 9. 

Non Ebacc Option Blocks

Curriculum time within the non-Ebacc pathway during year 10 & 11

KS3 Curriculum

During Years 7-9 the National curriculum content is carefully tracked to ensure that pupils have covered all areas of non-statutory KS4 subjects by the end of Year 9. Subject Leaders, who are experts in their subjects, carefully construct a curriculum that promotes a deep understanding of a wide range of topics.  Teachers plan learning that allows pupils to embed and recall knowledge through techniques such as interleaving of topics and spaced practice. 

The timetabled curriculum at Key Stage Three (yr 7 & 8)  includes:

*Citizenship includes elements of Personal Social Health Economic Education

**Students choose to study Urdu or Spanish when they join in year 7

***Design Technology includes resistant materials, food, graphics and textiles taught on rotation

In KS3 students are divided into X and Y band.  They are set by attainment in Maths, English and Science and are taught mixed ability in all other subjects. 

 Year 9

In Year 9, core lessons will increase slightly in order to ensure students prepare fully for the GCSE courses.  During the second half of Spring 2, students will be able to make an informed choice about which option subjects they would like to continue to GCSE.

During year 9, students who are following the Non-Ebacc pathway begin their IT option subject.  All other option choices will begin in Year 10.

For Year 9 following the Ebacc pathway, the curriculum time looks like this:

Arts, Performing Arts & Design Technology in Year 9

Art is studied by all, one lesson a fortnight.  Students study DT and Food over the course of the year for one hour a fortnight.  Students also study music and drama for one hour a fortnight over the year, with opportunities to link the subjects together in performances throughout the year.

Assessment at KS3 (Years 7-9)

There will be two assessment points during each year of KS3, where students will be tested on the skills and knowledge they have learned recently e.g. over that term, but also demonstrate their knowledge and skills on previous learning.  The second assessment point will be an end of year exam, for which students will have been taught the study skills and resilience needed to prepare for and excel in.