Our curriculum in years 7-11
Curriculum is at the heart of what we do at Shenley Academy. Our curriculum is underpinned by our academy values of aspiration, resilience, respect, responsibility and tolerance.
The pillars of our curriculum are:
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Subject Specific and Knowledge Rich
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Character Development
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Literacy and Mathematics across the curriculum
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Inclusion
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Challenge
Our curriculum model is designed to enable students to experience a broad and diverse range of subjects, whilst ensuring that every student gains the high quality qualifications they need for the future.
Curriculum Newsletter – Summer Term 2, 2021
Curriculum Newsletter – Summer Term 1, 2021
Shenley Academy Letter to year 11 parents – 26 January 2021
Key stage 3
In years 7, 8 and 9, students study maths, English, science, geography, history, religious education, French or Spanish, art, drama, dance, music, information technology, technology and physical education.
| Subject | No. of Lessons per Fortnight | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Maths | 10 in year 7; 8 in years 8 and 9 | David.Speake@E-ACT.org.uk |
| English | 8 in years 7 and 8; 10 in year 9 | Jane.Bradbury@E-ACT.org.uk |
| Science | 6 in year 7; 8 in years 8 and 9 | Emma.Smith1@E-ACT.org.uk |
| Geography | 3 in years 7 and 8; 2 in year 9 | Lynne.Murphy@E-ACT.org.uk |
| History | 3 in years 7 and 8; 2 in year 9 | Lynne.Murphy@E-ACT.org.uk |
| Religious Education | 2 | Lynne.Murphy@E-ACT.org.uk |
| French or Spanish | 2 | Thomas.Toulson@E-ACT.org.uk |
| Information Technology (IT) | 2 | Harjeet.Assee@E-ACT.org.uk |
| Technology | 2 | Laura.Jarvis@E-ACT.org.uk |
| Art | 2 | Hannah.Edie-Pabla@E-ACT.org.uk |
| Dance | 2 | Hannah.Edie-Pabla@E-ACT.org.uk |
| Drama | 2 | Hannah.Edie-Pabla@E-ACT.org.uk |
| Music | 1 | Hannah.Edie-Pabla@E-ACT.org.uk |
| Physical Education | 4 | Nick.Vaughan@E-ACT.org.uk |
| PSHE | 1 | Daniel.Thacker-Smith@E-ACT.org.uk |
Key stage 4
In years 10 and 11 students continue to study an academic core which includes maths, English and science. Students are then able to personalise their curriculum by selecting three additional subjects from geography, history, French, Spanish, art, product design, religious education, health and social care, enterprise and marketing, sports studies, music, dance, drama and food preparation and nutrition.
All GCSE exams are now graded using a system of numbers 9-1, rather than letters. For more information on this new system please click the following link.
What the new GCSEs mean: A guide for parents and carers
In order to support your son/daughter in their examination preparation please find links below to the specifications which are studied in each subject:
| Subject | No. of Lessons per Fortnight | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Maths | 10 | Edexcel | GCSE (9-1) Mathematics |
| English | 10 | AQA | GCSE English Literature |
| GCSE English Language | |||
| Science | 10 | AQA | GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy |
| Physical Education (PE) | 2 | ||
| Options subjects (students are able to choose three subjects): | |||
| Geography | 6 | AQA | GCSE Geography |
| History | 6 | Edexcel | GCSE History |
| Religious Education | 6 | AQA | GCSE Religious Studies A |
| French or Spanish | 6 | AQA | GCSE French |
| GCSE Spanish | |||
| Art | 6 | Edexcel | GCSE Art and Design |
| Dance | 6 | Edexcel | BTEC Performing Arts |
| Drama | 6 | Edexcel | Level 1/2 Technical Award Performing Arts |
| Music | 6 | Edexcel | BTEC Firsts Music |
| Product Design | 6 | AQA | GCSE Design and Technology |
| Food Preparation and Nutrition | 6 | AQA | GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition |
| Enterprise and Marketing | 6 | Cambridge | Cambridge National Enterprise and Marketing |
| Health & Social Care | 6 | Cambridge | Cambridge National Health and Social Care |
| Sports Studies | 6 | Cambridge | Cambridge National Sports Studies |
Homework
Homework is an important part of our curriculum. It is used to help students to consolidate their past learning, to prepare for new learning and to develop the revision and recall skills required for examination success. Students are set regular homework in accordance with the Academy’s homework policy.
You can view the homework calendar for your son/daughter by clicking here
Curriculum plans for each subject
You can view the KS3 long term plans for each subject area by clicking on the links below:
| Art | Dance | Design Technology |
| Drama | English | Geography |
| History | Mathematics | Music |
| PE | Religious Education | Science |
| ICT | MFL |
You can view the KS4 (2020-2021) overviews for each subject area by clicking on the links below:
| Art | Catering | Dance |
| Drama | English | Geography |
| History | Mathematics | MFL |
| Performing Arts | Product Design | RE |
| Sports Studies |
You can view the year 11 roadmaps for each subject area by clicking on the links below:
| Art | Business | Catering |
| Dance | Drama | English |
| Geography | Health and Social Care | History |
| Mathematics - Foundation | Mathematics - Higher | Music |
| Product Design | Science | Sports Studies |
| Spanish |
Additional resources to support the curriculum can be found here.
Teacher Assessed Grades
As a result of the significant disruption our students have faced over the last year, the government has said that exams cannot be held in a way which is fair this year. For more information, please see our guide below.
Guide: Awarding Qualifications in the Summer
Options process 2021
The options letter and booklet, which contains more detailed information about the options process, can be found by clicking on the following links.
Shenley Academy – Options letter 08 March 2021
Shenley Academy – letter to year 9 parents re options evening 26 February 2021
Letter to year 9 parents re options evenings -12 February 2021
Options letter to parents Year 9 Options booklet 2021
There is also a Virtual Options page where you can view presentations about the options process and subject areas, to access this please click the button below.
More information
If you require further details about the curriculum, please contact Miss Smith on 0121 464 5191 or Emma.Smith1@E-ACT.org.uk