WEAVERS ACADEMY CURRICULUM INTENT: 

The curriculum at Weavers Academy is based on a bridging framework collaboratively designed by Heads of Subject from across the Creative Education Trust. This ensures that the curriculum we are implementing within the school is ambitious in the depth of knowledge being taught, as well as the scope that it covers. There is scope for local context, and flexibility for a variety of sequencing of content between assessment points. 

The curriculum at Weavers has been designed with the aim that it contains the knowledge that all pupils need to be active citizens of world around them. We want students at Weavers Academy to leave us ready for the world of work, with the employability characteristics of leadership, teamwork, high aspirations, positive thinking, creativity, problem solving, speaking and listening embedded into their learning. Through effective delivery, the curriculum will limit educational gaps and open doors to new understanding and new knowledge. 

Weavers Academy has high expectations of all members of its community. We are always “Striving for success, Learning with PRIDE”

P	R	I	D	E
Productivity	Respect	Independence	Determination	Engagement

Our curriculum is designed to allow students to become rounded citizens with the ability to learn independently, to be determined to succeed when work is challenging. Students will be engaged with their work, always show excellent productivity. They show respect to themselves and others and have PRIDE in themselves and their work.

To ensure this, the curriculum will:

• Allow pupils to participate in a wide range of subjects and learning experiences.
• Create an aspirational high achievement learning culture.
• Consider the needs of all pupils, including those from disadvantaged background, and with SEND, by being designed with an understanding of how learners learn.
• Sequence knowledge-rich concepts to lead to deep learning.
• Ensure our students are fully prepared for their future.
• Provide opportunities for students to explore how to keep themselves safe both in their community and the wider world

At Weavers, our curriculum offer has been constructed to offer a broad range of subjects with enough time allocation to allow subject mastery of content.

Parents and Carers have the right to withdraw their child from all or part of RE (Religion and World Views).

Weavers Academy ensures that we make adaptations to the curriculum so that we comply with the Equality Act 2010 and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014. We make the curriculum accessible for those with disabilities or special educational needs through effective quality first teaching, scaffolding support through instruction and adapting work where appropriate. It is the aim of our school that all pupils have access to the same ambition curriculum. The SENDco and Assistant Principal for Inclusive Practice, along with all leaders, monitor and evaluate the performance of all relevant pupils, and act according to ensure equitable curriculum access.

Christine Counsell describes curriculum as ‘content structured as narrative over time’. As a school, we can ensure that all our pupils experience a broad and ambitious curriculum that builds over time – week by week, term by term and year by year. In doing so, children bring their own experience into a shared story that enables them to leave our care with confidence and curiosity. 

The Weavers Academy Curriculum enables all students to develop a strong set of values and know how these apply to their lives and to their study. They learn to build positive, respectful relationships with each other, and with adults, are able to show empathy and should communicate in a way such that they can disagree with others without falling out or arguing. They work independently and have the ability to question what they hear and form a logical argument. They have an opinion and can articulate their point effectively but are tolerant of the views of others. Students show determination and engagement as they understand that learning is not necessarily fun and is often hard; they appreciate learning for its own sake, rather than for explicit reward. They demonstrate excellent productivity, always trying their best, as they learn for a purpose and have an idea of what they want to be and where they want to go. 

A Weavers Academy student cares for the environment, understands the world we live in and their own place in it. They are sensible and safe consumers of modern technology, the internet and social media; understand how to use technology in a positive way and the risks associated with poor use. Students are considerate of their own and others’ mental wellbeing, also they have a good idea of how sensible diet, nutrition and exercise affect their own health. Our students have experienced a wider aspect to life beyond their immediate community, broadening their understanding that other people think differently and believe different things. 

We are aware that research shows that academic success is based on experiences outside the classroom as students grow up (cultural capital). Students are more successful if they grow up in a family that:

• Reads books, newspapers and magazines
• Visits museums, art galleries, zoos and stately homes
• Watches the nightly news and documentaries
• Talks about current affairs and their experiences over dinner or in the car, etc

These experiences allow students to acquire worldly awareness, understanding of how life works and, most importantly, the languages and vocabulary with which to explain it all. Our vision is to ensure that all students are supported to benefit from these experiences and the benefits that they give. With this in mind, we have developed an electives programme to enrich students experiences and opportunities.

As a member of the Creative Education Trust, we recognise the importance and value of creative and practical opportunities to nurture positive attitudes to learning and develop the confidence, personal, social and communication skills of all our students. 

KS3 Intent

A Weavers Academy Key Stage 3 student should be numerate and literate in order to access the GCSE curriculum in all the subjects they will study at Key Stage 4. Our students take enjoyment from reading and will have been exposed to a variety of texts which challenge and inspire them. They have experienced creativity that may have inspired further development or identified great talent and are not limited by adult pre-conceptions of their ‘potential’. They are developing in their ability to interact positively and socialise with their peers. Having begun puberty, they understand the physical changes that their body is undergoing and the basics of sex and relationships. Students understand their place within the school community, the local community and the world whilst also developing their understanding of diversity and inclusivity. They have a strong sense of our PRIDE values which enables them to make informed choices every day. 

By the end of Key Stage 3, students will be able to make sensible, yet ambitious subject choices based on demonstrated strengths; supported by high expectations from the staff. They will have developed sufficient independence to take effective notes during their GCSE years and be able to organise their skills and knowledge from the start of their GCSE to optimise outcomes at Key Stage 4 and beyond. 

KS4 Intent

A Weavers Academy Key Stage 4 student will have developed the independence, resilience and character traits required in order to prepare them to make a success of their lives. They have experienced a broad variety of topics but also studied many in-depth, developing expertise in a range of subject specialisms which will enable them to make informed decisions as to what to study beyond key stage 4. They are prepared for life beyond school and have financial awareness to ensure they are prepared for things like budgeting, payslips and interest rates later on in life. They consider the views of others, are able to contribute their own opinions using a range of language skills and are comfortable with having their own opinions challenged. The exposure that students have received to a variety of challenging texts means that they are inquisitive thinkers and are able to critique and challenge the status quo, to be reflective and adaptive, they are able to problem solve; to plan and strategise, they take enjoyment from reading. Students are able to work alone, or in teams and have many opportunities to lead teams in a variety of circumstances, all have been exposed to the possible opportunities that their subject specialisms could afford them, this allows them to make informed choices as they enter post-16 education 

KS5 Intent

A Weavers Academy Key Stage 5 student has enhanced their academic learning through work experience and volunteering in the immediate community and wider world. They have experience of the wider aspects of life at a national and international level, visiting places outside of our own community. All study independently and be able to organise their own time effectively, have the skills, determination and character traits required to successfully attain places at the best universities in the world. They are proud to call themselves students of Weavers Academy and are leaders and role models within the Academy and wider community. They develop a range of expertise through their subjects that enable them to excel at degree level, they are creative thinkers, who are able to challenge the status quo and draw their own conclusions. Students have sought out and embraced opportunities that enable them to make informed choices post 6th Form 

Weavers Academy Taught Curriculum  

(Based on a 52-period fortnight) 

The curriculum below is designed to provide a coherent curriculum across Key stage 3 and 4.  The curriculum is broad in Key Stage 3 and then narrows in year 10 & 11 with all students taking 8 or 9 GCSEs

KS3

Maths	7
English	8
Science	8
History	4
Geography	4
Ethics (RE)	1
MFL (French or Spanish)	3
P.E.	4
Art	2
Computer Science	1
DT	2
Music	2
Drama	2
Ambition Curriculum	2
PSHE	2

KS4

Maths	9
English	10
Science (Combined or 3x Separate)	10/12
P.E. (Students studying separate sciences have less PE)	3/1
PSHE including Ethics	2

Six lessons for each of three options allocated following a guided choices programme whereby appropriate students are encouraged to take the EBACC.    

Options available are:

History	Music
Geography	Music Technology
French	Photography
Spanish	Psychology
Computer Science	Religious Studies
Art	Sociology
Business Retail	Sport
Drama	Textiles
Graphics	Travel and Tourism
Health and Social Care	3D Design
Hospitality and Catering

KS5

P.E.	2
PSHE including Ethics	2
Enrichment Option	6

Nine lessons for each of three options plus one supervised study for each option.

Options available are:

Art	Media
Biology	Medical Science
Business	Music
Chemistry	Music and Music Technology
Computer Science	Performance (Acting)
English language and literature	Photography
French	Physics
Geography	Psychology
Graphics	Sociology
Health and Social Care	Spanish
History	Sport
Math	Textiles

Enrichment options available are:

Maths GCSE Resit	Further Maths
English GCSE Resit	Maths Studies
Gold Arts Award	Sports Leadership
Extended Project Qualification	Student Leadership