Curriculum Statement
We Believe in the promise of each individual and will ensure we inspire, support and challenge in proportionate measure, so that we all thrive and are able to achieve our own individual best potential.
Introduction
Our aim is to provide a broad and balanced curriculum, focused on maximising student potential and progress that allows all students to flourish and be the best they can become.
On starting at Wellfield Academy every student is allocated a Personal Tutor and is placed into a vertical tutor group. Our tutor groups belong to one of three houses; Campbell, MacArthur or Sharman. A House Progress Leader, who has responsibility for a house, oversees the personal tutor groups. Tutors and the House Progress Leaders, together with the Assistant Head with responsibility for ‘Progress and Intervention’, ensure cross subject overview, interrogation and intervention on progress and learning matters for individuals. We also have several Pastoral & Behaviour Managers (non-teachers) who are dedicated to well-being support.
Current Key Stage 3 (Year 7 – 9)
All children study the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Science and Physical Education throughout their 5 years at Wellfield.
In Years 7,8 and 9 children also studies Humanities subjects (History, Geography and RE), Art, Design Technology, Computer Science, Drama, Food Technology, Music and Spanish.
Current Key Stage 4
All students study English Language and Literature, Maths and Science leading to GCSE qualifications. Students choose at least 1 GCSE option from Geography, History and Spanish from the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) suite of subjects and up to 2 further GCSE options from either the EBacc subjects listed above and/or Art & Design, Computer Science, Drama, Food Preparation and Nutrition, Music and Religious Studies. We also offer a Cambridge National Sports Studies.
All Years
All students in Key Stages 3 and 4 study Personal, Social, Health, Citizenship and Careers Education (PSHCE) on 5 collapsed curriculum days throughout the year. At Key Stage 4 this includes elements of Religious Education. PHSCE is threaded into the tutor and assembly programme throughout the year.
Homework
Meaningful homework will be set in order to reinforce learning and promote independence. This might be set weekly, fortnightly, depending on how to best enhance learning at that point in the curriculum. We have a flexible approach to homework in as much as we don’t enforce a rigid timetable, so as to avoid the risk of homework just being set for the sake of it. Students will always engage more fully when they see there is a clear purpose. We believe in quality not quantity, so there won’t be a discernible increase at Key Stage Four – instead the work will be more focused towards curriculum understanding and GCSE exam preparation. This is to allow time for more intense revision or preparation periods at various ‘hotspots’ in the GCSE courses.
We will offer variety in the types of homework set, in order to capture different approaches to learning but it will come within the remit of either Reading, Recall or Revision. Reading homeworks are aimed at enhancing comprehension skills, developing a curiosity about the world around us and embedding research skills and critical thinking. Recall homeworks are small chunks of learning that are used to increase the retention of knowledge and skills that can then be further developed within the classroom. Revision homeworks are to prepare the students for assessments and develop strategies for independent learning.
We will undertake a Curriculum Review on an annual basis that will take into account Government legislation and the views of students, parents, Local Academy Councillors, staff and the Trust.
If you would like to know more about our curriculum please contact us at enquiries@wellfieldacademy.org
