Curriculum

Engage students with a broad and balanced range of opportunities that are carefully sequenced and structured to enable progression.

All students study the core subjects of English, mathematics and science, along with physical education (PE), religious studies and the personal development curriculum of PSHE (personal, social, health and economic education), RHSE (relationships, health and sex education) and SMSC (spiritual, moral, social and cultural education).

In addition to this core, a wide range of subjects is studied by all students, including humanities, languages, STEM and creative subjects.

As students progress through the academy, they are guided towards appropriate pathways. Students are encouraged and supported to study a curriculum that is academic at its core involving the English Baccalaureate suite of subjects, which includes a humanities subject and a modern foreign language. We believe this is appropriate and necessary in order to provide a balanced but challenging experience at Key Stage 4 for our students. For some students the full English Baccalaureate suite of subjects is not appropriate, however all of our students study at least one Baccalaureate subject.

In the Sixth Form, students can choose to study from a wide range of academic subjects at A-level and other vocational courses. Students’ curriculum in the Sixth Form also includes a number of enrichment lessons that complement their studies, along with the opportunity for a period of work experience.

Equip students with the knowledge and skills to succeed in education and participate fully in the modern world.

Students learning in each subject across each year is carefully planned and sequenced to enable the most effective development of knowledge and skills, allowing for progression from one unit of work to the next and each year to the next. Students will experience common approaches within their subjects in the areas of starter tasks, modelling, questioning, and checking for understanding. Study skills, such as memory and retrieval, are developed throughout their time at school to enable them to know more and remember as they progress through each year. Revision strategies are an essential component in this that our students develop in readiness for assessments and exams.

Homework is set regularly to enhance students’ learning and to develop essential study skills. All homework tasks can be accessed through the Show My Homework website which also provides resources and guidance to students.

Students’ literacy and numeracy skills are essential to their success through school. We help students to develop their use of language through expert teaching that focuses on extending their ability to produce sophisticated writing.

Students are given regular opportunities to expand and improve their reading, with a portion of each day in Years 7, 8 and 9 devoted to reading as part of the DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) programme. Students’ reading is developed and assessed in Years 7 and 8 through the Accelerated Reader programme, delivered in English curriculum time.

Alongside these opportunities there will be a range of other reading activities within students’ lessons in all subjects.

Focused intervention is used to give these students the opportunity to attain the similar reading levels as their peers during their first year of secondary school, thereby ensuring they are ‘secondary ready’ to access our curriculum.

There is a careers programme designed specifically for each year group (Years 7-13) and delivered through lessons, assemblies and other special sessions. To give our students the best possible advice and guidance for their futures (covering the Gatsby benchmarks) we involve the school’s Careers and Aspirations Leader, the use of online learning tools for careers related guidance, and a range of outside speakers such as representatives from local universities and apprenticeships. A targeted group of our most able students participate in the Trust’s HE+ programme which provides opportunities and support for applications to top universities.

A personal development (PD) curriculum containing issues relating to personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) and spiritual, moral, social and cultural development (SMSC) is delivered in a rolling PD period, assemblies and tutor time. This allows students to discuss, debate and explore these themes in more detail and be aware of how to seek any additional support they might require. Relationship, Sex and Education programme is delivered in an age-appropriate way.

Students’ character is developed throughout their time at the academy. The Hall Park Values of ‘Democracy’, ‘Responsibility’, ‘Independence’, ‘Value’ (tolerance and respect) and ‘Equality’ reflect the British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect, and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs. These feature across our curriculum, including personal development and assemblies. These encourage students to develop and reflect on the qualities and characteristics that are an essential part of being a citizen in modern British society.

A collection of ten Pledges encourage students’ full participation in school life and must be carried out throughout their time at Hall Park Academy. They include participation in sports, performing arts, trips and working with the community.
Student Leadership opportunities are available for students within each House, such as the House Captain role.

Enrich students’ experiences through deep and challenging learning within and beyond the classroom.

In addition to the curriculum opportunities already outlined there are a wide variety of co-curricular opportunities that are available to all of our students. A range of trips are available to all students to enhance their learning in different subjects and offer different cultural experiences.

The Curriculum Plus programme promotes an extensive range of clubs and sports opportunities that are regularly available to students in both academic areas and sports. These are complemented by regular study opportunities that are available to all of our students before, during and after school, including library access and extra subject support.

Our Aspirations programme provides events to promote student achievement and raise aspirations across all year groups using our links with Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and local businesses. At key stage 3, students will participate in special enrichment days facilitated by local businesses and a workshop run by NTU focusing on the skills they can develop to help their future choices.  At key stage 4, students participate in a careers enrichment day as well as each having a mock interview with an outside visitor from local businesses. They also take part in an exam resilience programme with NTU.

In Year 10 and 12, students take part in a week of work experience with students embarking on a range of placements in local businesses and organisations. This opportunity provides them with valuable insights into workplaces and different career roles.

Throughout the school year, students are given opportunities that extend and enhance their studies in different subjects. During Careers Week our students are able to hear first-hand from people who work in a range of different professions and careers.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme is available to our students at the levels of Bronze, Silver and Gold Award. These extensive programmes provide a wealth of opportunities to our students in physical activities, developing wider skills and helping others through volunteering.

How we implement our curriculum:

During Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9) we offer our students a broad curriculum with an extensive range of experiences. They study in a wide range of subjects with full coverage of the National Curriculum happening by the end of Year 9. Students follow themes in their units of work, with these topics sequenced to enable progression from one unit to another and from one year to the next. Key Stage 3 provides the foundation for later achievement, helping to prepare students for the next stage through high quality teaching and learning experiences.

Key Stage 4 (Year 10 and 11) allows for the expansion of skills and knowledge to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world. Their broad and balanced curriculum at Key Stage 4 builds on prior learning preparing them well for further education. Students have equality of access to academic, practical and vocational subjects, including those that make up the English Baccalaureate. Alongside their core subjects, students study four additional subjects that they opt for in Year 9. This enables greater depth of study, enjoyment and motivation across all of their subjects. Students are able to change subject choices during the initial part of this year to ensure that they are studying appropriate subjects at Key Stage 4.

Key Stage 5 (Year 12 and 13) provides our students with the specialised pathways necessary to provide access to higher education, training and employment. Students are taught by specialist staff in a wide range of subjects, including vocational areas.

 

The impact of our curriculum:

Our curriculum will be reviewed annually to ensure its appropriateness and effectiveness towards the fulfilment of our intent. Quality assurance processes run throughout the year within each faculty. This will allow students to continue to achieve to their full potential and gain the qualifications that will give them access to the next stage of their education and their future careers.

Our curriculum structure (showing lessons per week):

 

Key Stage 3

Year 7	Maths 3 English 5 Science 3 French/German 2*	History 1 Geography 2 Design & Technology 2 Physical Education 2 Art 1	Drama 1 Music 1 Religious Education 1 Computing 1
Year 8	Maths 3 English 5 Science 3 French/German 2*	History 2  Geography 1 Design & Technology 2 Physical Education 2 Art 1	Drama 1 Music 1 Religious Education 1 Computing 1
Year 9	Maths 4 English 4 Science 3 French/German 2*	History 2 Geography 2 Design & Technology 1 Physical Education 2 Art 1	Drama 1 Music 1 Religious Education 1 Computing 1

* All students study at least one language. Students in top sets study two languages (3 periods)

Key Stage 4

Year 10	Maths 4 English 4 Science 5	Subject choice* A 2.5 Subject choice* B 2.5 Subject choice* C 2.5 Subject choice* D 2.5	Religious Education 1 Physical Education 1
Year 11	Maths 4 English 5 Science 5	Subject choice* A 2.5 Subject choice* B 2.5 Subject choice* C 2.5 Subject choice* D 2.5	Physical Education 1

 

* Students’ guided pathway choices from: Art, Business, Computer Science,
Design & Technology, Drama, Food Preparation & Nutrition, French, German, Geography, Health and Social Care (BTEC), History, Hospitality (BTEC), Music, Physical Education (GCSE), Triple Science.

 

Each year group will study a personal development curriculum of PSHE (personal, social, health and economic education), RHSE (relationships, health and sex education) and SMSC (spiritual, moral, social and cultural education) through a dedicated period each week, complemented by assemblies and other events.

 

 

Post-16

 

All our Years 12 and 13 study for 20 hours per week. Students select 3 subjects to study along with enrichment activities.

	Lesson Time
Subject 1	5 hours per week
Subject 2	5 hours per week
Subject 3	5 hours per week
Enrichment session	1 hour per week
Work experience*	1 hour per week
Tutoring session	1 hour per week

*completed during a one or one-week placement during the summer of year 12

 

Our students can select from the following subjects:

Art A-Level	Health and Social Care BTEC
Biology A-Level	History A-Level
Business A-Level	IT i-Media
Chemistry A-Level	Mathematics A-level
Computing A-Level	Music BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Music Performance.
Design Technology A-Level	Physical Education A-Level
Drama A-Level	Photography A-Level
English Literature A-Level	Physics A-Level
French A-Level	Psychology A-Level
Geography A-Level	Sociology A-Level
Government & Politics A-level	English and Maths GCSE Resit
Plus, enrichment activities, such as the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)