CURRICULUM
Our curriculum is designed to foster thought, curiosity and a desire for learning in all pupils, regardless of their backgrounds, strengths and needs. It should be a gateway to opportunity and to a fulfilling and prosperous life in modern Britain and beyond.
Our curriculum is broad and balanced, with an emphasis on academic success. We prioritise learning in Literacy, Numeracy, Languages, Humanities and Science. Our curriculum is both coherent and cumulative, with an emphasis on the critical importance of knowledge acquisition.
In line with the Star Quality Standards, the curriculum actively promotes equality for all through both its content and delivery. Full details are contained in the Annual Equalities Statement.
We aim to ensure that all pupils have access to the curriculum and are not disadvantaged by any disabilities or special educational needs. Full details are contained in the SEND Information Report, Policy and Guidance.
Star Curriculum Aims
Our curriculum aims to:
- To transform the educational achievement of our young people.
- To elevate the life chances of young people in areas of social and economic deprivation – from all backgrounds – to help them succeed at the highest levels of education, employment and professions.
- To deliver a knowledge-rich curriculum with rigour and high expectations in order to maximise academic outcomes for pupils and prepare them successfully for their future destinations.
- To mould pupils into active British citizens, with a sense of responsibility for their actions.
- To encourage pupils’ social participation within their community.
- To promote the development and nurturing of young leaders.
- To give pupils a practical and more successful understanding of their rights and responsibilities in society.
- To allow pupils to develop their individuality and creativity.
- To promote the physical and mental development of pupils.
- To empower pupils with the necessary skills and abilities to play a full and inclusive role within society, consistent and comfortable with their beliefs and principles.
- To fulfil trust and statutory requirements.
- To support the mission, vision and values of the trust and its establishments.
At the core of the Academy’s curriculum will be a specialist and obligatory menu at Key Stages 3 and 4 for all pupils of academic subjects leading to the English Baccalaureate including English, Mathematics, Sciences, Languages and Humanities.
Star Curriculum Principles
In line with the Star Quality Standards, the school will ensure the curriculum:
- is primarily ambitious, academic, broad and balanced in nature
- emphasises learning in literacy, numeracy, languages, humanities and science
- encourages high levels of participation in subjects that lead to the English Baccalaureate – at least 70% of the delivery time in each year is dedicated to E-Bacc subjects
- prioritises academic achievement in literacy and numeracy for least able pupils
- provides highly positive, memorable experiences and rich opportunities for high-quality learning
- has a positive impact on all pupils’ behaviour, safety and personal development
- contributes to pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development
- adopts an inclusive, values-driven approach in line with the ethos of the school
- fosters, in all, the fundamental British values of democracy; the rule of law; freedom of religion; freedom of choice; freedom of thought; freedom of speech; freedom of association; tolerance and respect; fairness; liberty; social responsibility; equality for all
- contributes to the leadership specialism of the school and helps every pupil access activities within each of Star’s five leadership foundations of sport, creativity, performing arts, enterprise and careers, charity and social action
The Star Curriculum Offer
The curriculum will bring to life the following three golden threads to help realise our vision: nurturing today’s young people, inspiring tomorrow’s leaders:
- Educational Excellence
- Character Development
- Service to Communities
The three individual elements of learning contribute to the education of the whole child. Intellectual, personal and social maturity will be the goal of these structured layers of learning at the school.
Element 1: Educational Excellence.
At the core of the school’s curriculum will be a specialist and obligatory menu for all pupils of academic subjects leading to the English Baccalaureate and including English, mathematics, sciences, languages, humanities, arts and technology. The curriculum will be knowledge-rich and subject content will largely be driven by the National Curriculum and by specifications of national examinations. The School believes that every pupil can benefit from an ambitious, rich and deep, academic curriculum that is supplemented by vocational courses to provide a breadth of experience. Therefore, Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications (GCSEs, A Levels and vocational courses) will be appropriate for all bar a very small number. For these small number of pupils with cognitive learning needs, the School will design a bespoke route which will be tailored to the specific needs and interests of the pupils concerned in any specific cohort. A personalised pathway for these pupils would be likely to include entry level and pre-GCSE courses. The school will, nevertheless, expect these pupils to participate fully in mainstream lessons, and to gain the full benefits of the school’s leadership specialism. The school will also provide opportunities for learning in performance and creative arts – including iMedia, music, drama and/or art. Furthermore, pupils should also have teaching related to technical learning – including subjects such as computer science, food technology and/or textiles. Element 1 will be delivered mainly through the formal taught curriculum.
Element 2: Character Development
Concurrently with the core academic curriculum, pupils will participate in a programme of leadership development organised around Star’s five leadership foundations of sport, creativity, performing arts, enterprise and careers, charity and social action.
The leadership specialism will help pupils develop key personal skills and aptitudes, including oral communication, personal effectiveness, entrepreneurship, self-actualisation, problem-solving and enhanced emotional intelligence. Through a focused and integrated approach to arts, culture and tradition, pupils will benefit from deep learning through direct experiences, visual displays, handling artefacts, live performances, cultural exchanges and outside visits. These extracurricular dimensions of learning will be at the heart of the school. Character Development will mainly be delivered through the PSHCE curriculum including extra-curricular activities linked to each subject and through pupils’ independent studies in their own time. The Rising Stars (community schools) or Faithful Stars (faith schools) programme will also contribute significantly to this fundamental element of the curriculum.
Element 3: Service to Communities
The curriculum for this element is linked to leadership foundation of Star Citizens and will be structured to help the development of social enterprise, volunteering and service to communities. Pupils will acquire, through a range of individualised programmes, insights into social education and experiential community activities; with ‘hands-on’ and participative learning at the fore. For example, senior pupils may have the opportunity to undertake an extended placement working for a charity or for another community organisation. Senior pupils may undertake a ‘finishing’ element to acquaint them with the customs, morals, behaviours and expectations of contemporary adult and professional life. As this element is based on pupil voluntary work, there will only be limited taught time in school. As well as the service learning and placements via the Citizenship curriculum with PSHCE, all pupils will aim to undertake 50 hours of voluntary work a year. Pupils’ efforts will be rewarded through the Star Diploma
Courses Available at Key Stage 3
Non-examinable course at Key Stage 3
Subject | Exam Information |
---|---|
English | Non-examinable course at Key Stage 3 |
Mathematics | Non-examinable course at Key Stage 3 |
Science | Non-examinable course at Key Stage 3 |
History | Non-examinable course at Key Stage 3 |
Geography | Non-examinable course at Key Stage 3 |
French | Non-examinable course at Key Stage 3 |
Computing | Non-examinable course at Key Stage 3 |
P.E. | Non-examinable course at Key Stage 3 |
Religious Education | Non-examinable course at Key Stage 3 |
PSHE /Citizenship | Non-examinable course at Key Stage 3 |
Art | Non-examinable course at Key Stage 3 |
Food Technology | Non-examinable course at Key Stage 3 |
Performing Arts (Music / Drama) | Non-examinable course at Key Stage 3 |
Courses Available at Key Stage 4
Subject | Course Title | Core/Option | Exam Board | Specification |
---|---|---|---|---|
English | GCSE English Language | Core | AQA | 8700 |
GCSE English Literature | Core | AQA | 8702 | |
Maths | GCSE Mathematics | Core | EdExcel | 1MA1 |
Sciences | GCSE Science (Combined) | Core – pupils study one of the Science courses | EdExcel | 1SC0 |
GCSE Science (Individual Sciences) – Biology, Chemistry, Physics | EdExcel | 1BI0, 1CH0 & 1PH0 | ||
Humanities | GCSE History | Core – pupils study one of the Humanities courses | AQA | 8145 |
GCSE Geography | AQA | 8035 | ||
Languages | GCSE French | Core – pupils study one of the Languages courses | AQA | 8658 |
GCSE Arabic | EdExcel | 1AA0 | ||
GCSE Urdu | Edexcel | 1UR0 | ||
Religious Studies | GCSE Religious Studies | Core | AQA | 8062 |
Physical Education | Physical Education | Core | OCR | N/A |
Option 1: Computing/ICT | GCSE Computer Science | Option | OCR | J276 |
Cambridge National in Creative iMedia Level 1/Level 2 |
OCR | J817 | ||
Option 2: Sports Studies | Cambridge National Sports Studies Level 1/Level 2 | Option | OCR | J829 |
Option 3: Hospitality and Catering | Vocational Award in Hospitalilty and Catering Level 1/Level 2 | Option | Eduqas | 5409QA |
Option 4: Engineering | Cambridge Nationals Engineering Design Level 1/Level 2 | Option | OCR | J822 |
Option 5: Business | GCSE Business | Option | AQA | 8132 |
Option 6: Further Maths | Further Maths | Option | AQA | 8365 |
Option 7: Citizenship | GCSE Citizenship | Option | AQA | 8100 |
Option 8: Art | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC |
Enrichment through the Curriculum
The School has a firm commitment that learning in each curriculum area should not just be about delivering a Scheme of Work or programme of study to achieve outstanding examination results, but should also be about pupils enjoying learning and developing creativity within that subject. Each curriculum area will be expected to develop enrichment activities for learners and to signpost these activities. Enrichment within curriculum areas should be aimed at:
- increasing enjoyment within that curriculum area;
- providing challenge and developing independent learning in gifted and talented pupils in the curriculum area;
- developing the profile of the curriculum area or particular skills and themes within that area;
- linking the curriculum area to the School’s Leadership specialism and providing access to activities within each of Star’s five leadership foundations of sport, creativity, performing arts, enterprise and careers, charity and social action. Each curriculum area will develop their enrichment activity in the coming academic year. Enrichment will include:
- development of clubs linked to one or more curriculum areas;
- development of faculty-based trips and outdoor learning opportunities;
- identifying external facilitators to engage pupils;
- celebrating a particular ‘National Day’ or ‘World Week’ related to an issue of relevance to the curriculum area and the school’s Leadership specialism. The enrichment activities will be delivered during:
- weekday evening sessions on particular days of the week when intervention sessions are not usually scheduled;
- lessons to celebrate a particular ‘National Day’ or ‘ World Week’ related to an issue of relevance to the curriculum area;
- weekends and early mornings/evenings where appropriate
Enrichment Timetable
Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
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Name of Club: Geography club Room: G2
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Name of Club: Model UN Room: F4
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Name of Club: Drama club Room: Creative arts room
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Name of Club: Martial Arts Room: Sports Hall
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Name of Club: Football Room: Large 3g Pitch
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Name of Club: Rugby Club Room: Small 3g Pitch
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Name of Club: Coding Club Room: G3
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Name of Club: Food Club Room: Food room
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Name of Club: Art Club Room: G5
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Name of Club: Multi-sports Room: Small 3g Pitch
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Name of Club: Chess Club Room: F4
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Name of Club: Archive Club (Archivists) Room: History
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Name of Club: School Podcast Room: F3
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Name of Club: Multi-sports Room: Small 3g Pitch
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Name of Club: Badminton Room: Sports Hall
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Name of Club: Litter Picking Room: F10
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Name of Club: STEM Room: S10
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Name of Club: Young Voices of Eden Room: F5
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Name of Club: Music and Nasheeds Room: S2
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- For further information about our curriculum offer, please see our subject pages or contact the school directly at Sarfraz.Shah@ebmanchester.staracademies.org