Our Curriculum

Our Curriculum

 

At Grace Academy Solihull we offer a broad and balanced curriculum which produces well-rounded and informed members of society who can achieve outstanding academic success.

Our curriculum meets the needs of all and improves over time, refined and owned by our reflective and professional staff body.

 

A broad and balanced curriculum which produces well-rounded and informed members of society.

We ensure a broad curriculum offer which supports students in developing their knowledge, understanding and skills in all aspects of the National Curriculum in our three-year KS3. This enables them to make informed decisions and choose from a broad selection of topics in KS4 and KS5.  Our curriculum is also enhanced with PSHE, a tutor-time programme of activities, assemblies and an enrichment programme. Our enrichment programme allows students to take part in activities outside of timetabled lessons that support their growth into well-rounded and informed members of society. For instance, the academy provides students with access to state-of-the-art sports and performing arts facilities, free music tuition to students on top of their scheduled music lessons, pairing with local engineers to provide bike maintenance and repair workshops, and an exciting science club which engages students in research and experiments which expand upon and support the science curriculum.

Supporting outstanding academic success and meeting the needs of all:

Each and every subject at the school has carefully sequenced their curriculum so that all students become experts in each discipline and can achieve outstanding academic success. To support this aim, each department team ensures they follow the academy’s Curriculum 4 approach which ensures that the coherently sequenced curriculum has the following features:

  • Precise – Staff and students know exactly what they need to learn and to what standard in every year. Students can use this knowledge to become increasingly independent and take more ownership of their learning.
  • Builds & Reviews – Students know more and remember more. Each year builds upon the last with frequent opportunity for review of previous learning to ensure long-term retention of key material.
  • Challenges & Supports – Each year, the expectation of students increases, with the curriculum presenting appropriate challenge whilst still being accessible to all. Students know the exact high standards they should reach in-year to achieve excellence.
  • Enriches – Alongside developing students’ skills, knowledge and understanding, the curriculum helps to develop well rounded members of society and develop their character and personal skills.

Teachers are experts in their subjects and deliver high-quality lessons which ensure all students make good progress through their coherently sequenced curriculum. Teachers at Grace Academy Solihull value the relationships we build with each and every one of our students, carefully differentiating their teaching to support all in reaching their potential. Teachers make effective use of assessment to identify individual strengths and areas for improvement of each student, providing them with timely targeted feedback to help them achieve their potential. In this way we find all our students are able to make outstanding progress.

We work closely with students to help them to make the most appropriate curriculum choices for their aspirations, supporting them to be prepared for their next steps in learning and their future career. It is our ambition that as many students as possible achieve good passes in English language, English literature, mathematics, the sciences, French and a humanities subject. Furthermore, we are committed to continue to provide students with a wider range of opportunities in a variety of subjects, expanding beyond the academic core. This is supported by an extensive careers programme running throughout a student’s time at the academy to ensure they make informed decisions and can leave with a clear plan towards exciting careers and lives.

Our Post 16 curriculum is designed to offer a range of level 3 (advanced level) subjects, both academic and vocational, and supports students in accessing higher education, apprenticeships, or the world of work. We pride ourselves in not only offering traditional ‘A Levels’ but a range of equivalent vocationally based courses to give students a wide range of options. Our entire post 16 programme is supplemented with a series of courses and accreditations to prepare students for future life. These courses range from ‘certificates in personal financial effectiveness’ to basic skills designed to prepare students to live away from home and be independent.

An ever-improving curriculum, owned and refined by a professional staff body.

At Grace Academy we are lucky to have teams of experts with a wealth of experience in delivering their subject effectively to our students. Each department team meets weekly to discuss the progress of students through the curriculum and to collaborate to further improve our already high level of practice. Teaching teams actively engage in continual professional development and research to ensure we are at the forefront of education. We have close links with our primary feeder schools and each department has tailored our curriculum to the strengths of students so that the transition into year 7 is as seamless as possible.

Sex Education

Relationship, sex and health education is now a statutory part of our curriculum. Students in years 7 to 9 take part in PSHE for 1 hour a week, and students in years 10 to 13 have designated lessons throughout the academic year that address this important part of our curriculum. Our policy and curriculum have been through rigorous auditing to ensure that the right aspects of the curriculum are taught at the right age. Our curriculum is evidence based and completely fulfils our statutory obligation.

Parents have the right to withdraw their children from some areas of RSHE education, but not all – please contact the school if you have any questions. The views of our parents have been considered within our Relationships and Sex Education policy, and our policy reflects their wishes and the culture of the community served by the academy.

Religious Education and PSHE

We teach religious education and PSHE in a variety of ways; as a discrete subject, and through other areas of the curriculum. Parents have the right to withdraw their children from all or part of religious education sessions.

Equal Opportunities and Special Educational Needs

The Governing Body of the Academy aims to provide an appropriate learning experience for all students, whatever their SEND, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, religion or ability. The academy has high expectations of all students.

The academy aims to provide students with the opportunity to learn in an environment free of prejudice which is accessible to all. It is the responsibility of all staff to educate against any form of prejudice or negative stereotyping and to ensure that their conduct with students and colleagues reflects this responsibility at all time

The academy ensures that every teacher adapts the curriculum to allow access to learning for all students in their class. Teachers employ a variety of strategies to achieve this aim, dependant on the specific needs of individual students. Our approach to the curriculum complies with the special educational needs and disabilities regulations 2014 to ensure that the curriculum is accessible for those with disabilities or special educational needs. See our SEND section for more details about our robust approach.

If you would like to know more about our curriculum, please contact the academy on 0121 329 4600.