Berwick Academy

Our Curriculum

Curriculum Purpose 

Every young person has the right to a broad, stimulating and enriching education.   Our purpose is to equip all students to be good citizens who contribute positively to their local and wider communities.  We are ambitious for every Berwick Academy student in their academic, technical and vocational studies and in the experiences that complement and enrich their programmes of study.  Equally, we expect high levels of commitment from students, educating them in the importance of being On Time, On Side and On Task through The Berwick Way.  Our purpose and aims reflect our core values of Friendship, Learning and Respect.

Curriculum Aims: 

• To equip students with powerful knowledge that will be transformational for them in further education and employment. 
• To imbue every student with a belief in their abilities and in the transformational power of knowledge, regardless of background, starting point, or future goals.
• To give students the knowledge and critical literacy to participate successfully in, and to shape, society in the future.  
• To give every young person a sound social, moral and cultural foundation through our values of Friendship, Learning and Respect.  

We will implement our curriculum vision and aims using the following principles: 

Knowledge Acquisition and Application 

Our knowledge-engaged curriculum is designed to make knowledge stick, supporting our young people to thrive in their chosen pathways.  It reflects our conviction that every student has the right to access engaging and challenging subject content, regardless of background or starting point.  Our curriculum design is evidence-informed; learning is sequenced to allow incremental knowledge acquisition, and to regularly consolidate content.  We create frequent opportunities for students to apply knowledge flexibly in a range of contexts, developing depth of understanding and independence.  We recognise that the importance of an enriched and extended curriculum, providing a range of opportunities for students beyond the classroom.  

Reading and Disciplinary Literacy 

Reading and disciplinary literacy are central to our curriculum.  Given the correlation between and literacy life outcomes, it is essential that all teachers develop students’ literacy.  ‘Read, Think, Write’, our disciplinary literacy strategy, gives students the tools to unlock complex, academic texts, to engage in nuanced and critical discussion, and to develop fluent written expression.  Vocabulary instruction and discussion strategies support Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary acquisition and critical understanding.  There is an emphasis on reading aloud in lessons. 

Teacher as the Expert 

The teacher is the expert in their classroom.  Joint planning and other CPD supports teachers to develop expert knowledge in subject content and pedagogy.  Curriculum leaders and teachers work together within faculties and across the school to transmit and embed the knowledge and values of our community.   All teachers will support students to develop intellectual curiosity, independence and resilience.  Excellent curriculum design is a ongoing process of review and refinement to ensure that we meet the needs of our students.   

The Role of the Learner 

The curriculum exists in service of the student, but we put critical emphasis on students’ responsibilities.  We expect students to demonstrate personal responsibility as a stakeholder in their education and a member of our learning community.  All students are educated in ‘The Berwick Way’, to work hard with positivity, empathy and attention to detail.  We proactively teach students what this means and support them in developing these behaviours, which we recognise can take time. 

Our School Day, Lessons and Timetable

The Academy operates a 2 week timetable with 20 lessons per week (4 x 75 minute lessons per day).  All the core and foundation subjects that form the National Curriculum are taught in Year 9.

During Year 9 a booklet is published with details of all the courses that will be available in Key Stage Four (Years 10 and 11).

Year 9 students choose their GCSE options at the beginning of the calendar year. An options booklet and open evening is provided to help them make their choice. Due to the constraints of the timetable and the need to demonstrate a balanced and appropriate curriculum at Key Stage Four, students may be required to choose between options which both fall in the same options block. The school has designed these blocks to ensure that, whatever a child’s options choices, they are not prevented from following an A Level course of study as a result of a failure to select the appropriate course of study at GCSE.

In addition to the core subjects shown above, students are provided with lessons to support their spiritual, physical and personal development. The remainder of a student’s timetable is taken up by four options choices. The majority of our students enter the Sixth Form after Year 11. We have an open entry policy and all students are advised about the most appropriate courses to study.

How can I find out more about the curriculum at Berwick Academy?

You can find out more by contacting the Director of Learning for the relevant subject area in school, or more widely, by contacting a member of the Senior Leadership Team with oversight of the curriculum.  You can email at admin@berwickacademy.co.uk or telephone 01289305083.