We are ambitious for our students and seek to prepare them fully for life in the workplace and wider world. This is achieved through high quality teaching and learning opportunities both in and out of the classroom, a focus on essential skills development and a curriculum that values everyone and their uniqueness.
Our five curriculum aims are to:
The curriculum at Sandwell Academy consists of formal taught lessons in a broad range of subjects plus the additionality of:
Our curriculum structure is arranged into three key stages shown below:
Key Stage 3 (KS3)
11-14
Years 7 to 9
End of KS3 assessments.
Key Stage 4 (KS4)
14-16
Years 10 and 11
BTEC, GCSE and other Level 2 qualifications.
Post 16 (Sixth Form)
16-18
Years 12 and 13
BTEC, A-Level and other Level 3 qualifications.
In developing the curriculum, we have carefully determined what the ultimate endpoint of each curriculum phase looks like, overall and for each indivdual subject. We have then planned learning sequences, experiences and events to ensure students meet these endpoints with the greatest success. Through structured assessments, we actively aim to identify students who are falling behind at the earliest opportunity. We then used research backed intervention strategies to support students, to regain lost ground and get back on track.
At Sandwell Academy, our diverse and inclusive curriculum is designed to meet the needs of all learners. We ensure that student pathways are tailored to pupils’ academic strengths and needs, and that any auxiliary aids are secured at the earliest possible opportunity. Teaching staff are supported to adapt lessons to meet the individual needs of learners, and information is made available to them from the Welfare Team. This includes, for example, where students require altered resources, adapted methods of communication, or changes to the physical or sensory environment. This is to ensure that additional needs and specialised requirements do not pose a barrier to academic progress.
We must also recognise that social and emotional needs can pose an additional challenge for students when accessing the curriculum. As such, the Academy makes available a wide range of opportunities for social and emotional learning and intervention, as outlined in our published SEND and Inclusion offer. This includes bespoke mentoring, counselling and the engagement of a wide body of external agencies.
Curriculum Intent Documents
View our Curriculum Intent Documents Here.
We have three simple values that we strive to live by every day at Sandwell Academy:
We expect all members of the Academy community to attempt to embody these characteristics in everything that they do.
If you require further information about the curriculum, please contact Mrs Walton, Senior Deputy Head, Curriculum and Teaching & Learning.