Rationale
We believe that our pupils deserve a curriculum that does not narrow their life chances but enables social equity and mobility. We want all our pupils to achieve their potential and we truly believe that "Everyone Excels Everyday".
Whole Academy Curriculum Vision
At Hollingworth the curriculum is designed to enable all pupils to:
- make outstanding progress in their learning, regardless of ability, gender, social background or ethnic origin;
- be engaged in a curriculum suffused with memorable experiences and rich in opportunities for learning;
- learn, with teachers, in an environment which is mutually respectful and promotes a shared enjoyment of learning;
- develop social attitudes and behaviours founded upon the values of respect, responsibility and resilience;
- develop transferable skills and attitudes necessary to thrive as an active citizen in the 21st century.
We offer a challenging, well sequenced curriculum which is broad and balanced focusing on breadth and depth, promoting new knowledge and skills and the acquisition of skills being central. Pupil progress is achieved through high quality teaching and access to a range of engaging learning opportunities enabling pupils to move successfully to the next stage in their education or career path.
We will achieve this by…
- Ensuring that all pupils have a challenging, broad and balanced curriculum.
- Developing a knowledge-led curriculum which also explicitly acknowledges and develops transferrable skills.
- Developing a curriculum that has an extensive coverage, content, structure and sequencing that has been implemented effectively through careful planning and consideration.
- Developing ‘high quality’ teaching in all classrooms through regular, high quality staff development; ensuring that we develop and retain outstanding professionals.
- Using evidence based research to inform developments in curricular provision, pedagogy and leadership.
- Understanding that literacy is a key barrier to social justice and equity. All staff to ensure opportunities are provided for developing pupils’ reading, writing and oracy skills.
- Ensuring that everyone promotes our ethos of ‘Everyone Excels Everyday’ through the development of pupils’ resilience, respect and responsibility.
Curriculum Provision
Key Stage 3 (Year 7, 8 and 9)
In Year 7, pupils are placed in mixed ability tutor groups and receive one hour of RISE each week. Pupils are taught in mixed ability classes for History, Geography, Religious Education, Modern Foreign Languages (Spanish), Art, Music, Dance, Drama, Digital Literacy (ICT), Design Technology, Food Technology and English, with English remaining in mixed ability groups until Year 8. Mathematics, Physical Education (PE) and Science 'set pupils according to their ability in these subjects.
In KS3 we aim to 'make learning irresistible' by incorporating a series of enrichment events and days which engage pupils in their learning. Many of these events feed in to departmental schemes of work and involve outside agencies.
Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11)
The curriculum provision provided for Year 10 and 11 pupils expands on the National Curriculum requirements for Key Stage 4 (14-16) with all pupils studying for qualifications in the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science. Our broad and balanced curriculum offers pupils choices both within and in addition to the National Curriculum framework. This is subject to change in the future as we review the curriculum annually in order to best meet the needs of our pupils.
GCSE Courses
Physical Education and Personal, Social, Health, Citizenship and Religious Education (RISE) are compulsory non-examination subjects for all. We also offer GCSE Urdu for a small number of pupils as an after school session.
Homework
We believe that homework plays an important part in the learning and development of all our pupils and we set it as a matter of good educational practice. We deem that homework is such a vital area of study that it positively affects attainment and helps students to fulfil their potential. It is because of this that we ask parents/carers to support us in seeing that homework is properly completed to the best of their child's ability. We use Google Classroom to support and extend learning.
Homework is also recognised as something that encourages good study habits. This is because it offers pupils the chance to work independently and helps to develop self-discipline. Finally, homework also gives pupils the opportunity to practice what they have learned during lessons. In conclusion, evidence shows that pupils who attempt their homework conscientiously are the ones who will be likely to make the most of their opportunities at school.
Inclusion & Learning Support
We recognise all of our children as individuals, respect them accordingly and are committed to developing the learning of all pupils regardless of ability or background. To help those who have particular learning needs we have a dedicated team of support staff to assist pupils in class.
In May 2019, we were awarded the IQM Flagship School Award in recognition for our outstanding inclusive practice. The 2019 IQM report quoted:
'Everyone involved with the school, pull together to realise the school's vision and understand that this is a superbly inclusive place to come to work and learn. Inclusion is a natural and intuitive part of what happens daily, where students are encouraged to achieve their full potential, where everyone involved is committed to the inclusion of all students whatever it takes.'
We are able to support our pupils with a wide range of issues through our SEND Provision. We have also recently expanded the Inclusion team. Pupils also have access to many external agencies through school should this be required.
Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)
Please refer to our SEND Policy.
Enrichment Events
At Hollingworth we believe in providing a stimulating and creative environment, both in and outside of school. This personalised approach means developing the whole child, focusing on their individual strengths and needs.
We aim to enrich the curriculum through a wide range of educational visits, with more than 70 trips taking place each year across all year groups and subject areas.
Residential visits are a key part of the Hollingworth Academy experience. Recent trips have included a ski trip to Italy, RE and History visits to Berlin, a Geography trip to Sorrento and Naples, an English and History battlefield tour of Ypres, the Somme and Vimy Ridge, our first PGL residential to Newby Wiske Hall in 2026, and a Science visit to CERN in Switzerland.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Hollingworth runs a number of clubs after school on a daily basis. These include every single department, with a particularly healthy PE provision. A full list of after school clubs can be found on our website. There is also a homework club run in the Learning Resource Centre Monday to Friday for all year groups from 3.10pm - 3.50pm. This allows pupils to access a range of resources and IT equipment.
Revision Sessions
As we move closer to the exam season, our Intervention Programme begins from January. Over one hundred revision sessions per week are put on by staff every week after school. For our Year 11 pupils, attendance at these after school sessions are compulsory on a Monday to Thursday. We also move pupils into targeted tutor groups where they receive short revision sessions in the 20 minute registration period. All of these interventions enable pupils to manage their workload better allowing them daily revision time leading up to the exams.
How to Find Out More About Our Curriculum
If you would like more information about our curriculum, please do not hesitate to contact:
Mrs N Wainwright
Assistant Headteacher (Quality of Education Intent & Quality Assurance)
nwainwright@hollingworthacademy.co.uk
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