Curriculum and Teaching

All pupils follow the national curriculum at a level and pace suitable for their ability.

The school’s main focus is quality first teaching (QFT) where differentiation in lessons allows the individual needs of all students to be met. Where a student’s individual need requires further support, the Academy can provide an individualised timetable as well as withdrawal work in small groups.

Additional support available within the Academy includes:

• A robust and varied programme of SEND intervention programmes
• Literacy and numeracy support across all key stages.
• A dedicated Year Group Key Worker
• The appropriate use of rewards and sanctions.
• A broad range of extra-curricular activities, including homework club.
• Assessment procedures that emphasise pupils’ strengths and achievements.
• Key stage 4 courses which are relevant to pupils’ needs.
• Exam concessions, where needed.
• In class support, where required.
• Access to specific resources, such as laptops if required.
• Access to specialists, where required.

 Tracking and Progress

All staff are responsible for assessing, monitoring and tracking the progress of our pupils. Each pupil is regularly assessed in class in all subjects and levels are recorded and reported to parents frequently. At a whole school level, aspirational targets are set for all pupils including those with SEND. Staff are responsible for setting each student achievable yet challenging targets within lessons and having high expectations of progress. Heads of departments, Pastoral Leaders, Tutors and the SENCo regularly check on the progress of pupils and if someone is not making the expected levels of progress then intervention is put in place.

SEN Year Group Key Workers also meet with students on a termly and half-termly basis to review student progress and conduct a Link Meeting in order to identify student strengths and areas of improvement and/or where support is needed.