The architecture of our curriculum model designs the structure and allocation of our subject and wider curriculum delivery across each year group and key stage. Our curriculum model is designed to ensure we effectively deliver our Trust’s shared curriculum intent by providing a broad and balanced curriculum and rich educational experience. We also design our academy’s curriculum model to best meet the needs of our students and locality reflecting upon courses that support the local and national job market and those that have been positive destination subjects for our students.
At Outwood Academy Redcar we want all students to leave our academy as well rounded individuals prepared for the world of work and their personal futures. We believe a broad and balanced curriculum for all supports this ambition; an ambition that underpins our vision to put students first, raise standards and transform lives.
Our curriculum rationale reflects the value we place on developing our students’ personal growth and understanding and appreciation of themselves, others and the world they inhabit. Our academy is committed to promoting positive mental health and physical well being. We believe the study of performance, creative and expressive arts subjects alongside our health and wellbeing curriculum supports this agenda of developing our students’ health, wellbeing and self-confidence. With this focus on health and wellbeing, directly linked to a local need to promote healthier living and our digital literacy curriculum in year 9, we have a strong focus on the needs of our local community. Through our broad and balanced curriculum, students study subjects that require them to think creatively, problem solve, develop healthy lifestyles and be part of a team. As a result, our students will grow as individuals and enhance their employability skills in readiness for the world of work.
Our curriculum model supports the facilitation of this suite of subjects through our Level 2 Health and Wellbeing Pathway and our year 9 key stage 3 Creative Choices allocation. An appreciation and experience of practical performance, creative and expressive arts subjects, technology and computing enhances our students’ creativity, teamwork, problem solving and enhances their enjoyment of school. Studying a curriculum that values creative, expressive and practical subjects supports our students’ oracy, cultural capital, physical and mental health and sense of self and others into adulthood.
Across year 7 to 9 a broad range of subjects are offered reflecting the entitlement of the national curriculum. In year 9 we begin to enable some personalisation in our students’ entitlement by providing more opportunity for depth and breadth in their subject study. Students make a selection from our Health and Wellbeing Guided Pathway to study a Level 2 course across Year 9 and 10 selecting from Health and Social Care and Sport Studies. In addition, our Year 9 Creative Choices allocation ensures a broad but more personalised programme of key stage 3 study across the creative disciplines of design technology, art, music, drama, catering and computing. Year 9 students can personalise their Creative Choice allocation broadening their entitlement by experiencing a wider range of creative subjects at key stage 3. Personalisation, in year 9, is complemented by our determination to ensure a strong entitlement to the full EBacc subjects. As part of this commitment we require all students to study history, geography and a modern foreign language across years 7 to 9 with all students selecting to study either geography or history at GCSE across years 10 and 11. Depending on the pathways chosen in year 9, students will also be able to study additional qualifications at GCSE / Level 2 from the creative option subjects on offer in year 9 to further their studies.
The educational offer at Outwood Academy Redcar promotes a broad and balanced curriculum throughout all years that enables every student to fulfill their potential with the aspiration to move forward with their educational experience in the wide range of local FE colleges available to our students.