Curriculum

Our Curriculum Mission

Our curriculum is designed to give the children of our community the best educational experience possible. We want our students to be Made in Morton but ready to take their place in the world.

Our curriculum is driven by our core values:

  • Ambition – to achieve the best for ourselves and others;
  • Confidence – to have the courage of our convictions and to take risks in the right cause;
  • Creativity – to imagine possibilities and make them real;
  • Respect – for ourselves and others in all that we do;
  • Enthusiasm – to seek opportunity, find what is good and pursue talents and interests;
  • Determination – to overcome obstacles and reach success.

Our curriculum is designed as a progression model where students layer their knowledge and skills on secure foundations. Our teaching is adapted to ensure that prior learning is revisited so students can access retained knowledge effectively to support new learning. We actively encourage our staff to rethink the curriculum based on assessment or evidence from others. We have a broad and balanced curriculum which is supported by our Education with Character programme.

Our Curriculum is:

  • fully compliant with all statutory aspects of the revised National Curriculum;
  • designed with the needs of our local community very much at the forefront of our thinking;
  • designed to ensure the academy is positioned well in the changing assessment and national measures reforms;
  • broad and balanced, yet able to be flexible for specific academic or organisational requirements;
  • established to support teaching and learning to improve significantly in all areas.
Key Stage 3 Overview

Key Stage 3 is organised into Bands/Sets defined by ability based on KS2 performance initially and thereafter rates of progress in Core Subjects.  A mixture of Linear and Subject Blocking is used to timetable subjects as effectively as possible.

Linear Blocking: Subject Blocking:
The Linear Blocks consist of History, Geography, Art, IT, Spanish, Performing Arts, Music, RE and PSHCE. English, Maths, PE, Science and Design Technology have Subject blocking to allow rotations of students within academic bands. It also allows the academy to create male/female groups in PE. In Science and Design Technology, smaller class sizes are used to enhance the quality of practical lessons.

Curriculum Coverage KS3 (number of 100 minute lessons per fornight)

Subject Year 7 Year 8 Year 9

English

5

5

5

Maths

5

5

5

Science

4

 4 4

History

2

2

2

Geography

2

2

2

Spanish

2

2

2

Design Technology

2

2

2

Art

1

1

1

Beliefs, Philosophy & Ethics

1

1

1

Performing Arts

1

1

1

Physical Education

2

2

2

Personal Development

1

1

1

Computing

1

1

1

Music

1

1

1
Key Stage 4 Overview

Students pick their KS4 Options in Year 9. The strategy is based on a Guided Options principle ensuring all students are well informed about curriculum choices based on prior academic performance, teacher information and relative performance of previous year groups. The Academy offers 3 Options to students to maximise curriculum time with 3 x 100 minute lessons each, per fortnight.

Curriculum Coverage KS4 (number of 100 minute lessons per fortnight)

Key Stage 4 is organised slightly differently, taking advantage of the use of Linear Blocking to create more Subject blocking in Core Subjects. This allows for more appropriate setting and intervention strategies to occur.

Subject Year 10 Year 11

English

5

5

Maths

5

5

Science

5 

5

PE

2

2

PSHCE

1

1

Current Year 11:

 

3 options from:

History, Geography, Spanish, Computer Science, Media, Childcare, Art, Food Technology, Music, Performing Arts, Engineering, NCFE PE, GCSE PE, Animal Care

3 lessons per option

3 lessons per option

Current Year 10:

 

4 options from:

History, Geography, Spanish, Computer Science, Media, Art, Food Technology, Music, Performing Arts, Engineering, GCSE PE, Animal Care, Health and Social Care, RE.

 3 lessons per option 3 lessons per option

Year 10 and Year 11:

  1. All students participate in 2 lessons of PE.
  2. Students can opt to take RE as an extra GCSE, however RE is taught within the PSHE curriculum and the Tutor programme throughout KS4.

Studying now:

Learning
United Learning Hub

United Learning comprises: United Learning Ltd (Registered in England No: 00018582. Charity No. 313999) UCST (Registered in England No: 2780748. Charity No. 1016538) and ULT (Registered in England No. 4439859. An Exempt Charity). Companies limited by guarantee.
Registered address: United Learning, Worldwide House, Thorpe Wood, Peterborough, PE3 6SB.

Financial Accountability and Freedom of Information

United Learning