Key Stage 3 (Year 7 - Year 9)

All KS3 subjects deliver the new national curriculum. Schemes of work and mapping have been quality assured to ensure full national curriculum coverage within a relevant context for our students, which includes the promotion of British Values.

These schemes also outline assessment models and secure inclusion of skills development e.g. literacy, numeracy, SMSC and employability. Progress data is collected every half term, which enables flexibility and responsiveness in terms of setting and banding students. Our in-school monitoring and analysis has demonstrated that if the ability range within a teaching class is similar, all students make more progress as the teacher is able to deliver activities which enable stretch and challenge and also accessibility for all. At termly intervals (allows adequate time to consistently demonstrate attainment), the placement of students may be reviewed and sets changed when required.

The opportunity for movement across bands is particularly important for our transition classes (2 in year 7), for students with low levels of literacy and numeracy (less than a level 3). These students follow a project-based curriculum, which develops literacy, oracy and numeracy, as well as subject content.

Key Stage 4 (Year 10 - Year 11)

The consistently excellent progress of students at Manchester Academy may be attributed, at least in part, to Manchester Academy offering an engaging, broad and balanced curriculum.

In addition to meeting progress 8 accountability measures and statutory requirements, the curriculum provide students with both the skills and qualifications they need for future progression and this is carefully balanced to ensure it also meets their interests and aspirations.

Curriculum provision for international new arrivals

To ensure international new arrivals have the opportunity to acquire a level of English that enables them to access to academic qualifications, they begin in the KS3 or KS4 induction group, where they intensively develop English skills.

Students enter mainstream lessons using a gradual phased approach when they meet NASSEA step 5 and are at a stage of consolidating their language acquisition. Each student’s timetable in induction is bespoke and based on their level, prior education and interests.

Key Stage 3 (KS3) Curriculum: September 2017

Our in-school monitoring and analysis has demonstrated that if the ability range within a teaching class is similar, all students make more progress as the teacher is able to deliver activities which enable stretch and challenge and also accessibility for all.

Across KS3, students experience an extensive range of subjects to facilitate engagement, future attainment and to support their decision for further progression/employment.

All students at KS3, receive 8 hours/fortnight of English and Mathematics. Specific Literacy lessons have also been embedded into the KS3 curriculum for all students. Science is also taught over 6 hours/fortnight as all students will undertake the equivalent of at least GCSEs in Science.

All students in KS3 receive 4 hours/fortnight of Physical Education, which promotes physical well-being, health and fitness. To reflect the the importance of computing within society, all students receive 4 hours/fortnight of computing. History and Geography receive 3 hours/fortnight, with Modern Foreign Language subject receiving 4/5 hours/fortnight dependent upon year group. Furthermore, all key stage 3 students will receive 2 hours/fortnight in Art and Community and Values (CV, in which they develop an awareness of cultural, religious and ethical issues) and Performing Arts (Drama and Music). For a summary of the curriculum please see below.  

Please see below a summary of the KS3 provision. 

Key Stage 4 (KS4) Curriculum: September 2017

The Key Stage 4 curriculum at Manchester Academy enables all students to follow a core programmes alongside a programmes of optional subjects. 

The core programme at Manchester Academy provides all students with access to the following subjects

At Key Stage 4, the teaching of CV encompasses the statutory requirement for religious, PSHE, citizenship and sex and relationship education, the delivery of which is also supported during form time. 

In addition to their core curriculum, students will have opted to study 3 additional subjects throughout Year 10 and 11. Each of these optional subjects is taught over 5 hours per fortnight.