Curriculum

In This Section…

Curriculum Statement

We have a vibrant and diverse student body at Derby Moor Spencer Academy.  Seventy percent of our students are identified as living in deprived areas and the ability of our intake is typically below the national average at the point when students enter school.  The curriculum at our Academy enables all students to reach and exceed their potential regardless of start point.  We have designed every facet of the school experience to support and develop students through our school values of achievement, aspiration, high expectations and community. The consistent and explicit drive towards meeting these values enables us to achieve our school vision of “Together we succeed.”

 

The Aim of the Derby Moor Curriculum

The Derby Moor curriculum challenges social injustice providing all students with the same equality of opportunity and life chances. To facilitate this we deliver a range of wider experiences to develop our students into confident, well rounded, emotionally and socially literate young people. Our curriculum is ambitious, logically sequenced throughout KS3-5 and is evolving to provide an increasing focus on the development of future skills for employability. It provides a rich and varied experience which promotes enrichment for all, enables students to achieve on external qualifications whilst developing the necessary knowledge, skills and experiences in preparation for higher education and the 21st employment landscape. Through our curriculum we promote a culture of aspiration which is encompassed in our motto “Together we succeed”.

 

How we deliver our curriculum:

  • All students are guided through their subject choices as they move into Key Stage 4 or Key Stage 5 ensuring that they have breadth, balance and the opportunity for success in the pathways. Careers advice and guidance is high quality, impartial and embedded throughout the students’ experience. Providing students the opportunity to progress to the next stage of their education including high quality Apprenticeships, University study or the world of work.
  • The Key Stage 3 Curriculum supports every student, regardless of background, need or circumstance, to achieve. This creates the foundation upon which Key Stage 4 and 5 study will build.
  • Our curriculum is intelligently sequenced across subjects and identifies where correction or development is required. As a result, timely intervention provides the support students require to exceed expectations.
  • The Derby Moor Classroom 2.0 enables a consistent approach to delivering the curriculum through high quality teaching episodes that embed the development of knowledge, skills and attributes. This ensures that all students are engaged and motivated, resulting in an outstanding attitude to learning across the Academy.
  • Schemes of learning establish non-negotiables which make explicit reference to: employability and skills, resilience, independence, cultural capital, excitement and engagement.
  • High quality CPD is research driven, develops metacognition and memory skills to improve the quality of education for all students.
  • Homework and research are an integral part of student learning, developing the skills of independence and resilience.
  • Drop down days enable key learning about safety, student well-being, relationships and sex education, use of social media, radicalisation, CSE, and health.
  • The tutor programme develops emotional and social literacy, metacognition, resilience and cultural awareness.
  • Numeracy and Literacy skills are coordinated throughout schemes of learning to ensure students who are below expected levels are caught up rapidly and keep up.
  • A detailed transition plan from Key Stage 2 to 3 ensures that students are comfortable and supported in the move from Primary to Secondary.
  • The rich variety of cultures that make up Derby Moor’s diverse student body is embraced, so that differences are celebrated and valued through assemblies, PSHCE and events.
  • Stakeholder voice engages students in their learning so that they are inspired and motivated to succeed at the highest level.

 

Taught Curriculum 2019-20

Key Stage 3 Year 7 – 9

We deliver five 1 hour lessons each day therefore making 25 lessons over the week.

Y7

& Y8

 English

(8)

 Maths

(8)

 Science

(6)

 PE

(4)

 Languages

(5)

 Computing

(2)

 Humanities

(8)

 Creative Arts    (4) Technology

(4)

 Personal Development (1)
Y9 English

(8)

 Maths

(8)

 Science

(6)

 PE

(4)

 Languages

(5)

 Computing

(2)

 Humanities*

(8)

 Creative Arts*    (4) Technology*

(4)

 Personal Development (1)

 

Our Languages provision consists of French, Spanish, Panjabi and Urdu.  Students choose their preferred language on starting Year 7 and follow this through to Y9.

*Humanities covers History, Geography and Religious Studies.  Students study all three in Year 7 and 8.  In Year 9 students choose to specialise in either History or Geography but also study Religious Studies. 

 *Creative Arts covers Art, Dance, Drama, and Music.  In Year 9 students identify their two preferred creative arts subjects and study these.

*Technology covers Product Design, Engineering, Food and Textiles.  In Year 7 & 8 students rotate through each of these subjects over the year.  In Year 9 students choose their two preferred subjects and study these.

 In addition to this we have a ‘nurture’ group.  This is a group that works mainly with one teacher who teaches most subjects (English, Maths, Science, Humanities and Computing).  These students will attend more specialist lessons in PE, Languages (or Literacy support), Creative Arts and Technology.   This allows a blend of primary and secondary experience for students who may need extra support in the transition from Key Stage 2 in Key Stage 3.

 

Key Stage 4 (Y10 and Y11)

At the end of Year 9 students select which subjects that wish to follow in their Key Stage 4 examinations.

Y10 English Language

& Literature (10)

 Maths

(8)

 Science

(10)

 PE

(4)

 Option1

(6) 

 Option2

(6)

 Option3

(6)
Y11 English Language

& Literature  (10)

 Maths

(8)

 Science

(10)

 PE

(4)

 Option1

(6)

 Option2

(6)

 Option3

(6)

 

Currently we separate students into three pathways, Yellow, Blue and Green.

  •  The Yellow Pathway – Students are identified for this pathway if we feel they have a good interest and attitude in both a Language and either History or Geography.  In addition to this they should be able to achieve strong outcomes in both of these subjects.  As a result they will leave Derby Moor with a high level of qualification in key academic subjects (known as the EBacc subjects).  In addition these students will select one further subject to follow.
  • The Blue Pathway – Almost all other students are placed in the Blue Pathway.  This means that they must choose at least one subject from a Language, History or Geography plus they make two other free choices.  A student in this pathway may choose to do a Language and either History or Geography if they wish.
  • The Green Pathway – There are currently a small number of students who follow this pathway.  These students must select one subject from a Language, History or Geography, they get one free subject choice plus they follow a BTEC qualification (currently PE) that they complete in one year.  This one year qualification enables these students access to English, Maths or Science support in Year 11 with the intention of improving their grade in these key subjects in readiness for post 16 studies.

 

Our current subject offer at Key Stage 4 is:

Core (All Students)

English Language, English Literature, Maths, Science (double or triple award), PE (core or BTEC) including Dance

 

Choices (Options)

French Spanish Panjabi Urdu
History Geography Religious Studies Psychology
*Engineering Product Design Food Textiles
Art Drama Music *Health and Social Care
Computer Science *Business Studies *ICT Media
*PE *Dance Citizenship

 Subjects with a (*) are vocational qualifications.

 

Key Stage 5 (Y12 and Y13)

In Year 12 most students will select three subjects which they study over two years.  A small number may decide to start with four, the school will negotiate and advise students in this case. 

 Currently each subject receives nine hours of specific teacher taught lessons over a two week cycle.  They will also take part in one lesson per week of enrichment.

 

Our current offer at Key Stage 5 is:

Art Biology Business Studies Chemistry
Computing Design Technology English Language English Literature
Geography History *Health and Social Care ICT
Mathematics Media Further Maths Panjabi
*PE Physics Psychology Science (Applied)
Sociology Urdu

Whole School Curriculum Maps

 

Subjects with a (*) are also run as an extended certificate which is equivalent to three A-Levels.

 

Year 7 Curriculum Maps