Curriculum
The curriculum at Churchill Academy & Sixth Form is designed to provide a rich, broad and balanced experience to all students, in order to set no limits on what we can achieve.
The curriculum is organised into three stages as follows:
- Secondary Foundation Stage (Key Stage 3: Years 7, 8 and 9)
- Personalised Stage (Key Stage 4: Years 10 and 11)
- Advanced Stage (Post-16: Years 12 and 13)
You can find detailed information about the curriculum on offer in each year in our Curriculum Booklets below, and a detailed overview of our approach to the curriculum and grouping in our Curriculum and Grouping Policy. To find out more, please email churchill@churchill-academy.org.
Our curriculum is designed to uphold and promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs and for those without faith.
The Secondary Foundation Stage (Key Stage 3: Years 7, 8 and 9)
The Secondary Foundation Stage provides a wider curriculum experience than students will have generally experienced at primary school. Our intention is to build upon their core learning in English and Maths and also to enrich the breadth of the curriculum offer to not only build a firm foundation for the Personalised Stage but also to ensure that all students are exposed to the inspiration and wonder of enquiry, creativity and independent learning skills through Science, the Humanities (History, Geography and Statutory RE), a modern language (French or Spanish), the performing arts (Drama, Dance and Music), Art, Design and Technology, Food and Nutrition, IT and Computer Science, Physical Education, and PSHE (personal, social and health education, which includes sex and relationships education).
In Year 7 students are grouped in "Learning Groups" containing the full range of prior attainment. This approach continues in most subjects, although some setting according to student attainment is introduced during Year 8 and extended into Year 9.
The Personalised Stage (Key Stage 4: Years 10 and 11)
Students choose options at the end of Year 9 for the personalised curriculum stage. This allows deep learning in specialised subjects, with the breadth maintained through an academic core and a rich options offer. The majority of students follow a traditional curriculum pathway. For students with complex needs, or those for whom the traditional pathway is inappropriate, an alternative pathway is available.
The Advanced Stage (Post-16: Years 12 and 13)
Our Sixth Form offer is broad and engaging, with enrichment and personal development built in alongside the exceptional teaching across a wide range of courses. You can find out more from the Sixth Form section and Sixth Form Subject List on this site.
Careers Education
Throughout Years 7-13 students are provided with opportunities to connect their interests and abilities to the wider world. This happens so that they can have the best chance of a developing the skills and qualifications that will enable them to have fulfilling lives and careers. Through their experiences and skills development, our vision is for every student to be well prepared for their next steps and well equipped to make a positive difference. All students are provided with a universal offer of careers education to ensure that every student is able to be inspired and form challenging aspirations. The essence of the careers education programme is to raise aspirations and provide opportunities so that students can see the potential their future can have. Further details of the careers education programme can be found here.
Further information
- For information about Year 9 Options visit this page.
- For information about reporting at Key Stage 3 visit this page.
Curriculum Booklets
Downloadable copies of the curriculum booklets for years 7 - 11 are available below. The Sixth Form Curriculum it detailed in our Sixth Form section and Sixth Form Subject List on this site.