An innovative and exciting curriculum

At Stockport Academy we aim to ensure that all students have a balanced curriculum that inspires and challenges them. We want students to learn and to enjoy learning. We want students to think and to ask questions. Most importantly, we want students to achieve and to feel proud of their success.

Our approach to curriculum demonstrates our determination to provide opportunities for all students to make progress and to achieve. We use a wide range of teaching and learning strategies to ensure that pupils are actively involved in their own learning. We also ensure that links between the different Key Stages are made clear so that students can ensure they take their knowledge and experience with them from one stage to another and can use this to their benefit. A Key Stage is a stage of the state education system, which sets the educational knowledge and progress expected of students at various ages. Targets are set for students using data from the previous Key Stage in order to foster individual progress.

Key Stage 3 (11-14 years)

All our Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 pupils follow courses in:

Art
Design and Technology
English
Expressive and Performing Arts (Dance and Drama)
Geography
History
Information Communication Technology
Mathematics
Modern Foreign Languages
Music
Physical Education
Religious Education
Science

Personal, Social and Health Education is not taught as a discrete subject, but is woven throughout the pastoral and curriculum provision at both Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 and supported by project days for all students.

Key Stage 4 (14-16years)

All our Year 10 and year 11 pupils have to study core subjects. These are:

English Language and Literature GCSE or English GCSE
Mathematics GCSE
Science GCSE or Science BTEC (both double award)
Physical Education (non-examination subject)

Pupils also choose four option subjects from the list below:

GCSEs

Art and Design
Business Studies
Catering
Computing
Dance
Drama
French
Geography
History
IT Creative
Music
Physical Education
Product Design
Religious Studies
Spanish
Textiles
Triple Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics - studied in core and option time)

BTECs

Dance
Engineering
Health and Social Care
Sport

Course/ Examination Types

GCSE - General Certificate of Secondary Education

The GCSE is the chief examination that will be taken by pupils in Years 10 and 11. All examinations must conform to nationally agreed rules and principles, known as the National Criteria. For many subject syllabuses there is a compulsory coursework component. That is, there will be work that must be completed by pupils during their two years of study. This work may take different forms but counts towards the final mark in their examination.

BTEC - Business and Technology Council

BTECs offer different and practical ways of working for the pupil. Courses are evidenced-based and the pupil's success is not determined by a final examination but on the satisfactory completion of a number of units. These are specialist qualifications that focus on particular aspects of employment within a range of work areas. The quality of a pupil's work and the extent to which it addresses the module requirements determines the grade awarded. There are three grade levels: a pass, merit and distinction. Pupils' work is internally assessed and externally verified by the examination board.

The English Baccalaureate

The Government believes that schools should offer a broad range of academic subjects that will promote achievement of a broad academic core and have introduced a new award called the English Baccalaureate. Any pupil who secures A* - C GCSE passes in English Language, Mathematics, two Sciences, a Modern Foreign Language and a Humanity (History or Geography) will receive this additional certificate recording their achievement.

Key Stage 5

Students in our sixth form benefit from small class sizes, dynamic, innovative staff and state of the art teaching facilities. We offer a wide range of traditional AS and A2 subjects along with BTEC and OCR courses. We have an outstanding music suite and dance studio to facilitate our expressive arts courses and extensive outdoor games areas for our BTEC sports course. Our sixth form centre has a dedicated study area for research, homework and independent study. All our students have a personal tutor and meet weekly in small groups and for one to one support. Personal tutors provide friendly support and advice, monitor students' progress and help with career planning for the future. Students are taught in small class sizes of between 6 and 15 students.

As our Sixth Form provision is flexible based on individual interest/pathways which are reviewed on an annual basis. Subjects taught at the academy include:

AS level

Music
Drama and Theatre Studies
French
Maths
Art
Sociology
Psychology
English Literature
English Language
Media
History
Geography
Philosophy
Biology
Chemistry
Further Maths
Physics
Product Design

BTEC

Level 3 Performing Arts Dance
Level 3 Music and Music Technology
Level 3 Performing Arts Drama
Level 3 Science
Level 3 Sport
Level 3 Fashion
Level 3 Business Studies
Level 3 Creative ICT
Level 3 Health and Social Care

GCSE

English GCSE
Mathematics GCSE

Course/ Examination Types

AS (Advanced Subsidiary) and A'Level

The A'Level is the chief examination that will be taken by pupils in Years 12 and 13. All examinations must conform to nationally agreed rules and principles, known as the National Criteria. For many subject syllabuses there is a compulsory coursework component. That is, there will be work that must be completed by pupils during their two years of study. This work may take different forms but counts towards the final mark in their examination.

BTEC - Business and Technology Council