Our Approach to Curriculum

We have a knowledge-based curriculum, structured by traditional subjects, properly sequenced to ensure systematic, thorough teaching for all.

We also offer rich cultural pursuits as essential activities, championing access and involvement in arts and sport. Our school uses a robust collegial approach that promotes sustained improvement.

The curriculum at Wayland Academy is designed with long term learning in mind, students should be able to take what they learn into adulthood and use it to provide them with opportunities to succeed in life. The curriculum takes students beyond what they already know and enables them to be more socially mobile. It ensures that students acquire knowledge that they wouldn’t ordinarily have access to.

  • Our curriculum is based upon the principle that all students will acquire an understanding of their subjects and gain mastery of a body of subject-specific knowledge that we have defined. This will provide capacity for students to learn even more and develop their understanding.

  • Our aim is that no matter what a child’s social disadvantage or prior learning, students will be able to access knowledge. An example of this is our work with Accelerated Reader in Year 7 to 9, we are fully aware of the links between reading and accessing the curriculum.

  • Every student has equal access to the curriculum and their progress is rooted in what we expect them to know at each stage of their education. We see the importance of making the curriculum relevant and meaningful to students, that way it becomes transferable and allows them to build links across subject areas.

Subject-specific vocabulary is emphasised in all lessons. Formative and summative assessment is used to capture student progress throughout the academic year. Gaps in knowledge, skills and depth of understanding are identified, informing future lesson planning, as well as subject-specific curriculum design.

Curriculum Leaders with support from the Trust structure and plan the teaching of their subject as they have the specialist knowledge and expertise.

 

Homework

 

Why do we set homework?

We are proud of our homework at Wayland Academy, it is an important part of our learning. Our homework helps our pupils remember and apply the knowledge from their subjects. It helps our pupils achieve the strong grades they need to give them better life opportunities.

 

The homework may involve…

  • Learning knowledge from ‘knowledge organisers’ ready for quizzes in class.

  • Online homework such as Maths Sparx.

  • Application homework where pupils use their knowledge to answer questions (these will be used more at KS4 than KS3)

 

Setting homework…

  • The homework will be set each week. 

  • In KS4 (Years 10 and 11) there will be one hour of homework per week per subject

  • In KS3 (Years 7, 8 and 9) there will be half an hour of homework each week.

  • The homework will be set on Bromcom (please monitor the My Child at School app. Or use the website)

  • If a pupil is absent on the day the homework was set or submitted they are still expected to complete the homework. This is to support them in their learning.

Supporting pupils with their homework…

The homework must be completed to a high standard on time.

  • Please talk to your children about their homework and make sure that they are checking what they need to do and have somewhere quiet to complete their studies.

  • ‘Positives’ are used to reward pupils who are producing high-quality homework.

  • Pupils should speak to their teacher before the homework deadline if they are having difficulties with it.

  • A homework club is available in our computer suite (room 28) every lunchtime to support pupils with their homework. This is always staffed by a member of staff who can give help and guidance.

  • If pupils are not completing their homework to a high standard on time then the homework club will become compulsory for them until they have caught up.

The curriculum sets out the aims of a programme of education. It also sets out the structure for those aims to be implemented, including the knowledge, skills and understanding to be gained at each stage. It enables the evaluation of pupils’ knowledge and understanding against those expectations.

To find out more about our curriculum read our policy or contact our curriculum lead.

Read our curriculum policy for more information