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At Longfield Academy we believe that every student should have access to a broad and balanced curriculum, which will meet their future needs in education, training and the work place. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for their future roles as workers, parents / guardians and members of the wider community.
KS3
Students entering the school at the beginning of Year 7 study all aspects of the National Curriculum. All students study the following subjects throughout their first three years in the school:
English, Mathematics, Science, Design and Technology, History, Geography, Religious Studies, Drama, Dance, Music, Art, Information Communication Technology, Physical Education, Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship, Education (PSHCE)
Careers education and guidance is provided in all year groups. See careers section of the website.
Throughout Key Stage 3 students also experience a PSHCE period once a week. During this lesson aspects of citizenship are studied as well as time spent with the tutor reviewing progress, setting individual targets and developing further studying skills.
KS4
During the final two years at Longfield Academy students will have the opportunity to select a number of subjects leading to nationally recognised qualifications. These qualifications can include GCSE and vocational qualifications in a variety of subjects. We are always seeking to develop the breadth of our Key Stage 4 curriculum to allow all students the opportunity to gain qualifications in their chosen area.
KS4 Students will also have regular PSHCE periods and personal development between 1pm and 1.20 daily.
Longfield Academy operates a two week timetable.
All pupils will follow a curriculum covering 50 lessons per fortnight. These will consist of
English – 9 lessons
Mathematics – 9 lessons
Science – 9 lessons
Physical Education – 3 lessonsthe remaining 20 lessons that make up the curriculum consist of ‘option subjects highlighted in blue and yellow below.’
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On entry all students will be placed in a mixed ability tutor group for registration and tutorial work.
The Academy’s philosophy is that students’ experiences in school are differentiated according to their level of ability. Accordingly, Longfield Academy places students into teaching classes by grouping children of similar ability together on entry into the school.
The school decides upon the composition of classes by using a combination of the results of tests and teachers’ continual assessment. Classes are reviewed continually, and we will alter the set of a student at any stage in the academic year if teachers feel that such a move is justified. This means that students in all classes must perform to his/her potential consistently to maintain their places. In all cases, parents will be consulted before any action is taken with regards to student movement between classes.
By organising our classes in such a way the bands of differentiation within the sets are narrow, therefore allowing teachers to be more student-specific in their planning and in their delivery of all aspects of the curriculum. This helps create the best possible climate for learning, together with the warmest possible care.
Having taken great care to get the class structure right, parents should be aware that, increasingly, students are taught as individuals rather than classes. Students are encouraged to understand their own progress and be responsible for their own learning. This awareness is a vital aspect of the school’s policy towards target-setting.
We offer equal opportunities to both boys and girls to experience an appropriate curriculum. Pupils are placed in tutor groups based on Olympic cities that feed into the house system comprising of four Olympians chosen by the students. Team Bolt, Team Ennis-Hill, Team Phelps and Team Farah. There are multiple competitions that run throughout the year to promote the ethos of competition, sportsmanship, resilience, determination through the house system.
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The Schools White Paper 2010 – The Importance of Teaching – outlined the introduction of an English Baccalaureate.
This award is for any student who secures good GCSE passes (9-5) in English, Mathematics, the Sciences, at least one Modern Foreign Language and at least one Humanity (History or Geography). However, it is important to note that at this stage there is no information as to the view of further education establishments, workplace learning and the value that they will place upon it. We do feel though that it is important to share this information with you, so that you can use it to help you select the most appropriate set of options for you.
For those pupils who wish to study the combination of subjects that lead to the English Baccalaureate, it is possible to select those subject combinations from the subjects we are offering at Key Stage 4.
The English Baccalaureate subjects are:
- English
- Maths
- Combined Science, Separate Sciences and Computing
- MFL; French, German or Spanish
- A Humanity; Geography or History
To qualify for the award of the English Baccalaureate, you must achieve a grade 5 or better across a core of academic subjects identified above.
Please note, that there is no separate certificate awarded to those pupils who study the combination of subjects leading to an English Baccalaureate; however, the Government are keeping this under review.
All courses offered for options are subject to change in years 10 and 11 should the Government change rules on qualifications that count.
