The Curriculum at Woodham
Woodham Academy has a curriculum which fully reflects the demands of the National Curriculum and recent developments. It has been designed to be broad, balanced, relevant and responsive to the needs of learners, their community and society.
Key Stage 3
Students are grouped into pathways, red, blue and green. All pathways follow a curriculum that includes English, Mathematics, Personal Social and Health Education with Citizenship, Careers and Enterprise Education (PCC), Physical Education, Religious Education, Design and Technology, Digital Literacy (replacing ICT from September 2012), Science, Art, Music, French, History and Geography. Several of these subjects are integrated into the Year 7 Woodham Learning programme. Others are integrated into Transitional Studies or Combined Studies for Green Pathway students across the key stage. The different pathways allow us to deliver a curriculum with an appropriate level of challenge for all students. Success and progress allow high aspirations for all. The main differences between pathways are essentially the pace and depth of study of complex topics.
Key Stage 4
At Key Stage 4 the pathways take on a more distinctive flavour to initiate the 14-19 learning continuum. Their characteristics are described in documentation provided for students and parents in Years 8 & 9. All National Curriculum subjects are available and these are substantially augmented by new subjects. Students have a significant element of choice to allow them to put together a programme which leads to examinations and qualifications and which meets their needs and future aspirations. Where appropriate, students will be guided into pathways and option choices that allow them to access a full range of English Baccalaureate subjects. By beginning some Key Stage 4 Options in Year 9, students will study subjects fully in a broad way, enhancing prospects of gaining the highest grades by the end of Year 11.
GCSE options include Art, History, Geography, Drama, Music, Media Studies, PE, Dance and a second Foreign Language.
Vocational options include Health and Social Care, Creative Media, Engineering, Sport, Applied Art and Design, Travel and Tourism and Business Studies
The curriculum is made up of 30 taught sessions per week (6 per day).
PCC rotates for all year groups taking 1 period per week
The Curriculum - Year by Year
Year 7
Core subjects taught in pathway (ability) groups:
- English (including Accelerated Reading Programme)
- Mathematics (setted within Blue Pathway)
- Science
- French
- Art
- Music
Core subjects taught within blocking arrangements:
- Design and Technology
- Physical Education
Core subjects taught within mixed-ability tutor groups:
- Religious Education
- PCC
- Woodham Learning (a skills-based programme delivered in term 1 by tutors)
From January onwards, Geography, History and Digital Literacy are delivered within the Woodham Learning framework by subject specialists.
One Green Pathway group receives its English, Mathematics, Science and French as an integrated Transitional Studies programme.
Year 8
Core subjects taught in pathway (ability) groups:
- English (setted within Blue Pathway)
- Mathematics (setted across pathways)
- Science (setted within Red Pathway)
- French
- Art
- Music
- History
- Geography
- Religious Education
- Digital Literacy
Core subjects taught within blocking arrangements:
- Design and Technology
- Physical Education
Core subject taught within mixed-ability tutor groups:
- PCC
One Green Pathway group receives its English, Mathematics, Science, French, Geography and History as an integrated Combined Studies programme.
Year 9
Core subjects taught in pathway (ability) groups within setting arrangements:
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- French (Red and Blue Pathways)
- Religious Education
- Digital Literacy
Core subjects taught within blocking arrangements:
- Design and Technology (Blue and Green Pathways)
- Physical Education
Core subject taught within mixed-ability tutor groups:
- PCC
One Green Pathway group receives its English and Mathematics as an integrated Combined Studies programme.
Optional subjects:
- Geography GCSE
- History GCSE
- Art and Design GCSE
- Music GCSE
- Computer Studies GCSE
- ICT GCSE
- Physical Education GCSE
- Dance GCSE
- Media Studies GCSE
- Engineering GCSE (delivered in partnership with South West Durham Training)
- A range of Design and Technology specialisms leading to GCSE
- Sport BTEC Level 2
- Applied Art and Design BTEC Level 2
- Health and Social Care BTEC Level 2
- Creative Media BTEC Level 1 (allied to Combined Studies programme)
Year 10
Core subjects taught in pathway (ability) groups within setting arrangements:
- English GCSE (with English Literature GCSE for Red and Blue Pathways)
- Mathematics GCSE
- Science GCSEs (separate Biology, Chemistry and Physics in Red Pathway)
- French GCSE (Red Pathway)
- Religious Education
- ICT OCR National
Core subjects taught within blocking arrangements:
- Design and Technology GCSEs (including Product Design, Graphic Products, Resistant Materials, Textiles Technology)
- Physical Education
Core subject taught within mixed-ability tutor groups:
- PCC
Optional subjects:
- Geography GCSE
- History GCSE
- Art and Design GCSE
- Music GCSE
- Media Studies GCSE
- Computer Studies GCSE
- Drama GCSE
- Physical Education GCSE
- Sport BTEC Level 2
- Applied Art and Design BTEC Level 2
- Health and Social Care BTEC Level 2
- Creative Media BTEC Level 1
- Design and Technology GCSEs (including Product Design, Graphic Products, Resistant Materials, Textiles Technology)
Year 11
Core subjects taught in pathway (ability) groups within setting arrangements:
- English GCSE (with English Literature GCSE for Red and Blue Pathways)
- Mathematics GCSE
- Science GCSEs (separate Biology, Chemistry and Physics in Red Pathway)
- French or German GCSE (Red Pathway)
- Religious Education GCSE
- ICT OCR National
Core subjects taught within blocking arrangements:
- Design and Technology GCSEs (including Product Design, Graphic Products, Resistant Materials, Textiles Technology)
- Physical Education
Core subject taught within mixed-ability tutor groups:
- PCC
Optional subjects:
- Geography GCSE
- History GCSE
- Art and Design GCSE
- Music GCSE
- Media Studies GCSE
- Drama GCSE
- Physical Education GCSE
- German GCSE as second Modern Foreign Language
- Applied Engineering Double GCSE (delivered in partnership with South West Durham Training)
- Sport BTEC Level 2
- Applied Art and Design BTEC Level 2
- Health and Social Care BTEC Level 2
- Travel and Tourism BTEC Level 2
- Creative Media BTEC Level 2
- Motor Vehicle Engineering Level 1 (Delivered by partners at Darlington College)
- Hair and Beauty Level 1 (Delivered by partners at Darlington College)
The Curriculum – Subjectby Subject
English
- Core in Years 7, 8 and 9
- Core GCSE (Edexcel) in Years 10 and 11
English Literature
- Core in Red and Blue Pathways GCSE (Edexcel) in Years 10 and 11
Mathematics
- Core in Years 7, 8 and 9
- Core GCSE (Edexcel) in Years 10 and 11
Science
- Core in Years 7, 8 and 9
- Core GCSEs (OCR) in Years 10 and 11 (as separate Biology, Chemistry and Physics in Red Pathway)
Design and Technology
- Core in Years 7 and 8
- Core in Year 9 (Blue and Red Pathways)
- Option in Year 9
- Core GCSE (AQA) in Years 10 and 11: Product Design, Graphic Products, Resistant Materials, Textiles Technology
Modern Foreign Languages
- Core in Years 7 and 8: French
- Core in Year 9 (Blue and Red Pathways): French
- Core in Year 10 (Red Pathway): French GCSE (WJEC)
- Core in Year 11 (Red Pathway): French or German GCSE (WJEC)
- Option in Year 11: German GCSE (WJEC) as 2nd Foreign Language
Geography
- Core in Year 7 within Woodham Learning framework
- Core in Year 8
- Option in Years 9, 10 and 11: GCSE (AQA)
History
- Core in Year 7 within Woodham Learning framework
- Core in Year 8
- Option in Years 9, 10 and 11: GCSE (WJEC)
Religious Education
- Core in all year groups
- Year 11: GCSE (WJEC)
Art and Design
- Core in Years 7 and 8
- Option in Years 9, 10 and 11: GCSE (AQA)
- Option in Years 9, 10 and 11: Applied Art and Design BTEC Level 2 (Edexcel)
Music
- Core in Years 7 and 8
- Option in Years 9, 10 and 11: GCSE (Edexcel)
ICT
- Core in Year 7 within Woodham Learning framework as Digital Literacy
- Core in Years 8 and 9 as Digital Literacy
- Core in Years 10 and 11 as OCR National
- Option in Years 9 and 10: Computer Studies GCSE (OCR)
- Core in Year 9: ICT GCSE (OCR)
Physical Education
- Core in all year groups
- Option in Years 9, 10 and 11: Physical Education GCSE (AQA)
- Option in Years 9, 10 and 11: Sport BTEC Level 2 (Edexcel)
- Option in Year 9 : Dance GCSE (AQA)
Drama
- Option in Years 10 and 11: GCSE (Edexcel)
Media Studies
- Option in Years 9, 10 and 11: GCSE (WJEC)
- Option in Years 9 and 10: Creative Media BTEC Level 1 (Edexcel)
- Option in Year 11: Creative Media BTEC Level 2 (Edexcel)
Health and Social Care
- Option in Years 9, 10 and 11: BTEC Level 2 (Edexcel)
Business Studies
- Option in Year 11: BTEC Level 2 (Edexcel)
Engineering
- Option in Year 9: GCSE (AQA) delivered in partnership with South West Durham Training
- Option in Year 11: Double GCSE (Edexcel) delivered in partnership with South West Durham Training
Travel and Tourism
- Option in Year 11: BTEC Level 2 (Edexcel)
Personal Social and Health Education with Citizenship, Careers and Enterprise Education
- Core in all year groups
Woodham Learning
- Core skills-based curriculum in Year 7, including Geography, History and Digital Literacy in terms 2 and 3
Transitional Studies
- Integrated programme in Year 7 for Green Pathway incorporating English, Mathematics, Science and French
Combined Studies
- Integrated programme in Year 8 for Green Pathway incorporating English, Mathematics, Science, French, Geography and History
- Integrated programme in Year 9 for Green Pathway incorporating English and Mathematics
Further Details
Please visit individual subject pages within the Students and Parents area
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