Curriculum
Curriculum Statement
The fundamental purpose of The Ebbsfleet Academy is to challenge and defy the barriers that constrain the educational progress of our students. The curriculum is the conduit through which that purpose becomes a reality. Out academic curriculum is rooted in the principles of being:
- rich in powerful knowledge
- academically demanding
- building cultural capital
Our academic curriculum is a vehicle for success. It challenges the mind, nurtures the heart and guides the hand. Each subject area has a curriculum document which identifies the knowledge and skills covered. The curriculum document for each subject is sequenced so that over the course of KS3 students will know more and be able to demonstrate an increasing number of skills. By the end of KS3 a students will be prepared to transition to KS4 with an understanding of any threshold knowledge necessary to access the GCSE specification.
In practice that means:
- All students master the basics of literacy and numeracy in Key Stage 3
- All students are entitled to study an academic core of English, Maths, Science, Humanities and a Modern Foreign Language
- Vocational courses are offered where appropriate
- Year 7, 8 and 9 students have a discreet PPE+ lesson each week which covers SRE and Citizenship education
- All students have the opportunity to participate in a wide-ranging and character building Enrichment programme, which includes community service, international trips, cultural visits, guest speakers and outdoor activities
Further information about the national curriculum can be found here
Curriculum Plans - Year 7
Curriculum Plans - Year 8
Curriculum Plans - Year 9
Curriculum Plans - Year 10
Curriculum Plans - Year 11
Curriculum Plans - Year 12
Curriculum Plans - Year 13
View Knowledge Organisers here
Key Stage Three Curriculum Assessment
Assessment is an all-encompassing word describing activities which range from high frequency low stakes activities like 1 – 10 tests, single mark questions and closed questions designed to test the retention of specific information or the application of a single skill, to low frequency high stakes summative assessments like formal written exams, final performance pieces or practical work. All assessment activities will be designed to utilise spacing and interleaving. At the Academy Students will be assessed against the descriptors below.
| Descriptor | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Mastering | A pupil working at this level in a subject has a comprehensive understanding of key concepts and skills in the sequence of learning as shown in the subject curriculum document. They can apply their skills and understanding across the subject. They demonstrate fluency in the concepts, methods and skills covered and are able to make links between information covered at the beginning of the course and that which is being studied now. A pupil working at this level consistently scores very highly in their low stakes tests and has high scores in more substantial assessments. |
| Secure | A pupil working at this level has a sound understanding of key concepts and skills in the sequence of learning as shown in the subject curriculum document. They are confident in their understanding and use of the concepts, methods and skills covered but may need to refer back to guidance occasionally as these are not yet second nature to them. A pupil working at this level usually scores highly in their low stakes tests and has relatively high scores in more substantial assessments. |
| Developing | A pupil working at this level is developing an understanding of key concepts and is grasping some of the main ideas and skills in a sequence of learning; some aspects of the curriculum require further development. They are familiar with concepts, methods and skills covered but struggle to use all of them without guidance or support. A pupil working at this level is inconsistent in their scores in their low stakes tests and has relatively low scores in more substantial assessments. |
| Emerging | A pupil working at this level has an emerging understanding of key concepts and is beginning to grasp some of the main ideas and skills in a sequence of learning. They are starting to develop the concepts, methods and skills covered but require guidance and support to remember how to apply them or where to find key information previously covered. A pupil working at this level consistently achieves low scores in their low stakes tests and has consistently low scores in more substantial assessments. A pupil working at this level may require more support in lessons and at home to build their memory of the key ideas and skills for this subject. |
| Insufficient attendance |
Low attendance to lessons has severely impacted curriculum coverage. There is insufficient evidence of learning over time to be able to report a level of curriculum understanding. Additional support is required to catch up on missed curriculum content. There are very few examples of low stakes testing and assessments for this pupil. |
At KS3
- English, Maths, Science, History and Geography and MFL will set two formal written papers to coincide with the dates for reporting cards. Information from the assessment will appear on the report card as well as a curriculum progress statement (emerging, developing, secure or mastery).
- For all other subjects in KS3 high stakes testing will be carried out at different points in the year. The outcome of these assessments will be used to inform the decision about which curriculum progress statement (emerging, developing, secure or mastery) will be recorded on the report card.
Year 7 Curriculum
Our Year 7 students are taught in five groups. Our Year 7 students are set in English and Maths based on prior attainment at KS2, the sets are continually reviewed throughout the year. The average point score students obtain at KS2 also determines the set students are in for their remaining subjects.
| CORE | English Mathematics Science |
5 Lessons 5 Lessons 5 Lessons |
|
FOUNDATION
|
Geography |
2 Lessons |
Year 8 Curriculum
Our Year 7 students are taught in five groups. Our Year 8 students are set in English and Maths based on prior attainment at KS2 and in Year 7, the sets are continually reviewed throughout the year.
| CORE | English Mathematics Science |
5 Lessons |
|
FOUNDATION |
Geography |
2 Lessons |
Year 9 Curriculum
Our Year 9 students are taught in five groups. Year 9 students are set in English and maths and science based on prior attainment, the sets are continually reviewed throughout the year.
| CORE | English Mathematics Science |
5 Lessons |
|
FOUNDATION |
Geography |
2 Lessons |
Key Stage Four Curriculum Assessment
Our Key Stage Four students follow the new ‘reformed GCSEs’. The key features of reformed GCSEs are that they…
- will be more demanding and contain more challenging content
- will be ‘linear’, so students will take all of their exams at the end of the course
- will be assessed much more through exams than coursework
- will have a new grading scale from 9 to 1, instead of A* to G.
Although the old and new grades do not convert perfectly with each other, the table below will give you a rough indication of the value of the new 9 – 1 grades:
Under the old A* - G grading system, a grade C or above was considered to be a ‘good pass’. Under the new 9 – 1 grading system, a grade 5 or above will be considered to be a ‘good pass’.
Further guidance about the subject content for each GCSE subject can be found here
Subjects will be expected to complete regular low stakes assessments in lessons and PPEs the outcomes of which will communicated to students and their parents about how well a student is progressing through the curriculum via report cards.
Our students are taught in four groups for most subjects. All students will study Science, Mathematics, English and English Literature at GCSE level.
Most students have selected a further 3 GCSEs or BTECs from a number of option blocks. Students choose between the following optional subjects:
Year 10
| CORE |
English |
5 Lessons |
| Option A | Option B | Option C |
|
History |
History |
Textiles |
| All subjects have 3 lessons per week | ||
Year 11
| CORE |
English |
5 Lessons |
| Option A | Option B | Option C |
|
History |
History |
Computer Science |
| All subjects have 3 lessons per week | ||
Key Stage Five Curriculum
We have redesigned our sixth form curriculum to better match what our current Y11 students were asking for, so students learning with us from September 2019 will follow an A-level based curriculum.
Click here to view the 6th form curriculum 2019/20. Most students are expected to study 3 subjects.
|
A Levels |
|
|
International Baccalaureate Higher Diploma |
|
|
IFS Finance |
5 Lessons |
Extra Curriculum Provision
We offer a variety of enrichment activities for students to participate in during lunchtimes and afterschool. These activities have been designed to give students the opportunity to broaden their personal, social, moral, cultural and spiritual development and to undertake extra sport. Examples of activities include archery, sports clubs, art club and mindfulness.
Our Year 11 GCSE students are also asked to attend additional targeted booster sessions from Monday- Thursday.