Curriculum

Curriculum Statement

We have a vibrant and diverse student body at Derby Moor Spencer Academy. Seventy percent of our students are identified as living in deprived areas and the ability of our intake is typically below the national average at the point when students enter school. The curriculum at our Academy enables all students to reach and exceed their potential regardless of start point. We have designed every facet of the school experience to support and develop students through our school values of achievement, aspiration, high expectations and community. The consistent and explicit drive towards meeting these values enables us to achieve our school vision of “Together we succeed.”

 

The Aim of the Derby Moor Curriculum

The Derby Moor curriculum challenges social injustice providing all students with the same equality of opportunity and life chances. To facilitate this we deliver a range of wider experiences to develop our students into confident, well rounded, emotionally and socially literate young people. Our curriculum is ambitious, logically sequenced throughout KS3-5 and is evolving to provide an increasing focus on the development of future skills for employability. It offers all students a rich and varied educational experience that promotes enrichment for all, supports success in external qualifications and equips them with the knowledge, skills and experience to thrive in higher education and the modern workplace. Through our curriculum we promote a culture of aspiration which is encompassed in our motto “Together we succeed”.

 

How we deliver our curriculum:

• All students are guided through their subject choices as they move into Key Stage 4 or Key Stage 5, ensuring that they have breadth, balance and the opportunity for success in their chosen pathways. Careers advice and guidance is high quality, impartial and embedded throughout the students’ experience. It provides our students the opportunity to progress to the next stage of their education, including high quality apprenticeships, university study and the world of work.
• The Key Stage 3 Curriculum supports every student, regardless of background, need or circumstance, to achieve. This creates the foundation upon which Key Stage 4 and 5 study will build.
• Our curriculum is intelligently sequenced across subjects and identifies where correction or development is required. As a result, timely intervention provides the support students require to exceed expectations.
• The Derby Moor Teaching & Learning Framework enables a consistent approach to delivering the curriculum through high quality teaching episodes that embed the development of knowledge, skills and attributes. This ensures that all students are engaged and motivated, resulting in an outstanding attitude to learning across the Academy.
• Schemes of learning define the essential knowledge and skills all students should acquire, while aiming to develop their employability skills, resilience and independence, broaden their cultural understanding and experiences, and inspire curiosity and enthusiasm for learning.
• High-quality, research-informed continuing professional development strengthens classroom practice through our Teaching and Learning Playbook, supporting teachers to model effectively, engage all students, check learning and adapt teaching to secure knowledge for the long term.
• Homework and research are an integral part of student learning, developing the skills of independence and resilience.
• Personal Development lessons enable key learning about safety, student well-being, relationships and sex education, use of social media, radicalisation, CSE and health.
• The tutor programme develops emotional and social literacy, metacognition, resilience and cultural awareness.
• Literacy is developed across the curriculum, with numeracy skills reinforced where relevant to subject learning to ensure students who are below expected levels are caught up rapidly and keep up.
• A detailed transition plan from Key Stage 2 to 3 ensures that students are comfortable and supported in the move from Primary to Secondary.
• The rich variety of cultures that make up Derby Moor’s diverse student body is embraced, so that differences are celebrated and valued through assemblies, PSHE and events.
• Stakeholder voice engages students in their learning so that they are inspired and motivated to succeed at the highest level.

 

Taught Curriculum

Key Stage 3 Year 7 – 9

We deliver five 1 hour lessons each day, therefore making 25 lessons over a week and 50 lessons over a fortnight. Fortnightly subject allocations are as follows:

Our Languages provision consists of French, Spanish, Panjabi and Urdu.  Students choose their preferred language upon starting Year 7 and follow this through to Y9. Humanities covers History, Geography and Religious Studies. Creative Arts covers Art, Dance, Drama, and Music. Technology covers Product Design, Graphics, Food and Textiles.

In addition to this we have a ‘nurture’ group.  This is a group that works mainly with one teacher who teaches most subjects (English, Maths, Science, Humanities and Computing).  These students will attend more specialist lessons in PE, Languages (or Literacy support), Creative Arts and Technology.   This allows a blend of primary and secondary experience for students who may need extra support in the transition from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3.

 

Key Stage 4 (Y10 and Y11)

At the end of Year 9 students select which subjects that they wish to follow throughout Key Stage 4. We deliver five 1 hour lessons each day, therefore making 25 lessons over a week and 50 lessons over a fortnight. Fortnightly subject allocations are as follows:

In Years 10 and 11, Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) is delivered by our specialist teacher through a planned rota across the academic year. Students receive 14 lessons in Year 10 and 10 lessons in Year 11.

Our three Key Stage 4 curriculum pathways, Yellow, Blue and Green, support students to achieve through an ambitious programme of study matched to their strengths, needs and aspirations, preparing them for successful next steps in education, training or employment.

• The Yellow Pathway – Students are identified for this pathway if we feel they have a good interest and attitude in both a Language and either History or Geography. In addition to this they should be able to achieve strong outcomes in both of these subjects. As a result they will leave Derby Moor with a high level of qualification in key academic subjects (known as the EBacc subjects). In addition these students will select one further subject to follow.
• The Blue Pathway – Almost all other students are placed in the Blue Pathway. This means that they must choose at least one subject from a Language, History or Geography, plus they make two other free choices. A student in this pathway may choose to do a Language and either History or Geography if they wish.
• The Green Pathway – There are currently a small number of students who follow this pathway. These students must select one subject from a Language, History or Geography and they get one free subject choice plus they follow a BTEC qualification (currently PE).

Our current subject offer at Key Stage 4 is:

Core (All Students):

English Language, English Literature, Maths, Science (double or triple award), PE (including Dance)

Subject Options:

 

Key Stage 5 (Y12 and Y13)

In Year 12 most students will select three subjects which they study over two years. A small number may decide to start with four, the school will negotiate and advise students in this case. 

Currently each subject receives ten hours of specific teacher taught lessons over a two week cycle. They will also take part in one lesson per week of enrichment.

Our current offer at Key Stage 5 is:

BTEC Level 3 National qualifications, including those designated as Alternative Academic Qualifications (AAQs), offer an applied pathway at the same level as A levels. AAQs are designed to be studied alongside A levels, supporting progression to higher education.

Qualifications are available in different sizes:

• BTEC National Extended Certificate (NEC), including AAQ Extended Certificates: equivalent in size to one A level.
• BTEC National Diploma (ND): equivalent in size to two A levels.
• BTEC National Extended Diploma (NED): equivalent in size to three A levels.

Students can combine these qualifications with A levels to create a programme of study that supports their strengths, interests and future aspirations.

In Years 12 and 13, Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) is delivered by our specialist teacher through a planned rota across the academic year. Students receive 8 lessons in Year 12 and 6 lessons in Year 13.

 

Whole School Curriculum Maps

Explore our curriculum by faculty. Select a subject to view its curriculum map and discover how students’ knowledge and skills develop over time.

Finding out more about our curriculum

Our subject curriculum maps explain what students study and how their learning develops over time.

If you would like further information about the curriculum, please email info@derbymoorspencer.org.uk or telephone 01332 772706. Please include the subject and year group concerned so that your enquiry can be directed to the appropriate member of staff.

 

Religious Education: right of withdrawal

Parents have the right to withdraw their child from all or part of Religious Education (RE). Students aged 18 or over may exercise this right themselves. Please contact info@derbymoorspencer.org.uk for the attention of the Principal to discuss arrangements.