“Education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world”- Nelson Mandela

At Acle Academy we offer an engaging, broad and balanced curriculum, which prepares students not just for examinations, but for lifelong learning.

The core purpose of our curriculum is to equip our young people for life after school; helping them to build up the mental, emotional, social and strategic resources to enjoy challenge and cope well with the uncertainty and complexity of an ever-changing world. 

Our curriculum recognises and values our local cultural heritage but also seizes on opportunities to broaden horizons for the young people in our community. Our curriculum is driven by a moral imperative to develop responsible, ethical and global citizens of the future. We promote opportunities to link knowledge and concepts to real life examples that can be found in the workplace and life beyond the classroom. 

At Acle Academy, we understand the students learn best when they can relate new knowledge to existing knowledge. Our curriculum is focused on interconnectivity. We aim to place all learning in context ensuring that students understand the social, cultural, historical or future context of what they are learning and can make links between key concepts, ideas and skills. Transferable skills are developed throughout our curriculum to enable all students to apply their knowledge and understanding in a variety of unfamiliar contexts, strengthening their resilience and developing their curiosity to learn more. 

 

Rationale

Our curriculum content, its sequencing, and delivery, aim to develop students who are knowledge-rich in each subject. We recognise that retrieval and spacing of this knowledge is key.  

Each subject will have a clear curriculum rationale for Key Stage 3 and 4, closely aligned to the secondary national curriculum¹, progressing knowledge and understanding from Key Stage 2² and grounded in evidence-based practice. This will be; outlined in subjects’ curriculum statements, detailed in their curriculum journeys and scheme of learning overviews³ and reflected in their assessment methods.

Assessment methods will vary across subjects, but will be richly used and have a clear rationale and purpose. Strategies will range from low-stakes knowledge tests to more formal summative assessments. Feedback from assessments will support students’ learning and prepare them for success in their final examinations. 

Literacy conventions will be embedded within subject specialisms, where a uniform approach to the introduction of explicitly identified tier 2 and tier 3 vocabulary⁴ will be evident. To further stretch and challenge our students a ‘scholarly reading list’ of texts, articles and journals is provided with each scheme of learning overview. These will enrich and contextualise units of study and provide opportunities for independent learning. Home learning opportunities will complement units of study, supporting knowledge and understanding and helping to foster independence.  

1. Secondary National Curriculum (click to view)
2. Primary National Curriculum (click to view)
3. Timeline for subjects Schemes of Learning as follows: 
   Year 7: Autumn 2019, Year 8: Autumn 2020, Year 9: Autumn 2021
4. Tier 2 vocabulary are high frequency words used in mature language and written texts. Tier 3 vocabulary is subject specific academic language.

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We are proud of the pastoral support offered to our students through the excellent work of our Engage Team and our SEND support team. The school offers a range of academic and pastoral interventions to support those students who have additional needs.

Sex and Relationship Education is taught at Acle Academy as part of the Character and Culture curriculum. We also offer Careers Education through our KS4 Character and Culture curriculum that ensures students are fully prepared for the next steps in their education.
 

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Within the links on the side of this page you will find a statement from the lead of each of our subjects, including curriculum maps of the content to expect.
For any additional information regarding our curriculum, please contact Mr Newstead, Vice Principal, at snewstead@acle.norfolk.sch.uk