Curriculum Plan
The Curriculum plan at The Sutton Academy breaks the learning for students into 3 phases. At the heart of the curriculum is the academic rigour built on five pillars with the aim to equip students with the skills and knowledge to succeed in life. For further information, please refer to the Curriculum Intent.
Phase 1
In year 7 & 8 the curriculum is delivered in 3 bands and covers the National Curriculum in breadth and depth.
- Band 1 and 2 are parallel and contain similar mix and number of student groups.
- Band 3 is our Gold pathway which provides a more specialised curriculum for students with a range of needs.
Band 1 and 2
| Number of Periods | |
|---|---|
| English and Drama | 10 |
| Mathematics | 8 |
| Science | 6 |
| History | 3 |
| Geography | 3 |
| R.E. | 2 |
| Spanish | 4 |
| Digital Literacy * | 2 |
| Music | 2 |
| Art | 2 |
| Design Technology rotation | 4 |
| P.E. | 4 |
| PSHCE | Delivered in R2L and rolling programme across the year |
| Total | 50 |
*Digital Literacy lessons cover the National Curriculum for Computing and essential Digital Literacy skills, such as the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information.
Band 3
| Number of periods | |
|---|---|
| English and Drama | 8 |
| Mathematics | 8 |
| Science | 6 |
| Geography/History/RE | 6 |
| Social Skills | 2 |
| WIT/Organisational Skills | 2 |
| Targeted Numeracy and Literacy intervention | 2 |
| Spanish | 2 |
| Digital Literacy* | 2 |
| Music | 2 |
| Art | 2 |
| Design Technology rotation | 4 |
| P.E. | 4 |
| PSHCE | Delivered in R2L and rolling programme across the year |
| Total | 50 |
*Digital Literacy lessons cover the National Curriculum for Computing and essential Digital Literacy skills, such as the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information.
Phase 2
In year 9 the banding system remains with Band 1 and 2 being parallel and Band 3 for the white pathway. We feel it is important the students have the opportunity to continue to study core subjects whilst also being giving the opportunity to broaden their curriculum options. After consultation this is in the best interests of our students and community and provides the students with a well balanced and broad curriculum. Students will pick two GCSE options choices whilst continuing to study core subjects.
Bands 1 and 2
| Number of periods | |
|---|---|
| English | 9 |
| Mathematics | 8 |
| Science | 9 |
| History | 3 |
| Geography | 3 |
| R.E. | 2 |
| Modern Foreign Languages | 4 |
| P.E. | 3 |
| Digital Literacy* | 1 |
| Option 1 (for three years) | 4 |
| Option 2 (for three years) | 4 |
| PSHCE | Delivered in R2L and rolling programme across the year |
| Total | 50 |
*Digital Literacy lessons cover the National Curriculum for Computing and essential Digital Literacy skills, such as the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information.
Subjects which all students can select from are listed below
| Free Choice Subjects | ||
|---|---|---|
| Art, Craft & Design | Music | Health & Social Care |
| Computer Science | Physical Education | Construction |
| Dance | Religious Education | Hospitality & Catering |
| Design Technology | Business & Enterprise | Childcare |
| Food Preparation & Nutrition | ICT | Drama |
Band 3
| Number of periods | |
|---|---|
|
English |
9 |
| Mathematics | 8 |
| Science | 9 |
| Geography/History/RE | 6 |
| Social Skills | 2 |
| Targeted Numeracy and Literacy intervention | 2 |
| Spanish | 2 |
| Digital Literacy* | 1 |
| P.E. | 3 |
| Option 1 (for three years) | 4 |
| Option 2 (for three years) | 4 |
| PSHCE | Delivered in R2L and rolling programme across the year |
| Total | 50 |
*Digital Literacy lessons cover the National Curriculum for Computing and essential Digital Literacy skills, such as the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information.
Band 3 can opt for all the same qualifications as Band 1 and 2 plus some additional qualifications Art & Design Practice and Animal Care.
| Free Choice Subjects | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Art, Craft & Design | Music | Health & Social Care | Art & Design Practice |
| Computer Science | Physical Education | Construction | Animal Care |
| Dance | Religious Education | Hospitality & Catering | |
| Design Technology | Business & Enterprise | Childcare | |
| Food Preparation & Nutrition |
ICT | Drama | |
Phase 3
In years 10 and 11 the banding system remains with Band 1, 2 and 3. We offer three distinct pathways for students dependent on ability:
Purple Pathway (English Baccalaureate)
Students study GCSEs in
- English
- English Literature
- Mathematics
- Double or Triple Award Science
- A Modern Foreign Language
- Humanity (History or Geography)
- The two additional subjects studied in Year 9.
Green Pathway (General, including English Baccalaureate)
Students study GCSEs in
- English
- English Literature
- Mathematics
- Double or Triple Award Science
- A Modern Foreign Language or a Humanity (History or Geography)
- An additional option from the subjects below
- The two additional subjects studied in Year 9.
| Business & Enterprise | Hospitality & Catering |
| ICT | Childcare |
| Health & Social Care | Sport |
| Construction |
Students on this pathway can also choose to pursue an EBacc combination by opting onto the Purple Pathway.
White Pathway (Vocational)
Students will study GCSEs in
- English
- English Literature,
- Mathematics
- Double or Triple Award Science
- Two additional option from the subjects below
- The two additional subjects studied in Year 9.
| Business & Enterprise | Hospitality & Catering |
| ICT | Childcare |
| Health & Social Care | Sport |
| Construction | Health & Fitness |
Students on this pathway can also choose to pursue an EBacc combination by opting into the Purple Pathway or the Green pathway.
All Phase 3 students follow the model below
| Number of periods | |
|---|---|
| English | 9 |
| Mathematics | 9 |
| Science | 9 |
| R.E. | 1 |
| Digital Literacy* | 1 |
| P.E. | 3 |
| Option 1 (for three years) | 4 |
| Option 2 (for three years) | 4 |
| Option 3 (for two years) | 5 |
| Option 4 (for two years) | 5 |
| PSHCE | Delivered in R2L and rolling programme across the year |
| Total | 50 |
*Digital Literacy lessons cover the National Curriculum for Computing and essential Digital Literacy skills, such as the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information.
Phase 2 and 3 Options
The Phase 2 and 3 Options booklets can be found here. It includes detailed information about courses offered for GCSE and BTEC.
Legacy Curriculum
For students who made their Option choices in 2018 and 19, their curriculum model is different having made all four option choices in Year 8.
| Number of periods | |
|---|---|
| English | 10 |
| Mathematics | 10 |
| Science | 9 |
| R.E. | 1 |
| Digital Literacy* | 1 |
| P.E. | 3 |
| Option 1 | 4 |
| Option 2 | 4 |
| Option 3 | 4 |
| Option 4 | 4 |
| PSHCE | Rolling programme |
| Total | 50 |
*Digital Literacy lessons cover the National Curriculum for Computing and essential Digital Literacy skills, such as the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information.
Students will have selected their options from the three available pathways (Purple, Green and White) which are detailed above.
Key Stage 5 (Years 12 & 13)
The Sixth Form offers a range of Level 3 Vocational and Academic qualifications as well as GCSE resit opportunities for Maths and English. Entry requirements are for students to achieve five grades 4s at GCSE, with A Level subjects requiring a grade 6. The curriculum is a fully 'blended' A Level and BTEC curriculum, with the majority of students choosing to follow a personalised pathway. These can be entirely A Level. Further details of this are available in the sixth form section on the web page.