LDA Curriculum Overview

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Curriculum Intent

The Dean Trust Curriculum Values (Powerful Knowledge, Global Citizenship, Healthy in Mind, Body & Soul, and Ambition & Aspiration) underpin an ambitious curriculum that meets the needs of all pupils at Lord Derby Academy.  The LDA programme of education encourages social and economic mobility through a well-structured and highly aspirational curriculum that remains as broad as possible for as long as possible.  With the English Baccalaureate at the heart of a rich offer, the curriculum intends to inspire and equip all pupils with the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life beyond LDA.

The curriculum has been designed within each subject area to ensure pupils have a firm grasp of what they need to know at each key stage of their education.   A 6-year Curriculum Pathway in every subject is in place, building on the KS2 National Curriculum and preparing pupils for life beyond LDA.  The use of Pupil Curriculum Passports at each stage of the Curriculum Pathway are used to support pupils to remember long term content.

‘Pupils and parents are positive about the range of subjects that leaders provide in key stage 3 and key stage 4’ (Ofsted, April 2019)

‘Pupils prosper and make good progress in both key stages where the curriculum provides new, challenging and exciting opportunities for learning’ (Ofsted, April 2019)

The Key Stage 3 Curriculum

All pupils have access to the full National Curriculum at LDA.  The KS3 curriculum is designed to ensure that all pupils have access to a broad, balanced and aspirational offer that builds on the knowledge and skills acquired at KS2.  The core subjects of English, mathematics and science sit at the heart of the KS3 offer together with a very real focus on humanities subjects and Modern Foreign Languages.  Pupils also benefit from the study of a wide range of technology and expressive arts disciplines as well as Physical Education, Computer Science and Personal, Social and Health Education.  Alongside the academic curriculum, pupils follow a Personal Development Curriculum during Form Time which provides further opportunities to develop the cultural capital they need to succeed in life. The Programme of enrichment is designed to enhance the curriculum offer.

‘The KS3 Curriculum Leaders collaborate with feeder primaries to join up the curriculum and share best practice.  The joined up work not only allows better information sharing but improves curriculum provision at both KS2 and KS3’. (IQM Assessment Report, January 2021)

Key Stage 4  

The majority of pupils follow the English Baccalaureate pathway at Key Stage 4.

The English Baccalaureate comprises the following GCSE subjects:

  • English Language
  • English Literature
  • Mathematics
  • Combined Science or 3 Separate Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
  • History
  • Geography
  • French
  • Spanish
  • Computer Science

In addition to the EBACC subjects, pupils also have the opportunity to study two subjects from the following list:

  • Astronomy
  • Art and Design
  • Art Photography
  • Business Studies
  • Child Development
  • Design and Technology
  • Dance
  • Digital Applications
  • Drama
  • Engineering*
  • Film Studies*
  • Food Preparation and Nutrition
  • German*
  • Hair and Beauty
  • Health and Social Care
  • Music
  • Physical Education
  • Psychology*
  • Religious Education
  • Sports Studies
  • Statistics
  • Textile Design*

*Subject to availability

‘Pupils benefit from the opportunity to follow the English Baccalaureate suite of academic subjects’ (Ofsted, April 2019)

The delivery of LDA Curriculum complies with the duties in the Equality Act 2010 and is accessible to all pupils, including those with a special educational need or disability.

Curriculum contact

Mrs J. Ellis, Deputy Headteacher

 

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