Curriculum

Robert Barclay Academy offers a curriculum that is both broad and balanced. It is tailored to meet the needs of all our students and underpinned by the desire ensure students enjoy learning whilst ensuring they maximise their achievement. In addition to providing enrichment and excitement, our curriculum also allows us to provide extra support for those who need it.

The curriculum model at Robert Barclay Academy has been devised and shaped to ensure that we fully meet the needs of our students. Our intent is to provide an ambitious and inclusive learning environment for our students and to develop three areas of focus in response to the needs of our students:

1. Aspirations

Enabling students to achieve their personal best to meet these aspirations

2. Cultural Capital

Broadening students’ views and experiences

3. Literacy

To promote key terminology, reading, extended writing, speaking and listening

 

Underpinning this we have a common approach to school life:

Achievement through an ambitious curriculum.

Care through being respectful.

Excellence through taking pride.

 

To ensure the curriculum continues to be ambitious and inclusive for all year groups, we have developed a wide and rich variety of experiences: Learning Enrichment Activity Days, Focus Weeks (for example, ‘Wellbeing Week’) and extra-curricular clubs. All students have the opportunity to participate in sports and the vast majority choose an expressive or creative subject. These are further enhanced by our extra-curricular offer.

 

Key Stage 3 Curriculum

We operate a two-year Key Stage 3 curriculum (Year 7 and Year 8), which is where the foundations are laid for success at GCSE and A Level. As such, our curriculum includes a wide variety of subjects as well as the core building blocks. Subjects include: English, Maths, Science, Humanities, Languages, Arts, Technology, PE and Social Studies. The curriculum is designed with the intention of developing their skills and interests, in addition to the wider curriculum which includes staying safe, personal development, wellbeing and citizenship. Students are encouraged to participate in a wide variety of clubs in order to promote healthy lifestyles, social skills and specific interests. 

In Years 7 and 8, the curriculum is designed and assessed without reference to levels. This is to foster a love of the subject, and to deepen understanding of the knowledge and skills required in each area.

All students in Year 9 have access to the national curriculum through our Immersion Days, which are cross-curricular drop down days, allowing our students to still experience a wide variety of subjects. 

Key Stage 4 Curriculum

The Key Stage 4 is taught over three years in order to fulfil the increasing demands for content and skills development at GCSE level. The intention behind this is that it responds to our students’ needs by making the curriculum relevant and future focussed, enabling strong engagement through allowing students to select study paths whilst consolidating knowledge, skills and understanding in each subject. In year 9 students are introduced to the key concepts, skills and knowledge in each subject to give solid foundations for the rigours of the examination focus in Years 10 and 11.

All students follow a core offer which consists of:

• English Literature and Language
• Mathematics
• Science (Double or Separate Sciences – Biology, Physics, Chemistry)
• PE
• RE
• Social Studies

We guide students through the options process so that they can personalise their curriculum by choosing a number of academic, applied and vocational courses. For a complete list of subjects on offer visit our Options Process section to download the latest Year 9 Options booklet.

Key Stage 5 Curriculum

We offer a wide variety of academic and vocational subjects for year 12 and 13. This is supported by CORE skills lessons, which focuses on preparing students for a happy and successful life in an ever changing world, these include RE, PE, further education and social skills lessons). Our sixth form students are expected to support the school community through volunteering initiatives such as; paired readers, department ambassadors. Students go on to successfully study a range of courses at University (including the very best ‘Russell Group’ universities), Apprenticeships and employment, using the knowledge and skills they have gained through their years at RBA.

We offer a wide range of both academic A Levels and BTEC/Vocational courses in the Sixth Form according to the demands each year with a great deal of success.

 

Should you wish for more information on the curriculum please email [email protected]