Our curriculum

The curriculum at Manor Academy is split into two key stages. Key Stage 3 runs from Year 7 into Year 8, and Key Stage 4 runs from Year 9 to Year 11. Students study a wide range of subjects through Key Stage 3 and we try to encourage a good breadth of subjects as options for Key Stage 4 as well. As Manor is a church school, all pupils take Religious Studies as a GCSE. The government actively encourages schools to ensure EBacc subjects are available to all pupils. The Ebacc comprises English, mathematics, science, history or geography and a foreign language. Performance within these subjects make up 70% of key government measures, with the remaining 30% for all other subjects.

Curriculum and Organisation

Key Stage 3: Years 7-8

Students fulfill most of the requirements of the National Curriculum and take the full range of subjects.

Key Stage 4: Years 9-11

All students study English (Language and Literature), Mathematics, Science, Religious Studies (personal, social and health education and citizenship), and core PE.   They must also, in the majority of cases, study a Modern Foreign Language (French or German).  In addition, students have access to study further optional courses. Courses are available in the following areas:

Other optional courses available are Child Development and the Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE) with Wider Key Skills.

There is also a comprehensive Foundation Learning strand of courses which are offered to students with specific requirements.  Please note that the curriculum offer changes on annual basis. 

In the Autumn term of Year 8, parents and students are informed about the choices available and the work to be covered in each course.  Students are offered advice before any decisions are made.  Students receive advice from subject teachers and an independent Careers Adviser.

Cross-curricular skills are developed throughout Key Stage 4, in ICT, economic and industrial understanding, enterprise education, environmental education and citizenship. PE and Enrichment are taught as non-accredited core subjects.

Organisation

Year 7 and 8
Students are taught mainly in mixed ability forms with some setting in certain areas. 

Years 9, 10 and 11
Students are divided into sets for Mathematics, English, Science, Religious Studies and Core-PE. For Option subjects, they are taught in groups according to their choice of subject and the examination level to which the subject is taught.

Able, Gifted and Talented Students

Rationale

Manor CE Academy is committed to the provision of high-quality education for all students but recognises the need to make additional provision for students who are able, gifted and talented. All students have the right to equality of opportunity; to experience teaching which allows them to move forward in their learning and to be provided with opportunities and appropriate support to meet their individual needs. We are committed to:

• providing an environment which encourages all students to maximise their potential
• recognising the needs of more able students both academically and socially
• ensuring that more able students are motivated to achieve to the best of their ability
• providing enrichment and enhancement opportunities for more able students where
• communicating effectively with parents and carers with regard to issues related to the Gifted and Talented
• providing a co-ordinated approach to transition between the primary and secondary phases

Definition

A gifted student is one who has the potential to excel automatically in one or more subjects such as English, Drama, Technology or Mathematics.  A talented student is one who has the ability to excel in practical skills such as Sport, Leadership or Artistic Performance (Government Definition – April 2008).  An able student is identified using a variety of methods such as National tests, Cognitive Ability Tests in Year 7, teacher assessment and nomination.  This is a continuous whole school process.

External Examinations

All students are encouraged to aim for academic success. They are entered for GCSE examinations in the syllabus appropriate to their abilities. Most students will be entered for 9 or 10 subjects.  Parents are informed of the entries being made on behalf of their child and have an opportunity to discuss these with the Head of Year 11 before the entries are finalised. Where appropriate, students may be encouraged to take different routes of accreditation.