Curriculum Intent
Reading is important, if you know how to read then the whole world opens up to you.
-Barack Obama
At Alvaston Moor Academy our intent is to provide a broad, balanced and inclusive education that promotes both the academic and personal development of each and every one of our students.
Our wish is for Alvaston Moor students to leave the school as:
- Ambitious: Empowered to make informed decisions about their next steps;
- Well-mannered: Making positive contributions to their community and beyond;
- Successful: equipped with the knowledge, skills and qualifications that they need to achieve their future goals.
Our curriculum allows all students to become:
- Successful learners who enjoy studying and achieve the qualifications that will allow them to progress to the next stage in their education;
- Aware of topical issues that affect them and others within society;
- Tolerant and accepting of all members of their community and beyond including celebrating cultural diversity;
- Confident in working independently or as in a team with the ability to lead others;
- Responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society;
- Able to understand the importance of health and safety in each stage of their lives.
At Alvaston Moor Academy we recognise that reading is a fundamental skill that underpins all areas of learning and promotes critical thinking, empathy and creativity in every one of the young people that we serve.
As a diverse community we believe in celebrating and promoting inclusivity. Our curriculum is designed to reflect this through the integration of a range of perspectives, cultures, and experiences, extending our students cultural capital beyond their lived experience. It is important to us that our students see themselves reflected in their curriculum, this begins with our tutor time guiding reading programme built on a literary cannon of over 35 texts that feature a range of different genres and authors. From the terrifying true-life story of Malala Yousefzai, a girl shot for standing up for her right to her education, in “I am Malala” to the adventures of an orphan who finds himself at a school for extremely unusual and gifted students in “Harry Potter” a love of stories is nurtured in our students from the moment they enter our doors.
Our focus on reading within our curriculum continues into our subject disciplines which are vocabulary rich and build on a variety of comprehension activities that ensure student understanding. We encourage our students to make predictions, decode unfamiliar materials and to ask questions of the resources provided to them, developing inquisitive and resilient learners who feel empowered through the growth of their knowledge and skills in their time at the school.
Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9)
At Key Stage 3 the majority of students follow the same curriculum allowing students to study a wide range of subjects from the core subjects of English, maths and science to the humanities, the arts, ICT, design and sport. We believe that students should be fully prepared for their future studies so we ensure that knowledge, skills and understanding are built upon from when students first come through our doors in year 7.
Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)
At Key Stage 4 students get to choose from a variety of academic and vocational courses and all receive detailed individual advice and guidance to ensure that they choose the right options for them. Assessment in these courses takes place in a variety of forms including assignments during the course and public examinations at the end of Key Stage 4. All subjects and qualifications are carefully selected to provide the best possible range of opportunities for our students and provide a platform for continued study after they leave us.
Ambition is an essential component of success. We encourage our students to aim high and work hard to achieve. We will provide opportunities for students to develop their leadership skills through our Student Council and Young Interpreters schemes, and to participate in a range of extra-curricular activities that build confidence, resilience, and teamwork. We recognise that students need to be equipped with skills that will enable them to succeed in life beyond school. our curriculum aims to equip students with the skills and knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their future, understand the labour market and trends, and have the financial, employability, digital literacy, and practical life skills to navigate their futures successfully.
