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Plympton Academy

CURRICULUM MODEL

The curriculum at Plympton Academy encompasses planning, assessment, feedback, ethos, and attitudes and provides students with a rich and flourishing learning experience, to foster a love of learning and skills to increase life opportunities. Our aim is to provide an extensive board and balanced curriculum which meets the needs of our learners and enriches their future pathways.

The curriculum has two principal aims:

  • To provide opportunities for all students to learn and achieve to their highest potential, and to become successful lifelong learners
  • To promote students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and prepare them to become responsible citizens

Our academic year is organised into six terms matching the academic school year. During each  term students complete units of work, in line with the programmes of study culminating in standardised formal assessments at least three time a year in each subject. This information is used to inform planning and provides an opportunity for students to act on feedback, demonstrate further progress and identify the strengths and weaknesses in their learning. Feedback is a live and active part of classroom-based teaching and students are provided with on-going praise, support, and guidance on how to enhance their performance. Students and parents receive a Progress Tracker three times a year which indicates their Learning Behaviours and attainment level for each subject.

Our five or seven year learning journey begins in Year 7 where the fundamental principles and key concepts are delivered to students alongside study skills. During Year 7 and Year 8 students are exposed to our full complement of arts, languages, humanities and technical subjects in addition to the core subjects. Students have the opportunity to choose from a broad range of GCSE and BTEC qualifications so that their programme of study is suited to their individual needs, interests, skills and aspirations with guidance. Both these qualifications have equal rigour and currency but are composed of a different assessment structure. During the option process students study 10 subjects which consists of the compulsory subjects English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Combined Science, Religious Studies, and Physical Education and Personal, Social, Health and Economic education as a non-examinable subjects.

The content of our curriculum can be found here: Curriculum Content

During each day students undertake a bespoke tutorial programme comprised of Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education and aims to develop key attributes and widely acknowledged, valuable employability skills of leadership, organisation, resilience, initiative and communication. Details of our Career's programme is detailed on the Careers page.

 

Our Curriculum Vision for all learners is detailed below: