Curriculum
Our curriculum is continually revised to meet the needs of our students.
Phoenix House
- KS2 – follow a broad and balanced curriculum which focuses on numeracy and literacy and the development in independent learning skills. Subjects include literacy, numeracy, science, art, DT, PE, RE, Swimming and Topic work.
Phoenix Park Academy acknowledges that learning must be a memorable and enjoyable journey that motivates all children.
KS2 follow the national curriculum which provides pupils with an introduction to the essential knowledge that they need to be educated citizens. The national curriculum is just one element in the education of every child. There is time and space in the school day for children to explore and develop their independent learning. The national curriculum provides an outline of core knowledge around which exciting and stimulating lessons are planned to promote the development of pupils’ knowledge, understanding and skills.
The aims of KS2 curriculum at Phoenix Park Academy are to enable children to:
- Feel safe and valued as part of a caring community that celebrates success
- Be independent thinkers/learners who are able to seek solutions creatively and cooperatively
- Develop an ‘enquiring’ mind and ask questions
- Be confident enough to take risks in their learning
- Experience and actively participate in a relevant, enjoyable curriculum that evolves to meet the needs of all
- Be able to listen and articulate responses showing consideration to others
- Be polite and courteous
- Be proactive in their responsibilities towards the community, society, the environment and economy, linking ‘real life’ with their learning
- Understand and respect diversity
- Be aware of and recognise their own learning needs.
- Develop a sense of self-esteem: be well balanced and healthy individuals
In order to achieve our aims children are supported to develop their literacy and numeracy skills. All children in KS2 read for a minimum of 15 minutes per day either to an adult or individually. Reading progress is supported by the use of Renaissance Reading and individual learning plans. Speaking and listening is a key component of the curriculum with children being encouraged to express them clearly. Literacy skills are taught through topics and are embedded in all areas of the curriculum. Learning is paced to support individual learning needs and styles.
All children take part in the weekly PE and swimming lessons. Art and DT form a central part of the curriculum and children are supported to express their understanding of the world through a range of media. We have chosen to study Spanish as our modern foreign language and the children gain experience in using simple phrases, understanding the culture of Spain and enjoy tasting food from Spain. ICT is embedded in the curriculum and children are encouraged to use ICT to support their independent learning. To broaden the children’s understanding of the world and their local environment, a range of cultures and faiths are studied. Wherever possible topics are supported by cultural visits.
Key Stage 3 offer a curriculum made up of a range of subjects:
These are chosen to keep pupils in line with the main subjects offered within our feeder schools, as well as providing an engaging and useful curriculum for our pupils. Subjects offered include:
- Maths
- English
- Computing
- Integrated Studies
- History
- Cooking
- PE
- Design & Technology
- Art
Our subject curricula are designed to give a wide range of learning opportunities in line with those offered in our feeder schools, so that pupils’ learning remains in line with their peers when they return to mainstream schooling. In addition, pupils take part in our Renaissance Learning Accelerated Reader program. This provides a structured reading program with targets and rewards in order to raise our pupils’ literacy levels.
Park House
The curriculum offered at Key Stage 4 is made up of a number of subjects accredited through a number of awarding bodies.
There has been a significant investment in the facilities at Park House to allow us to offer a more varied and vocational curriculum to meet the needs of our students. Our main curriculum offer allows students to partake in qualifications such as:allows students to take part is subjects such as:
Construction.
Mechanics
Nutrition & Health
Art
Sport
These qualifications are all accredited through exam boards and have been chosen for their suitability for our students.
Students will also complete a number of PSHE qualifications, these include Sexual Health, Substance Misuse, Alcohol Awareness, Stress Awareness, Anger Management and Mental Health.
Functional Skills English
Students are currently registered with Edexcel, During their time at Park House pupils will develop their skills through reading a wide range of carefully selected texts covering fiction, non-fiction, plays and poetry. Some of these texts will be used for controlled assessments. Students will also prepare for their exams by practicing reading for meaning, writing for different audiences and a number of speaking and listening tasks.
Functional Skills Maths
Functional Skills Mathematics will enable learners to appreciate the coherence, creativity, elegance and power of mathematics. It will prepare learners to make informed decisions about further learning opportunities and career choices.
The specification in Mathematics enables learners to:
- Make connections between different areas of mathematics
- Select and apply mathematical methods in both mathematical and real-world contexts
- Develop and refine strategies for solving a range of mathematical and real world problems
- Communicate mathematical information in a variety of forms
- Interpret mathematical results and draw and justify conclusions that are relevant to the context
- NCFE Sport
- The aim of our Sport program is to:
- Encourage personal development through practical participation and performance in a range of sports and exercise activities
- Give learners a wider understanding and appreciation of health-related fitness, sports and exercise through a selection of optional specialist unit.
- Encourage learners to develop their people, communication, planning and team-working skills by having the opportunity to select from optional units available in the qualification structure.
- Provide education and training for sport, leisure and recreation employees
- NCFE Art
- Investigate sources of ideas in art and design
- Explore and use art and design materials, techniques and visual language
- Produce final art and design work
- Building an art and design portfolio
- 2D visual communication.
- NCFE Nutrition and Health
- Explore principles of healthy eating
- Consider nutritional needs of a variety of individuals
- Use food and nutrition information to plan a healthy diet