Our ambitious curriculum provides every single Stanground Academy student with a world class education. Our curriculum design enables students to gain knowledge and skills, with confidence with cultural capital at the foundation for their long-term success.  In addition, students achieve the academic qualifications necessary to access appropriate next steps in education and eventually employment.  Our curriculum extends beyond our own timetable and supports our students’ development as socially responsible citizens whilst providing enriching opportunities for cultural, sporting and artistic growth to promote social inclusion and mobility.

In Years 7, 8, and 9 we offer a broad and balanced, knowledge-rich curriculum that gives our students a strong academic grounding in preparation for Level 2 public examinations.

Our curriculum planning is clear, purposefully sequenced and spiral in nature, and all students are expected to study the core academic subjects for all five years of their time at Stanground Academy.  Curriculum planning prioritises the importance of threshold concepts illustrated as ‘Big Ideas’ which encompasses the purpose of learning in each academic year. Planning interweaves knowledge retrieval and low-stakes testing based on up-to-date educational research.  Students learn consistently across all five years of their secondary education and are supported to attain highly in national exams, with results at or above national average.

In Key Stage 4 we offer a high-quality curriculum, organised over two years to ensure our students flourish beyond expectation and experience an ambitious learning experience in their academic and vocational subjects. Option choices allow for all students to begin to shape their career journey choosing important subjects from the arts, technical and physical subjects.  

Our curriculum has subject-specific knowledge at its heart, and we look to the academic disciplines for guidance on the most powerful knowledge to teach (‘the best that has been thought and said’…Matthew Arnold). We also seek to learn from research about how this knowledge can be retained in long-term memory, so that every child can flourish beyond expectation and be equipped with the skills to achieve excellent outcomes.

In Key Stage 5 we offer a broad range of academic and vocational qualifications. This study leads to higher Education, apprenticeships or advanced employment. Our Stanground Academy sixth form students are actively involved in a high-quality enrichment programme as well as being involved in the community through local charity work and work experience. 

We believe our knowledge-rich curriculum gives our students the academic underpinning they require to help them flourish at all key stages and beyond.  Teaching is clear and inclusive. Planning ensures that it consistently builds on previous learning, with retention and unsupported recall, prioritised to ensure secure progress for all students, including those who are disadvantaged or have additional needs.

Curriculum model

Years 7, 8 and 9

Subjects studied/hours per week

Year 10 and 11

Subjects studied/hours per week