Curriculum intent statement
At The Peak Academy we have designed our curriculum with
pupils’ learning and SEMH needs at the centre. We recognise that a curriculum has to be broad, balanced and offer pupils opportunities to grow as individuals as well as learners.
Through a combination of learning techniques, we aim to ensure pupils enjoy learning and feel prepared for life after school. We also intend to offer our pupils new and exciting experiences through extra-curricular activities that are designed to build resilience, confidence and self-esteem.
We recognise that pupils should be challenged in their schooling; learning from failures and celebrating successes. We intend for our curriculum to be empowering, enabling pupils to develop their interpersonal skills, creativity and independence. We recognise the large gaps in pupil’s education prior to arrival and therefore, we have designed our curriculum and interventions to assist in stabilising and reversing the deterioration in acquisition of skills.
The focus for the curriculum at The Peak Academy aims to:
Create a capacity to learn – developing the core literacy and numeracy of every student. Enabling them to access the curriculum, all students receive support to read fluently and with their comprehension and application of key vocabulary.
Offer an environment to thrive – Where every pupil is an individual with a curriculum that is tailored to their needs and a supportive pastoral structure that enables pupils are able to excel in all aspects of their development. The Peak Academy provides a safe and nurturing environment and understands that all pupils can achieve but will require differentiated approaches based on their needs.
Develop the confidence and self-belief of the individual – a culture of “I can” or “I can’t yet” is ingrained in the school. Pupils are encouraged to flourish at the school both inside and out of the classroom. Within the curriculum each pupil has the opportunity to make progress and achieve their full potential.
Enable pupils to become more socially aware and of their responsibilities – The Peak Academy is dedicated to preparing students for their adult life. The curriculum provides opportunities for pupils to realise their sense of purpose and enable them to identify what their role will be within the community. Through the development of communication skills, an embedded PSHE provision and a strong values system pupils are equipped to be valued members of society.
Be responsive to the needs of each pupil but is uncompromising in expectation - the curriculum at The Peak academy is relentless in its support for pupils and its provision of excellent opportunities for young people to achieve beyond their expectations. Whilst pupil’s needs are recognised and met they are not confined by them. The school does not define a future based upon a pupil’s past and is unapologetic in its approach in demanding pupils to continue to push the boundaries of their potential.
Provide outcomes for pupils to be able to succeed - pupils are encouraged to develop the confidence, independence, and self-awareness required for their future success and wellbeing. The curriculum focuses on the individual and creates opportunities for them to achieve across a wide and varied offer of qualifications and subjects. Whilst also instilling The Peak Values – Excellence, Humility, Respect and Trust. Resulting in pupils being able to access and be successful in purposeful destinations when they leave The Peak.
The Curriculum at The Peak - inspires learners for their future through its breadth and depth providing students with the knowledge, skills and experiences to make sense of the changing world, make informed choices and develop the confidence to be successful in their desired destinations.
Students at The Peak are known and valued as unique individuals, each with their own personality, aspirations and challenge. Strong, positive relationships enable staff to understand their students and support them to achieve.
Learning at The Peak extends beyond the classroom. The use of real world examples and first hand experiences develop curiosity and a desire to challenge their understanding and deepen learning. Built on a coherent plan for the acquisition of knowledge, understanding is evidenced through the development of skills in applying knowledge to new context and mastery demonstrated through challenge, questioning and problem solving (see model below)
Progress at The Peak is founded on the individual needs of every pupil in all aspects of their education to enable them to progress onto purposeful destinations and lifelong learning. Through the development of core literacy and numeracy pupils are able to access the curriculum, read fluently and increased comprehension skills.
Life at The Peak is built on trust and choice. Students are empowered with responsibility and educated in effective and informed decision-making. Point systems, rewards and consequences support young people to make better decisions, and staff support students, coach them how to regulate frustrations, and teach them how to do it better next time.
Model for Curriculum Structure (Concept)
Our curriculum has been designed for a range of learners, providing equal opportunities for all – by doing this, pupils will benefit in the following ways:
- Learning how to lead safe, healthy and fulfilling lives
- Understanding that failure is part of the road to success
- Being rewarded for academic successes
- Being supported with their next stages in education or training and feeling prepared for life after school (cultural capital)
- Becoming responsible individuals who contribute to community living and the environment
- Develop core values – Excellence, Humility, Respect and Trust.
- Achieving to the best of their ability
- Acquiring a wealth of knowledge and experience
- Becoming critical thinkers
- Finding a sense of belonging to the school and its community
- Learning how to cooperate with their peers and respect one another inside and outside the classroom.
