Overview

The Peak Academy Curriculum 2021-22

The uniqueness of every child is recognised and valued. As such, we have designed our curriculum with pupils’ holistic needs at the centre of what, why and how we approach their learning and development. We constantly adapt our learning journey to meet the needs and interests of our pupils, offering an excellent education underpinned by a broad and balanced curriculum that gives pupils opportunities to build subject knowledge and skills, alongside developing the attributes and experiences needed to ensure they are well equipped for the next stages in life.

We have focused our curriculum on four main areas of development that allow for implementation across all subject areas, pastoral engagement, targeted interventions, and therapeutic support.

Perseverance - persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success

Within the curriculum pupils will have the opportunity to develop:

- Resilience to take on challenges and manage ‘tough’ times and situations

- Independence for themselves so they are set up better in later life.

- A ‘Can do’ culture, where giving up isn’t the first option.

Peak Academy value - TRUST

Excel – a vigorous or determined attempt:

Within the curriculum:

- A greater emphasis is put on effort than outcome where student achievement is rewarded and celebrated.

- Challenge and opportunity is given to the pupils so they acquire the key knowledge, skills and understanding needed for current and future success in later life.

- Gain a love of reading to support their literacy skills that create a foundation all other learning is built on.

Peak Academy value - EXCELLENCE

Attitude - a settled way of thinking or feeling about something:

Within the curriculum:

- Pupils will develop, over time, the skills and temperament to self-manage failure and their emotions.

- Pupils will be better at reflecting and managing situations

- Pupils will develop the attributes ready to contribute successfully to society

Peak Academy value - RESPECT

Kindness - the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate:

Within the curriculum:

- There will be an understanding of what kindness is and how to demonstrate it to others

- Pupils will have the opportunity to help and give back to others and the school and their community

- Develop character, have personal moral values, show respect for religious values and tolerance of other races’ beliefs and ways of life

Peak Academy value - HUMILITY

Implementation Overview

Impact Overview

Our aim is to:

• They will gain valuable life skills and experiences that will reflect the four key areas of the INTENT; this will lead to being better prepared for adulthood.
• Ensure pupils are ready for the next stage by the point they leave the school, they will attend a suitable post-16 course that is maintained and one in which they can achieve the next level of success.
• Have a well-constructed, well-taught curriculum that leads to good outcomes for individual pupils because those results will reflect what pupils have learned.
• Ensure pupils can read to an age-appropriate level and fluency.

Nurture

Nurture at The Peak Academy is a separate department which supports our most vulnerable young pupils who are not at the stage of being able to access the main teaching and learning at the Academy. The aim of the department is to re-engage pupils with the learning experience. There is an emphasis on promoting socially acceptable behaviour, developing positive relationships and trust, the development of an individual’s self-esteem, and opportunities to experience success in the process of learning.

This department focuses strongly on the six principles of nurture.

1. Pupils’ learning is understood developmentally.
2. The classroom offers a safe base.
3. Nurture is important for the development of self esteem.
4. Language is understood as a vital means of communication.
5. All behaviour is communication.
6. Transitions are significant in the lives of children.