Teaching and learning is central to our work at Netherwood Academy and helps us fulfill our five values: scholarship, curiosity, tenacity, responsibility and respect. We call our teaching and learning methods here “The Netherwood Way”.
Curriculum
At Netherwood Academy, we aspire to deliver a curriculum that provides our students with broad, balanced, rich and inspiring learning experiences and opportunities. We believe these will equip them with the powerful knowledge and skills to be successful in their future pathways and compete in the global economy.
Our curriculum aims to provide the depth and wealth of knowledge needed to inspire the minds of our students and shape their futures through well-sequenced plans in each curriculum area of the academy, building on previous knowledge whilst supporting future progression. Our curriculum is designed to be flexible, adaptable and it can be influenced by cohort strength, individual student needs or reforms to qualifications.
The Netherwood Academy curriculum is not narrowed to focus on school performance measures. Key Stage 3 students study the full range of subjects up to the end of Year 9 and we have retained a broad and balanced set of pathways to meet the needs and interests of our Key Stage 4 cohorts. Our curriculum also:
- Develops students’ literacy, communication and numeracy skills.
- Supports and challenges all students from any cultural or socio-economic background from the most vulnerable to the most able.
- Enables students to make informed choices about staying safe and being healthy (both physically and mentally) by providing them with e-safety and mental and physical health education.
- Promotes the following British Values of: Democracy, The rule of Law, Individual Liberty, Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those who have different beliefs and faiths.
- Provides excellent careers information, advice and guidance alongside qualifications that are of worth to employers and for entry to further and higher education enabling all pupils to fulfil their potential.
- Builds character and cultural capital through a recently updated personal development curriculum which takes local contexts into account.
Literacy
Reading is a priority in all subjects and we believe that lesson time should prioritise a quality reading experience for all students. This can be achieved by reading high quality texts aloud to pupils in class, alongside students reading challenging material themselves and ensuring reading is embedded in individual planning to provide students with the entitlement to extended subject knowledge.
We believe that all schemes of learning should include a maximum of six keystone words that underpin the topic being taught to students. In introducing and exploring this vocabulary, students should be exposed to its etymology, meaning and usage, along with synonyms and non- examples to solidify students’ understanding. Teachers are expected to revisit the keystone words periodically with students through both talk and writing.
Social Mobility
We strive to offer cultural capital and literacy development through a knowledge-rich curriculum. We give our students advice about a range of aspirational education/careers pathways with curriculum time in PSHE and cultural enrichment through a range of educational visits including trips abroad. Activities and information available to Netherwood Academy students through the HEPPSY programme (higher education progression partnership for South Yorkshire) are designed to increase participation in higher education courses in the future.
You can find out more about our curriculum intent and implementation by clicking on the link below: