Curriculum & Academic Overview
We believe the curriculum in place at BACA will prepare students with the breadth and depth required to be successful in the modern world. As well as focusing on key subject skills and knowledge, it also helps students understand about modern Britain and the challenges within it. Our broad and challenging curriculum motivates and engages students, preparing them for future success.
Below is a list of our subjects for each year.
See HERE to view for our full Curriculum Map for the 2023 - 2024 Academic Year
Key Stage 3 (KS3) for Year 7, Year 8 & Year 9 students
All students follow the KS3 national curriculum where they study the following subjects:
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Physical Education
- Sport
- French or Spanish
- History
- Geography
- Computing
- Art and Design
- Drama
- Food Technology
- Personal, Social, Health & Economic Education (PHSEE)
- Religious Studies
- Music
- Design Technology
Please see here for our full curriculum map for Years 7-11 for the 2023 - 2024 academic year.
Key Stage 4 (KS4) curriculum:
At BACA we begin GCSE subjects at the start of Year 10. Students will be supported through the options process during Year 9 to ensure that they make the best possible choices for the next three years.
Beginning in Year 10 until Year 11 KS4 students study:
- English Language
- English Literature
- Mathematics
- Science (double science)
- Core Physical Education
- Citizenship
- PSHEE
Students then select:
- History or Geography
- Spanish or French (continuing on with the same language)
Students also select two subjects from the following:
- Art and Design
- Creative Media
- Business Studies
- Catering
- Child Development
- Music and Performing Arts
- Design Technology
- Drama
- Triple Science
- Computing
GCSE & BTEC: Subject & Qualification 2023 - 2024
Subject |
Qualification name | Exam Board |
Art & Design |
Level 1/2 GCSE (9-1) in Art and Design | OCR |
Biology (Triple Science) |
Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Biology | AQA |
Business |
BTEC Tech Award in Enterprise | Pearson BTEC |
Catering |
Level 1/Level 2 First Award in Hospitality | Pearson BTEC |
Chemistry (Triple Science) |
Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Chemistry | AQA |
Child Development |
Level 2 Award in Child Development and Care | NCFE CACHE |
Computing |
Level 1/2 GCSE (9-1) in Computer Science | OCR |
Creative Media |
BTEC Tech Award in Creative Media | Pearson BTEC |
Dance |
Level 1-2 Tech Award in Performing Arts | Pearson BTEC |
Drama |
Level 1-2 Tech Award in Performing Arts | Pearson BTEC |
English |
Functional Skills qualification in English at Entry 3 | Pearson Edexcel |
English |
Functional Skills qualification in English at Level 1 | Pearson Edexcel |
English Language |
Level 1/2 GCSE (9-1) in English Language | AQA |
English Literature |
Level 1/2 GCSE (9-1) in English Literature | AQA |
French |
Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in French | AQA |
Geography |
Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Geography | AQA |
History |
Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in History | Pearson Edexcel |
Maths |
Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Mathematics | Pearson Edexcel |
Maths |
Functional Skills qualification in Maths at Level 1 | Pearson Edexcel |
Maths |
Functional Skills qualification in Maths at Level 2 | Pearson Edexcel |
Music |
Level 2 Certificate in Performance for Music Practitioners | RSL |
Music |
Level 2 Certificate in Technology for Music Practitioners | RSL |
Physics (Triple Science) |
Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Physics | AQA |
Science |
Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Combined Science: Trilogy | AQA |
Spanish |
Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Spanish | AQA |
Sport |
Level 1/Level 2 First Award in Sport | Pearson BTEC |
Class Sizes & Setting
The average class size in Years 7-10 is 28 and in Year 11 class sizes are an average of 22.
Class sizes in Art, Food Technology, Drama, Music and Design Technology are 22 on average in Years 7 and 8.
Classes are set by ability in Mathematics and Science in all years. All other subjects are mixed ability.
English Baccalaureate (EBacc)
The EBacc ensures that students have a comprehensive and broad education. It is comprised of English literature, English Language, Mathematics, Science, History, or Geography and French or Spanish.
During Years 7, 8 and 9, students complete a range of other subjects: Art, Design Technology, Food Technology, Music, Drama, Physical Education, PHSEE, Religious Studies, and Computing.
Contact Us
If you would like further information about each of the courses or any part of the curriculum, please contact the relevant subject leader;
SUBJECT LEADS
Mr S Hind |
Head of Maths Faculty |
|
Mrs M Gant |
Head of English Faculty |
|
Mr M Harris |
Head of Science Faculty |
|
Ms A Crowe-Wright |
Lead Teacher of Geography |
|
Ms M Warren |
Lead Teacher of History |
|
Ms A Williams |
Lead Teacher of Modern Foreign Languages (French and Spanish) |
|
Miss J Mosely |
Head of Creative Faculty / Lead Teacher of Music (Media, Drama, Music, Enterprise, Art & Photography) |
|
Ms M Tighe | Lead Teacher of Art | |
Mrs F Langley | Lead Teacher of Drama | |
Mr L Talbot |
Head of Sports Faculty |
|
Mr M Lelliott | Lead Teacher of PSHEE | |
Ms A Collenette | Head of Technical Faculty / Lead Teacher of Childcare (Childcare, Food, DT and Computer Science) |
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Mr A Broadbent | Head of Construction Faculty |
BACA Curriculum Policy – September 2024
The fundamental purpose of our curriculum is to ensure that every BACA student discovers and fulfils his or her potential, as part of inclusive learning community build on a commitment to rigour, relationships and results.
Our mission is to ensure all BACA students benefit from an excellent education, secure great qualifications and develop into young adults who are the first choice recruits for universities and employers.
We serve a diverse and complex community and many of our students come to us with significant gaps in their basic skills and cultural literacy. Our curriculum seeks to address these gaps and inspire students to value and build their wider knowledge and understanding. Our policy is fully inclusive and compliant with the Equalities Act and SEND guidance and regulations.
Remote Learning Provision: Students will be provided with additional remote learning provision as when this is required due to partial or full school closure. For students who are unable to attend due to self-isolation, their teachers will provide additional work to complete at home. All remote learning will be a blend of independent learning, direct online teaching, written work, reading and assessments.
Curriculum Aims
The aims of our curriculum, model the aims of the academy. They can be summarised by the following key aims:
- The Value of English and Maths:
- Gives all students the basic life skills to access a successful future
- Based on the Mastery approach
- We recognise the value and power of developing highly literate young people in an increasingly text-based technological world. We aim to develop effective literacy skills, a love of reading, numeracy and problem-solving skills for students to be successful.
- Daily reading programme for all students at BACA. We understand the importance of reading everyday which helps develop students literacy, oracy, as well as confidence and public speaking.
- The Value of the academic core of Science, History, Geography and learning foreign languages
- We believe in developing our students’ cultural capital and understanding of British values in order to help them navigate our rapidly-changing world and make them tolerant and respectful of diversity and inclusion.
- We believe the inquisitive nature of these subjects will enable all students to develop their critical thinking and reflection and well as develop a love of learning.
- Broad and balanced curriculum:
- Value of the arts
- Value of vocational subjects
- Value of Sport, both competitively as well as physical and mental well-being
- We are committed to providing a broad and balanced curriculum that enable students of all abilities and starting points to thrive, experience success and fulfil their potential. Our curriculum pathways must provide access, challenge and flexibility for all.
- We believe in empowering our students to look after their own physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing.
- Our curriculum ensures that students experience a broad range of cultural and creative experiences and opportunities for self-expression.
- Development of the whole child:
- Life skills
- Enterprise skills, in the everyday curriculum, as well as 3 Enterprise Days each year where we focus deep down in key topics and interests.
- Through the curriculum we will develop our students’ inquisitiveness, motivation, confidence, resourcefulness and resilience.
- Across the curriculum we seek to develop the skills and attributes students will need to contribute to the local, national and global community - explicitly focusing on the entrepreneurial attributes passion, problem-solving, risk-taking, teamwork, creativity, determination - and which enable them to make a positive contribution as a 21st century global citizen.
- Strong pastoral support through 20 minutes tutor time per day to ensure student needs are met every day
- Ensuring our curriculum is inclusive and fully compliant with the Equality Act 2010 and SEN and Disability Regulations 2014. The range of curriculum, as well as the implementation of this curriculum, mean that ALL students have access to a full and comprehensive curriculum
How we structure the curriculum:
The success of the curriculum is built on a strong, carefully designed and sequenced curriculum which is brought to life by exceptional teaching and supported by effective assessment. When this is added to strong pastoral care at school, support from home and belief and effort from the student, it leads to exceptional results.
We aim to ensure learning flows from KS2 to KS3 to KS4, with clear pathways to KS5 at various post-16 institutions and that students have the confidence, skills and knowledge to excel in their chosen career. Each year of the seven year journey at BACA is linked to a key concept in order to provide a sense of coherence and momentum.
- Year 7 – Discover
- Year 8 – Explore
- Year 9 – Focus
- Year 10 – Accelerate
- Year 11 – Achieve
- Year 12 – Aspire
- Year 13 - Success
To ensure that these priorities are developed and interwoven effectively, we have a 4 point planning programme at BACA. These are made up of:
- Curriculum Map
- Curriculum, Learning and Assessment Maps (CLAM)
- Scheme of Work (SOW)
- Lesson-by-lesson planning
All of these planning documents ensure that we plan to be the best we can be. They ensure the curriculum is:
- - Sequential
- - Interwoven
- - Supporting the more and less able
- - Setting minimum standards for all students
- - Ensuring homework is rigorous and well-structured
- - Assessments are well-timed, of high quality and structured
- - Learning ‘sticks’
Curriculum Implementation
Key features of the BACA curriculum
A focus on reading and literacy permeates the curriculum. Our innovative reading programme brings the whole academy community together to promote reading for pleasure. The development of tier 2 and tier 3 vocabulary is made explicit in all lessons. Talk for writing, oracy, disciplinary literacy and extended writing are common features of every BACA classroom.
We provide for the broad and balanced curriculum for all, which becomes more specialised as students’ progress from Year 10 onwards. Students specialise in either History or Geography GCSE and the majority of students continue with a Modern Foreign Language to GCSE.
Two or three further creative or vocational options at KS4 enables students to maintain breadth and develop the rich understanding of the subjects they most enjoy. Although a smaller than average secondary school, we have preserved a wider than average range of options subjects in these areas; Music, Drama, Catering, Business, Creative Media, Art, Product Design, Computing.
We also make changes within our curriculum to ensure that supports specific students at specific times. These include:
- Approximately 60% of students follow a Modern Foreign Language to GCSE where their ability indicates they are capable of being successful.
- 40% of students study an alternative curriculum in place of MFL. This includes additional literacy and practical subjects in Year 7, 8 and 9, and an additional vocational option subject at Key Stage 4.
- Additional 8 hours per fortnight of formal lessons for Year 11 students (58 hours instead of 50)
- Bespoke skills based programmes:
- o BACA Scholars curriculum enrichment programme for high prior attainers
- o Into University cohorts (7-13) – 3 workshops per year for 5-7 years
- o 3 Enterprise Days per year
- o Year 11 mentoring programme
The implementation of this curriculum relies on motivated, qualified and well-trained teachers and other education staff. At BACA we ensure that we are constantly developing our teachers to ensure that they are best able to support all BACA students.
All teachers at BACA are developed in the following areas to best implement our rigorous curriculum:
- Subject specialist training and qualifications
- Coaching
- Specific teaching and learning techniques training (e.g. AfL, behaviour management)
- Specific exam board training and support
- Safeguarding and attachment awareness training
- Specific SEND training (e.g. dyslexia, sensory needs, ASC)
- Pastoral specific training (e.g. mentoring, attendance support)
- Reading tutor training
Subject and time breakdown (fortnightly)
|
Year 7 |
Year 8 |
Year 9 |
English |
8 |
8 |
8 |
Maths |
8 |
8 |
8 |
Science |
6 |
6 |
8 |
History |
4 |
4 |
4 |
Geography |
4 |
4 |
4 |
French/Spanish (or alternative provision) |
4 |
4 |
4 |
PSHEE |
1 |
1 |
Tutor Time |
Religious Studies |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Art |
2 |
2 |
3 out of the 5 subjects (3 lessons each) |
Drama |
2 |
2 |
|
Music |
2 |
2 |
|
Computing |
2 |
2 |
|
Design Technology/Food |
2 |
2 |
|
PE |
4 |
4 |
4 |
Total |
50 |
50 |
50 |
|
Year 10 |
Year 11 |
English |
10 |
10 |
Maths |
8 |
10 |
Science |
10 |
10 |
Option 1: History or Geography |
5 |
5 |
Option 2: French, Spanish (or additional subject) |
5 |
5 |
Option 3 |
4 |
6 |
Option 4 |
4 |
6 |
PE |
3 |
2 |
PSHEE/Religious Studies |
1 |
1 |
Additional timetabled Intervention |
N/A |
2 |
Total |
50 |
58 |
BACA College curriculum
The BACA College curriculum is carefully structured to allow students to take advantage of a number of unique opportunities:
- Aldridge Cricket Academy
- Russell Martin Football Academy
- Construction Centre
Apart from construction centre lessons, academic lessons are timetabled in the morning, with additional structured enrichment opportunities taking place in the afternoon (during lesson 5 and beyond).
Students have 9 hours of lesson per fortnight in each of their option subjects, with students taking 3 subjects each.
How we review our curriculum?
Our curriculum is reviewed continuously by the highly skilled teacher and leaders in the academy. It is also done via our collaboration with the wider teaching community:
- Brighton and Hove Subject Leads collaboration and support
- Brighton and Hove Curriculum Deputies collaboration and support
- Support and leadership from the Aldridge Education (AE) Multi-Academy Trust (MAT)
We also review our curriculum internally through a series of ‘focus weeks’ on each subject. This allows us to get a deeper knowledge and understanding of how the planned curriculum leads to the delivery and outcomes for each subject.
Impact
The impact of our curriculum is measured via our academic and destination outcomes.
Curriculum Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Questions |
Answers |
Further explanation |
How long are lessons? |
60 minutes |
This allows each lesson to have depth and pace, and enables us to have 5 lessons per day. |
How many lessons are there per day? |
5 (6 in Year 11) |
This enables us to have a weekly timetable and maintain the pace of learning throughout the week. |
Why do you have 3 extra lessons for Year 11? |
To enable the extra depth and support in the final 10 months of compulsory schooling |
We believe students need this to be the most successful they can. |
When do you students choose their GCSE options? |
From January of Year 9 |
Students then start them in September on Year 10. We are transitioning this year to where students have chosen some creative options in Year 8, ready for Year 9. We will review this again this year. |
When do they choose their options for BACA College |
From October of Year 11 |
Students apply for BACA College from October in Year 11. They initially select what courses they want with guidance from staff. These are finalized once they receive their GCSE results. |
Is the timetable weekly or fortnightly? |
Weekly |
We follow a weekly timetable with a rotation on certain subjects such as Music, Art, Cooking and DT. We believe this is the best structure for teachers and students. |
Do students have reading every day? |
Yes |
We believe that positive routines and learning, such as reading are needed every day. Students also are expected to read each night and at the weekend. |
How will you catch-up gaps caused by Covid-19 disruptions? |
Bespoke intervention Targeted intervention and curriculum development within in each subject Additional summer and holiday programmes Additional tutoring support (online and in person) |
We recognize that many students have been impacted by the disruption of Covid-19 and in many different ways Therefore we are targeting support to individuals, as well as many changes to the overall provision to support all students.
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