The 14 — 19 Curriculum

This begins with a review of progress near the end of Year 9 to identify longer term goals and aspirations and inform the selection of optional studies and wider activities.

The 14 - 16 curriculum has a core of subjects which are compulsory because they are essential for lifelong learning. All Key Stage 4 students study:

• Mathematics (including Statistics GCSE for some)
• English Language (and Literature for the majority of students)
• Science (GNVQ Foundation or Intermediate and GCSE courses)
• Information Technology
• Global Citizenship
• Religious Education
• Physical Education
• Work-related Learning and Business Education
• Languages (French or German or Spanish or Italian)

In addition, every student will have an entitlement of access to a subject within each of:

• Design and Technology (including Hospitality and Catering)
• The Arts
• The Humanities (including Psychology and Sociology)

These subjects form a choice programme and occupy six hours of a normal week long curriculum.

We encourage students to think about the 14 -19 period as a single phase. We want all our students to be lifelong learners and students and their advisers plan on the basis of a four-year rather than a two-year programme of learning.

Not everything that a student regards as important for their personal development and future career will need to be completed before the age of 16. For example, students who begin to study a Language or Design and Technology before 16 need not complete the relevant qualification by 16, particularly if their 14 - 16 studies also include a large work-related element.

There is some scope for individual programmes for the most gifted and talented young people. Arrangements allow for accelerated learning in a range of subjects particularly Mathematics and Languages and recognise that pupils may have higher potential in a limited number of subjects, not necessarily across all subject areas.

Conversely, some students will take qualifications later, rather than being entered automatically alongside the majority of students at age 16.

We also expect many students to follow a mixed programme of study avoiding the academic/vocational divide and providing the highest levels of motivation.
For those who so wish, it is possible to pursue predominantly vocational programmes which provide a sound basis for progression to a Modern Apprenticeship at age 16 or to further vocational study after 16. Currently, we offer:

• Applied Art and Design
• Applied Business
• Health and Social Care
• Applied ICT
• Leisure and Tourism

Each is a Double Award, equivalent to two GCSEs.

A week long work experience programme is provided for all students in Year 10.

In a single week, the proportion of time that a Key Stage 4 student typically spends on each subject is represented by the bars in the following chart:

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Key Stage 5 - The Sixth Form

Choice of courses will enable students of all abilities to undertake sixth form studies at the Academy:

The International Baccalaureate (IB) is the academic international qualification that we will offer to prepare students for University places. It is a challenging course and students will study six subjects chosen from a wide range of options:

• Language A - literature in the students mother tongue
• Language B - a modern foreign language studied in a variety of contexts
• Individuals and Society - choice from humanities and social sciences courses
• Experimental Sciences - choice from separate sciences or Design and Technology
• Mathematics
• Arts and Electives - a choice from performance and fine arts or a second language, humanity or experimental science

During the course students cover the Theory of Knowledge to learn about the critical thought processes and methodologies that are used to access different subjects. Every student is also required to undertake 150 hours of active, creative or service work.

Advanced Vocational Qualifications and BTEC National Diplomas are the courses that are vocationally based and lead to Further or Higher Education or straight into employment. The subjects that we currently to offer are:

• Business
• Childhood Studies
• Hospitality and Catering
• Leisure and Recreation
• Performing Arts
• Travel and Tourism
• Information Technology

Every effort will be made to offer other subjects if demand is there from the students.

A separate Sixth Form Prospectus is available on request.

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Telephone number: 0208 320 4800, Fax number: 0208 320 4810, e-mail: [email protected], www.thebusinessacademy.org

Principal: Mr Tom Widdows, Chair of Governors: Tim Garnham, Number of Students on Roll:1031