Curriculum
Curriculum Information 2024-2025
Curriculum Aims
Our aim is to encourage students to achieve the highest standards of which they are capable. We make every effort to ensure that work is stimulating, enjoyable and matched to their individual needs, so that all students fully engage in the learning process. We aim to help our students across the curriculum:
- To give students the equal opportunity to develop their academic and applied studies, creative talents and leisure interests
- To raise aspirations so that everyone strives for success
- To help establish self-confidence, self-motivation and self-discipline
- To encourage pleasure and pride in one’s own and others’ achievements
- To provide a rich and stimulating learning environment and a curriculum that meets the needs of all our learners
- To promote a capacity for independent learning and the motivation to use that capacity
- To identify individual needs and offer the opportunity to succeed to all
- To provide the highest possible level of care and access to support that is appropriate and effective
- To offer a wide range of experiences beyond the formal curriculum and extend their learning in opportunities outside the classroom, including learning through appropriate homework
- To celebrate all excellence and achievements
- To prepare students for the opportunities and responsibilities of adult life and local and global citizenship
- To promote an active involvement in caring for the environment of the Academy, the local community and the wider world
- To encourage participation and teamwork
- To encourage the interest and involvement of parents, governors, industry, commerce and the community in the life of the Academy and further the success of our students
- To develop the use of literacy and numeracy skills effectively
As a result, the curriculum at Park Hall Academy aims to provide all students with a rich and broad curriculum that engages them and prepares them for their life and employment. It has been planned carefully with due regard to the context of the Academy as well as national legal requirements and financial probity. At Park Hall Academy, we pride ourselves on the breadth and choice in our curriculum. We believe that, as our students move through the school, they need to study courses that stimulate their interest, support their future aspirations and give them strong foundations for their future education and career choices. This commitment to a wide range of courses, coupled with high quality teaching and learning within each course, supports student achievement and thus the best possible results. We are delighted that this commitment to matching flexible curriculum courses to student needs has been recognised by Ofsted. We also strive to ensure that each child can maximise their Progress 8 score by undertaking a broad and balanced curriculum.
Park Hall Academy Key Stage 3 and 4 Curriculum at a Glance for 2024-2025
What follows is a description of the key features of the curriculum taught here at Park Hall Academy. It is, however, essential to recognise that much of our learning takes place outside the classroom or in wider educational experiences. These are numerous and varied at Park Hall, ranging from educational visits to enrichment and enhancement opportunities. Similarly, the curriculum work is supported by the wider work of all staff in the Academy, including the pastoral system, external agencies and other support systems such as externally purchased websites like MyMaths.
In Year 7, students study the following:
Art English Design and Technology French or Spanish Geography History IT Literacy Maths Performing Arts, including Music Physical Education (Statutory) Religious Education (Statutory) Science Social Education (Statutory PSHE included)
In Year 8, students study the following:
- Art
- English
- Design and Technology
- French or Spanish
- Geography
- History
- IT
- Literacy
- Maths
- Performing Arts, including Music
- Physical Education (Statutory)
- Religious Education (Statutory)
- Science
- Social Education (Statutory PSHE included)
In Year 9, students study the following:
- Art
- English
- Design and Technology
- French or Spanish
- Geography
- History
- IT
- Literacy
- Maths
- Performing Arts, including Music
- Physical Education (Statutory)
- Religious Education (Statutory)
- Science
- Social Education (Statutory PSHE included)
In Year 10, students study the following:
- English (Literature and Language)
- Maths
- Science
- PE
- RE (Statutory)
- Social Education (Statutory PSHE included)
- Various combinations of courses from the BTEC/ GCSEs lists below
In Year 11, students study the following:
- English (Literature and Language)
- Maths
- Science
- PE
- RE (Statutory)
- Social Education (Statutory PSHE included)
- Various combinations of courses from the BTEC/ GCSEs lists below
|
Year 10 and Year 11 |
|
|
Type |
Qualification Title |
|
Core Curriculum Offer - All students |
|
|
Academic |
AQA Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Combined Science: Trilogy |
|
Academic |
AQA Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in English Language |
|
Academic |
AQA Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in English Literature |
|
Academic |
Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Mathematics |
|
Statutory |
Physical Education |
|
Statutory |
Religious Education |
|
Statutory |
Social Education (Statutory PSHE included) |
|
Vocational |
NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Health and Fitness |
|
EBacc Curriculum Offer - Open to all students |
|
|
Academic |
AQA Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in French |
|
Academic |
AQA Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Geography |
|
Academic |
AQA Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Spanish |
|
Academic |
Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in History |
|
Academic |
OCR Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Computer Science |
|
Options Curriculum Offer - Open to all students |
|
|
Academic |
AQA Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Biology |
|
Academic |
AQA Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Chemistry |
|
Academic |
AQA Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Citizenship Studies |
|
Academic |
AQA Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Dance |
|
Academic |
AQA Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Physics |
|
Academic |
AQA Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Sociology |
|
Academic |
OCR Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Art and Design: Art |
|
Academic |
OCR Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Art and Design: Photography |
|
Academic |
OCR Level 3 Free Standing Mathematics Qualification: Additional Maths |
|
Academic |
Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Business |
|
Academic |
Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Religious Studies B |
|
Academic |
Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Statistics |
|
Vocational |
NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Health and Fitness |
|
Vocational |
OCR Level 1/Level 2 Cambridge National in Engineering Design (Y11 only) |
|
Vocational |
Pearson BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Child Development |
|
Vocational |
Pearson BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Music Practice |
|
Vocational |
Pearson BTEC Level 1/Level 2 First Award in Sport |
|
Vocational |
Pearson BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Creative Media Production |
|
Vocational |
Pearson BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Enterprise |
|
Vocational |
Pearson BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Health and Social Care |
|
Vocational |
Pearson BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Performing Arts |
|
Vocational |
WJEC Level 1/2 Vocational Award in Hospitality and Catering |
Park Hall Academy Key Stage 5 Curriculum at a Glance for 2022-2023
All pupils take part in various combinations of courses from the BTEC/ GCEs lists below
|
Year 12 and Year 13 |
|
|
Type |
Qualification Title |
|
A Level Curriculum Offer |
|
|
A Level |
AQA Advanced Level GCE in History |
|
A Level |
AQA Level 3 Advanced GCE in English Literature A |
|
A Level |
AQA Level 3 Advanced GCE in Geography |
|
A Level |
AQA Level 3 Advanced GCE in Physics |
|
A Level |
AQA Level 3 Advanced GCE in Psychology |
|
A Level |
AQA Level 3 Advanced GCE in Spanish |
|
A Level |
AQA Level 3 Advanced GCE in Sociology |
|
A Level |
OCR Level 3 Advanced GCE in Art and Design |
|
A Level |
OCR Level 3 Advanced GCE in Biology A |
|
A Level |
OCR Level 3 Advanced GCE in Chemistry A |
|
A Level |
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Business |
|
A Level |
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Mathematics |
|
A Level |
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Politics |
|
A Level |
WJEC Eduqas Level 3 Advanced GCE in Film Studies (Y12 only) |
|
Academic |
AQA Level 3 Extended Project |
|
Vocational Curriculum Offer |
|
|
Vocational |
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma in IT |
|
Vocational |
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Health and Social Care |
|
Vocational |
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Sport |
|
Vocational |
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Applied Psychology |
|
Vocational |
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Applied Science |
|
Vocational |
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Children's Play, Learning and Development |
|
Vocational |
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Creative Digital Media Production |
|
Vocational |
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship |
|
Vocational |
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Health and Social Care |
|
Vocational |
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Performing Arts |
|
Vocational |
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Sport |
|
Vocational |
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Creative Digital Media Production |
|
Vocational |
WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Criminology |
|
Resit GCSE Curriculum Offer - Open to resit students |
|
|
GCSE Resit |
AQA Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in English Language |
|
GCSE Resit |
Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Mathematics |