Curriculum

As you would expect from a secondary school of our size, we offer a strong foundation in all the core subjects and a wide range of option choices.

At Key Stage 3 all students follow a broad curriculum which enables them to make an informed choice at the beginning of Key Stage 4 (years 10 and 11) where they concentrate on their choice of subjects within the prescribed guidelines of the National Curriculum.

At Key Stage 5 we offer a wide range of A Level and BTEC courses with most students studying three subjects. For further information about our Sixth Form please click here.

In addition there is an extensive programme of sporting and extra-curricular activities.

If you require any additional information about the curriculum at Lodge Park Academy please contact us.

Please see the attached documents for a full breakdown of the curriculum we offer in each year.

David Ross Education Trust and British Values

The Trust is very supportive of the ethos of promoting British Values, and preparing our students for success in a modern Britain.

A heavy reliance is placed upon broadening horizons for each and every child and this includes developing the core skills of tolerance, respect, teamwork, resilience and building self esteem. These are all values and qualities that we feel are relevant in order to play a full and meaningful role in society, and are promoted via our extensive house system that lends itself to cultural and sporting competition, democratic principles, social mixing, the development of greater pastoral care and enhanced PSHE.

Click here to find out more about British Values at our academy

Key Stage 3

Maths

Mathematics aims to develop knowledge, skills and understanding of key methods and concepts including number, geometry, measures, statistics and probability. Students are given the opportunity to acquire and use problem solving strategies, to select and apply mathematical techniques and methods in everyday and real-life situations.  

English

Through English every student will have access to “the best that has been thought and said”, providing equal opportunities to all students.

Students are given the opportunity to access a range of texts from across time to develop their understanding of Literature and the human condition through a knowledge based curriculum. Through studying Literature, students will be given the keys to unlock the world around them and allow them to access all that the world has to offer to ensure that every student has the opportunity to achieve their ambition. English Language will provide students the opportunity to develop their own voice to comment on the world around both orally and in writing.

Science

Studying science allows students to make sense of the phenomena they see around them and question why things happen. Students cover a range of topics from all 3 disciplines of science. The purpose of the KS3 curriculum at LPA is to give students a sound and secure knowledge of the key ideas in science such as the structure of atoms, how energy is stored and transferred and the importance of interactions in our environment. Along with theory lessons students will partake in a range of practical activities to enhance their learning.

RE

Religious education is founded on the promotion of spiritual, moral, cultural and physical development of pupils at Lodge Park Academy. The curriculum has also been sequenced to ensure that pupils at the school are prepared for opportunities, responsibilities and experiences later on in life. The curriculum provides pupils with an introduction to the essential knowledge that they need to be educated citizens. Religious education provokes challenging questions about the ultimate meaning and purpose of life, beliefs about God, the self and the nature of reality, issues of right and wrong, and what it means to be human. It can develop pupils’ knowledge and understanding of Christianity, of other principal religions, other religious traditions and worldviews that offer answers to questions such as these.

Each unit examines the following enquiry questions

• What are key items of the religious faith?
• What are the origins of the religion?
• What are the key beliefs of the religious faith?
• What religious festivals are celebrated?
• What traditions are linked to the faith?
• What is the importance of key places of worship?
• How is the religion celebrated in Britain?

French

Our French curriculum has been designed to empower our students with the knowledge to become confident, accurate, fluent communicators.  In addition, it enables them to develop an understanding of both shared and differing cultural traditions and viewpoints.  To enhance their cultural literacy we equip our learners with the substantive knowledge of some key geographical aspects, historical events, artworks, literary texts, traditions and personalities pertaining to the culture of France.

History

Our history curriculum aims to offer broad, knowledge rich and intellectually challenging lessons which provide students with the knowledge to converse academically on a wide range of historical periods.

Geography

Geography is the study of the physical features of the earth and its atmosphere, and of human activity as it affects and is affected by these, including the distribution of populations and resources.

PE

Computer Science & ICT

Computer Science and ICT equips students to understand how modern technology works. We focus on problem solving and computational principals as well as practical ICT skills to give a sound understanding of the different areas so that students are prepared for their option choices.

Design & Technology

 In Design and Technology we learn how to creatively solve problems and build practical skills whilst exploring and building knowledge of the world around us. The students will work with a variety of materials including wood, paper, metal as well as textiles and food to produce high quality products that are fit for purpose.

In Key Stage 3 the students will complete three different projects across three disciplines (food, graphics and product design) in a rotation.

Art

The Art curriculum is designed to develop students’ intellectual, imaginative, creative and expressive potential. Students will develop haptic knowledge and practical skills by using a broad range of materials and processes.  They will develop research and critical thinking skills, as well as an understanding of aesthetics, visual communication and semiotics as ways of conveying meaning.  Observational drawing and critical contextual study are embedded throughout, thus ensuring that students develop the key skills required for further study at KS4.

Music

The Music curriculum is centred on accessibility, scaffolding and development. Students start with core skills of breathing, singing, performing in unison using fundamental mechanics of the human body. Through this, we explore the elements of music in a practical way. The opportunity is taken at this stage to explain these fundamentals to give students an understanding of how breathing, alignment and vibration affect the voice, which we use every day. These skills are regularly developed through multiple music mediums, including keyboard and various types of drumming. Performance ability is underpinned by a knowledge rich curriculum. All students learn to read and write music through sequenced schemes of work, starting with single part music with aids to multi-part polyphonic music with no support that students will successfully perform. All of these culminate when students compose their own music using the knowledge and skills developed through each scheme of work.