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Curriculum Overview
Curriculum Intent
The overarching aim of Harris Academy Beckenham is to end the cycle of poverty and disadvantage: ambition and aspiration dictate the model of our curriculum.
Our founding principle that all children are equal and there is, therefore, equity of entitlement to knowledge for each of our students and their families; to improve the life chances for all students and accelerate social mobility leads our vision.
By combining Science and Enterprise as our specialisms, we have created a vibrant, innovative learning environment in which the concepts of discovery, innovation and ground-breaking achievement can flourish. As well as embedding an enriching, challenging science curriculum, comprising personalised pathways to a range of qualifications, we encourage our students to adopt a systematic, precise and logical approach to their academic studies. This is partnered with a resourceful, inventive and resilient, ‘can do’ attitude to guarantee high achievement. Our ethos centres on the crucial skills of Resilience, Reflectiveness, Resourcefulness and Reciprocity; learning attitudes and skills which will empower our students to become the best that they can be while at the Academy and beyond. Our ambition for all students is to Aspire, Discover, Achieve, and this underpins our mastery inspired curriculum.
The central place of knowledge within the curriculum is explicit within our Academy. The inventive design of our curriculum and the high-quality implementation of that curriculum are integral to what we do as an individual Academy and as a vital part of Harris Federation.
The purpose of our Academy is revealed by the curriculum we provide and the quality of the teaching that delivers our knowledge rich curriculum.
Our curriculum, then, becomes a deliberate and explicit guarantor of equality as we work to close the limits to opportunity that exist in society. We ensure all our students have access to a broad and balanced body of knowledge regardless of demographics and starting points. To this end we have worked as a collaborative Multi Academy Trust. We harness the expertise from within Harris Academy Beckenham, working in collaboration with the consultants and network strands to develop a relevant, challenging and rich curriculum model. Whilst we offer personalised pathways for our learners at each key stage, all students have equal access to a broad and diverse curriculum.
The high expectations we have of each teacher includes the directive to drive forward this mission to expand opportunities for all young people in areas of deep disadvantage. Harris Academy Beckenham bases its drive and ambition on our ethos of 4Rs: Resilience; Reflectiveness; Resourcefulness and Reciprocity to create challenging and stimulating lessons and activities as part of our academy curriculum. Our enrichment curriculum provides a further extension to our students’ learning, providing opportunities to further consolidate the 4Rs as well as enhance every child’s cultural capital.
Statement of Principle
Aspire. Discover. Achieve.
To provide all students with opportunities to access and engage with the best possible curriculum, but also to help students comprehend that while knowledge is powerful it is also insecure, contested and evolving. We encourage our students to see themselves as enquiring learners who help to build their own sense of their place within their educational world.
We secure concepts in English and Mathematics throughout every phase and this acts as a gateway to acquiring core knowledge in a rich range of subjects such that we develop students’ expertise within those individual subject disciplines.
Our curriculum pivots on WORD (Writing, Oracy, Reading Development), with every teacher dedicated to raising the levels of eloquent, accurate and confident communication of every student. An enriched vocabulary enables a better understanding of concepts and ideas and we facilitate access to knowledge beyond our students’ ordinary daily experiences. We do this by expanding their cultural capital and the breadth of their vocabulary. Children are exposed to a variety of texts both fiction and non-fiction, a wide range of creative arts and thoughtfully planned learning outside the classroom. We recognise that “the curriculum” is not just a timetable and that engagement in co-curricular opportunities is encouraged at every stage through everything from the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, Harris Experience, Federation Sports Day and the events that give platforms for all our students’ talents.
Students in Year 7 and 8 are now following a three-year Key Stage 3 curriculum, meaning that GCSE and other vocational options will be taken at the end of Year 9. This is a change from previous practice and has been made in light of our new knowledge rich curriculum and the increasing demand of the new GCSE specifications. This means we need to ensure every child has mastered and understood all of the key concepts in each subject area prior to choosing their Key Stage 4 Option choices.
Year 7 Curriculum Overview
Year 7 will follow the new 3 year KS3
All students will study the following number of 80 minute lessons per week:
- 3 English
- 3 Mathematics
- 3 Science
- 2 Physical Education
- 1 Religious Education
- 1 History
- 1 Geography
- 1 Art and Design
- 1 Drama
- 1 Music
- 2 French, Spanish or Mandarin
Students will engage with IT through all subjects areas; using the internet for research, for extended writing, presentations and in the production of tables and graphs.
For students who are behind their chronological age in literacy and numeracy, catch up will be provided within the curriculum.
Students will complete a 25 minute tutorial each day where they will cover additional PSHE, learn about British values, improve their reading and plan future career opportunities. This will be supplemented by regular drop down days to cover these aspects of students’ personal development in further detail.
The Academy is also proud to offer a rich and varied enrichment timetable of activities that take place before and after the Academy each day.
Year 8 Curriculum Overview
Year 8 will follow the new 3 year KS3
All students will study the following number of 80 minute lessons per week:
- 4 English
- 3 Mathematics
- 3 Science
- 1 Physical Education
- 1 Religious Education
- 1 History
- 1 Geography
- 1 Art
- 1 Design and Technology
- 1 Performing Arts
- 2 French or Spanish
Students will engage with IT through all subjects areas; using the internet for research, for extended writing, presentations and in the production of tables and graphs.
For students who are behind their chronological age in literacy and numeracy, catch up will be provided within the curriculum.
Students will complete a 25 minute tutorial each day where they will cover additional PSHE, learn about British values, improve their reading and plan future career opportunities. This will be supplemented by regular drop down days to cover these aspects of students’ personal development in further detail.
The Academy is also proud to offer a rich and varied enrichment timetable of activities that take place before and after the Academy each day.
Year 9 Curriculum Overview
Year 9 are following a Key Stage 4 Curriculum
The number of option subjects has been increased to 4 to ensure a broad curriculum and increased opportunities for EBacc uptake.
All students will study the following number of 80 minute lessons per week.
- 3 English (one lesson = 120 mins per week)
- 3 Mathematics (one lesson = 120 mins per week)
- 3 Science (one lesson = 120 mins per week)
- 1 Physical Education
- 1 Citizenship
- 2 Option A
- 2 Option B
- 2 Option C
- 2 Option D
Students will engage with IT through all subjects areas; using the internet for research, for extended writing, presentations and in the production of tables and graphs.
Students will complete a 25 minute tutorial each day where they will cover additional PSHE, learn about British values, improve their reading and plan future career opportunities. This will be supplemented by regular drop down days to cover these aspects of students’ personal development in further detail.
The Academy is also proud to offer a rich and varied enrichment timetable of activities that take place before and after the Academy each day.
Year 10 Curriculum Overview
Year 10 are following a Key Stage 4 Curriculum
All students will study the following number of 80 minute lessons per week.
- 4 English
- 4 Mathematics
- 3 Science (one lesson = 120 mins per week)
- 1 Physical Education (one lesson = 120 mins per week)
- 1 Citizenship (one lesson = 120 mins per week)
- 2 Option A
- 2 Option B
- 2 Option C
Students will engage with IT through all subjects areas; using the internet for research, for extended writing, presentations and in the production of tables and graphs.
Students will complete a 25 minute tutorial each day where they will cover additional PSHE, learn about British values, improve their reading and plan future career opportunities. This will be supplemented by regular drop down days to cover these aspects of students’ personal development in further detail.
The Academy is also proud to offer a rich and varied enrichment timetable of activities that take place before and after the Academy each day.
Year 11 Curriculum Overview
Year 11 are following a Key Stage 4 Curriculum
The number of option subjects has been increased to 4 to ensure a broad curriculum and increased opportunities for EBacc uptake.
All students will study the following number of 80 minute lessons per week.
- 4 English
- 3 Mathematics (one lesson = 120 mins per week)
- 4 Science
- 1 Physical Education (one lesson = 120 mins per week)
- 1 Citizenship (one lesson = 120 mins per week)
- 2 Option A
- 2 Option B
- 2 Option C
Students will engage with IT through all subjects areas; using the internet for research, for extended writing, presentations and in the production of tables and graphs.
Students will complete a 25 minute tutorial each day where they will cover additional PSHE, learn about British values, improve their reading and plan future career opportunities. This will be supplemented by regular drop down days to cover these aspects of students’ personal development in further detail.
The Academy is also proud to offer a rich and varied enrichment timetable of activities that take place before and after the Academy each day.
