Our aim is to continue to provide an outstanding education in our secondary setting, providing curriculum and enrichment activities that are innovative and inspiring for students.
Why choose us?
All of our academies offer our well-established Literacy for Life (L4L) curriculum at Key Stage 3. This thematic and competency-based curriculum is technology and experience rich and provides an excellent foundation to Key Stage 4. Students who have been through this KS3 programme have consistently topped the authorities’ value-added charts.
Students are taught the L4L component of their education by the same teacher, allowing students and families a single point of contact in school for and their academic and pastoral wellbeing.
L4L is made up of different themes, which lasts roughly six weeks and is the hook on which students base their learning. The underpinning philosophy is that students learn better in context than in isolation.
The themes cover all of the areas of the national curriculum, but not every theme contains a full balance of every subject. Some might be more Geography based, while another may contain more drama, for example. This structure allows for in-depth learning but with a full curriculum balance across the year.
Themes have certain key characteristics within them – a large piece of extended writing, time set aside for developing reading, and a number of competencies that the students will develop. A student can perform a piece of diary writing in a Great Fire of London-based theme or an instructional manual in a theme based on robotics.
Schools work with a range of learning partners from businesses, the arts and wider local community, including the Birmingham Hippodrome. These links bring expertise into the learning environment.
L4L teachers work as teams, blending their subject specialisms and joint planning and training each other.
Focus Days are an extension of the immersive learning experience provided by L4L and are an integral part of the delivery mechanism for outstanding education at Key Stage 4 and 5.
We are a Trust that believes in traditional values enhanced by technological innovation. Our Behaviour Management Services support the teaching and learning process by ensuring that any behaviour that interrupts teaching or the good running order of the Academies is dealt with swiftly and fairly, ensuring that communication with families is followed through.
Students in all our Academies take examinations in Design Technology. We believe that this subject supports and develops the skills that students need in a modern workplace. Skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, creativity all delivered through a technology rich curriculum.
The problem-solving and outcome-orientated delivery of Literacy for Life in Key Stage 3 is the precursor for a Design Process based GCSE at Key Stage 4 and students see the relationship very easily. They take the competencies that they have honed in Years 7 and 8 and apply them to the Design Process with exceptionally high levels of success.
The Arts are a major force for developing students’ self-confidence and our relationship with the Birmingham Hippodrome is a contributing factor to the quality of delivery.
We value our partnerships with all external agencies. These greatly enhance the opportunities for students to contextualise their learning and shape their thought regarding future careers.
The problem-solving and outcome-orientated delivery of Literacy for Life in Key Stage 3 is the precursor for a Design Process based GCSE at Key Stage 4 and students see the relationship very easily. They take the competencies that they have honed in Years 7 and 8 and apply them to the Design Process with exceptionally high levels of success.