The curriculum overview for each subject identifies what is delivered and reinforces consistency between each year group. These can be accessed and viewed via this link.
As a mastery curriculum, students at Sedgehill Academy study fewer topics in greater depth, with the expectation that we do not move on to the next topic until all pupils have a secure understanding of the current topic.
At Key Stage 4 we encourage students to study GCSE option routes with the EBACC the preferred suite of subjects to be studied. A small number of vocational courses are offered to ensure sufficient breadth in the curriculum for all learners is maintained. In our lessons you will typically see all students grappling with the same challenging content, with teachers providing additional support for students who need it. Rather than moving on to new content, our higher attainers will study that content in more depth and are expected to produce work linked to it of greater depth and flair.
Our approach to teaching and learning supports our curriculum by ensuring that lessons build on prior learning and provide enough opportunity for guided and independent practice. We use Barak Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction (2012) at Sedgehill Academy to develop our teaching practice.
1. Begin a lesson with a short review of previous learning
2. Present new material in small steps with student practice after each step
3. Ask a large number of questions and check the responses of all students
4. Provide models
5. Guide student practice
6. Check for student understanding
7. Obtain a high success rate
8. Provide scaffolds for difficult tasks
9. Require and monitor independent practice
10. Engage students in weekly and monthly review
In order to allow the mastery approach to be effective (i.e. children learn what they are expected to in the year they are expected to), early catch up is essential: we aim to promptly identify and support pupils who start secondary school without a secure grasp of reading, writing and mathematics so that they can access the full curriculum.
Everything from which children learn in school – the taught subject timetable, the approach to spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, the house system and the ethos and ‘hidden curriculum’ of the school – is to be seen as part of the school curriculum at Sedgehill Academy. The principle of ‘Education with Character’ is delivered through the curriculum in this broadest sense and continues to grow and develop over time as the Academy’s reputation continues to grow. We are very proud of our music, drama and PE extracurricular offer which sits alongside a host of other enrichment activities.