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Curriculum

Vision

The curriculum at Corby Business Academy is at the heart of our school’s purpose. It reflects our core values of commit, believe, achieve. Improving educational outcomes is the biggest way we can positively impact our students’ futures. We do this through delivering a broad and balanced curriculum, anchored in substantive and disciplinary knowledge, with high expectations for all students.

We offer a curriculum that is academically challenging, aspirational and effectively designed to teach our subjects’ important core content and concepts, developing a passion for lifelong learning.

Here at Corby Business Academy, we believe a successful student will acquire this academic knowledge, but will also become a well-rounded student. We embrace the values of enrichment, careers and citizenship. These values instil aspiration and develop individual students, socially and emotionally.

We aim to deliver a cohesive curriculum narrative across all subjects, that sets out a well sequenced learning journey for our students. Our aspirational curriculum narrative is realised through high quality learning experiences to provide students with outstanding outcomes, whatever their future destinations.

For additional information regarding the curriculum please contact Vice Principal for Quality of Education, Mrs Katie Page.

Students in Years 7, 8 & 9 follow the National Curriculum. There is a strong focus on the core areas of English and Maths where students have four lessons per week, and science where students have 3 lessons per week. The Key Stage 3 Curriculum allows students to build on those skills learned at primary level and is an exciting phase of their school career that prepares them successfully to access KS4 & further study and beyond into the world of work.

Key stage three lessons are designed to develop students’ knowledge and skills ready for their key stage 4 qualifications.  A summary of the sequence of all units taught in KS3 across all subjects is shown in the document at the foot of this page

Key Stage 3
 

 


Year 7

Year 7 Nurture


Year 8

Year 8 Nurture


Year 9

Maths

 

4

4

4

4

4

English

 

4

4

4

4

4

Science

 

3

3

3

3

3

Geography

 

2

1

2

1

2

History

 

2

1

2

1

2

MFL

 

2

1

2

1

2

PE

 

2

2

2

2

2

Art

 

1

1

1

1

1

Music

 

1

1

1

1

1

Drama

 

1

1

1

1

1

DT

 

1

1

1

1

1

CS

 

1

1

1

1

1

RPE

 

1

1

1

1

1

Numeracy/Literacy

 

2

 

2

 

Life Skills

 

 

1

 

1

 

 

 

25

25

25

25

25

 

Lessons are 60 minutes long.

The nurture groups in Year 7 and 8 follow a slightly different timetable in order to support the development of their Numeracy and Literacy skills

PDE and Citizenship are enhanced through a tutor time programme and assemblies which are 20 minutes each day.

Key Stage 4 is the period when students build on their earlier learning and prepare for adult life, higher education and employment. Students have an opportunity to gain GCSE, OCR Cambridge National and BTEC qualifications. All students study English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Science, and PE.

Key Stage 4

 

Year 10

Year 11

Maths

 

4

5

English

 

4

5

Science

 

4

5

Core PE

 

1

1

Option1

 

3

3

Option2

 

3

3

Option3

 

3

3

Option4

 

3

NA

 

 

25

25

 

Students taking the three separate sciences take this as one of their options in Year 10.  Computer science is also available as an option.  Students are encouraged to study a humanity subject, either History or Geography.  All those who are able, also study either French or Spanish.

Students also study a range of other high quality GCSE and vocational subjects, with the vast majority of Year 10 students taking 9 GCSEs (or vocational alternatives) in year 11. Current Year 11 students are studying for 8 GCSEs (or vocational alternatives).

Option Choices                                                                

 

GCSE

BTEC Level 2

Art – Fine Art

Dance

Art - Photography

Enterprise

Business Studies

Health and Social Care

Computer Science

Hospitality and Catering

Drama

Music

French

Sports Science

Geography

 

History

 

Media

 

Music

 

Separate Sciences

 

Sports Science

 

Spanish

 

Further details of these courses can be found in the Year 9 Options booklet published February 2023 here.

Our PDE programme is integrated into our tutor time and assembly programme over the academic year and covers a wide range of topics that enhance, equip and provide our students with a greater understanding of the world they live in.  We have external speakers and events covering aspects such as motivation, careers, counselling, bullying, enterprise, drugs, hate crimes and great historical events, as well as assemblies for rewards and celebration.

We work closely with a range of partners to help our students make the right decisions about Post 16 education, training and employment. All sixth form students, whether they are studying academic, applied or technical qualifications are given the guidance that allows them to choose courses which will enable them to progress to the next stage of their education, training or employment. This will include the study of English and maths where students do not hold a GCSE grade 4 or above these subjects.  Full information regarding the sixth form can be found here

These courses are supplemented by a broad enrichment programme including the following:

  • High quality work experience
  • Duke of Edinburgh Silver award
  • Extended Project qualification
  • Year 7 mentoring
  • Running after school clubs for the younger students

Students in Year 12 are expected to select at least one additional activity to further enhance their personal development. The enrichment options are kept under review and is expected to expand in the future.

In addition, all students have access to a range of careers information, advice and guidance led by an appointed specialist. The careers programme includes mock business interviews for all students when in Year 12, external visits by apprenticeship providers, universities, local businesses and organisations as well as a work experience placement usually in the summer term.

For further information regarding the sixth form and programmes of study please contact Head of Sixth Form, Mr Matt Smith. For further information regarding the programmes of study for individual subjects please see the subject pages.

At Corby Business Academy we provide students with enrichment activities essential to academic success and social emotional development. We provide enrichment activities ranging from:

  • Cadets
  • Duke of Edinburgh
  • Homework Study Clubs
  • Sports Clubs
  • Dance Club
  • Subject Specific Academic Clubs
  • Lego Robotics
  • Concert Bands
  • Art Study
  • Electronics

All teachers at Corby Business Academy offer at least one enrichment after school session every week for students.

Academic Benefits

There are proven connections between enrichment activities and academic success. Enrichment promotes critical thinking and problem-solving skills, improve student’s ability to concentrate, and make learning more meaningful, valuable, and rewarding. Enrichment activities are fun, which helps students to become more engaged in their learning and retain more information.

Personal and Social- Emotional Benefits

Enrichment activities give students opportunities to build friendships they might not otherwise have had the chance to make. It helps students develop their confidence with working and interacting with new people.

Students that participate in enrichment activities, not only experience academic and social-emotional benefits, but they can also develop personal qualities they may not have previously known they had. Students at Corby Business Academy can develop:

  • Increased self-confidence
  • Increased self-esteem
  • Creativity
  • Perseverance
  • Friendliness
  • Leadership and decision-making skills

The careers curriculum for Corby Business Academy has been designed to provide Students with the core employability skills needed for the world of work and to demonstrate the vast number of opportunities available, so that Students aspire to the best of their ability. This is achieved through a vigorously planned careers programme that focuses on the needs, developmental stages of each year group. The guidance Students receive is a mix of internal and external activities; demonstrating the strong relationships that school has with careers and education experts.

The key careers targets and curriculum of the programme include:

KS3 (Yrs 7, 8 & 9)

Learning Outcomes and Goals

  • To instil familiarisation with key aspirational terminology such as employability, skills, Higher Education, entrepreneurialism.
  • To encourage aspiration from the start of secondary education
  • To learn about the core and employability skills needed for the future
  • To introduce students to different technical and academic routes available to them
  • To assist with the subject choices for GCSEs

Curriculum Activity

  • Barclays Lifeskills (A 4 workshop programme involving enterprise, problem-solving, setting and achieving goals and self-confidence)
  • Careers Fair (our careers fair supplies opportunities to engage with employers, FE/HE representatives and participation in career/subject workshops and assemblies
  • Careers Assemblies and Workshops (content containing guidance and encounters with FE/HE/Employers/Apprenticeships/Providers of wider technical education options such as T-Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications)
  • Unifrog launch

KS4 (Yrs 10 & 11)

Learning Outcomes and Goals

  • To learn about the world of work in practise whilst strengthening initial core and employability skills
  • To Use knowledge, interests and careers experiences to assist career choice
  • To be able to distinguish the differences and benefits between the different post 16 options (College, Sixth Form, Advanced Apprenticeship or Employment including wider technical education options such as T-Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications)
  • To experience Further/Higher education (FE/HE) and employer encounters to assist with post 16 options
  • To successfully apply and transition to post 16 education

Curriculum Activity

  • Careers Fair (our careers fair supplies opportunities to engage with employers, FE/HE representatives and participation in career/subject workshops and assemblies
  • Work Experience
  • 1:1 Careers Guidance Meetings
  • Careers Assemblies and Workshops (content containing guidance and encounters with FE/HE/Employers/Apprenticeships/Providers of wider technical education options such as T-Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications)
  • Mock Interviews with Employers
  • Unifrog

KS5 (Yrs 12 & 13)

Learning Outcomes and Goals

  • To be able to distinguish the differences and benefits between the different post 18 options
  • To hone core and employability skills, with special attention given to those listed as required in certain career pathways
  • To further knowledge in career areas of interest for confident post 18 decisions
  • To successfully apply and transition to post 18 education (University, Higher or Degree Apprenticeships, Employment)

Curriculum Activity

  • Careers Fair (our careers fair supplies opportunities to engage with employers, FE/HE representatives and participation in career/subject workshops and assemblies
  • Career specific Work Experience
  • CV Guidance and Writing
  • Careers Assemblies and Workshops (content containing guidance and encounters with FE/HE/Employers/Apprenticeships/Providers of wider technical education options such as T-Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications)
  • Personal Statement Guidance
  • Mock Interviews with Employers
  • Life Skills Activity (Managing Money, Interviews, Job Applications, Skill reflection)
  • Unifrog