Curriculum
Intent
Solihull Academy is committed to providing a curriculum that is broad, balanced, challenging and individualised. We match our curriculum to the abilities, interests and aspirations of our students, to give every child the opportunity to strive for progress beyond baseline in order to compete in the real world.
We are an Alternative Provision school that aims to help our students gain ground, regain what may have been lost in their previous experiences of education, and take them as far as we can (and even further than they might think possible) academically, socially, emotionally, culturally and morally. We therefore value the contribution that practical and vocational and skills-based learning brings to a child’s development alongside more “traditional” subjects.
Our goal is that every child who leaves Solihull Academy has avoided Permanent Exclusion, reduced or eliminated their Suspensions, surpassed their Baseline or KS2 targets (Academically and otherwise) and, most importantly, progressed and transitioned to a suitable provision, course, training scheme, apprenticeship or job so they are not NEET. We provide students with the opportunity to foster positive and respectful relationships with both peers and adults, equipping them with the interpersonal skills required for their next steps.
Our curriculum has the breadth, depth and flexibility to ensure each student has the qualifications, skills, knowledge and character to access aspirational Post-16 opportunities and to lead a life that includes positive relationships, resilience and financial independence.
Implementation
In order to fulfil these ideals, our model enables students to engage with a wide range of subjects in Year 9 (depending on point of entry) and then provides a more bespoke approach through our vocational, humanities and science option packages in Years 10 to 11.
Given our students’ varying needs and backgrounds, we provide access to a varied mixture of different types of core qualifications in order help students meet and exceed their baseline targets and progress into Post-16 opportunities. These are matched to need, Post-16 aspiration/requirements and ability. We also time our courses so that students can gain core and vocational qualifications throughout year 10 and 11, in order to build confidence and resilience in our students of formal written examinations as well as supporting and protecting their mental health.
Through the options process we aim to provide a bespoke curriculum. For us, this means giving our students as much choice and flexibility as possible, whilst ensuring they follow examination courses that lead to positive outcomes and give them access to Post-16 opportunities at the appropriate level. Students are allocated an individualised timetable according to their aspirations and are asked to choose up to Four Options subjects available on that route.
Impact
We are very proud of the outcomes our students achieve as the result of our innovative curriculum and outstanding teaching, and particularly of how few students will go on to be Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET). To that end, currently our entire cohort of leavers for both Summer 2020 and Summer 2021 are 100% in sustained Education, Employment or Training (as of 20/09/21), 60% higher than the national average. Our Aftercare package is now entering a new stage, in that we are now also providing support for Summer 2020 leavers who are applying for university.
Our engaging curriculum promotes ambition and aspiration. This is evident in our attendance figures and in pupil attainment, both of which track above national average for AP, as well as progress.
Curriculum Overview