Courses for Year 10 and 11
Key Stage 4 learners are supported to build their confidence, achieve personal goals and attain the skills, knowledge and understanding to underpin exam success and progress to further education and employment. We recognise that even small numbers of students in receipt of alternative provision, can have a detrimental impact on school Progress 8 measures. In response, our curriculum focuses upon core subjects and is supplemented by ICT, Humanities and Citizenship courses. It is further balanced by access to functional skills courses in Maths, English and ICT at levels 1 and 2. We also provide a number of specialist courses, so please follow the link below to find out more. Post 16 learners who have missed their KS4 studies or require to resit their GCSE’s are also welcomed to our classes.
English Language
The course is designed to meet the requirements of AQA 8700 course and covers the essential skills. It is designed to enable students to experience demanding and fulfilling content, giving them the confidence that the literacy skills, knowledge and understanding they acquire during the course will be of the highest standard.
English Literature
Academy21 delivers the AQA 8702 specification for English Literature. It is designed to enable students to evidence achievements against demanding and fulfilling content. This gives students confidence that the literacy skills, knowledge and understanding they will have acquired during the course are of the highest standards; enriching their cultural awareness through the study of literary heritage texts.
Maths
The Academy21 Maths GCSE course is designed to enable students to engage with, explore, enjoy and succeed in maths. The course ensures that students are equipped with the right skills for their future. The course has been designed and written so that it is suitable for students sitting either the AQA 8300 or Edexcel 1MA1 specifications.
Combined Science (Dual Award)
Academy21 has been delivering the triple and dual award reformed AQA (Trilogy) GCSE specifications since September 2017. A variety of pathways will be available to cater for individual student needs. Required practicals for all the GCSE courses are embedded throughout the courses and will be delivered via video and interactive simulation software, ensuring all students can access the associated learning and are properly prepared for the practical aspects of the examinations.
History
The course follows the AQA GCSE History specification (8145). It enables students to study different aspects of the past so they can consider key issues, understand what drives change and how the past influences the present. They develop the skills of historians through the study of a range of historical evidence. Students will debate and learn how to present and support their views.
Citizenship Studies
The course follows the AQA GCSE Citizenship Studies specification (8100). It enables students to gain a deeper knowledge of democracy, government and law, and develop skills to create sustained and reasoned arguments, present various viewpoints and plan practical citizenship actions to benefit society. Students will also gain the ability to recognise bias, critically evaluate argument, weigh evidence and look for alternative interpretations and sources of evidence, all of which are essential skills valued by higher education and employers. Students of GCSE Citizenship studies learn the value of becoming thoughtful, active citizens.
Everyday Science (Entry Level Science)
The course prepares students for the WJEC qualification in the first year by studying elements of the topics below at Entry Level. Year 11 students following the first year of the course would be expected to be entered for the Entry Level qualification. Year 10 students following the first year of the course would have the option of taking the Entry Level qualification at the discretion of their centre and would then be expected to follow the second year of the course to prepare them for examinations in Combined Science at the end of Year 11.
*(WJEC 6430) or Grade 1-2 GCSE (AQA 8464)
Functional Skills
Maths
The qualifications are designed to give learners the skills to operate confidently, effectively, and independently in education, work, and everyday life. They have been created in response to employers’ perceptions that many learners are not achieving a sufficiently firm grounding in the basics. The aim of this Level 1 qualification is to develop learner understanding and skills in representing (selecting the mathematics and information to model a situation); analysing (processing and using mathematics); interpreting (interpreting and communicating the results of the analysis). Academy21 delivers a Level 1 Pearson Edexcel Functional Skills Mathematics course, this is equivalent to half a GCSE (grade 1 to 3). The assessment can be undertaken at a centre and there will be 8 assessment windows each year (5 days in each) which are published by Pearson. The onscreen test assessments may be taken at any time by arrangement with Pearson. Academy21 cannot offer assessment facilities and Academy21 is not responsible for the entering of students for the tests or for the arrangement of the assessments.
English
The qualifications are designed to give learners the skills to operate confidently, effectively, and independently in education,
work and everyday life. The aims of these qualifications are to develop understanding and learn skills in: speaking, listening and communication through the assessment of formal and informal discussions and exchanges; reading, showing the ability to read and understand a range of texts, comparing and gathering information from different sources; writing, exploring a range of different texts used to communicate information, ideas and opinions. Academy21 delivers a combined Level 1 and Level 2 Edexcel Functional Skills English course. Students can be entered for the external examination at any point during the year. The assessment of the speaking, listening and communication component cannot be offered at Academy21 and must be assessed elsewhere.
ICT
Cambridge National in Information Technologies improves students’ knowledge of the digital environment and their confidence in IT. They learn about data management issues and develop practical skills by planning and creating an integrated technological solution to communicate information. The qualification consists of 3 units: IT in the Digital World (assessed by exam); Data Manipulation using spreadsheets (a non-examined assessment); Using augmented reality to present information (also a non-examined assessment).
This qualification will complement other learning that students are completing for GCSEs or vocational qualifications at Key Stage 4 and help to prepare them for further study.
*All Functional Skills ICT students are required to have Office 365 software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access) installed on their computers.*
Non-accredited Curriculum
PSHE
This course is designed to cover key materials pertinent to KS4 students on relationships, love, safe sex, emotional and physical wellbeing, drugs, alcohol and cyber safety.
Sample Key Stage 4 Timetable
Our KS4 classes are provided over a 38-week academic calendar. With lessons available Monday to Thursday every week of term time. On Friday learners can attend an optional tutorial session to receive additional support if needed and all timetabled lessons are available in a recorded format on a 24/7 basis, in case of absence. Multiple groups run each day to enable us to find the best fit timetable to meet individual needs.
Experienced Key Stage 4 Teachers
We provide quality education delivered by qualified and experienced teachers. Class sizes are small, with a maximum of 15 pupils in any class, so that each child receives personalised attention and supervision in their learning. Learners receive one lesson a day in each subject from Monday to Thursday (apart from PSHE) and can attend a tutorial session every Friday for additional 1:1 support.
Resources and Support
We work closely with designated school and local authority support staff to provide support and intervention when learners may be falling behind or if they do not engage with our provision.
Each young person referred to us receives a personalised timetable to best fit in with their individual needs. We provide engaging activities and homework that reinforce learning objectives, 24/7 access to our lesson library for catch up and weekly tutorial sessions for additional support. We also offer access to a range of additional education resources to help embed learning and aide progression.
Fast & Flexible Provision
Access to our provision is usually delivered within a few hours of referral and we will provide a baseline assessment if no existing data is available.
We will place learners into appropriate groups for their current ability level from the outset and movement to lower and higher ability groups is entirely flexible and incurs no additional charge.
Specialist Courses
Since 2011, our experience has told us that in addition to the core services we provide, our clients also require some specialised courses and services. Over time, we have developed and delivered these with considerable success and you can find further information on them below.
Get in Touch!
Call 01438 535001 or email [email protected]
Please do contact us today to talk to our expert staff and discover whether Academy21 is appropriate for the KS4 learners in your care. We will provide, clear and friendly advice and guidance with no expectations that you’ll proceed to a referral to us.