OAT Curriculum Statement
In all OAT schools, the purpose of the curriculum is based on our purpose as a Trust:
- Teach – the curriculum sets out the knowledge and skills students are entitled to
- Develop – the curriculum sets out how students will develop socially and emotionally
- Change – the curriculum should be designed so that any student can excel, so that no one is disadvantaged
Our aims for the curriculum also support the OAT values, which are:
- Anyone can excel – you don’t have to be exceptionally bright or naturally gifted in order to excel at something. We know hard work, determination and perseverance pay off.
- Share what is best – just because something might be hard, it doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. We know it’s okay to face setbacks too – they can make you stronger.
- Be inclusive – if you’ve done something or created something others would benefit from seeing or having, you should share it. We know our schools keep getting better when we all share what is best.
- Enjoy the challenge – every child and adult should respect and accept that difference is normal, that everyone should be welcomed and included.
WOA curriculum intent
Our aim is to provide an excellent education for all our students; an inclusive education which brings out the best in all of them and prepares them for success in life. Our curriculum is designed to provide children with the core knowledge they need for success in education and later life, to maximise their cognitive development, to develop the whole person and the talents of the individual and to allow all children to become active and economically self-sufficient citizens.
We are a family: a caring community, who support and work collaboratively in the best interests of every young person. Our curriculum is in response to and informed by the needs of our community. We will never shy away from inclusion; learning about diversity and equality is every young person’s right. Wherever possible, the curriculum is sequential and chronological, contextualising content to secure students’ understanding of how the small details form a part of the bigger picture and how it’s relevant. This helps students make links between their subjects, such as the crossover between history and literature, for example.
The curriculum is progressive in quality and quantity across the years and key stages and mapped in detail. This ensures consistency and a shared understanding of high learning expectations. Our curriculum is built on these three key principles:
- Inclusive – We BELIEVE in every child. We believe that education is the key to opportunity and it is our duty to provide every child with the core experiences, knowledge and skills they need for success in life, while nurturing the talents of the individual. Our curriculum is built around the core principle of equality of access to a broad and balanced curriculum for all. We must ensure that all our students receive the opportunities and support they need to believe, achieve and succeed.
- Aspirational – Every child can ACHIEVE their best. We believe that all children have the right to learn what is in the National Curriculum as a starting point, but challenge our subject specialists to create an ambitious programme of study that goes beyond this, and challenges students from their starting points, whilst also exploiting opportunity to enrich the taught curriculum through tapping into the wealth of cultural experiences locally and nationally.
- Progressive – Provide the steps to SUCCEED. The WOA curriculum offer is a learning journey and as each student takes their steps along that pathway they should acquire new, increasingly more challenging, knowledge, skills and experiences. It is also progressive in its nature as it is forward looking and future focused, responsive to the changing needs of society and alongside leaps forward in technology.
For more information on the curriculum, please contact Myk Wagstaff, Vice Principal [email protected].