Bristnall Hall Academy’s Curriculum Intent:
At Bristnall Hall Academy, we are a family of supportive, caring and ambitious stakeholders who work collaboratively to ensure that every young person develops personal qualities that will help them leave the academy as successful rounded individuals equipped for a life beyond Bristnall. This is achieved through the delivery of a broad, balanced and inclusive curriculum which meets the needs of every young person regardless of their starting points, background or special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). Our curriculum is ambitious and allows students to access to the best possible knowledge across their subjects. We ensure we sequence our curriculum carefully to promote positive progress, building on knowledge from primary school and rigorously activating prior knowledge as an integral part of every lesson. First class training and people development opportunities underpin this philosophy to ensure all staff have the skills and knowledge to secure excellent outcomes for all our learners. We have a relentless focus on removing barriers to education to future employment; focusing on developing oracy, literacy and numeracy throughout students’ time at the academy. Students read widely and we encourage this through our Teacher Reads Aloud Programme (TRAP) during form time.
The academy operates a two-week timetable which includes 56 periods of 55 minutes each fortnight. The majority of lessons are double lessons which ensure curriculum time is maximised in the classroom
KS3 Curriculum
The purpose of the KS3 curriculum is to build on the education received at primary school and prepare students for Level 2 qualifications which are chosen at the end of Year 9.
Students study the full range of core and non-core subjects at this key stage as we feel it is vital they receive a broad and balanced education for as long as possible before they specialise. A special emphasis is placed on developing numeracy and literacy skills which is supported through English and Mathematics having a greater percentage of curriculum time. Some students, who are assessed as significantly below age-related expectations for literacy and numeracy, will engage in additional numeracy and literacy sessions as part of their curriculum.
Our commitment to the EBacc begins at KS3 with these subjects getting the most curriculum time; this gives them a solid foundation to then be continued by a significant number of students at KS4. Students study one language (French or Spanish) as well as being taught History and Geography as discrete subjects throughout year 7, 8 and 9. Studying a single language ensures students can develop a greater breadth and depth of language skills in this chosen foreign language. We are committed to the arts and technical aspects of learning with students receiving lessons in Art, Music, Technology, Drama and Dance. We also have a dedicated reading lesson for students in year 7 and 8 as part of our commitment to developing students’ reading.
| Subject | 55 minute period per fortnight |
| English | 8 |
| Mathematics | 8 |
| Science | 8 |
| MFL | 5 |
| Geography | 5 |
| History | 5 |
| RE | 1 |
| PSHE | 1 |
| PE | 4 |
| Computing | 2 |
| Art & Design | 2 |
| Dance | 1 |
| Music | 2 |
| DT (Graphics, Catering, Engineering, Textiles) | 4 |
Students in years 7-9 also have a 20 minute form period at the end of each academy day where they have a structured timetable each week of a values based assembly, a rewards assembly and numeracy and guided reading sessions.
KS4 Curriculum
All students follow a core curriculum of subjects but they are then given the opportunity to choose additional subjects to complete their timetable through an options process which takes place in the summer term of year 9 (see below). By waiting until Year 9 before we ask students to make this important decision, it ensures students do not narrow their studies too soon and have an opportunity to experience every subject in depth before they make their options choices.
Again, our commitment to the EBacc suite of subjects continues with those getting a greater percentage of curriculum time in Years 10 and 11. This is not, however, at the expense of other subjects and we ensure we promote health and well-being through timetabled PE time, assemblies and through a detailed and extensive Ethics curriculum which is delivered through drop down days. These days build upon the extensive curriculum offer in RE and PSHE at KS3. We also have an extra-curricular programme across the key stages.
The KS4 curriculum time can be broken down as shown in the table below:
| Subject | 55 minute period per fortnight |
| English | 11 |
| Mathematics | 10 |
| Science | 11 (Triple science 14) |
| PE | 2 |
| Ethics (RE & PSHE) | Year 11 4 x drop down days Year 10 6 x drop down days |
| IT | 1 |
| Humanities | 6 |
| Option C | 6 |
| Option O | 6 |
KS4 Options
English, Mathematics, Science and Humanities are studied by all students. A majority of students will also study French or Spanish as part of their compulsory core giving them the opportunity to achieve the English Baccalaureate (EBacc). This is not a new qualification, but a nationally reported measure that records achievement in English, Mathematics, Sciences, a Language and a Humanities subject. Students will then select from one of the options below (or two if they don’t study a language).
| Course Type | Subject | Exam Board |
| GCSE | Art & Design: Fine Art | OCR |
| GCSE | Art & Design: Fashion and Textiles | OCR |
| GCSE | Computer Science | OCR |
| BTEC | Music | Edexcel |
| Level 2 Vocational Award | Dance | Eduqas |
| GCSE | Film Studies | Eduqas |
| Cambridge National Level 2 | Engineering Design | OCR |
| Cambridge National Level 2 | Sport Studies | OCR |
| Cambridge National Level 2 | Health and Social Care | OCR |
| Level 2 Vocational Award | Hospitality and Catering | Eduqas |
| GCSE | Sociology | AQA |
| Cambridge National Level 2 | Child Development | OCR |
| Cambridge National Level 2 | Business: Enterprise & Marketing | OCR |
| GCSE | Business | OCR |
| Cambridge National Level 2 | iMedia | OCR |
| GCSE | Graphics Communication | OCR |
At Bristnall Hall Academy, our staff use Microsoft Teams to support students remotely and to provide additional curriculum opportunities. As well as having access to their daily lesson resources, students can use Teams to download revision and other useful resources.
Further details of the academy’s curriculum can be found within the individual subject pages on this website, and within our Curriculum Policy.
If you wish to find out more details about our curriculum, please contact the academy on BHA-info@attrust.org.uk.
