About the Learning Zones
The curriculum is structured around and delivered through three ‘Learning Zones’:
Each Zone is led by a Director with the responsibility for the development of the curriculum, learning and achievement within the Zones and together across the Academy. Traditional subjects are ‘clustered’ within the Learning Zones to develop students’ understanding of how subjects and study topics relate to each other and also how they contribute towards the development of key skills including research, problem solving and communication.
In Year 7, students spend five hours a week within each Zone. During this time they undertake cross curricular, topic based work focusing on developing their skills as learners and also providing each student with a wide range of opportunities to begin to explore and identify areas of particular interest, areas they may be particularly interested in and areas where they may require additional support.
This approach builds on the learning in Primary School whilst developing and strengthening the skills required to transfer and apply this learning in the secondary context leading towards individually designed learning pathways.
The Learning Zones are responsible for developing these pathways throughout a students time at the Academy and beyond. This is achieved through individual learning plans for each student which are reviewed as they progress through the Academy and begin to specialise in particular areas of study. In Years 9,10 and 11 students will begin to specialise and to follow personalised curriculum pathways as part of their 14-19 progression.
Work in the Learning Zones will provide the foundations for all 14-19 pathway, including GCSE and Diploma work.