Curriculum
Holbrook Academy’s curriculum:
- Is inclusive, addressing social disadvantage and meeting the needs of all pupils.
- Offers a strong academic core, broad foundation subjects and wide enrichment opportunities.
- Values every curriculum area and is coherently planned so all pupils gain the knowledge, skills, confidence and cultural capital needed for future learning, employment and life.
- Clearly sets out the knowledge and skills to be learned at each stage and enables progression.
- Is rooted in the national curriculum and shaped by our understanding of individual, group and cohort needs.
- Builds on prior learning, addresses gaps, corrects misconceptions and provides interventions where needed.
- Prioritises literacy and numeracy across all subjects and promotes a strong reading culture.
- Enhances pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
- Builds character, independence, leadership and student voice.
- Is ambitious, challenging and aspirational.
- Promotes fundamental British values and connects learning to local, national and global contexts.
At Holbrook Academy, we offer a broad, balanced curriculum, with subject teams working closely to ensure clear links across learning. Students strengthen their literacy and numeracy skills in all subjects.
We consider the needs of each individual to ensure every student can develop the knowledge, skills, qualifications and experiences needed for life beyond the Academy. Our curriculum is reviewed regularly and adapted to reflect technological, local and national changes.
Through daily school life and our Active Citizenship and PSHEE programmes, we promote democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance.
Curriculum Detail 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 provide full subject information and term-by-term content.
Please click to view the full Curriculum Detail 2023-2024:
Curriculum Vision
Holbrook Academy’s curriculum is built on the following core intents:
- To provide wide-ranging, inclusive learning opportunities that meet the needs of all students.
- To offer an ambitious, aspirational pathway with clear progression at every stage.
- To deliver a curriculum rooted in the national curriculum, with well-defined Key Stage 3 and 4 learning, ensuring most students complete all chosen courses.
- To raise aspirations by enabling every student—regardless of background—to develop the skills and confidence needed for academic discourse.
- To build reinforcement, fluency and mastery of key skills, with strong cross-curricular links and a focus on literacy and numeracy.
- To give students frequent opportunities to enjoy knowledge for its own sake and to foster curiosity, awe and wonder.
- To celebrate creativity, nurture students’ individual strengths and help them discover what it means to be “in their element.”
- To provide opportunities to explore contemporary issues, life skills and the Holbrook characteristics through pastoral support.
- To work closely with local schools, colleges and employers while inspiring students to look beyond the familiar and broaden their horizons.
Holbrook Academy Curriculum Rationale
Key Stage 3
At KS3, Years 7-9, students study a strong academic core of subjects, a broad range of foundation subjects and a wide enrichment offer over a two-week timetable.
In Year 7, 8 and 9 students are taught the subjects outlined below with the allocation of time for each subject per fortnight (lessons are 100 minutes):
| Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 | |
| English | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Maths | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Science | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| Art | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Computer Science | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Drama | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Design Technology | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Food Technology | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Geography | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| History | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Music | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| PE | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Religious Education | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Spanish | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lifeskills | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 30 | 30 | 30 |
Groupings
Students are taught in two different ‘groups’ of subjects:
- In Maths and Science students are streamed by ability.
- In all other subjects, students are in mixed ability groups.
For each subject there is a programme of study that guides the content of lessons. For some subjects there are aspects of the programme that are compulsory.
During Year 9, students will be asked to make choices about the subjects they wish to study at GCSE. The options available are offered in line with the learning needs of individual cohorts.
GCSE options
In Year 10 and 11, in addition to the subjects studied at KS3, students are also currently able to choose from the following options:
- Food Nutrition and Preparation
- Product Design
- Music
- Sociology
- Health and Social Care
- Childcare
Key Stage 4
In Years 10 and 11, students are offered subject choices that support pupils’ learning and progression, and enable them to work towards achieving their goals. The KS4 curriculum gives students the knowledge, skills, confidence and cultural capital they need to follow their chosen pathways and to be prepared for future learning and employment.
In Years 10 and 11 students are taught the subjects outlined below with the allocation of time for each subject per fortnight (lessons are 100 minutes):
KS4 Time Allocation
| Year 10 | Year 11 | |
| English | 5 | 5 |
| Maths | 5 | 5 |
| Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) | 6 | 6 |
| Option Subjects (x4) | 3 | 3 |
| PE Core | 2 | 2 |
| 30 | 30 |
Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) is delivered through Science and Life Skills, with parents able to request withdrawal from sex education in line with the Academy’s RSE Policy. Careers education is provided for all students, helping them understand their abilities, strengths and areas for development so they can make informed choices about their future. Students receive impartial advice when selecting Key Stage 4 options and post-16 pathways, and all undertake a period of work experience during Key Stage 4.
Holbrook Academy’s Curriculum Rationale can be found by clicking on the following link:
Holbrook Academy Curriculum Rationale
