Teaching & Learning
The core purpose of The Academy is to help students learn. We do this by developing engaging, exciting and challenging teaching and learning strategies that foster outstanding student achievement. All teachers at The Academy ensure that there is:
- a creative approach to learning, using exciting and effective learning strategies
- a strong learning culture with excellent, creative and imaginative teaching in every area of the curriculum, using ICT as a learning tool
- regular homework, marking and follow-up to extend and embed learning
- regular and consistent assessment of learning to improve achievement.
Our specialism
The Academy uses its specialist status to raise standards of achievement and the quality of learning for all students. The specialism of business and financial services enables us to promote professional behaviour and standards in all areas of the curriculum, whether in the creative subjects, physical education or in Maths, English and Science. It also enriches and extends learning by encouraging enterprise activities and other opportunities for students.
Our curriculum
The City Academy, Hackney ensures that all students have the essential skills to achieve in later life and opportunities to excel in every subject. The Academy provides:
- an engaging core curriculum that supports literacy and numeracy
- a range of learning pathways to offer support and challenge to gifted and talented students
- links between subject areas, offering innovative and exciting learning experiences for students.
All students follow the national curriculum unless The Academy (in consultation with students and parents) feels that they would benefit from not doing so. Subjects taught:
Essential Studies - English & Mathematics.
Discovery - Design & Technology & Science.
Business & Citizenship - Business, Personal Skills & ICT.
Society & Culture - Geography, History, Humanities, Languages & Religious Education.
Creative Studies - Art, Drama, Music, Dance & Physical Education.
Key Stage 3 and Accelerated Pathways
All students follow a two-year Key Stage 3 programme in the core subjects and begin GCSEs in Maths, English, Chemistry, Physics and Biology in Year 9. Foundation subjects are taught over three years, with the majority of students completing Key Stage 3 at the end of Year 9.
Proposed Key Stage 4 Curriculum
All students study GCSEs in Maths, English and Science and there are a wide selection of GCSE options across the remaining subjects. There is also a range of other qualification options including AS, which is expected to be available in 2012. The vast majority of students will follow the English Baccalaureate in KS4.
Special needs
The Academy encourages high aspirations, high motivation and high achievement for all. This vision applies equally to students with any kind of special educational need. Our philosophy is to include students as far as possible within the normal provision of The Academy, which includes a strong teaching model and early intervention with extra teaching and individual attention for students who are having difficulty reaching the expected standards. Additional support for students is provided under the direction of the Faculty of Learning.
Sixth form
The Academy is an 11-18 school which means that when our students complete their GCSEs they can automatically apply for a sixth form place. A wide range of courses for students will be provided by using our link with other schools and local colleges.
