Curriculum Overview
Our central purpose is to ensure that all students at Unity Academy achieve both the highest standards and have the best possible experiences whilst at the academy. These standards apply to all that students do. We aim to develop a coherent curriculum that builds on young people's experiences and prior learning in our ‘all-through’ 2-16 model, which enables all young people to become successful learners, confident readers and self-assured, responsible citizens.
Unity Academy will lead our young people and community in an inspirational curriculum. FCAT and therefore Unity Academy defines the curriculum as the totality of a child’s experience of education from 2-16, particularly the quality of teaching and learning, the explicit teaching of subject knowledge and the development of broader skills and personal qualities.
The principals of the curriculum at Unity Academy will be built around ensuring the RIGHT curriculum is in place, the RIGHT curriculum being one which is: -
- Resilience led – Students will be supported to demonstrate their potential at all times; they will be challenged but supported. The resilience led curriculum will inspire students academically but also in a wide variety of extra-curricular opportunities – our all through entitlement curriculum.
- Integrated & all through – The curriculum will be well planned, documenting a student’s journey through the academy from 2 to 16 – considering the experiences we believe they are entitled to and ensuring that we deliver inquisitive and ambitious academic challenges which build on prior learning.
- Gets the basics right – Our curriculum will ensure students read and write well and have mastered basic arithmetic skills which allows them to thrive in all academic disciplines.
- Highly ambitious – We will have high expectations throughout the curriculum; students will be challenged to succeed in a range of academic and extra-curricular disciplines thus creating well rounded learners.
- Timely and appropriate with regard to qualifications – Students will leave Unity having achieved well in a range of qualifications which are delivered and achieved in a timely manner.
We achieve this via a curriculum that is driven by high quality teaching and learning delivered through “The Unity Way”. This incorporates the approaches contained within the “FCAT Way” ensuring progression by delivering high and age related expectations, increasingly through a Mastery approach, thus developing:
- deep subject knowledge
- subject skills for learning and for life
- enriching opportunities within and beyond the classroom
Unity will be a ‘knowledge-engaged’ academy in which knowledge underpins the application of skills – we will ensure skills are taught alongside the mastery of subject knowledge. Our approaches to assessment will recognise the acquisition of this knowledge and relevant skills.
In Unity an all-through model recognises the importance of effective transition across Key Stages and of following progressive and developmental phases of learning. Phase 1 incorporates EYFS to Year 1, Phase 2 covers Year 2 to Year 4, Phase 3 covers Years 5 to 7, Phase 4 covers Years 8 and 9 and Phase 5 covers Years 10 and 11. The principles of curriculum design identify Years 5 to 8 as a key phase of learning for our all through academy.
As a consequence of this curriculum model our expectations for each of our students are for them to:
- grow as a person, becoming self-assured, responsible citizens
- be a positive and an active member of their school community
- be lifelong and confident readers with a love of reading
- be successful learners who are able to work well independently and interdependently
- be employable
- want to be the best they can be in whatever they choose to do
Please click the following links to see our Option Blocks:
More information about each Phase can also be found about each by clicking on the appropriate link on our home page.
To find out more information about our curriculum content, click on the appropriate curriculum link.
Should you require further information on Unity’s curriculum, please contact the school.
Core Learning Faculty
English Baccalaureate Faculty
Practical Innovation Faculty
SMSC / PSHE / Extra Curricular Activities
Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development
Here at Unity we believe that SMSC is an essential part of every child’s development. We work hard to enable our students to develop their self-esteem and self-confidence so that they can play and active role in society as a whole.
Spiritual
The curriculum is designed to allow students to explore their own beliefs and the beliefs of others. We also encourage students to respect the faiths, feelings and values of others. This is encouraged through both the RE and PD curriculum but also within a wide range of subjects and activities that take place within and outside of the academy. Activities and trips include visits to Hindu Temples and local churches, visits to Liverpool cathedrals and visiting speakers.
Students are also encouraged to learn about themselves and their surrounding world and to appreciate their world. For example our Outdoor Education trips allow students to experience the beauty of nature as well as developing leadership and teamwork. Within lessons we encourage creativity and reflection as exemplified the work undertaken to commemorate the start of World War 1.
Moral
It is important that students recognise what is right and what is wrong and we encourage students to take responsibility for their behaviour. The academy has a strong and clear behaviour for learning system where ‘good behaviours’ are rewarded and negative behaviours are sanctioned. The academy has worked hard to establish consistency with this. We also have a system of restorative justice which supports students to make amends and develops their ability to modify their behaviour. Within the curriculum, activities are planned to investigate moral and ethical issues such as the treatment of animals, representation of young people in the media, role models etc.
Social
Within the curriculum opportunities to discuss and think about what is right and wrong and moral issues are referenced within lesson planning and the diverse range of texts studied within the English curriculum provide ample opportunities for discussion and moral development. The school council play an active role in the life of the school. The council is comprised of elected members of the school who represent their years and phases. The Senior Prefect Team show leadership in their duties around the school, including helping to supervise lunch and break. They also provide positive role models for younger students. Within PE lessons leadership skills are developed and all students will participate in outdoor education activities to develop their team working and leadership skills.
The academy prides itself in developing a culture of good manners and respect and encourages politeness. We are also proud of our students’’ achievements and celebrate these.
The school also has a SEAL mentor who supports students overcome social barriers. Life coaches are also made available to students to develop confidence and decision making.
The academy also involves itself with various fundraising activities including Teenaged Cancer Trust, Cancer Research, Children in Need, and Save the Children amongst others. Involvement in fundraising often highlights social and global issues and encourages students to be aware of what is happening in our society and wider afield.
Cultural
The academy believes in allowing students to have access to a wide range of cultural activities. These include trips to musical performances and the theatre as well as museums and exhibitions. We take part in the local Youth Parliament elections and have the current YPM for Blackpool in Year 11. The academy has also taken part in the Blackpool Teenage Summit to discuss issues relevant to young people in Blackpool. We also recognise that we are a multi-cultural school in a multi- cultural Britain and celebrate this diversity by including aspects of these varying cultures within lessons. This includes child led topics based on the countries of some of our EAL students. The academy also has a rich and varied programme of extra-curricular activities including sports teams, environment clubs, chess, cheerleading and music.
SMSC Trips & Events since September 2013
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Trips |
Involvement |
In school activities |
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Fleetwood Maritime Museum |
Anti-Bullying training |
Environment Walk |
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Museum of Lancashire |
Dance performances |
Rock gardens |
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Preston Grasshoppers |
Pleasure Beach Masterclass |
Neighbourhood walk |
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Birmingham Skills Show |
Spelling Bee |
Mugenkyo Drumming |
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Blackpool Dungeons |
Acts of Kindness Celebration |
Spellbinder |
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Motionhouse Performance |
Dance Festival |
Mr Consequence |
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Ribchester Roman Museum |
Blackpool Christmas Music |
Richard McCann |
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Drumming Masterclass |
Fit2Go programme |
Careers SLD |
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Liverpool World Museum |
Fairtrade Convention |
Harvest Festival |
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Careers Convention |
Young Engineers Competition |
Travelling by Tuba |
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Manchester Museum of Egypt |
Hair and Beauty taster day |
Breast Cancer Awareness Day |
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Manchester Museum of Science and Industry |
WE Day at Wembley |
Children’s University Graduation |
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GCSE French Conference |
Construction taster day |
Quantum Theatre Visit |
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Skills NW |
Boccia competition |
The Music Show |
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University of Cumbria |
Headstart consultation |
Fire and Rescue Service visit |
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Layton Station |
Swimming gala |
Christmas Jumper Day |
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Violin shop |
Bard’s Birthday Bash |
Children In Need |
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Space Centre |
Football festival |
Teenage Cancer Trust Day |
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Imperial Hotel |
Climbing Wall |
Relationships SLD |
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Evacuee experience |
Hackpool programming event |
Barn Owl Bill |
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St Stephen’s Church |
River Wyre |
Hattie Keane performance |
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Imperial War Museum |
Youth Games |
Phase 2 Careers Event |
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Normandy |
Peer Mentoring |
Road Safety |
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Visit to MP’s office |
Music Technology trip |
Visit of prospective MP |
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Liverpool cathedrals |
Sustainability Conference |
Remembrance Day events |
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Going to the Flicks |
Make it Count |
Urban Strawberry Lunch |
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Fylde Sinfonia |
Teenagers Summit |
Nativity |
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Planetarium trip |
Gazette Education Awards |
Learn2Succeed Day |
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Gruffalo Theatre trip |
Schools Alive Performance |
British Transport Police |
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Knowsely Safari Park |
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LiveNLearn Day |
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Singleton Maze |
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Balloon Challenge |
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Alton Towers |
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Phase Council meetings |
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Madam Tussauds |
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School Council Meetings |
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Manchester Fire Museum |
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Blackpool Zoo |
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Grand Theatre |
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Town Hall trip |
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Christmas Physics Lecture |
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Visit to Hindu Temple |
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Lytham Windmill trip |
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Water Park (Outdoor Ed) |
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Helm Cragg |
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Leighton Moss |
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Tower Wood |
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Brockholes Nature Reserve |
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Orienteering |
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Rock and River |
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Extra-Curricular Activities
